EVENT P L ANNING WITHOU T TEARS( N O N E E D T O B E A L A R M E D )

Dale Cousins

Harry Frank

Carolyn Willis

Randall BowmanBryna Coonin,

Moderator

T H E P L A N N I N G

• Identify Your Key People

• Set Objectives for events

• Set Theme

• Expect Problems

• COMMUNICATION IS KEY

SPEAKERS/ENTERTAINMENT

• Relevance to theme

• Reputation/Expertise

• Availability

• Cost/Travel

reimbursement, etc.

• Back up speaker, if

needed, esp. keynote

CREATIVITY & M ARKETING

• What you name things is what

they become

• Don’t be a slave to your theme

• Start publicity early

• Create website

TIMELINES & REGISTRATION

• Delegate

• Timeline

• Registration

planning

• CEU’s?

• Survival Box

SPONSORSHIP & GIVEAWAYS

• Contact vendors

A S S E S S M E N T B Y P L A N N I N G T E A M

• How Did it Go?

• What would we do differently next time?

E VA LUAT I O N B Y PA RT I C I PA N T S

• Formal/informal

• Distribution

• What do you really want to know

• Keep it short

V E N U E S, F O O D & L O D G I N G

• Get everything in writing

• Keep a checklist and log

• Scout venue locations

• Be aware of food trends

• Parking/Handicapped access

• Book room blocks

C O N T R AC T S & B I L L I N G

• Follow up: contracts and billing

• What I wish I had known: keep a

log

R E L A X - - YO U C A N ’ T P L E A S E E V E RYO N E

I S I T OV E R Y E T ?

• Remember thank you notes

• Event planning is challenging, but rewarding

• You can sleep when you’re dead