Lodging: Make your reservation here or call (800) 261-9530 and provide code 10698 to receive the special rate.
Group Room Rate: $196 – also available April 16-17 and 20-21 for those wishing to extend their stay
Lodging Discount Cut-off Date: March 7, 2018 (Rooms may not be available after this date)
Check-in/Check-out Times: 4:00 pm check-in and 11:00 am check-out
Cancellation Policy: By 5:00 pm EST, at least 3 business days before reserved date of arrival.
Parking: Complimentary Self-Parking
Conference Schedule
Wednesday, April 18
Pre-Conference Activities
| 7:00-8:30 am | Guided Walk/Run around Historic Area |
| 8:00-10:00 am | Exhibitor Set-up in the Virginia Room |
| 8:15-11:00 am | Colonial Photo Safari |
| 8:30-11:00 am | Nine Holes at the Golden Horseshoe’s Spotswood Course |
| 10:00-12:45 pm | Registration (Walk-in attendees must pay $375 at the door) |
| 10:00 am-noon | Meet our Exhibitors & Light Refreshments |
| LUNCH ON YOUR OWN – please visit our registration desk to pick up a restaurant list with many options within a short walk of the hotel (for those requiring dinner reservations, we’ll have a list to which you can add your name). |
|
The 2018 Regional Member Services Conference Begins |
|
| 1:00-1:15 pm | Welcome |
| 1:15-2:00 pm | Opening Session: Williamsburg & Cooperatives, Foundations that Continue to Change a Nation |
| 2:00-2:30 pm | Break & Vendor Expo |
| 2:30-3:30 pm | Choose from these breakout sessions: |
| Member Services: Controlling Your Co-op’s Messaging During a Crisis | |
| Communications: Tuning Up Your Social Media (or How to Get More Views, Likes and Shares) | |
| Energy: The Story Behind Georgia’s Solar Revolution | |
| Demand Response/Energy Efficiency: Making Home Improvement Affordable | |
| 3:30-3:45 pm | Break & Vendor Expo – finalize dinner signups |
| 3:45-4:45 pm | Choose from these roundtables: |
| Member Services: The 7th Cooperative Principle in Action | |
| Communications: Keeping Everyone “In the Loop” – Best Practices for Internal Co-op Communications | |
| Energy: Best Practices for Community Solar | |
| Demand Response/Energy Efficiency: Innovations in Load Control | |
| 5:00-6:00 pm | Welcome Reception with our Exhibitors (cash bar, light hors d’ouevres) |
| DINNER ON YOUR OWN – List of restaurants not requiring reservations and walking maps are on the table outside the exhibit hall. | |
Thursday, April 19th
| 7:30-8:30 am | Continental Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall |
| 8:30-9:20 am | General Session: Why Your Co-op Needs a Digital Communications Strategy |
| 9:20-9:50 am | Break & Vendor Expo |
| 9:50-10:50 am | Choose from these breakout sessions: |
| Member Services: CWB, the Next Generation | |
| Communications: Building Your Co-op’s Brand | |
| Energy: How Net Metering has Impacted the Co-op Business Model | |
| Demand Response/Energy Efficiency: Innovations in Member Contact | |
| 10:50-11:00 am | Break & Vendor Expo |
| 11:00-noon | General Session: Bringing Broadband to Rural America |
| Noon-1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00-1:30 pm | Dessert in Exhibit Hall/Vendor Bingo Drawing (must be present to win) |
| 1:30-2:30 pm | Choose from these breakout sessions: |
| Member Services: Servicing Members with Special Needs | |
| Communications: Digital Asset Management Best Practices | |
| Energy: Cybersecurity: Creating a Culture to Keep Co-op Data Safe | |
| Demand Response/Energy Efficiency: What Do EV’s Mean for Your Co-op? | |
| 2:30-2:45 pm | Break & Vendor Expo (final chance to win prizes and must be present to win) |
| 2:45-3:45 pm | Choose from these roundtables: |
| Member Services: New Takes on an Old Tradition – Changing Up the Annual Meeting Format | |
| Communications: My Favorite Apps | |
| Energy: Helping Members Understand Co-op Rates & Fees | |
| Demand Response/Energy Efficiency: Saving Energy While on the Go | |
| 4:00-6:00 pm | Wine Tasting at Williamsburg Winery (meet in lobby, transportation provided) |
| DINNER ON YOUR OWN | |
| 8:15-10:00 pm | Colonial Ghost Tour (meet in the lobby, wear comfortable shoes) |
Friday, April 20th
| 7:30-8:30 am | Continental Breakfast available in Exhibit Hall |
| 8:00-9:00 am | State Meetings (state basket drop-off) |
| 9:00-10:00 am | General Session: TBD/Getting the Most from Customer Data |
| 9:00-11:00 am | Exhibitor area breakdown |
| 10:00-10:15 am | Break |
| 10:15-10:30 am | State Basket Drawing (must be present to win) |
| 10:30-11:30 am | Closing Session: The Enduring Role of America’s Cooperatives in Meeting Members’ Needs |
| LUNCH ON YOUR OWN | |
| 11:45 am-3:30 pm | Jamestown Rediscovery (meet in lobby, carpool to Jamestown, tour starts at 1:00) |
Registration Fees:
- $275 Attendee Registration – Includes welcome reception, conference sessions, Thursday lunch buffet, continental breakfast and refreshments on Thursday and Friday.
- $50 Guest Registration – Includes the Wednesday welcome reception and the ability to register for optional activities.
Registration fees increase after March 7th
Payment options:
- Make check payable to: VMDAEC (Please note “2018 Regional” in the memo section). Send it to VMDAEC/2018 Regional, 4201 Dominion Blvd., Glen Allen, VA 23060.
- Pay online at www.PayPal.me/VMDAEC. (Please note “2018 Regional” in the memo section).
- Invoice upon request and can include multiple participants.
- Last cancellation date for a full refund: April 10, 2018
