Why should I go to SVP Conference this November?
Well, for starters, it’s in that hip little place called Portland.
We’re getting AUDACIOUS in a spacious, capacious venue hosted by the gracious staff of SVP Portland and SVPI with vivacious speakers that are just the right amount of loquacious and tenacious Partners from across the network. If your appetite for learning is voracious, you won’t want to miss it. I’m not being fallacious! Is this rhyming thing vexatious?
Also, Conference registration is waived for one staff member when 5 or more partners register at the full partner rate!
Which is definitely a good thing. Cha-Ching!
Julia and Erin are going! (If we didn’t sell you with that one, this next one surely will!)
Stay an extra day and experience Oregon Wine Country. 300 vineyards. 72 varieties. Need I say more?
Well, I won’t. But check out what these Conference Vets (Partners who attended previous conferences) have to say about how their experiences impacted their personal philanthropic journeys!
David Griffis: Long Beach 2010
“I attended Long Beach 2010 with two other partners and our Executive Director. We enjoyed great general session speakers and presentations, informative break-out sessions, and a disciplined, well-operated conference worth the time and money.
But what REALLY hit me were the people and the conversations between sessions and at the evening dine arounds. I met someone from nearly every chapter including our affiliates in Japan and Canada. The attendees were diverse yet shared a common vision, a common language, and a special energy for what SVP means now and could mean for the future. We also shared common problems. In fact, I believe from some of those conversations came much more national and local support for the challenges of lead partners. Several chapters had eight to ten partners at the meeting. Rather than stay together, they divided and soaked up as much information and conversation as possible to take home. I thought, someday, that could be SVPGT. Maybe this year in Portland?”
Jane Wilson: Long Beach 2010
“A nice complement to all of the phenomenal proceedings was the chance to experience a new city. Mark and I had never been to Cleveland, and the reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the dine-around in Shaker Heights let us see some of the sights and chat with people in a more casual setting. We plan on going to Portland which I hear is also a great place to visit.”
John Smith: Seattle 2008, Long Beach 2010, Minneapolis 2011
“The SVPI conferences always reinforce the feeling that we in SVPGT are part of a very large, powerful network of people who are continually striving to make the SVP model more and more effective in bringing about positive social transformation. I come away each time with renewed commitment, new ideas, and a few new friends.”
Pat Andrade and Hank Walker: Minneapolis 2011
“The 2011 SVPI conference in Minneapolis was our first. Even though we’d been moderately involved in SVPGT over our (then) four years of partnership, it really jump started our knowledge of the innovation taking place around SVP affiliates and it connected us to the energy of engaged philanthropists around the country. After conversations with other SVP partners, it’s easier to envision what’s possible for us to accomplish in Tucson.
It was a great experience being there and being with Partners from around the country who have also made this commitment. It was energizing spending time and having meaningful discussions with people who have had very different and very interesting experiences and successes. The speakers were excellent and represent the cutting edge of thought leadership in the area of venture philanthropy; they challenged long-held assumptions about what nonprofits are and what they’re capable of doing.
You can learn what other SVPs are doing, and pick the areas that you want to learn more about, then have time for conversations in those areas. People are very willing to share their experiences, their successes, failures and learnings, in a very supportive and positive atmosphere.
No matter how much experience with SVP you already have, you learn a lot because Partners from other affiliates are doing new things, trying new experiments — it’s learning in real time. You feel personally rejuvenated as well as bringing back “professional” ideas and knowledge. The discussion groups around different topics facilitate great conversation and learning.
If you attend an SVP conference, you’re sure to get something valuable out of it, even if it’s not what you expect going in. It’s a must do for any Partner that wants to increase their energy and commitment to SVP. You’ll get to know and understand SVP at a whole new level. You’ll certainly gain an appreciation for what SVPI is, and the value that we (SVP Greater Tucson) get from the important work that SVPI does.”
Mark Rubin: Cleveland 2009
Read Mark’s conference blog post here.