The Whys and Hows of Hosting a NAACO Regional Meeting
Have you attended a NAACO annual conference and wished you could share the enthusiasm and great ideas with colleagues from you area?
Have you heard your peers talking about the innovative solutions they discovered while talking to other commencement/convocation organizers at the NAACO annual conference?
Have you been looking for professional development opportunities in your geographic area that address your unique concerns as a commencement/convocation organizer?
Have you thought about hosting a NAACO Regional Meeting?
Benefits of Hosting a Regional Meeting:
- Share “best practices” with colleagues from neighboring institutions
- Be seen as a leader and catalyst for building community and expanding the information pool for your regional colleagues.
- Host colleagues at your institution to showcase your facilities and share your ideas
- Help generate regional solutions to region-specific issues and challenges
- Plan an event that is offered free of charge to all participants with very minimal cost to your institution. NAACO will cover many of the expenses.
How Do I Get Started?
- Talk to friends and colleagues at neighboring institutions to assess their interest and to develop your invitation list.
- Complete and submit an Application to Host a NAACO Regional Meeting
- The NAACO Executive Board will evaluate your application and the Regional Meeting Coordinator will help you plan your event.
What are My Responsibilities as a Host Institution?
- Submit an application to the NAACO Regional Coordinator.
- Work with the Regional Coordinator to finalize a date, develop a budget, and plan a program. (Information on the expenses that will be covered by NAACO is available from the Regional Coordinator.)
- Arrange for a meeting room with appropriate AV equipment and make luncheon arrangements. Coordinate parking, room set-ups, and catering arrangements.
- Reserve a block of sleeping rooms at a local hotel for meetings that will attract out-of-town participants.
- Work with the Regional Coordinator to develop a program, finalize an agenda and lunch session assignments.
- Send invitations, track registrations, and send confirmation packets.
- Prepare handouts and meeting materials.
- Provide staff to conduct the meeting check-in and on-site assistance throughout the meeting.
- Keep receipts and submit approved expenses for reimbursement from NAACO.
- Enjoy networking with your commencement/convocation colleagues!
What will be provided by NAACO?
- Planning assistance from the Regional Coordinator.
- Access to mailing lists of NAACO member institutions in your area.
- Reimbursement for many meeting-related expenses including (but not limited to) food, materials, site-related costs, and postage.
- A NAACO Executive Board member will attend your regional meeting to help facilitate the program, serve as a resource, and provide information on the Association.
- Members of the NAACO Corporate Board will be informed of dates and locations for Regional Meetings and will be encouraged to send a representative to serve as a resource for your participants.
For More Information, Contact
Fred Wittmann,
Director, Ceremonies and Special Events
University of North Dakota
and
Director at Large, NAACO Executive Board and
Interim NAACO Regional Coordinator
264 Centennial Drive, Stop 7140
Grand Forks, ND 58202
Phone: (701) 777-4267
FAX: (701) 777-2596 fredwittmann@mail.und.nodak.edu
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