Attendee Tool Kit
It’s Your Business, Your Industry, Your Show. From the latest research and agronomic practices, to managing your operation and enhancing your communication skills – you will benefit from the incredible learning opportunities available at the 2008 GCSAA Education Conference. In addition to taking your professional development to the next level, you won’t want to miss the Golf Industry Show. Featuring more than 1000 exhibitors, this is the place where you can find new products, conduct product comparisons and meet industry representatives, all under one roof. Inspiring speakers will help you recharge and tackle your next golf season with greater enthusiasm, new ideas and fresh perspectives. You are sure to leave Orlando with a renewed energy and pride for your profession.
GCSAA’s President, Ricky D. Heine, CGCS, encourages you to be part of this career-enhancing event.
Use this toolkit to help ensure a successful experience
Pre-Show Planning
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In Orlando - Education Conference
- A conference program will be provided when you get to the
Orange County Convention Center. Spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself
with the layout of the convention center and where main events
will be located.
- Take another look at the education conference sessions you
chose to attend in the pre-planning stage. Has anything changed
since you established your objectives? If so, adjust your schedule
to accommodate your most important objectives.
- Confirm the times and locations of the events you want to attend.
Write the room numbers on your Daily
Schedule.
- If you are staying at a hotel not within walking distance of
the convention center, take
time the night before to locate where the shuttle bus will pick
you up in the morning.
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In Orlando - Golf Industry Show
- A trade show directory and map will be provided when you get
to Orange County Convention Center. It will be to your benefit to review
these before hitting the show floor. A current
list of exhibitors and the show floor plan is available online.
Before opening the floor plan, take a few minutes to review these tips on how to
use the online floor plan.
- If you have set appointments with exhibitors, mark those booths
on the floor map so you’ll more easily be able to find them
and be on time for that appointment.
- If possible, have literature samples from exhibitors sent to you instead of
having to carry them with you. Don’t pick up lots of paper
– research shows that 60-85% is thrown away and not taken
home.
- Attendees consume trade shows in different ways. The Golf Industry
Show is very large but is easily managed if you are properly prepared. Here are several
ways to consume the show. Review these and decide if one,
or a combination of them, is best for you.
- Make the Silent Auction your source to savings! The excitement begins in November when the Silent Auction Web site launches with a preview of the auction items. Online bidding opens Monday, Jan. 7 and continues through the Golf Industry Show. The Silent Auction will be conveniently located on the trade show floor with computers available for bidding and staff accessible for assistance. Proceeds support environmental stewardship programs, including research and education to strengthen the compatibility of the game of golf with our natural environment, player development programs, grants and scholarships to advance the club management industry and support providing young people the opportunity to learn golf and the life values the game of golf represents.
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Networking Opportunities
- Make sure your badge is in plain sight while you are in education,
events or on the trade show floor.
- Bring plenty of business cards and hand them out.
- Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to others –
your peers are there to help you. And you may be able to help
them too.
- Allow for down time each day to refresh, have
a snack or get some fresh air. There are several networking parks on the trade show floor that are perfect places to do this.
- GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show is a great place to meet new people, take advantage of this opportunity and make the
most of it.
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Post event(s) follow-up
- Identify if your objectives
were met.
- Communicate what you learned and experienced to the appropriate
audiences. Consider completing a report for your golf course management
team, your peers and supervisor/employer. Educate them on the trends in golf course management and what
they mean for the profession and your course.
- Share your experience with golfers at your facility. Use the
opportunity to educate them on how your time at conference and
show will enhance the facility. It also presents the opportunity
to talk about any specific projects that you may be managing where
your attendance at conference and show was a benefit.
- Justify that the cost of your attending had a positive effect
for you and your facility. Evaluate if you had not attended, what
would have been the cost and time to achieve the same amount of
business.
- Calculate the amount of money you saved by capitalizing on
show-only specials.
- Fill out the personalized news release. A link will be provided
on www.gcsaa.org in early March 2008 that reflects the Orlando
event.
- You will receive 1.5 education points for participating in
the Full Conference Package. These points can be applied toward application or renewal of Class A membership or the prestigious CGCS classification.
- Mark your calendar to attend future events:
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| If you have a question
about the GCSAA Education Conference or Golf Industry Show,
contact GCSAA at 800-472-7878 or 785-841-2240 or e-mail
to registration@gcsaa.org. |
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