Some of the "Plus" items from 2008:

• Conference coordinator and conference presenters stated that having technical support available was very helpful 
• Last year we got the training rooms free for guaranteeing sleeping rooms.  The only thing we had to pay for was the food.  We guaranteed 40 rooms and easily met that with only about 75 people attending last year.  We brought in our own tehnical equipment. 

From closing +/∆ session:

3 tracks

Usb stick with information on it

Lunch/meals together

2nd convening

Networking opportunities

Leftover handouts

Ice breaker – streetcar exercise

Location close to fun stuff

Packet-nice graphics and information

Computer workshops

Virtual technology

Staff available for specific tasks

Incredible bargain

Keynote speaker awesome

All speakers awesome

Inviting and welcoming non-west coast people

Wealth of information present

Loved resource room

Some of the "Delta" items

• For hosts:  Find out requirements of your purchase orders for hotel rooms, training rooms, food, equipment, etc.  In order to only have to do one purchase order, find out if your organization allows language that is flexible on money totals.  I found that I had to change #s for food at the last minute and so then had to update the purchase order a few times because the amount was fixed and not flexible. In our organization it takes weeks or days to get a purchase order approved. (Nancy Kail (760) 757-1592)
•  

From closing +/∆ session

Healthy afternoon snacks (fruit)

More directional signs

More differentiation in workshop descriptions

Provide materials for flashdrive downloading

Have handouts available from all workshops

All materials available on cd

Reconvene ‘street car’ folks at end of conference for networking

More interactive workshops

Workshops longer or less material to be covered

“Technology Café” practice/support area

Box for recycling materials

Activity for ‘solo flyers’; open dinner

Website or other contact point for retrieving information/materials

Hosted “wiki”

Worry less about a "key note" address and focus on an Introduction Activity