How about Kentucky?

Several things in several of the posts above that I'll try and address:

1. All of our events this year will be our "Expo" model, which is largely focused on the very large Exhibit Hall. In the past, we've had full-blown (even 2-day) conferences with keynotes and a couple of dozen break-out sessions, lunch, etc. -- that's not the model this year.

Want to make sure folks know that before planning a flight and hotel, etc.

We launched that model last year in New England and the reviews were very, very positive. We found that a lot of parents (moms) had trouble committing to the whole-day model, and the Expo is much more flexible. Folks came for 1 hour or 3 hours, morning or afternoon, and could spend as much time as they like/need exploring the hundred+ vendors of all type (arts & enrichment, fundraisers, programs...)

We will be adding some content to the Expo model this year (several rolling discussion sessions with PTO Today staffers right in the Exhibit Hall), but it will not be at all like our full-conference model. The new model is more akin to a "Home Show" or "RV Show" that you might attend at an Expo center -- just instead of RVs, all the stuff to look at and experience and learn about is dedicated to parent group leaders. Lots of energy, tons of prizes and give-aways, and you're virtaully guaranteed to learn first-hand about lots of new things your group could make good use of.

From last year's experience, we know that it's a big improvement for the folks within a couple/3 hours driving distance (and the price is now only $10), but it may well be not as weighty for folks looking to fly in, stay over night, etc.

2. rac76 -- We've been in Nashville the past 2 years and had a ton of attendees from the Atlanta area at both of those events. Sorry we missed you.

3. Has been the case since we started our Live events -- we wish we could be everywhere. Just can't. Thank God the web is always on (and international).

Look forward to seeing lots of folks.

Tim

I have to ask..why are they all in the same area? At least 2 out of the 3 are few hours apart. I could see having one in the northeast, midwest (chicago is perfect), one in the southeast, southwest, and northwest. Not having the only 3 conferences so close with one another. Seriously, could you try to spread them out more next time. Sorry to complain, but I've been really interested in attending a conference, but I live near Atlanta.

I attended a PTO Today conference in the spring in NJ. I only live about 30 minutes away, so lodging was no problem, just drove there in the AM. I did pay for the attendance myself. I found it useful, informative and very rewarding. There were so many peopole there from all over, and we got to share ideas, network from each other and really had a lot of fun. I would highly reccommend them to anyone, new or old, to get a taste of what it is like.

This is a question for everyone who has attended these or PTA conferences. I plan to once again push for our group to include in our budget for us to attend conferences. I'm getting lots of voice from the naysayers and would like to have answers for them , so I need to play devil's advocate here for a minute.
Is there really any benefit to your group and school by attending? Are you learning ideas, tips, etc that you wouldn't have, even from this message board? Do the people who attend stay with the board and/or group so that whatever they did benefit from the conference does indeed get pasted on to the group? Is the enthusiasm felt about these ideas, etc still going strong six months or so after attending? How many of the ideas, etc have you actually implemented in your own group? For those of you who paid out alot of travel money plus fees for registration, etc, was the cost worth it? How many of you paid for all or part of the expense out of pocket and how many had it budgeted in the group?
One of the biggest arguments against this from people in my group, including board members, has been that with the PTOToday conferences in the spring and elections held in May, what if we pay all this money out and the person(s) attending isn't re-elected or chooses to not be involved as they were previously? Any experience with that?
Thank you to everyone for answering these questions truthfully. I really want a strong, positve come back against what they consider to be negatives.

Partner with me to Host a Conference in Houston, Texas It would be a great sucess...Perhaps a one or two day conference...in July....or Early September....Refreshing ideas...for a excited PTO group and potential forming groups to gather information and make contacts...

Hmmm...Tim...Contact me soon to plan for next...
year....Excellent project...Houston, Texas////