Masonry Magazine February 1992 Page. 7
Getting the Most Out of Workshops and Seminars
Used properly, seminars and conferences can be one of the most powerful self improvement and professional development tools available in today's business world.
Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year to send managers and employees to a variety of professional training conferences throughout North America.
Training workshops and seminars are often a refreshing change of pace for employees. Getting away from work for a few days or even a few hours and spending time in a stimulating, idea filled environment motivates even the most routine loving workaholic to come back to work charged up with new enthusiasm.
Used properly, training conferences can be one of the most powerful self improvement and professional development tools available in today's business world. If you're planning to attend a conference in the near future or expect to attend one in the years ahead here are a number of ways you can turn your training event into a long-term professional opportunity:
Write out your expectations beforehand. What are the key problems affecting your work environment right now? What new professional skills would you like to learn? What issues have you discussed with your supervisors and employees in the last year? Make up a list of the ways you'd like your conference to aid you and plan to keep that list in front of you during the conference.
Obtain information about the conference. If you haven't committed to attending yet, ask the sponsor of the conference to furnish you with a detailed outline of the material to be presented there. Ask also for the names of several individuals who have recently attended the same conference. Study the outline. And speak with the past participants; ask them about the goals and achievements they were able to pursue as a result of the conference.
Better yet, find people in your own local trade and professional organizations who have attended before and ask them for advice before you make a commitment. Remember, conferences abound these days. If one conference isn't right for you, chances are another will be.
Aim for comfort. Rule #1 in preparing for a workshop is to dress flexibly. Simply put, wear light, loose fitting clothes and carry a sweater or jacket. Overly warm or overly cool seminar rooms are a perennial problem with conferences, so be prepared. Once you arrive, find a seat that's comfortable for you. Do you like to sit in front? In the rear? On a particular side of the room? Near an exit? The earlier you arrive, the greater the chance you'll get the seat you want.
Make action notes during the conference. As you listen to conference speakers, divide your note pad into two columns. In the left hand column, make notes about the speaker's comments and in the right hand column jot down ways you can apply the information and ideas presented. These "action notes" will be invaluable to you later on.
Get to know other participants. Whatever conference you attend, you'll have the chance to get to know peers and colleagues, to share mutual concerns, to listen to the accomplishments of others. This informal "networking" is reason alone to attend! Be prepared to share your "expectation list" with others, as well as some of the successes and problems you've encountered in the months gone by. Be prepared to listen to the informal counsel and advice of others.
And be sure you meet as many people as possible; exchange business cards and establish a personal network that you can use for advice in the years to come.
Kenilworth Church Wins Sara National Design Award
The project for the renewal of the Church of the Holy Comforter, Kenilworth, Illinois, won an honorable mention design award from the Society of American Registered Architects. The award was presented at the Society's national convention in Minneapolis recently. Twenty-two national design awards for 1991 were presented to seventeen firms. Project required extensive renovation to interior and exterior, designed to preserve the historical aesthetics of the original church. The obsolete residence was demolished and replaced with an addition housing a social hall, kitchen, classroom and recreation space. The existing stone front wall was dismantled and rebuilt reusing the same stone pieces.