Welcome, First-Timer AFA Annual Meeting Attendee!
AFAAM 2024: Indianapolis, Indiana
December 4-7, 2024
Congratulations on registering for your first AFA Annual Meeting! As an attendee, we want to provide you with all the necessary information to ensure you are maximizing the professional development and networking opportunities that await you. You are eligible to participate in a series of programs that will allow you to network with other attendees while you learn to maximize and navigate the Annual Meeting space. Below we have provided a guide to help you prepare for your Annual Meeting experience.
Virtual First-Timer Orientation
The Attendee Engagement Committee hosted a virtual orientation session on Thursday, November 2. Topics discussed included: the Association’s purposes, AFA and Annual Meeting lingo, the Annual Meeting Planning Team and their roles, the professional development and networking opportunities offered onsite, how to use and navigate the Whova app, typical attire suitable for the conference, and tips and tricks for making the most of your Annual Meeting experience.
If you missed the orientation, a recording will be sent to all first-time attendees the week of November 13.
Annual Meeting Overview
The Annual Meeting is the hallmark professional development event that brings together a portfolio of programs and experiences designed to enhance and enrich the competencies, skills, talents, and overall effectiveness for the success of our members and those in the field of fraternity/sorority life.
The Annual Meeting experience provides a plethora of wide-ranging opportunities that include: educational programming blocks, Graduate Student & New Professional Intensive, Exhibit Hall with educational partners who can help enhance your work with their services and programs, the IGNITE Showcase, roundtable discussions with umbrella organizations, Project Job Search for graduate students, regional meetings, and so much more.
- Graduate Student & New Professional Intensive: This interactive and personalized experience will allow participants to develop their own professional development plan, assess their current skills, review personal goals, and engage in collaborative conversations that will guide them through their next steps within the field. This event will take place on Friday, December 6th from 8:30-11:30 AM.
- IGNITE Showcase: IGNITE offers an opportunity to spark your thinking and learn from colleagues in 7-minute presentations about topics they are passionate about. This will take place on Thursday, December 5th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.
- Roundtable Discussions with Umbrella Organizations: Join each of the umbrella organizations to learn the state of the organization along with news about upcoming initiatives and changes, and engage in dialogue around issues of shared interest.
- Project Job Search*: For graduate students seeking internships or graduating soon: Project Job Search utilizes storytelling techniques and best practices to help you feel confident and prepared during your process. This program will take place on Thursday, December 5th from 4:00- 6:00 p.m.
- Regional Meetings & Community Collectives: On Wednesday, December 4th from 6:00-8:00 p.m., choose to join either the colleagues in your region to hear updates, recognize the AFA milestones of your peers, and network with other during the Regional Meetings and/or engage within supportive and amplifying Community Collective spaces to network and build connections with colleagues surrounding the following identities: Latinx/a/o Professionals, the Black Diaspora, and the Single Professional Operations collectives.
* Advance Registration is required for attendance at this event: https://afa1976.org/annual-meeting-registration/.
To learn more about the programmatic offerings of the Annual Meeting, see the schedule at a glance HERE.
How do I prepare for the Annual Meeting?
One Month before the Annual Meeting
If This Is Your First Annual Meeting, Attend Virtual First-Timer Orientation
The Attendee Engagement Committee will host a virtual orientation session on Thursday, November 14th at 3:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. CST. Topics discussed will include: the Association’s purposes, AFA and Annual Meeting lingo, an introduction to the Annual Meeting Planning Team and their roles, the professional development and networking opportunities offered onsite, how to use and navigate the Whova app, typical attire suitable for the conference, and tips and tricks for making the most of your Annual Meeting experience.
Download the Annual Meeting App: Whova 101
Whova is the Annual Meeting’s “one-stop-shop” conference app and your central location for all conference activities.
Access to the 2024 Annual Meeting experience on the Whova App is provided to all paid and registered Annual Meeting attendees via email invitation a few weeks prior to the start of the Annual Meeting. The app allows you to create your schedule and plan out your conference experience in advance, connect with other attendees, join forums with other attendees, ask Annual Meeting organizers questions, provide session feedback, and so much more!
The homepage of the Annual Meeting within the Whova app contains links to additional resources such as a listing of exhibitors, a floor map of the hotel, session Q&As, a directory of all session speakers, and surveys to provide session feedback.
