Joint Meeting of NCNMLG/MLGSCA, San Jose California, Feb. 5-7, 1999

Continuing Education Classes Summary

Submitted by Janie Grosman April 9, 1999

SUMMARY

There were three (3) classes given at the Joint Meeting this year on Sunday

February 7, 1999. There were two half-day classes and one full day class. The CE committee decided not to pursue more classes because of the conflict in choice that might occur. Price charged for the class was presumed to be reasonable but in hindsight, because of expenses that occurred, we might be able to charge more next time and make more money. There was a box lunch provided to participants for the full day class. CE credit was given for each class. Evaluations were good for all of the classes. 65 people attended the CE classes.

Classes given:

Herbal Medicine: Sourcing and Evaluating the Literature

Speakers: James Snow

David Hoffman

Time: 1/2 day 9 am - 12:00 Noon

Attendance: 37

Evaluations: excellent

Location: Hotel Conf. Room

Fees: Member $45.00 Non-member: 75.00

Creating Effective Presentations Using Microsoft PowerPoint

Speakers: Melissa Just

Julia Kochi

Time: 1/2 day 1 pm - 5 pm

Attendance: 14

Evaluations: excellent

Location: San Jose State Computer Lab

Fee: Member 45.00 Non-member: 75.00

Nursing Information Access

Speaker: Peg Allen

Time: full day

Attendance: 14

Evaluations: very good

Location: Hotel Conf. Room

Fee: Member: 95.00 Non-member 125.00

LESSONS LEARNED

Money

Two of the classes had speakers that were local thus avoiding hotel expense. Bringing in an outside speaker from out of state means paying more money for airfare and lodging. However, the expenses for the Nursing CE class were way out of line for the amount of money that we charged. It is recommended that when speakers ask for AV equipment, before we say yes, that we find out how much the facility is going to charge us. Then we can either 1) raise the price of the class to cover the AV; or 2) ask the speaker to pare down the use of so much equipment. In the case of the Nursing CE Class, quite a bit of the requested audio-visual materials could have been eliminated.

Food--Lunches

Some of the CE participants took two half-day classes thus thinking that they should have received a lunch (like the full day class) and proceeded to take lunches of those who were in the full day class. I think that we should offer lunch to those who take two half-day classes, but build the cost into the class fee. Also, it would have helped to have someone monitor who was getting lunches. (they were delivered while I was still in the class and I didn't discover that lunches were missing until the lunch break).

Handouts

Make sure that you get the handouts from the speakers in plenty of time to reproduce them (if that is what is agreed upon). I took on the task of doing this because I could do it cheaper than having them charge us for copies. Also make it clear to the presenter that the reproduction of the syllabus is just that (ie. any extras like colored folders and dividers are not part of the deal). I absorbed the cost of those extras that I think should have been borne by the presenter.

SIGNAGE

Make sure that if the class is given outside of the Conference Hotel, that there are signs/and or maps directing the participants to the class. It would be helpful also to have guides to lead people from the hotel to the class (if it is within walking distance).