Justification Tips

We want to see all of you at the NRPA Annual Conference, so we have put together a justification letter template and some tips on how you can talk with your employer about the value of attending as well as some best practices when traveling to the conference.

Download the Letter Template (Nashville Conference)

Download the Letter Template (Virtual Conference)


Making the Case Tips

  1. Demonstrate the value of attendance. You or your team may need to demonstrate why attending a national conference is important and valuable to decision-makers. Consider developing a pre-conference presentation that outlines what education sessions are being covered, business opportunities and more. Show how these directly tie to your strategic goals for the department and/or community.

  2. Show value through CEUs. Education is paramount at the NRPA Annual Conference. A majority of sessions earn you Continuing Education Units (CEUs), so tally up the number of credits you will be granted for attending educational sessions to help demonstrate the value gained through education and learning.

  3. Face-time with exhibitors can pay off. In the coming months, we’ll post the list of NRPA Annual Conference exhibitors. Pinpoint any business opportunities that could develop from establishing connections with park and recreation professionals and partners.

  4. Review the NRPA Annual Conference Health and Safety Plan. The safety of our staff and attendees is of the utmost importance to NRPA. To help make a case for attending the in-person conference in Nashville, review the NRPA Annual Conference Health and Safety Plan, and present it to your supervisors or those who are approving your travel.

  5. Plan for your time out. You may need to prepare a plan of action for how your work will be covered while you are out of town or while you are attending virtually. Think this through and review it with your supervisor.

  6. Share your great ideas. You are guaranteed to leave the conference inspired and filled with great ideas so when discussing your attendance at the event, commit to a post-conference presentation for your team, Town Council, Board, etc. Plan to highlight what you learned and tie your training to your organization’s challenges, goals and strategic plans.
     

Best Practices for Attendance

  1. Know before you go. If you are planning to attend the in-person event in Nashville, make sure to you review your department or city policies regarding traveling and understand requirements around travel, expenses, per diem and the like.

  2. Keep good records. You may have to submit reports on your travel, such as expense reports with receipts. Make sure to keep good records and keep track of your receipts, so that you can prepare the necessary documentation you may need when you return.

  3. Review the education sessions and plan your schedule. Create an outline of which sessions you want to attend and how they will support your work. Select sessions that are most beneficial to you, your team, community and agency.

  4. Set aside time for networking. Networking is one of the top reasons people attend the NRPA Annual Conference. Both the Nashville and virtual conferences will offer several opportunities for attendees to network and socialize. Dedicate a portion of each day to interact with fellow park and recreation professionals, connect with exhibitors and create new relationships.

  5. Write everything down. With so many amazing speakers and opportunities to connect with peers from around the country, you are guaranteed to leave the NRPA Annual Conference feeling inspired. To ensure that you don’t forget a thing, have a notetaking device on hand to capture any information, ideas or motivational quotes that may pop up over your three days.
     

Reasons to Attend

  1. Ninety-seven percent of prior attendees would recommend attending to a colleague.

  2. Choose from more than 60 education sessions through 12 education tracks to earn CEUs to maintain your certification or reach other professional goals.

  3. Connect face-to-face with top industry suppliers, and get an inside look at the best products and services for the field.

  4. Current NRPA members receive discounted registration for both the Nashville and virtual conferences.

  5. Non-members receive one year of membership with in-person Full Package Registration and three months of membership with the Virtual All Access Pass.

  6. Don’t be left out of the largest annual gathering of park and recreation professionals.