Re: State Conference Ideas

[Guest guest]

I am the Conference Committee Coordinator for the Wisconsin Physical

Therapy Association. We have tried a number of fun, social events at out

conferences (we hold one in the Spring and one in the Fall). We have had

mixed results, primarily due to attendance. Many people choose to go home

at the end of the day rather than stay for evening entertainment. Some of

the things we have done which have been successful are country line dance

(we had a couple come in and teach us some dances). The event was held in

a barn-like building and the menu was cowboy food (beans, ya know!). We

had a Cruise Party where we had deck games and everyone was attired in

cruisewear. The event included an On-Deck Horse Race where teams could

purchase a horse (hobby horse) for $100 and then " raced " on a game

board-like course. The profits from the horse sales and betting was

donated to our State Scholarship and Loan Committee. The evening also

included a Fruit-Tray balancing race for the women and a Mr. Leg's Contest

for the men. It was a fun time. We have had magicians, comedians, and the

like entertain for a short time followed by a reception with cash bar. We

had a PT Olympics at one conference with weight-lifting contests, relays,

etc. Teams were formed by clinics or groups of PT's like the Executive

Committee. Competition was fierce!!

PT's are notorious for loving a good time, so use your imagination and get

some of your fun-loving colleagues to be in charge of the entertainment at

your Conferences. This takes some of the burden off the Conference

Planning Committee who often have enough to do to keep the program running

well. Good Luck!

Lori Dominiczak, MS, PT

----------

> From: PWalaszek@...

> To: ptmanageregroups

> Subject: Re: State Conference Ideas

> Date: Friday, October 30, 1998 7:01 PM

>

> We have given a great deal of thought to entertaintment at our New York

PTA

> conferences. We have our conference in conjunction with a Leadership

Workshop

> for students and seek to provide an opportunity for students and APTA

members

> to enjoy an opportunity to interact in a social setting. Due to the size

of

> our combined group we need to book large hotels and cost is always an

issue.

> Last year we had a beach party at our conference on Long Island in

October. We

> had a " Down By The Sea " theme for the whole conference and encouraged

beach

> attire for the Saturday night social. We handed out sunglasses and other

> inexpensive props so that those not " dressing up " could still join in.

Our

> menu was equally casual (Italian Ices, Fudgecicles, hotdogs,etc.) which

helped

> keep our costs low. This year, we had a murder mystery theatre event.

Twenties

> attire was encouraged and a theatre group conducted an interactive murder

> mystery program. There were very modest snacks and a cash bar and we used

one

> of the ballrooms in our conference area. Again, the opportunity to dress

up if

> one so chose gave it a fun, festive atmosphere. A number of our chapter

> officers and BOD members dressed up and I think it helped get people

> interacting and communicating on a more personal level. We also had a DJ

Dance

> Party with cash bar following the murder mystery so students, conferees

and

> chapter leadership could have another very informal opportunity to mingle

at

> very little cost. I would love to hear feedback from anyone who attended

the

> New York meetings and I too am looking for ideas for future meetings.

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