NABE's Membership Committee is doing what it can to make the Annual Meeting experience as meaningful as possible for first-timers. But whether this is your first NABE gathering or your twenty-first, there are general rules for helping to make sure you get the most out of your time in San Francisco (at least the meeting part).

The experts at Professional Training Associates and JDWrite offer these suggestions:

• Study the program outline. Review all sessions being offered and select those that will benefit you the most. In addition, select second choices so that if a session is full, you won't waste time deciding what to do next. Many large conferences offer special "first-timer" orientations.Attending these sessions will ensure that you get the most from the conference resources and services available to you.

• Put the office on hold. Concentrate on the conference, and don't let yourself be distracted by minor problems back at the office. Resist the temptation to check your voicemail unless you are expecting an urgent call. Leave a number at the office where you can be reached in an emergency, then check messages at the conference once in a while.

• Be prepared to network. Take a good supply of business cards. (If you don't have any, get some; they're a worthwhile investment.) When you exchange cards with someone, take a minute to make notes on the back of the card about where you met, what you talked about, and what follow-up action you might take.

• Don't be shy about talking with strangers. You are surrounded by people with whom you share a strong interest. Take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions and compare opinions.

• Record action ideas. Don't bury good ideas in notes thatyou may never look at again. Use a separate sheet to listideas that you want to try as soon as you return to work.

• Follow up on new ideas immediately. When you return to the office, before catching up on messages and mail, take out your action list and plan how you can implement at least one idea. E-mail your boss or copy your colleagues on some of the materials you collected. By following up immediately, you will get more value from the conference and ensure that the time you spent there benefits both you and your employer-which is the reason you went in the first place.

• Remember that you're not just here to learn from the experts. Every attendee can teach you something and you are here to network. Even if you are shy, don't forget that everyone is in the same situation. Some people come with a friend, but there are plenty of others flying solo. Social events give you a chance to meet people whose faces you will be seeing in seminars, to catch up with people you connected with earlier, and to talk to other people. How often do you get that in your everyday life?

• You may also find that the experts and speakers come out to mingle at these events. If you have a question for them or simply want to compliment them on their presentation (and believe me, they'll appreciate that), go on over, introduce yourself and say your piece. Remember, they're only human.