Another year between conferences, and I'm back resting in the lounge between hotel towers, surrounded by people looking to snag the tables I've claimed with my own laptop, bag, and coat. After an influx of lunch people, I've decided to move to a smaller personal table instead of claiming a full couch, four chairs, and a round table for my own.
Perhaps that is the takeaway from this entire conference this year: adjusting or tempering my selfish needs and wants for the overall improvement of others and all. My small agenda for 2025 was to network more in my industry — aquatics and recreation — and take professional development seriously.
Conference is not just a travail I must endure through commuting downtown, dressing for weather, travel, and socializing, but an opportunity to connect with people. It is a chance to put face time in with vendors and people who do similar jobs as me at different locations.
Observations on Demographics
What amazes me is how young so many people are at this conference. I feel like I've tipped a point where I'm tilting into the older demographic at 45 from most people attending. Not everyone, but there is a distinct feel of a gap between the younger park district professionals and the aging stale boomer/gen x people cruising through social engagements with zeal and stale casual polos.
Content Quality This Year
Different this year is that I don't have a large takeaway. There are no revelations or driving projects I'm working on that fester under the belly of wasted time spent listening to social talks and learning opportunities. In the past, whoever was marketing the sessions with title choices were brilliant over-sellers that offered a talk or product that the content rarely matched. This year, I feel like the content of the session talks is in line with the description and the sales pitch. They gave me what they sold. I'm astonished that there was value. I'm pleased that there are useful tools delivered and received.
This is more of a diary than a post. So I'll delete it.
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