Speaker Hospitality

[Mark Chisholm]

Today was the NJ conference called the Garden State Tree Conference. It was a very good show with great speakers. I really enjoyed the talks. Jonh Ball (among others) was superb- don't miss a chance to hear/see him! /forum/images/graemlins/applaudit.gif

As a board member I was a little ashamed or embarassed. It seems that we didn't exactly extend the warmest of welcomes to our speakers. As a frequent speaker from "out of state" I can say that this really disturbs me. Being a speaker at a conference isn't easy nor is it a small committment.

I would like to take a moment to offer to others who may be in the position of working on speakers and itineraries to take extra care to make them feel important and at ease. You should make sure to over-communicate with them. I know that people are busy and you don't want to be a pain, but it is well worth it. Tell them when they have to be where. Ask them if you should make flight/hotel arrangements. Make sure they have transportation to get around. Send someone to pick them up at the airport. They are your guests and will be worth their weight by filling your seats at the conference.

I have had so many great conferences that I know what it feels like to have a warm welcome and a "you're on your own" welcome. I have been treated like a king in TX, gold in Italy, the best speaker ever in PA (and have beautiful local art as a thank you gift), just to name a few. Speakers will remember how they are treated when they are asked to return. Why not make them want to return on their own?

 

[treemann]

Well said Mark /forum/images/graemlins/applaudit.gif

 

[Chum]

Organizing a gathering - no matter the venue, is as important as the issues it focuses on.

Often times Mark it's necessary to use contract guidelines that clearly spell-out the needs and details, least of which are the logistics and who provides when and where. It saves time both long before the event, during the event and afterward, when people go their separate ways....room charges, taxi fares, phone bills, per diems, etc.


Once in Japan, on official business, you wouldn't believe what an organization provided for me along with the hotel suite. Did I feel welcome? I felt like a god, a greek one. I think those days are long gone though.

 

[RGus]

I recently passed on the throne of being SSA (Student Society of Arboriculture) President at UW - Stevens Point. We always tried to get as many speakers as possible at our meetings. We always have found it easy to get speakers from the larger tree care companies, and have always enjoyed them! But they were always willing becasue they were recruting and their company would pay their transportation, hotel, and so forth. We find it a little difficult to get other speakers, because we cannot afford to pay for such things. We always take our speakers out to dinner after the meetings, paying with fundraised money. We find it dificult to have a student meet with the speaker before hand and "entertain" our speakers due to work and class schedules, but we do the best that we can, and usually our professors help us out with that too.

I am sure that there are many speakers here on TreeBuzz. If you were speaking at a student group or any other orginization like this, what would you expect from the orginization? What would make it enjoyable for you and make you want to come back and do it again? Any thoughts would help us so we can make sure that the speakers we have dont walk away feeling unhappy, and are wanting to come back again.

Thanks

 

[Mark Chisholm]

Well, I've spoken at an SSA event and had a great time. Tom and were both there. Keep doing what you have been doing.

What I am going to try to do for others when they come to NJ is to always be in communication with them. Make them feel welcome and that people are excited that they are there. It isn't easy to travel for such events and I want them to know that it is well appreciated. I also think that they shouldn't feel secluded during their stay. Transportation to and from restaurants and events should be offered.

There's plenty to do just to extend a warm welcome. If the speaker has friends or family near by they will probably be more self sufficient than ones who don't. Either way, we should be courteous to our guests!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I've ben treated very nicely in all of my doings with the SSA. A number of years ago I went over to Point and gave a talk to their branch. It was nice to go out for pizza beforehand and chat with some of the students. I know that's hard to do.

I'll extend an invite of sorts to the gang here. If there is a local SSA or hort club at a school nearby, get hold of the instructor and make time to talk with the class. You'll meet the next generation.

There are people that I've met through SSA functions that have become close friends. It's too bad that the US is so big, I don't get to see them often.