Workshop Preview

This year’s conference workshops will cover an exciting range of topics including Advocacy, Major Gifts, Walk MS & Bike MS Teams, Programs and Services, Research and Volunteer Projects. Although you will be registering for workshops at a later date, we wanted to give you a preview of the types of workshops offered as well as the topics that you will be able to choose from. Due to space limitations, workshops will be closed after we have hit the maximum room capacity so it will be important for you to register for your workshops as soon as you receive the workshop registration email. Most workshops will be offered more than once though providing you additional opportunities to participate.

Chat Rooms
This year, there will also be a new style of session available – Chat Rooms.  Chat Rooms will enable attendees to pick a topic of particular interest, or even a few topics of particular interest, and sit down to ‘chat’ at a table with others who share that same interest. 

Advocacy

The 2008 National Election Results: The Outlook for the Health Care Agenda
Attend this workshop to hear a discussion and evaluation of the results of the 2008 Presidential Election, to explore the victor’s health care agenda and identify opportunities for moving the National MS Society health care priorities forward.

Legislative Success through Activism
Come learn how grassroots activists can propel an idea into a bill and ultimately a law.    

A Showcase of Victories for people with MS at State Houses
To highlight state legislative victories for people with MS, achieved by volunteers and chapter staff and to provide a brief case-study for each.

Chat Room: Recruiting & cultivating grassroots activists

Chat Room: What is an effective GRC?
 

Major Gifts

The Role of Board Chairs and Volunteer Leaders in Major Gifts
Learn how you can help the Society in its major gift efforts. 

Chat Room: Getting major donors engaged in research

Chat Room: Creating effective major gift committees

Chat Room: Funding chapter programs & services

Chat Room: Individual giving programs and gift clubs
 

Team Captains Rally and Fundraising Workshops

Team Captains Rally: Fundraising First
This fast-paced workshop will focus on creative, innovative and cutting edge strategies around taking fundraising to the next level.

Team Captains Rally: Recruit, Recruit, Recruit!
Get your rolodex out! This workshop will teach you how to encourage everyone you know to join the movement!

Team Captains Rally – The Total Team Experience
Come share your best ideas and learn from other successful team captains about what you can do before, during and after your event to build a team that has “star power.”

Chat Room: Taking your Bike MS event to the next level

Chat Room: Taking your Walk MS event to the next level

Chat Room: New ideas and other events
 

Programs and Services

The Information Resource Center: Serving People with MS
Learn about a typical day in the IRC, and about how we monitor and measure for quality. 

Enhancing the Society’s Inclusiveness: Understanding Cultural Competency
Learn some key principles to engage individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds through real life examples.

Keeping Rural Audiences in Focus
Come learn how to tailor your message and your programs to meet the needs of people living with MS in rural areas of the country.

Leveraging Community Resources: Making the Most of What You’ve Got
During this panel workshop you will learn the tips and techniques that helped develop our most successful community partnerships. 

Program and Services Poster Session
Come see posters which highlight both chapter and home office programs.

Chat Room: Peer support groups

Chat Room: Effective relationships with clinics

Chat Room: Reaching out and engaging young people with MS

Chat Room: Marketing programs & services to people with MS and the community
 

Research

Next Generation of MS Research: Fellows poster session
Come see posters which highlight exciting progress in MS research.  Special note: since participants will move down the rows of posters, attending this workshop will require mobility.  Some seating will be available nearby for anyone needing to take a break and assistance will be available if needed.

Moving MS Research Forward toward a Cure: An Open Discussion
Workshop attendees will have the opportunity to interact directly with senior MS scientists as they discuss both recent findings in MS research and exciting work that is on the horizon. 

Talking the Talk: How to Effectively Promote the Society’s Research Mission
Attend this workshop to acquire the knowledge and tools needed to promote the Research mission of the Society.
 

Volunteer

Many generations – one movement – engaging all volunteers
Come learn how to understand and engage the four generations we work with daily.

What a Difference a Day Makes
Workshop participants will learn step by step how volunteers can mobilize, organize and deliver a day where teams of volunteers complete household projects for people living with MS.

Chat Room: Volunteer recruitment – challenges and opportunities

Chat Room: Volunteer retention and recognition
 

HR

Chapter Chair Orientation
A requirement of all new Chapter Chairs is to attend the Orientation presented at the National Conference.