GENERAL

What is a hybrid conference?
A hybrid conference allows remote attendees the ability to access live onsite presentations and events from the convenience of your home or office. The Virtual Annual Meeting will include education sessions by way of video footage live from Los Angeles to give attendees the same opportunity to learn and engage with the presenters to achieve the same educational outcomes as onsite attendees.

Why is ASAE & The Center offering the 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition as a hybrid conference?
We are responding to our members’ needs for ways to learn and connect with peers and suppliers virtually.

Do you have a demonstration I can view?
We encourage you to view the demonstration of this exciting experience.

What programming will be available virtually?
The Virtual Annual Meeting will feature program tracks that cover topics such as social media and web innovation, marketing and membership, governance and board relations, meetings, leadership and more.

Attendees will be able to participate in any of the preselected 24 education sessions that will be streamed live via video. These sessions include the 3 general sessions, 9 thought leader sessions and 12 learning lab sessions. Attendees will also have access to various events designed specifically for the Virtual Annual Meeting as well as online networking opportunities.

Each education session will be streamed live via video and the audio will stream through your computer’s speakers. Attendees will also be able to access upwards of 70 on-demand learning lab sessions. These sessions will be recorded onsite and made availa ble to the virtual attendee via audio synch-to-slide. All on-demand archives can be accessed from August 22, 2010 through November 2010 and are downloadable.

What live sessions will be participating in the Virtual Annual Meeting?
You’ll find the Virtual Annual Meeting program guide filled with premier general session speakers and thought leaders, plus Learning Labs designed to give you concepts and skills that will pay off immediately in your job role.

What will I miss by attending virtually instead of in person?
One limitation of a Virtual Annual Meeting is the lack of face-to-face opportunities. Yet there is a convenience of attending a virtual event that will explore current trends and learn firsthand what associations the world over are doing to stay ahead. Plus while participating in the Virtual Annual Meeting you can network with other industry colleagues through pre-scheduled and open-ended networking events.

What will the Virtual Annual Meeting look like?
Attendees will experience a virtual environment similar to a real-life convention hall. In addition to the main lobby, attendees will be able to navigate to an auditorium, networking lounge, a resource center.

Who can attend the Virtual Annual Meeting?
The Annual Meeting & Exposition is open to association professionals, federal government employees, higher education educators, independent consultants, corporate meeting planners, and attorneys. Meeting registration is not open to industry partners. Participation eligibility mirrors our on-site registration guidelines. ASAE & The Center reserve the right to refuse ineligible registrations. Please do not hesitate to contact Joy Mason (jmason@asaecenter.org) with any questions or concerns regarding this policy.

What if I'm already attending the 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition?
Attendees may purchase separate access to the Virtual Annual Meeting to enjoy the many benefits the virtual experience has to offer. Including access to the 24 live sessions and their corresponding archive, virtual attendees will be able to access up to 70 on-demand recordings from the learning labs that will be as an audio synch-to-slide archive. All content is accessible from August - November.

What do I need to do before I attend?
Approximately one week before the live Annual Meeting & Exposition begins virtual attendees will be granted access to the live online environment. We recommend that attendee’s login into the environment during this orientation period in order to acquaint themselves with the technology, schedule of events, networking opportunities and updating one’s profile. Following registration attendee’s will receive email communications from ASAE explaining in detail what one most know to enjoy a successful event.

What times zones are your sessions listed?
Unless indicated differently, all sessions and events are reflected in Pacific Time.

REGISTRATION

How do I register for the Virtual Annual Meeting?
Online: www.asaecenter.org/VirtualAnnualMtg
Phone: 888-950-ASAE (2723) or 202-371-0940 in Washington, DC (8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. EST)

What are the registration costs for an attendee?
Member (includes member consultant): $595
Non-member (includes non-member consultant): $795 (a one year membership is included)

Do you provide special group pricing or scholarships?
Not at this time.

Can I have others join me during the program?
No. The Virtual Annual meeting is copyrighted by ASAE & The Center. To “sell” seats to others violates our policy.

Can I pay the registration fee and charge other ASAE & The Center members, chapters or affiliates to attend in my conference room?
No.  The Virtual Annual meeting is copyrighted by ASAE & The Center.  To “sell” seats to others violates our policy.

