Attending conferences can be great learning and networking experiences, but they can also end up being a missed opportunity, expensive and a waste of time. With the 2010 ONPHA (Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association) Conference coming up on November 19, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your conference experience.

Prior to Attending a Conference

• Book a room at the conference’s preferred hotel: If you’re coming from out of town, this will enhance your opportunities to meet new people, network and expand on your learning beyond the sessions.
• Don’t forget your business cards: Business cards help other attendees remember you, and provide them with a way to maintain contact after the conference is over.
• Be prepared to provide an overview on your organization: When you are at the conference, you are a representative of your organization and, as such, may be asked to informally summarize your organization’s core mandate or speak to its current business activities. You can prepare yourself by reviewing key business materials produced by your organization (e.g. its website, strategic plan, annual report, overview presentations).

At the Conference

• Are you going for professional development or on behalf of the organization? There is a difference in terms of expectations on what you’ll bring back. With the latter, you will likely be expected to report back to your colleagues. Take notes, pick up materials from information sessions and plan your report back. This might take the form of a short email, a lunch and learn session, or a powerpoint presentation on the conference highlights.
• Don’t travel in a herd: Though it may feel comfortable to stick together with colleagues, you should try to make a conscious effort at splitting up so you take advantage of the opportunity to network and have discussions with others.
• Remember that the presenters aren’t the only source of learning: Pay attention to those who ask questions at the conference sessions. You may want to approach them after to continue the discussion. Conferences are as much about learning from peers as they are from the presentations.
• Attend the receptions or meet and greets: This is a great way to network, and continue discussions from the sessions you attended. While these functions are informal, it’s important to maintain a professional demeanor since you are representing your organization.
• Collect business cards and write down on them a line or two about your interaction with the person: This will give you the opportunity to follow up after the conference. A quick note on the back of the business card will remind you who the person is and help them remember you.

After the Conference

• Debrief with other colleagues that attended: Meet with your co-workers who attended sessions you were not present at, so you can share and discuss what each of you learned.
• Follow up with people you met at the conference: ‘Loose’ connections are often the most helpful because they don’t know the same people you know and may have business insights you don’t have access to. Consider maintaining your connections with business social networking sites like linkedin.com
• Share knowledge with colleagues that didn’t attend: To maximize the knowledge you gained at the conference, consider preparing a report or presentation on what you learned.

Keep these tips in mind when attending your next conference and you will take full advantage of your time while you’re there.

I was fortunate to be able to chair a session at the ONPHA conference on Sunday entitled Recruitment and Retention: Changing the “Image” of Social Housing. Our presenters for this session were excellent, but the real stars of the show were the conference participants that asked some great questions and offered insightful feedback.

Presenters from left: Neville McGuire, Michael Buzzelli, Merv Huges and Dave Colangelo

One of the best ideas was to establish an undergraduate housing essay competition. Not only would this motivate students at the undergraduate level to think and write about housing, it would also be an excellent public relations opportunity for a sector that could use a bit of good press. A bursary for students in financial need studying housing could also work in the same way. For the past three years SHSC has helped to fund and manage a research internship program for MA and PhD level students. You can see their work here.

A number of participants also mentioned the importance of involving tenants in the operation of their own housing. Who better to manage housing than someone who knows the place from the inside? This is a model that has quite a bit of traction in the UK (eg. Tenant Participation Advisory Service, Tenant Services Authority) and something that we could definitely use more of in Canada.

Fittingly, the conference wrapped up with awards for a group of tenants that had made outstanding contributions where they live. One of GLOBE’s Community Champions, Lynn Wood from Richview Residence, received an award.

If you have some examples of how tenants have made where they live a great place to live, or if you have ideas on how we can further engage tenants in the provision of housing, post a comment!