Planning Your Session

You have been chosen to speak and now it’s time to start planning your session – on your own, with a co-speaker, or on a panel. Every speaker is urged to rehearse the presentation several times in advance of the conference, and to assure that it can be completed in the allotted time.

Coordination with Co-Presenters/Panelist

Sessions with Two or More Presenters

There are several scenarios in which speakers are paired to present on a topic. Some presenters may submit a joint proposal with one or two individuals, the proposal is chosen, and no changes to the presenters or scope of the topic are made by the committee. Some may be paired with a co-presenters who submitted a similar proposal and the committee wants the experience and expertise of both individuals. There are some situations where a presenter’s proposal is chosen and the committee identifies a co-presenter or asks the person who proposed to find a co-presenter who provides a certain perspective. With any of these scenarios – speakers must coordinate and plan the session, materials, and the presentation together. AHLA expects each individual to spend the time necessary meeting with your co-presenters, contributing to the materials, and planning and reviewing the presentation in advance of the conference.

Moderators

In some cases, the session will be structured as a panel with a moderator. It is strongly suggested that the moderator coordinate and contact the participants on their specific panel to discuss the content, focus, and timeframe for each presenter. This ensures there is not overlap or redundant information and that the transition between speakers is seamless. It is also the responsibility of the moderator to coordinate the materials being submitted for the session.

Developing Bullet Points

AHLA includes 4-6 bullet points in the conference brochure for each session. When developing bullet points for your session, you and your co-presenter(s) should ask yourselves the following questions: What do you want participants to be able to take with them as a direct result of attending the session? What does the audience need to know or be able to do to bridge the gap between where they are now and where we want them to be in the future? If participants could learn only three things in this session, what would those be? What would be your take-home messages?

Getting the Word Out

We are always trying to expand the visibility of the conference and the conference speakers as well as increase interaction among attendees and speakers prior to the conference. If you are on AHLA’s Communities, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter, please consider connecting with AHLA and our followers. We find the biggest buzz and best discussions are those initiated by the program’s speakers. Why not start a discussion about what you’ll be covering in your session or what you are looking forward to learning at the program? It’s a great way to create buzz around your presentation and network with your colleagues. Additionally, speakers should use their firm/organizations’ website and marketing tools to promote their participation in the conference and the conference in general to colleagues and clients.