What is included in the registration?
Attendees will be able to participate in any of the preselected 24 education sessions that will be streamed live via video. These sessions include the 3 general sessions, 9 thought leader sessions and 12 learning lab sessions. Attendees will also have access to various events designed specifically for the Virtual Annual Meeting as well as online networking opportunities.

Each education session will be streamed live via video and the audio will stream through your computer’s speakers. Attendees will also be able to access upwards of 70 on-demand learning lab sessions. These sessions will be recorded onsite and made available to the virtual attendee via audio synch-to-slide. All on-demand archives can be accessed from August 22, 2010 through November 2010 and are downloadable.

Will I receive a registration confirmation? 
You will receive an electronic confirmation of your registration from ASAE & The Center upon completion of your order, and additional confirmation reminders prior to the start of the program.

What if I do not receive my email confirmation after registering for the course?
If you do not receive your email confirmation 24 to 48 hours following registration, please contact our Member Service Center at 888-950-ASAE (2723) or 202-371-0940 in Washington, DC (8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. EST) or by sending an email to member@asaecenter.org.

Although ASAE & The Center will make every attempt to contact registrants, we cannot be held responsible for undelivered email notifications. We highly recommend that registrants contact us immediately if email correspondence has not been received.

What can I expect after I register for the Virtual Annual Meeting?
Registrants will receive an email confirmation 24 to 48 hours following registration. As the live event approaches registrants will receive additional email communications preparing them for the event.

Will you publish an attendee roster?
ASAE & The Center’s Member Service Center must receive your registration no later than one week prior to the meeting date to be listed in the official pre-registered roster. An up-to-date roster will be posted within one week after program completion.

What is your cancellation policy?
Registrants the cancel in writing before August 13, 2010, you will be refunded your registration fee after a $75 administrative charge. Cancellations not received by the date required will not be eligible for a refund. No-shows will not be refunded. Cancellation requests should be sent to registration@asaecenter.org.

Is this included in my organization’s Circle Club membership? 
Call your organization’s Circle Club (CC) concierge to register. Interested in a Circle Club membership? Call one of our managers at 202-326-9518 or email concierge@asaecenter.org.

Does ASAE & The Center offer a full money back guarantee?
You bet. Our guarantee states that: “Our goal is to provide truly exceptional offerings and service, and we won’t be happy until you are. If any programs, products, or services of ASAE & The Center do not fulfill our promise, we will make the situation right or refund your money.”

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

What are the Technical Requirements?
Before registering for the Virtual Annual Meeting, please test your computer(s) by following the instructions below. If you have problems or require additional compatibility information please view these computer tips: https://presentations.inxpo.com/SharedContent/HTML/Computer_Tips/ComputerTips.htm. You must run these tests on every computer that you will use to access the conference (i.e. both your work and home computer).

To interact with the online environment requires:

• a Windows PC with Internet Explorer 6.0 minimum, or Firefox 3.0 to 3.0.19 and 3.6. Mac with Firefox 3.0 to 3.0.19 and 3.6 and Safari 3.1 or higher are also supported. We support Windows XP and Windows Vista on PCs. Leopard, Tiger, and Snow Leopard are supported on Macs. Linux Fedora Core 10 is also supported operating systems.
• Macromedia Flash Player 10 or higher is required.
• Access to the internet using high speed access (Cable, DSL, Network) is highly recommended for the overall environment and is required for all presentations. Pop-up blockers must also be disabled and cookies and JavaScript should be enabled.  On entering the show, a system check is run which will identify computer requirements that need to be addressed to interact with the online show. It is recommended to view the environment with the display resolution of 1024 x 768. To run the system check, click here.

Do I need a microphone or camera?
The webcasts do not require participants to have microphones or cameras. You do need speakers or headphones, however, to hear the speakers. You will be able to submit questions and share ideas and resources by entering them during the live event in a specified chat box that you will see on screen.

How can I make sure I receive all conference emails from you and they do not get blocked by my spam filters?
To ensure an attendee receives all important emails from the show email address, you should “whitelist” that email address. This is the fancy word for “add to safe senders list.” However, different email providers have different steps to do this, and the following link gives step by step instructions for the major email providers. If your email provider is not listed, you should contact them directly and ask how to whitelist an email address.

