ISPI is glad to have your presentation amongst the exciting line-up for THE Performance Improvement Conference 2012! This page is full of information you may find helpful, especially if this is your first time presenting. We will update this page as new information becomes available so make sure to bookmark it and visit regularly. For Visitors to Canada: Important Travel & VISA Information
USA citizens MUST have a current passport to enter Canada. Don't delay, renew your passport today!
Canadian passport and visa requirements are available at:
http://canada.visahq.com/ Presenter Promotion The best way to enhance presentation turnout is to make sure people know you're presenting! Here are a few suggestions to help you promote your presentation. - Press Release: Use the Speaker Press Release Template and create a press release that can be sent or posted to one or more of the following outlets:
- Clients/friends/colleagues (email or snail mail)
- Blog/newsletter/regular columns/guest authorships/your own website
- Local print/online news media
- Academic institutions if you are faculty (adjunct or regular) or alumni
- Corporate communications department in your own company/military division/nonprofit/etc.
- Your local ISPI chapter
- Social Media: Post messages on your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter accounts about your educational session and include conference links and hashtag, for those of you on Twitter (#ISPI2012), so your associates and friends know where to go to see your presentation. Stop by ISPI's social media pages as well to create a dialog with conference attendees and fellow presenters.
- Email/Website: You can post a link to ISPI's conference at www.ispi.org/AC2012/ or send it to your friends to learn more about your presentation and the many other professionals who will be in attendance.
- Conference Invitation: Time running short? If you would like ISPI to send a one-time email invitation to attend the conference and your session to your customers, clients, colleagues, and friends, send your list to April Davis at adavis@ispi.org by Friday, February 17, 2012. We ask that you send your list as an excel document with the following fields: First Name, Last Name, Company, and Email Address.
Conference Bookstore As a service to conference attendees and presenters, BreakPoint Books will host ISPI's onsite conference bookstore, and we welcome book submissions from our presenters. If you would like to submit your book to be considered for inclusion, please download, complete and return the request form (Word) to conference@ispi.org no later than Friday, February 17. If you have a co-presenter, please be sure to include their books. We will make our best effort to include books from as many speakers as possible. Please note all authors must work through the bookstore to sell their products. Presenter Registration Information All presenters must register for the conference and pay the appropriate registration fee. All registered attendees will receive confirmation of their registration either by mail or email. Presenters should stop by the onsite ISPI Registration Desk to pick up registration materials including attendee bags, badges, and a copy of the final conference program. Please contact the ISPI Conference Department with any questions at 301.587.8570 or email conference@ispi.org. Session Materials, Handouts & Submission Guidelines In a effort to have continuity to the look for our presentations throughout the conference, ISPI has provided a PowerPoint template. We would ask you, if possible, to adhere to this design format for your presentation. At the very least, you must use the introduction slide template (slide #1). As a service to our speakers and attendees, ISPI will duplicate educational session handouts (on average, 40), if you submit your handout by the Friday, March 16 deadline. Regardless of whether you would like ISPI to create the handout copies, all conference presenters MUST submit an electronic copy of their handout no later than March 16, 2012. These electronic files will be made available to attendees before the conference.
Please email Ellen Kaplan, Director of Meetings, ellenk@ispi.org your session handout, if you want ISPI to duplicate your handout for your session, OR let her know via email ("WILL MAKE MY OWN COPIES") you will provide your own session handouts (recommend 40 copies). Note: You are still required to submit an electronic file by March 16. - All handout files must be in black and white.
- Presenters may submit ONE handout file per educational session for duplication saved as an Adobe (PDF) file. Please label your file with the lead presenters last name and the day the session will take place. For example: KaplanTues.pdf.
- DO NOT PASSWORD PROTECT FILES.
- Do not include any hyper link references in your file and try to avoid heavy backgrounds.
IMPORTANT! ROUNDTABLE PRESENTERS: Handouts for our roundtable programs (Chat 'n Chew and Anniversary Barrel) are usually a quick 1-2 page take away or job aid. Note: No cover page is necessary.
HANDOUT PICK UP: Presenters conducting a 90-minute educational session should pick up copies of their handout at the ISPI registration desk in Toronto. Handouts for presenters participating in the Chat 'n Chew or Anniversary Barrel will be delivered to the appropriate roundtable by a conference volunteer. LEFTOVER HANDOUTS: If you have handouts remaining after your presentation, you can leave them on the handout table in the Community Center. Our participants love to pick up information from sessions they were unable to attend. A standard cover sheet provided by ISPI below must be the first page of your handout. It should include the following information: your name, the title of your session, and the day and time for your presentation. Follow these easy steps to prepare and submit your handout. - Your ONE handout file may only consist of a maximum of 10 black and white, single sided, 8 1/2" x 11" pages. If you exceed the 10 page limit, ONLY copies of the first 10 pages will be made and distributed to conference attendees.
