February /March 2004

Volume 44, Number 4

Ambitious Region 8 Conference set for July

by Patrick Lufkin

Planning is currently underway for the 2004 Region 8 Conference, which will take place near Sacramento, California, in July.

Charting a Bold Course

The conference has been organized under the theme "Charting a Bold Course." In light of post dot-bomb realities, conference director Eric Butow says, "Difficult times demand bold action and the ability to reinvent ourselves and our profession. We have chosen the conference theme in hopes of giving attendees the information and the tools they will need."

Ambitious offerings

Conference planners say this will be one of the most ambitious conferences to date. In addition to several dozen presentations and seminars, the three-day conference will include a leadership retreat, a pavilion trade show, a job fair, a bookstore, computer terminals where attendees can check their email and surf the web, hands-on computer tutorials, and a keynote speaker for each day.

Incoming STC President, Andrea Ames, will be one of the keynote speakers. A full list of keynote speakers will be posted on the conference Web site as soon as it becomes available.

STC members who are interested in making a presentation at the conference, including leading a workshop or organizing a panel discussion, for example, have until February 28 to turn in their proposals.

The conference will take place July 25-27 (Sunday through Tuesday) on the campus of the University of California, Davis, which is located about 10 miles southwest of Sacramento. Housing will be available on campus and at nearby hotels.

Conference attendees are being offered several differently priced packages, depending on how they wish to participate. Early registration discounts are available to those who register prior to May 15.

The conference hopes to draw approximately 300 attendees from Region 8 and adjoining regions. Region 8 includes California, Nevada, Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand.

Volunteers needed

To make it all happen, additional volunteers are needed, Eric says. "We have a great team in place made up of STC leaders from throughout the region. But they will need help to make this the best conference it can possibly be."

To encourage volunteers and lower any financial barriers to attending, the conference is offering deep discounts to volunteers. Those interested should contact Anne Mehaffey at mehaf2@comcast.net.

Eric notes that while discounts are important, the biggest benefits of volunteering are in the opportunities to make new friends and work behind the scenes with some of the best people in the field.

More information