Who Should Attend:

Administrators and staff from these and other institutions offering lifelong learning classes and programs:

-Recreation Departments
-Community Education in Public Schools
-Continuing Education in Universities
-Continuing Education in Community Colleges
-Associations
-Other (Botanic gardens, museums, hospitals, libraries, and more)

This year’s conference will be at the fabulous beautiful Paradise Point Resort in San Diego.

It is practically an island unto itself, right on Mission Bay.  A very classy place.

The room rate for the LERN Conference is just $199/night, plus normal taxes and fees.

Click Here to book your room online. Only use this link in-order to get the discounted conference rate. You can also call 855-463-3361 to register but make sure to reference the LERN Conference Room Block in-order to get the best rate. (The 18th, 19th and 21st are now SOLD OUT at the Paradise Point. There are plenty of rooms available right now at the Hyatt on Mission Bay, just 6 minutes from the conference site. A daily shuttle, rides with other participants, a nice bike ride, walk or Uber are all options for getting from our overflow hotel to the conference.  All hotel reservations at the Hyatt qualify you for the lower conference fee plus FREE all day pre-conferences on Tuesday.).

 

The overflow hotel will be the Hyatt Mission Bay, just 1.6 miles away.

The room rate for the Hyatt Mission Bay is $159.

The lower rate at the overflow hotel is also intended for California members with more modest budgets.

Click Here to book a room at the Hyatt Mission Bay in the LERN Room Block. Only use this link in-order to get the discounted conference rate. You can also call 800-233-1234 to register but make sure to reference the LERN Conference Room Block in-order to get the best rate.

No, don’t just come because you can sit outside the convention center overlooking the river and re-energize yourself in the normal 70 degree weather in November in Savannah.

Here’s Why You Should Come

Here’s what a few of your colleagues said about last year’s conference.

 

“This was my first LERN Conference and it was a Fantastic Experience.  I especially liked the interactive app.”  –Mariza Olmos, Ft. Worth, Texas

 

 

 

 

 

 

“LERN’s annual conference lives up to LERN’s mantra…”Information that Works!”. If your budget is limited, this is the conference you want to attend!”

– Robert Leslie,  Spartanburg, SC

“The Conference was a smashing success.   I can’t wait for next year.” –Danell Reilly, Corpus Christi, Texas

 

 

 

“Everyone should be able to come to a LERN conference!  Operations and program development will run smoother and allow for an increase in margins and bottom line revenue!” –Cheryl Stiglmeier, Lihue, Hawaii

“The investment is well worth it.”

– Gabriele Janes, Toronto

“We take back so many ideas and ways to increase revenue that we can implement right away!”

– Donna Chant, Munster, IN

To summarize, participants get a 10:1 return on their investment by coming to the LERN Annual Conference.  The conference doesn’t cost money; it makes your program money.

If you’ve never been to a LERN conference, some 43% of the attendees each year are first-timers, so welcome. You will get the ratios for success in your field, the benchmarks, the most practical, how-to information available anywhere.

If you have been before, the 2019 Annual Conference will feature the latest, most advanced information as your program rapidly changes to serve the new generations and society of the 21^st century.

New Session Formats

Multiple concurrent session formats from which to choose.

Engaged Sessions: LERN makes history in creating a whole new interactive format.

Roundtables:  Two every session for small discussions and participation.

Panels:  Your colleagues from top programs share their successes.

Experts: The best experts provide fast paced hard hitting and practical best practices.

New Information

Don’t let your program fall behind.

• More than 35 new sessions
• The Best Brochure Ideas for 2019
• New Growth Markets
• The Best Promotion Ideas of the Year
• International Award Winners for 2019
• …..and much much more.

Topics

Information not available anywhere else on these and other critical topics

– Summer Camps                                     – Management and Leadership
– Advanced Marketing                            – Productivity
– Benchmarks & Ratios for Success     – Strategic Planning
– Programming                                        – Finances and Pricing
– Contract Training                                 – Social Media
– New Skills

Welcome to the most exciting week of the year in lifelong learning!

Here’s an overview of the Agenda.

The pdf of the final brochure, available on the main conference web page on June 15, has all the 72 concurrent sessions, SuperStar presenters, Engaged Sessions, Roundtables, and more.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

7:30 – 9:00 am. Conference Seminar Registration (Conference registration begins at 10:00 am)

Exhibits Open

8:30 am – 3:00 pm Conference Seminars
*FREE when staying in the LERN hotel room block 3 nights; $195 if staying elsewhere

 

**16th Annual Augusoft Lumens® User Summit

Held in conjunction with the LERN Conference, this two-day technology summit provides attendees with in-depth learning on multiple aspects of the Lumens software.

10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Conference Registration

3:30 – 4:00 pm. State-of-LERN 2020 Briefing

3:30 – 4:00 pm. Getting the Most from the LERN Conference.
Especially relevant for first time attendees.

4:00 – 5:00 pm. Network Gatherings.

4:00 – 4:30 pm. Get to Know San Diego.

5:00 – 6:00 p.m. All-Conference Reception in the Exhibit Area
Our welcome to you and to the conference. Come meet each other, have a beverage, and visit with this year’s exhibitors.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

7:00 am – 4:00 pm Conference registration

7:30 a.m.  Exhibits Open

8:00 – 9:50 am  Opening Session

• Welcome, Aaron Sauerbrei, Chair of the Board of Directors
• The State of Lifelong Learning: William A. Draves, President
• Opening Keynote: “Making Change” with Ken Nwadike Jr. and the Free Hugs Project.