The Whova app also provides access to the full Annual Meeting schedule, including descriptions for the educational sessions you may be interested in attending, a listing of all Annual Meeting attendees, and the ability to connect and network with them, as well as a tab to join various forums with other attendees to build further community.
One to Two Weeks before the Annual Meeting
Check the Whova app for the full schedule and find sessions you are interested in
You will also be able to view the whole schedule on the Annual Meeting Schedule page.
What to Pack
Listed below are suggestions based on attendee attire from past Annual Meetings, but please dress in a way that will help you have an optimal conference experience!
- Wednesday, December 4th
- Travel Attire while getting to the Annual Meeting site
- Business Casual for the Opening Reception
- Business casual is a level above everyday and snappy casual but not as dressy as business professional. Business casual tops include: collared shirts, well-fitted blouses or sweaters. Dress shoes are the customary footwear.
- Thursday, December 5th
- Business Casual throughout the day while attending educational sessions and other programming associated with the Annual Meeting.
- Friday, December 6th
- Business Casual throughout the day while attending educational sessions and other programming associated with the Annual Meeting
- Business/Semi-Formal Attire for the Toast to Award Winners and Celebration Dinner
- Semi-formal attire is similar to business professional attire, but less formal than black-tie attire. Outfit options include button-down shirts, dress pants, dress shoes, jumpsuits, tea dresses, and knee-length dresses.
- Saturday, December 7th
- Business Casual throughout the day while attending educational sessions and other programming associated with the Annual Meeting.
Arriving at/During the Annual Meeting
Connections Kick-Off | Wednesday, December 4th from 2:30pm to 3:45pm.
The Connections Kickoff is an interactive event designed to help first-time attendees, graduate students, and new professionals navigate and take ownership of their experience at the Annual Meeting. This experience will take place during the first day of the annual meeting before the first educational session and will provide an opportunity to review content from the first-timer orientation, meet Connection Captains, connect with other first-time attendees, and begin the first series of networking opportunities that will take place throughout the Annual Meeting.
Connection Captains
Connection Captains are members of the Attendee Engagement Committee who are dedicated to enhancing the attendee engagement experience during the Annual Meeting. The purpose of the Connection Captains is to guide all first-timers through the Annual Meeting experience by answering questions, helping to identify ways to engage within the Association, and serving in a mentor-like role before and during the Annual Meeting.
Regional Lunch Meet-Ups
Join the Attendee Engagement Committee and Connection Captains to engage in networking and conversation during the Regional Lunch Meet-Ups that will take place on Thursday, December 5th from 11:30am to 1:00pm. Meal costs are the responsibility of the participant. To reserve your spot, please sign up via SignUp Genius by Sunday, December 1, 2024.
Social Media Challenges
Join fellow Annual Meeting attendees in getting ready for our time on site by completing daily social media challenges in the weeks leading up to and during the Annual Meeting. This will help you digitally engage with colleagues, peers, and friends. Use #AFAAM to have your challenge featured on the Association’s social media accounts.
Pre-Conference Social Media Challenges
- Monday, November 18: Wear Your Letters and/or a photo with your institution staff/HQ team (if not affiliated)
- Tuesday, November 19: Share a photo of your mentor/role model that represents their impact on you.
- Wednesday, November 20: Share the educational session, keynote, or program that you are most excited to attend at this year’s AFFAM
- Thursday, November 21: Throwback to the first Annual Meeting you attended or an early FSL experience as a pro staff (ex. Yard Show, Bid Day, or an organization’s philanthropic event)
- Friday, November 22: Share a tip or recommendation for maximizing your AFAAM experience.
Week of the Annual Meeting
- Monday, December 2nd: Share your most essential packing item that you will bring to the annual meeting.
- Tuesday, December 3: Share a wellness/self-care tip for attendees to practice during the Annual Meeting.
- Wednesday, December 4 (AFAAM Day 1): Wear your letters or institution’s logo- post a photo when you arrive
- Thursday, December 5 (AFAAM Day 2): Express gratitude to someone within the profession who has supported or inspired you over the past year.
- Friday, December 6 (AFAAM Day 3): Share one way that the AFAAM has positively impacted your professional or personal growth
- Saturday, December 7 (AFAAM Day 4): Share a goal for applying what you’ve learned at the AFAAM once you return to your campus/organization.