Can I participate in the event with a PC which is behind our corporate firewall?
Yes, but there are a few things that you should check to make sure that you have access to the full virtual experience and all important functionalities. Please click the link to run our Port Checker, a tool designed to check if the correct ports on your firewall are opened properly. Port Checker Link: https://vts.inxpo.com/scripts/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;O:PortChecker.htm.

If any of the tests should fail, please contact your IT administrator and ask them to remedy the issue. Here is a troubleshooting guide you can provide to that individual that will explain which ports need to be opened. Troubleshooting Guide

What is 508 compliance and does ASAE & the Center provide this service in its Virtual Annual Meeting? 
“In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an individual's ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals.” See www.Section508.gov

ASAE & The Center is working closely with our technology partners to ensure a successful and enjoyable experience for all our virtual attendees. As part of this experience, each session will be recorded and a written transcript of the session will be made available to all virtual attendees.

PARTICIPATING

What days and times will the Virtual Annual Meeting be live?
The live Virtual Annual Meeting officially begins on August 21, 2010 and continues through August 24, 2010. The live sessions include (all times reflected in Pacific Time):

3 General Sessions:

• Sunday, August 22nd; 8:30 – 9:45 a.m.: Seven Lessons for Leading in Crisis
• Monday, August 23rd; 3:00 – 4:15 p.m.: A View of the Industry – A Celebration and Future Focus!
• Tuesday, August 24th; 12:15 – 2:15 p.m.: Mojo: How to Get it, How to Keep it, How to Get it Back if You Lose it

21 Thought Leader and Education Sessions:

• Sun 8/22: 1:30 – 2:45; 3:15 – 4:30
• Mon 8/23: 8:30 – 9:45; 1:30 – 2:45
• Tues 8/24: 9:00 – 10:15, 10:45 – 12:00

Will the event material be available after the live event?
All conference material will remain available for registered attendees at no additional costs from August 2010 through November 2010. All on-demand archives can be accessed during this time and are downloadable. There will be up to 70 on-demand learning lab sessions available to the virtual attendee through November 2010.

How can I become a presenter/speaker at the Virtual Annual Meeting?
Speakers have been previously selected for the Virtual Annual Meeting. However, we’re always looking for great session ideas and dynamic presenters. Do you have a topic and want to share it with us? Simply fill out our program proposal form and your session may be selected to join us online in a future hybrid conference.

EDUCATION

How were the education sessions selected? 
Sessions were selected from the previously selected speaker/sessions from the onsite Annual Meeting and based on content applicable to the majority of our virtual audience.

What can I expect during the education sessions?
During each session, you will hear and interact with our presenters and your colleagues from around the world. Each session includes opportunities to ask questions in real time, and share experiences, resources and ideas with other participating colleagues.

Will I earn CAE hours? 
Full participation in the live Virtual Annual Meeting during August 21-24, 2010 is eligible for up to 12 CAE credits. Partial participation is calculated on an hour for hour basis; One clock hour is equal to one CAE credit. Only live participation is eligible for CAE credit; audio/video recordings of this meeting are not eligible for CAE credit.

How can I access handouts?
Session handouts will be made available to all attendees via download within the Virtual Annual Meeting.

CONTACT US

Who should I contact for additional questions?

• Registration? Please contact our please contact our Member Service Center at 888-950-ASAE (2723) or 202-371-0940 in Washington, DC (8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. EST) or by sending an email to registration@asaecenter.org.
• Education? Please contact our learning department by sending an email to centeru@asaecenter.org
• Media Inquiries? Please contact Jakub Konysz, our manager of public relations at jkonysz@asaecenter.org

SOCIAL MEDIA

Can I follow the Virtual Annual Meeting on Twitter ? 
Yes! If you are you planning on twittering from the 2010 Virtual Annual Meeting, add your Twitter ID to our interactive Twitter Roll. Or just keep up on the Tweets here.

OTHER

What is ASAE & The Center’s privacy policy?
We understand privacy is important to our members and strictly adhere to our written privacy policy.