How to Get Employer Support for Attendance
Attending the AOTA 92nd Annual Conference & Expo will be your best and most cost-effective professional development in 2012. You have the chance to spend four exceptional days in quality learning for you and for your employer and earn up to 24 contact hours.
Here are important tips on making a strong business case for employer support!
- Answer these questions—
- What are my organization’s most important issues or plans?
- What is my role in dealing with these issues or reaching the plan goals?
- What Conference sessions and networking opportunities would support my role and contribute to my organization?
- Prepare an estimate of costs—airfare, hotel, meals, transportation, etc.
- Plan back-up for your work while you are away.
- Write all this information down and make a clear case as to why your attendance would be a good investment to you and your organization.
- Present it to your employer, in person if at all possible.
- Remember to meet with your employer early! Last-minute requests aren’t the best way to go and both AOTA membership and early registration will save your company money. If you don’t get an answer right away, follow up quickly with your employer.
Are you not yet a member of AOTA? Then, make sure your employer knows that you can save on both joining AOTA and registering for Conference at the same time. See “A Special Message for Nonmembers.”
Then, once you have been approved and attend Conference, be sure to follow through with the plan you made—take notes, connect with others, and take home helpful materials and products.
And, be sure to share what you have learned with your employer!
