New Jersey Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Justify Your Attendance at this Year's NJSHA Annual Convention.
Given the economic challenges of recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to get approval to take part in — and travel to — any educational event. In these critical times, achieving successful results demands a paradigm shift involving new thoughts and ideas.
It may be helpful to first present administration and/or supervisors with a compelling case for attending an educational event.
You may also want to include with the letter the "Schedule at a Glance" for reference.
Many travel budgets and training budgets have been reduced, so you may need to justify the expense. Here are some things you might want to consider:
A) Focus on what you will specifically bring back to the organization in return for the investment.
B) Offer to prepare and deliver a short presentation/in-service and/or Q&A to your colleagues to share what you learned.
C) If you are working to obtain or maintain your state licensure or ASHA CCC's, remind your supervisor that this is a great way to earn required continuing education hours, and it is less expensive than registering for separate conventions.
D) Be ready with a plan if necessary that demonstrates to have your work covered while you are attending the convention.
E) Offer to share a room to reduce hotel expenses by finding a roommate on the "Share a Room" group link, on the annual convention web page.
Please find useful information below to help you calculate the investment and identify your return.
1. How to Expense (the "investment")
Convention expenses are affected by a number of factors. Before you can even begin to justify convention expenses, you need to calculate what those expenses are. Use the "Justification Letter" to assist you in your calculations.
2. How to substantiate the "Return on Investment" (expressing the benefits of your attendance at the conference)
Let's face it: The benefits of convention attendance are so many that they are hard to quantify. For example, many experts agree that the top benefit of convention attendance is networking value. Where else can you find so many of your colleagues and industry contacts/exhibitors with whom you can collaborate with, share and learn valuable information, in addition to building your resources and relationships with others in your profession.
Although networking is undoubtedly the most important aspect of a convention, it is also the toughest for which to quantify any value.
When you propose a convention for approvals, don't focus on how much you want to go; focus on what you will specifically bring back to the organization as payback for the investment.
Some specific details you'll need to identify include:
We hope you find the "Justification Letter" and the "Justification Toolkit" helpful as we hope to see everyone at the annual convention.
NJSHA Annual Convention Planning Committee
« Return to 2010 Convention Information
Given the economic challenges of recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to get approval to take part in — and travel to — any educational event. In these critical times, achieving successful results demands a paradigm shift involving new thoughts and ideas.
It may be helpful to first present administration and/or supervisors with a compelling case for attending an educational event.
To aid that effort, NJSHA would like to offer some assistance
to help you to promote your supervisor and organization's approval
of the costs for you to attend the annual convention.
Click here to download the "Justification Letter" template
which you can simply fill out and give to your supervisor
when requesting convention attendance.
to help you to promote your supervisor and organization's approval
of the costs for you to attend the annual convention.
Click here to download the "Justification Letter" template
which you can simply fill out and give to your supervisor
when requesting convention attendance.
You may also want to include with the letter the "Schedule at a Glance" for reference.
Many travel budgets and training budgets have been reduced, so you may need to justify the expense. Here are some things you might want to consider:
A) Focus on what you will specifically bring back to the organization in return for the investment.
B) Offer to prepare and deliver a short presentation/in-service and/or Q&A to your colleagues to share what you learned.
C) If you are working to obtain or maintain your state licensure or ASHA CCC's, remind your supervisor that this is a great way to earn required continuing education hours, and it is less expensive than registering for separate conventions.
D) Be ready with a plan if necessary that demonstrates to have your work covered while you are attending the convention.
E) Offer to share a room to reduce hotel expenses by finding a roommate on the "Share a Room" group link, on the annual convention web page.
Please find useful information below to help you calculate the investment and identify your return.
1. How to Expense (the "investment")
Convention expenses are affected by a number of factors. Before you can even begin to justify convention expenses, you need to calculate what those expenses are. Use the "Justification Letter" to assist you in your calculations.
2. How to substantiate the "Return on Investment" (expressing the benefits of your attendance at the conference)
Let's face it: The benefits of convention attendance are so many that they are hard to quantify. For example, many experts agree that the top benefit of convention attendance is networking value. Where else can you find so many of your colleagues and industry contacts/exhibitors with whom you can collaborate with, share and learn valuable information, in addition to building your resources and relationships with others in your profession.
Although networking is undoubtedly the most important aspect of a convention, it is also the toughest for which to quantify any value.
When you propose a convention for approvals, don't focus on how much you want to go; focus on what you will specifically bring back to the organization as payback for the investment.
Some specific details you'll need to identify include:
- Session content. What sessions have particular relevance to your organization's work? Specifically identify:
- Tools
- Technologies
- Processes
- Vendor contacts. Will the convention showcase vendors with tools you use or are evaluating for potential future use? Is this an opportunity during which you'll be able to compare competing tools?
- Best practices. Will there be training sessions in areas that will immediately benefit your group?
- Training. Will there be workshops designed to teach attendees a special skill(s) Making you a highly trained professional in specific areas.
We hope you find the "Justification Letter" and the "Justification Toolkit" helpful as we hope to see everyone at the annual convention.
NJSHA Annual Convention Planning Committee
« Return to 2010 Convention Information
66 Witherspoon Street
Suite 337
Princeton, NJ 08542
Suite 337
Princeton, NJ 08542