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ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 Page 18 Continued on page 19 How to Maximize Value from a Virtual Conference By Todd Ginter, PSAI's Director of Marketing I've written in this space the last couple of newsletters about virtual conferences—what they are and what they look like. With the PSAI moving to a 100 percent virtual event this November, watch this space as I introduce you to the virtual platform we are using and what you can expect when you attend. There will also be articles and posts on our website about what you can expect from the virtual experience and exactly how to use it. But before we get to that, the question many people have as most face-to-face events get moved to a virtual setting is, "Will I get value attending a virtual conference?" One benefit the PSAI has had is seeing how other associations have transitioned to virtual conferences and reading the feedback attendees and exhibitors provided. Even though we are all looking forward to once again meeting in person, people are reporting positive experiences going virtual and they are seeing a real benefit. In many cases, due to the time that has elapsed since we all last met, meeting virtually is also becoming a necessity. Relationship building is still one of the most important parts of being in an association. Today's reality is that not only will the PSAI event this November be virtual, but also the February Convention and Trade Show. While we all hope the COVID-19 pandemic will either ease up or be behind us at some point in 2021, we truthfully just don't know when large gatherings will be safe. That means attending any of the upcoming PSAI conferences will likely be virtual and the event in November will not be a one-time thing. So, attending a virtual conference may be something you do possibly a few times over the next year. If that is the case, let's talk about how you will get value out of it. Let's Recap: What Is a Virtual Conference? First, let me provide a quick recap from my last Association Insight article about how a virtual conference works and what it can offer. A virtual conference is a web-based event that replicates many aspects of a traditional live in-person conference, membership meeting, or trade show. I invite you to read through the article linked above and also look at the screen shot photos of what you can expect to see when attending a virtual conference. Virtual conferences feature multiple sessions (not just a single webinar or webcast) and may include keynote presentations, training and education workshops, discussion areas, social networking opportunities, exhibit areas for vendors, and various other features. Activities in a virtual conference may take place in real time with live people presenting or on demand/ prerecorded content. It is also common for a virtual event to be a combination of both live and prerecorded content. Now that you know what you can expect from a virtual conference, let's move on to tips for attending a virtual conference successfully. Below are five recommendations that will help ensure that you receive value when you attend the PSAI's first virtual conference.