12 People really do need each other in order to succeed. Association membership can be one of the most important investments you can make professionally, and attending conventions and events is important. Your time is valuable. So are your financial resources. That being the case, why should you invest the time and money in attending an association convention? Couldn’t you have just as much impact professionally by participating in something like social media? Social media is important, of course, and doing it well can be vital to career development. But there is just no substitute for seeing people face-to-face and talking to them. MTADA provides a valuable way to get you in a room with other people, learning from each other; the resources they provide can strengthen you professionally as well. You might be surprised at the number and variety of resources available to you through an association event. WHY YOU SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN YOUR ASSOCIATION’S CONVENTION The Pitch for Professional Development The top reasons why convention attendance should be a must-do item on your list include the following: • Contacts, contacts, contacts: Everyone talks about the importance of networking, but many people don’t understand what networking really is. It’s an intersecting of friendships and acquaintances, some strong, some weak, and it isn’t something you lock in your desk and expect to keep fresh. If you know someone and never call them or have any regular contact with them, there’s always a chance that your friendship will starve a slow and lonely death. More than likely, you will begin to slide away from each other. On the other hand, relationships that benefit from regular feeding will thrive. A cell phone call or a blog entry is better than nothing. But don’t you want to raise the bar just a little? A convention is a great excuse for getting together. Share a lecture, a meal, a
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