- Your handout must be free of promotional material, however, you may include personal contact information as long as you do not exceed the 10 page limit.
- Please include space for note taking.
Contact Ellen Kaplan, ISPI Director of Meetings with any questions at ellenk@ispi.org. Please note: A photocopier will not be available to duplicate session handouts or for other photocopying need. However, the hotel has a business center where photocopies can be made. The business center is offering ISPI attendees at special rate of $.12 per impression for black and white and $.48 per impression color. Also for larger jobs or for special printing needs, they can provide a custom rate quote on an individual basis. Presenter Ready Room ISPI will offer an area during the conference where presenters may do any last-minute preparations. The room will offer roundtables and a flip chart/markers. Your Session - What to Expect While we can not predict the exact number of attendees for your session, attendance generally ranges from 25-40 participants. Generally, presenters have access to their assigned meeting room at least 20 minutes prior to the start of their session. All meeting rooms for 90-minute educational sessions will be set theatre style with the following audiovisual equipment. - LCD Projector
- Screen
- Flip Chart & Markers
- Wired Lavaliere (depending on room size)
- Presenters must bring their own computers loaded with any necessary software. ISPI does not provide laptop computers.
Please contact ellenk@ispi.org if you have any specific room set requirements for your session. Presenters may double-check their requested audiovisual support onsite at the conference registration desk. ISPI may not always be able to accommodate last minute changes or additions, therefore we strongly discourage this. Internet service is not provided. Bring print outs or screen shots of any web demonstration you wish to provide via the web. IMPORTANT! ROUNDTABLE PRESENTERS: There is no audio-visual equipment provided for our roundtable programs (Chat 'n Chew and Anniversary Barrel). A table-top display board could be beneficial, but you will not have access to flip charts or easels for these programs. Session Monitors ISPI assigns a volunteer monitor to a set of meeting rooms. This volunteer will assist with the collection of evaluation forms, check with presenters to ensure they have everything necessary for their presentation prior to the start time, and assist with the distribution of speaker handout material as needed. Tips For A Successful Presentation Check out these tips to help you deliver a fabulous presentation. - Preparation: A successful presentation begins well in advance of your session date. Please ensure your materials are onsite and ready for your session, compile and submit your handout to ISPI by March 16, and ship any materials you require for your session directly to the hotel and to your attention for arrival after April 16.
- Arrive 20 minutes prior to your session to settle in and set up.
- Connect with the onsite ISPI volunteer monitoring your room.
- Introduce yourself to your audience.
- Speak clearly and repeat any attendee question.
- Begin and end your session on time.
- Ask the attendees what they expect from your session. Generate questions in advance so that you can meet their expectations.
- Factor in time for questions.
- If you require technical assistance with equipment or general assistance, convey the issue to your volunteer session monitor who will take action to remedy the situation.
- Refrain from making negative remarks against other organizations, individuals, or presenters.
- Handouts may be useful during your session but often the best handouts are ones attendees can refer to long after your session ends.
- Be sure to include key points, summaries, bibliographies or other resources attendees can reference once they are back in their offices.
- Encourage attendees to complete the session evaluation form.
- Thank your attendees for their attention!
To help ensure you have a successful presentation the following resources are available: Shipping If you would like to ship materials for your session or workshop in advance, boxes may not arrive before April 16, 2012. If you ship anything to the hotel in advance, you will be responsible for obtaining the box upon your arrival. Please note: The hotel may post a handling fee to your guestroom for receiving packages for which you are responsible. Click here for the Sheraton's shipping & receiving policy/pricing. Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
123 Queen Street West
Toronto, Ontario M5H 2M9
Canada
Hold for the arrival of <Your Name Here> on <Your Date of Arrival>
Phone: 01-416-361-1000
Toll-Free: 1-800-325-3535 (USA & Canada)
Calling All Presenters! ISPI invites conference presenters to present your conference session at an ISPI Chapter meeting in an effort to provide ISPI chapter groups with quality programming material. ISPI has nearly 30 chapters all over the world. Chapter meetings take place at various times throughout the year. Please contact ISPI HQ at 301.587.8570. If you would like to be added to our preferred speaker list, kindly state if you would be willing to offer your expertise as a professional courtesy or if you would require speaking and/or travel reimbursement. This information will be shared with ISPI chapters worldwide! |