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Why Attend?
Leanna Lindquist, DTM, PDD
2024-25 Conference Chair
The biggest benefit of attending a conference We each have our
is NETWORKING. No direct message, Zoom, own reasons for attending,
email, or tweet can rival a face-to-face meet but I believe that conference attendance
up. Conferences provide the opportunity to dramatically enhances both your professional
mix and mingle, form new relationships, and and personal development, as well as
strengthen existing ones. providing you with tools and skills that can’t
be taught in-house or online. The focused
People attend conferences because they want nature of learning at a conference allows you
to invest in themselves. At a breakout session, to dig deeper with the understanding of your
you may find yourself sitting next to your next topic of interest.
customer or mentor. A conference provides
a unique opportunity to network and learn I look forward to connecting with old friends,
while having fun. some who I only see once a year at the
conference. Perhaps I will meet someone
There’s nothing like being in a room of open- who will become a lifelong friend.
minded people. Other people who are willing
to take time to learn something new. Other Mark your calendar for May 17th and plan to
people are working to “better” themselves by attend Excellence Amplified, the Annual District
improving their skills and gaining knowledge. 7 Conference. Watch for an email in January
Conferences offer the chance to broaden with all the details and early bird prices.
your horizons and gain an eclectic overview Speakers, contests, and a special dinner
of what’s shaping our future. Who knows – are just some of what you can expect. Take
you might find the solution to a problem or advantage of this opportunity to network and
the inspiration for your next big venture in an grow.
area you least expect it.
“. . . nothing can replace face-to-face meetings for social animals like us. A live concert is better than the DVD
and going to a ball game feels different from watching on TV, even though the view is better on television. We
like to actually be around people who are like us. It makes us feel like we belong. It is also the reason a video
conference can never replace a business trip. Trust is not formed through a screen, it is formed across a table. It
takes a handshake to bind humans . . . and no technology yet can replace that. There is no such thing as virtual
trust.” ~Simon Sinek
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