That tower to the north growing bigger in the horizon by the minute is no apparition—it's Toronto! Indeed, the AAPA IMPACT 2012 conference in Toronto, Canada is approaching quickly, and it's time for policy nerds to start thinking about resolutions for the 2012 House of Delegates (HOD), to take place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 26-28.
SOME DATES DELEGATES AND F-HODS (FRIENDS OF HOD) SHOULD KNOW
Deadline for receipt of HOD bylaws resolutions: February 24
Deadline for receipt of HOD non-bylaws resolutions: March 21
HOD Credentialing: Friday, May 25 from 3:30 am to 7:00 pm; Saturday, May 26 from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm; Sunday, May 27 from 7:30 am to noon
This is where anyone who is ANYONE mingles with the HOD delegates, sharing stories about hot topics and resolutions to watch and anxiously predicting the contents of the delegate lunch boxes.
HOD Meeting: Saturday, May 26 from 11:00 am to 3:45 pm; Sunday, May 27 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; Monday, May 28 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
The opening of HOD is always moving and entertaining, with plenty of pomp, circumstance, and ceremony amping up the already charged vibe as another HOD gets ready to rumble.
Delegate Cage Match: Lunch during each session.
This is where delegates square off in a cage in between sessions. Teams are divided into regions, with the southern contingent (including delegates from Texas, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, and Mississippi) holding the crown for the past 5 years. (Note: This is not a real event and does not actually happen. But maybe it could, with a well-worded resolution!)
Conference Opening Session: Saturday, May 26 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am
This event consistently rocks. High-octane entertainment, polished and theatrical introductions, and moving (and movingly brief) talks from AAPA leaders set the tone for the conference.
AAPA Town Hall Meeting: Saturday, May 26 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
If you were ever a fan of the Dating Game, you'll love this event, as AAPA leaders sit on really high bar stools and field questions from the audience and Twitter users. Some of the questions are creampuffs, some are edgy, and it's a great way to see the human side of AAPA leadership.
Conference Opening Reception: Sunday, May 27 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Always a hoot, here's your chance to rub shoulders with colleagues from around the continent (and world!) as you sip a drink and nibble on a radish or two.
This calls for a quick review of AAPA resolutions. We'll try to avoid the human sleeping pill treatment here and keep this brief.