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URMIA is seeking conference chairs for the 2013 Annual Conference!

Submit Your Application Today - Applications are due 7/31/10 for the 2013 Annual Conference

If you want to show off your city and have great ideas about raising the bar for the annual conference, here is your chance. Conference chairs select and lead a team of professionals in planning the biggest and most visible URMIA event of the year.

Conference chairs are responsible for providing input into the hotel selection, audiovisual, food and beverage selections, special events, and contract negotiations. The URMIA Annual Conference typically moves around the country each year to make it as accessible as possible to the membership. The graphic map above shows recent and future conference locations.

You will recruit and lead a team, the conference committee, that will:

  • develop the conference theme
  • develop and implement the marketing strategy
  • develop and implement a communications plan
  • prepare and manage the budget
  • set the agenda, speakers, and moderators
  • plan the receptions and gala
  • arrange the golf outing and guest programs
  • work with sponsors and vendors
  • and a lengthy list of “other duties as assigned”

If it sounds like a lot of work, it is. However, these tasks are made much simpler with the help of a great committee of volunteers and the assistance of the URMIA National Office. It is also an excellent opportunity to meet and work closely with URMIA members from around the country.

Things to keep in mind for city selection:

  • Overnight room cost should be affordable to a typical URMIA member (2006=$144, 2007=$169, 2008=$199, 2009=$199, 2010=$199).
  • The hotel/convention center needs to accommodate 550 people for meals and three (minimum) breakout rooms for 175 attendees each; the hotel should have 375 overnight rooms on peak nights.
  • The city should be easy to reach and cost-effective.
  • The city should offer recreational, shopping, cultural, and other points of interest, either in the city or nearby.
  • A golf course should be nearby for the annual tournament.

If you are interested in becoming a chair or co-chair for a future conference, you can submit your application online here or you may contact URMIA at 812-855-6683. Please don't forget to include information describing why you think your city would be a good conference site.

The URMIA National Office will be in touch with you to confirm your application and follow up with any additional questions. The board of directors will consider your proposal at the next board meeting. Please submit your application by July 31, 2010!

Please feel free to contact Jenny Whittington with any questions and/or concerns you may have with regard to chairing a future conference.