RE: 2014 AIS Convention

["Susan Grigg" <irismom@nc.rr.com>]

Thanks to Andi for bringing up some questions that must be studied by a
Strategic Planning Committee and by the Board. In Region 4 we realized that
our convention plans needed to change or risk becoming ineffective, losing
money for the host group, and fading away. I chaired a committee to study
our regional conventions, spring and fall, and bring suggestions to the
Region 4 Board to help the conventions begin to be more successful. After
much discussion, the committee made these suggestions:
1. Consider what resources the responsible group has for doing the
convention.
2. Be flexible with convention length, content, location, and time of year.
3. Ask for help from other affiliates or persons if the sponsoring affiliate
is small or lacks funds. 
4. The Region should be willing to help finance the convention if the
affiliate cannot meet expenses with the understanding that if a profit is
made, the affiliate will pay back all or part of the loan.
5. If Regional conventions continue, more volunteers will be needed.

I hope more conversation along these lines will help AIS conventions
continue and thrive.
Susan Grigg
AIS Director

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org [mailto:owner-aisdiscuss@aisboard.org]
On Behalf Of andi rivarola
Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 9:55 PM
To: aisdiscuss@aisboard.org
Subject: Re: [AISdiscuss] 2014 AIS Convention

I wanted to let you know that I am a Convention Planner. I've been doing
this job for a non-profit for the last 13 years.

The scope of what I do is much larger and different than AIS's: 4,000 -
5,000 attendance; 1000 volunteers; close to a million-dollar budget; and a
worldwide registration; location always the same. By the way, as the budget
administrator my job is to secure a surplus at the end of every event,
although the goal is not money. We hold simultaneous translations into
German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese as needed every so many years.

When this topic came up here in the AIS Board I decided to observe the
discussion before I shared my thoughts.

Obviously, there are pros and cons to everything, but at the moment it
seems that financial considerations are the most important issues related
to the AIS Convention. At this time it doesn't seem feasible to go from an
all-volunteer convention  to one incorporating at least one paid position.

There's no doubt that there are deep feelings associated with this
discussion, but to me the solution lies within the limits of any goal
setting exercise. To know what needs to be done we first must find out what
we want.

Here are some questions that come to mind:

1- What are the AIS goals for next 10-20-30 years?
2- What is the vision for becoming point #1
3- Most of us won't be here in 20-30 years, how do we see AIS evolving?
4- What are financial, PR, Marketing, Outreach goals in order to achieve
point # 1?
5- Volunteers are a very important part of any non-profit organization, and
if numbers are dwindling, and if it seems that it will continue to be so
what will the organization do?
6- Re: Conventions: what would be best for AIS, local clubs and regions?.
7- Be open to new ideas that meet your needs to achieve #1
8- Example: one large National Convention every two or three years, and a
"AIS-sponsored" local or regional convention every year. Explore all
possibilities.
9- What type of financial support would AIS receive in order to survive and
achieve point #1, and how will that happen?
10- Why does AIS hold an annual Convention? What is the main purpose or
goal?
11- Would a paid convention planner achieve the main convention goal, and
would it be more successful?

It is important for the Board to know where the organization is heading in
order to implement changes.

Hope this helps.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Andi Rivarola
AIS Social Media Manager
AIS Board Member

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