SITE’s Fabulous Annual Conference is just two short weeks away and if for some reason you haven’t gotten your registration or hotel taken care of, time is running out.

You won’t want to miss the incredible program; great keynote speakers, in depth learning labs, and the real world concurrent sessions.

You won’t want to miss the great networking events; the opening dinner on the Lake, the exhibit hall reception and events, line dancing at the closing banquet (and lots of surprises), risk management tours and so much more.

But most of all you won’t want to miss the rest of your colleagues and friends who are coming to learn, to share and to experience everything SITE.

Sign up today so we won’t miss you! Go to the website for all the details www.insurancetrainers.org.

MAXIMIZE YOUR TIME AT CONFERENCE
There is so much to do at SITE’s Conference, and when its over, you’ll wonder where the time went! Just so you can make the best of your experience, here are some tips.

First Time Attendees will get a great welcome and overview of what to expect at the First Timer’s Coffee. This is a good time to ask questions, meet other new attendees and hook up with seasoned “guides” to give you special attention. Family members who are attending will have a special Family Orientation to help make their trip a great vacation while you are in sessions.

Plan your Program. Visit the Daily Schedule on SITE’s website to narrow down the many choices of learning experiences available to you during your stay. If you have more than one attendee from your company, you may want to split up so you can benefit from a wider variety of our exciting workshops and labs. Be sure to check the "Pre-Work" tab at the SITE conference website for sessions that have helpful resources for you to review prior to the conference. Watch for a special pre-conference e-mail confirming your Monday session selection and providing more information about pre-work.

Explore Austin. Our hotel concierges provide several overviews of the City and environs to let you know about special things to visit while you are in the area.

Network with your peers. A whole host of special activities are scheduled throughout the conference to encourage new friendships and renew old ones. From the opening night festivities, breakfasts, regional meetings, risk management tours, Exhibit Hall Cocktail reception, Dine A Rounds, closing banquet and so much more. There are lots of opportunities to get to know your fellow members and create lasting relationships.

Participate in SITE Activities all year. At the Regional Breakfasts you will get a wonderful opportunity to meet your RVP, other SITE Officers and participate in the planning of events that are meaningful for you and your companies. In addition, SITE has a booth at the Exhibit Hall and the Registration Desk is staffed to give you lots of information about what our Society has to offer during the entire Society year.

Get to know SITE’s sponsors at the Exhibit hall. This is a special time to meet the companies who support SITE and learn about their products and services. Be sure to view their 99 Seconds Videos and vote for your favorite. There will be a raffle for a great prize for those who vote. AND, make sure to visit each booth, get great information and fill out your BINGO card for a chance to win a fabulous prize!

Support our Charity. Each year SITE selects a local charity and sponsors a Silent Auction for items created and donated by SITE members and all proceeds benefit their activities. It’s all for a worthy cause and you may come home with a special item for yourself or a special someone. Stop by the Charity booth!

Information on demand is available throughout the Conference. Start at the Registration Booth for your comprehensive Conference packet, visit the SITE Booth in the Exhibit Hall, and reach out to anyone wearing a Volunteer Badge. We are here to make your time the best ever.

So much to share, and so many wonderful opportunities to share with you. Be ready for the best professional development meeting you have ever experienced!

Don’t forget to check out the Silent Auction items at the SITE 2012/Austin Children’s Shelter booth during conference. Also, it’s not too late to donate! If you have items that you would like to donate for the auction, contact Phyl Turrentine at phyl.turrentine.bog5@statefarm.com.

On June 30, 2011, SITE Connect will sunset. This past February, the SITE Board of Directors researched the vendor costs in relation to the membership usage and voted to discontinue the SITE Connect contract.

We want to thank Sandy Masters and all the Ambassadors for their contributions to SITE Connect since its implementation in 2008.

You can now connect with SITE members and others in the insurance training profession via our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.

If you have any questions, you may contact Brad Gutcher at GUTCHEB@nationwide.com.

SITE Board of Directors

Judy Durst, Director of Education with Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers, NH, recently hosted and participated in our TtT program in Concord. See what Judy says about her experience:

We have two additional programs planned as follows. Click and register to join us!

Date: September 27-30, 2011
Location: Indianapolis, IN - Liberty Mutual
Register now!

Date: September 27-30, 2011
Location: Irving, TX - NetVU & State Farm
Register now!

Beginning in August SITE will have a new line-up of educational topics and informative presenters for the 2011-2012 year. If you like to plan ahead, mark your calendar with these dates:

"Get Connected with SITE" - Do you have insurance trainer friends you know who should become a member of SITE? Invite them to attend a special webinar introducing them to the many educational benefits and opportunities to volunteer and get involved with fellow insurance training professionals. Brad Gutcher - Nationwide Insurance, incoming VP Member Services will host this recurring event on these dates: 8/3/11, 10/5/11, 12/7/11, 2/1/12, 4/4/12, 6/6/12. Check the website events calendar for registration links or watch for registration information in the bi-weekly SITE "News You Can Use" (NYCU).

"SITE Roundtable" - The SITE Roundtable events use a facilitated discussion approach. Generally, these webinars include SITE members sharing information about their own best practices, projects and case studies. A survey of registered attendees is completed and a SITE member guest presenter interacts with other SITE members during the program. Hosted by Ken Swymer - Liberty Mutual, the dates for this year's events are: 8/19/11, 9/23/11, 10/21/11, 11/18/11, 12/16/11, 1/27/12, 2/17/12, 3/23/12, 4/20/12, 5/18/12. If you would like to be a guest presenter, or if you have an idea for a good roundtable topic contact Ken Swymer - kenneth.swymer@libertymutual.com

"SITE Sponsored Webinars" - The SITE Sponsored Webinars use an expert presentation approach and may include a special member or non-member guest sharing educational content valuable for insurance trainers. These webinars are generally scheduled monthly September - May. Read the bi-weekly SITE NYCU for details on upcoming events or visit the website events calendar for registration links. New topics and presenters are added monthly. SITE sponsored webinars attempt to satisfy the diverse education needs of our membership. Selections of topics and presenters are based on the May 2011 SITE member survey results. If you have an idea for a topic or presenter contact Sandra Masters - sandramasters@cox.net

School may be out for summer, but you can continue to learn by visiting the SITE website event archives. View this recording, and download the handouts for another popular SITE webinar:

"Solutions to Five Common Insurance Trainer PowerPoint Challenges" with Dave Paradi – ThinkOutSideTheSlide.com presented on 1/20/11