ICMA’s 100^th Annual Conference is just around the corner and will be here before you know it.  Will you be coming to join the celebration in Charlotte?  If so – here are a few things to remember as you pull out your suitcase and get ready for the trip…

• Dress in layers -- While Charlotte’s September weather is usually quite pleasant, temperatures inside conference centers can be unpredictable… There is nothing worse than sitting in a great educational session and finding yourself either shivering or burning up!  Better to be safe than sorry.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes -- There are lots of great things to do in Charlotte – restaurants, museums, shopping, etc., and most conference attendees dress in business casual or business attire.  If you don’t want to be limping along or planning where to spend your time based on how far your tired feet will carry you, make sure you bring along a pair of shoes that will serve you well over the course of the trip. 
• Grab a stack of business cards to take with you – you will surely be re-connecting with old friends and colleagues as well as meeting new people who will eventually become old friends or colleagues, so make those interactions count by having your cards on-hand and easily accessible when you need them.
• Take some time before the trip to review the agenda and plan your own individual itinerary – Attending an ICMA conference is like drinking from a fire hose!  There are so many activities packed into such a short time, from educational sessions and networking luncheons to field demonstrations and social gatherings of various state groups or universities, etc.  If you don’t map out where you want to be, and when, you will likely miss out on some great experiences that you could have capitalized on with just a little bit of planning.  (It may also help if you and any co-workers who will be attending coordinate who is going to what sessions so you can get the most bang for your bucks…)
• If you want to arrange specific meet-ups, reach out to friends and colleagues before you go to see if they’re attending so you can plan to connect.  While the ICMA conference will remind you that it’s a small world in many ways, there will be a lot of people there and you will be busy, and you don’t want to leave it to chance to have time with those in your support network who help you re-charge your batteries and renew your passion for public service. 
• Don’t forget to have a little fun!  While the main purpose of the conference is definitely professional development, and we all need to remain mindful of our obligation to maximize the benefits our community will reap by supporting our attendance – both financially and in terms of time away from the office – we also need to remember that all work and no play is a sure-fire recipe for burn-out.  Don’t feel guilty for taking a little bit of time away from the gaggles of ICMA attendees armed with name badges and conference programs to enjoy yourself.  (Note that I said “a little bit” – use good judgment here!)  You’ll be that much more geared up to absorb all of the great information that’s available to you if you grant yourself this flexibility.     

For those first-time attendees or folks for whom it’s been a while since you’ve gotten the opportunity to come, don’t be shy about asking for help, guidance, or advice if you need it.  You’ll be surrounded by a veritable brain-trust of knowledge -- people who have “been there, done that” and who are eager to share.  Don’t waste the opportunity to receive what they have to offer.   

For those seasoned ICMA conference veterans, think back to the first time you attended…  Do you recall those feelings of excitement, stimulation, being overwhelmed, not being able to fit it all in?  Remember what it’s like to be new and potentially unsure, and take the time to introduce yourself to a first-timer, a student, a member of the Next Gen initiative, or a new ICMA member.  It will make a positive impression.  It matters. 

We’re an ICMA family, after all, and the Charlotte conference is in essence a birthday party – celebrating the legacy of 100 years of professional local government management, and the promise of many more.