The Association of Personal Historians 2009 Annual Conference is being held in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania from Oct. 21 – 25, 2009. If you can get to only one conference this year, this is the one to attend.
Warning: Early bird registration ends on July 31st. If you want to save money click here. Non APH members can attend the conference but if you’re not yet a member, I’d encourage you to join the APH. The Conference fees are lower and you’ll receive a wealth of benefits that are well worth the membership fee.
I attended my first APH conference in Portland, Oregon, in 2006. It was a great experience. Here’s what it did for me:
- Recharged my batteries: Meeting with and listening to the varied experiences of APH members got me excited about my chosen profession.
- Honed my skills: From workshops on marketing for introverts to making demo reels to the therapeutic benefits of life stories, I soaked in new and valuable information.
- Inspired me: The keynote speakers and workshop leaders helped me see my work in a larger context and made me want to do more.
- Made new friends: I found personal historians are “my kind of people”. They’re good listeners. They’re enthusiastic. They’re helpful. I still keep in touch with several colleagues I met in Portland.
- Created a sense of community: Working on our own can sometimes feel daunting and lonely. I left Portland knowing that I was now part of a very vital and enriching community.
Revolutionary Perspectives is the theme for the 2009 APH conference. Paula Stahel, APH President, writes:
… this year’s conference theme, is designed to help you transform and expand your awareness. The wide array of educational workshops and enlightening speakers will open your eyes to opportunities you can take advantage of immediately. Access to new information, ideas, technology, and connections will offer fresh insight on how to make your business thrive, not just survive, harsh economic times.
I really encourage you to go to this year’s APH conference. It’s an investment you won’t regret. I wish I could say that I’ll see you there but I’m caring for my 91 year-old mother and she’s my priority right now. One day I’ll be back at an APH conference. See you then!
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Paula Yost // July 30, 2009 at 4:29 pm |
Right on, Dan! Nothing like an APH conference to revitalize one’s enthusiasm for this business, not to mention expertise! Thanks so much for including this in your wonderful blog and helping us get the word out.
Dan Curtis // July 30, 2009 at 4:48 pm |
@Paula Yost. Thanks for dropping by! Appreciate your kind comments.
cj madigan // July 30, 2009 at 7:25 pm |
I definitely second what Dan says. I attended my first conference in 2006 and it’s the centerpiece of my year around which I plan everything else.
Annie Payne // July 31, 2009 at 9:21 am |
As APH’s most isolated member, I flew from Perth, Western Australia, via London to attend the 2008 APH conference in Salt Lake City. I took on a job working at the International Airport to fund my trip and the conference was worth every early morning start and crabby check in passenger!
I felt like a dessicated sea sponge, soaking up every scrap of knowledge I could glean from my colleagues. I made wonderful new friends and was able to put faces to friends I had made through the Listserv. Every minute was of value to me and I wish I was in a financial position to attend the conference every year.
Make sure YOU attend this year!
Dan Curtis // July 31, 2009 at 1:34 pm |
@Annie Payne. Thanks for your comments. Now if you can make it all the way from Australia, there’s no excuse for those of us here in North America not getting to the APH conference!