9:50 am – 10:20 am.  Break— Hall of Learning and LERN Central.   Refreshments, networking, exhibits and the Hall of Learning.

10:20 – 11:10 am.  Concurrent Sessions

11:20 – 12:10 pm.  Concurrent Sessions

12:10 – 1:30 pm * Professional Development, Networking Luncheon and Certification Awards

1:30 – 2:00 pm Break— Hall of Learning.  Poster displays, software demonstrations, brochure table, refreshments.

2:00 – 2:50 pm  Concurrent Sessions

3:00 – 3:50 pm  Concurrent Sessions

4:00 – 4:50 p.m. Operations Gathering.

4:00 – 4:50 p.m. Small Teams Gathering.

 

Thursday, November 21, 2019

7:30 am. Hall of Learning and Exhibits Open

8:00 – 8:50 am. Concurrent Sessions

9:00 – 9:50 am. General Session: NineShift for 2020.  The Grand Finale.

9:50 – 10:20 am. Break— Hall of Learning and LERN Central. More poster displays, great brochures, demos.

10:20 – 11:10 am. Concurrent Sessions

11:20 – 12:10 pm. Concurrent Sessions

12:10 – 1:30 pm. *International Awards Luncheon.  Some call it the highlight of the conference.

12:10 pm Exhibits close.

2:00 – 2:50 pm. Concurrent Sessions

3:00 – 3:30 pm. Briefing for UGotClass Partners.

3:00 – 3:50 pm Contract Training Gathering.

3:00 – 3:50 pm Summer Camps Gathering.

3:00 – 5:00 pm CPP Exam Study Session

3:30 – 4:30 pm President’s Reception ** – Meet the leaders of LERN. Your $10 is good for two drinks and appetizers. Advanced registration requested.

 

Friday, November 22, 2019

8:00 – 8:50 am. Concurrent Sessions

9:00 – 9:50 am. Just for you. Personal & Professional Development Sessions

9:00 – 9:30 am. LERN Forecasts 2020

9:30 – 9:55 am. Your To-Do Action Plan – All new interactive closing format.

10:00 – 10:30 am. Top 40 Conference Ideas.

10:30 -10:55 am. Conference Highlights.

1:00 pm – 4 p.m. CPP Exam

Evening
Last chance for a great restaurant and socializing. Enjoy your last evening in San Diego.

_______________

* Event included in the Full registration fee. Extra fee for those registering at the Basic level.

** Extra fee. Event not included in conference registration.

#1. Hotel Reservations. If you have not made your hotel reservations, you should do so ASAP. To make your reservations in the LERN Room Block, use this link: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/SANIS/G-LERN If you have trouble getting a hotel room, email us at info@lern.org  We can help.

#2. Conference App. Slides, handouts, Daily News, updates, session quizzes and more are on LERN’s Conference App. Download the app: https://crowd.cc/s/2PjxW or view the web version: https://crowd.cc/lern2019  Use Password lern2019 to download the Conference App on your smartphone before you arrive in San Diego to help you better plan.

#3. Tuesday & Wednesday. The Conference activities begin on Tuesday, November 19^th with FREE Pre-Conference Seminars (if you are staying in a LERN Room Block Hotel and have pre-registered for a Pre-Conference Seminar) from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. (lunch is on your own from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.) and the All-Conference Reception from 5-6 p.m. Registration opens Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. and is open until 6 p.m. and then opens again Wednesday, November 20^th at 7 a.m. The Conference officially kicks off with the General Session on Wednesday starting at 8 a.m.

#4. Lunches. On Wednesday and Thursday there are Conference Lunches. If you want to attend one or both lunches, but have not purchased a seat, contact Roy at info@lern.org or (800) 678-5376. Also, if you have a dietary need, you should contact Roy at info@lern.org.

#5. Certified Program Planner (CPP). If you have signed up to take the CPP Exam at the Conference, you are strongly encouraged to attend Fred Bayley’s CPP Orientation Session. If you cannot attend, you should email Fred at bayley@lern.org so Fred can set a time to connect with you. Mark Your Calendar…The CPP Exam is on Friday, November 9^th from 1-4 p.m. (but once you are done you can leave). The CPP Orientation Session on Tuesday, November 6^th is from 4:30-5 p.m. and will be held in Room 105/106 in the Convention Center. The CPP Exam will be held on Friday, November 22nd, from 1:00pm-4:00pm in the Garden Room at Paradise Point Resort.

#6. Social Events & President’s Reception. There is still room in the social events, as well as a few tickets left for the President’s Reception on Thursday, November 21^st, at 3:30 p.m. To sign up for a social event or the President’s Reception contact Roy at info@lern.org or (800) 678-5376. The Presidents Reception will be held in Suite # (coming soon).

#7. LERN Central. Make sure you schedule time to visit LERN Central where you will find the Exhibitors, as well as LERN Central. Senior Vice President, Julie Coates, and her Member Services Team have done a bang-up job ensuring LERN Central has everything you need to be successful at the Conference and when you go home.

#8. Dress. Attire for the Conference is business casual.

#9. Brochures. Make sure to bring copies of your brochure, catalog or schedule to add to the Brochure Exchange Table.

#10. San Diego. Plan to use a ride service such as taxi, Uber, or Lyft to get you from your hotel to your destination quickly.  There is city bus service which will take you to the Old Town Transit Center where you can connect to other routes and the trolley system.

#11. Transportation from Airport. Plan on using a shuttle service or a ride service such as taxi, Uber, or Lyft to get you to and from your hotel.

#12. Transportation to the Paradise Point Resort. Free shuttles from the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay to Paradise Point will run for approximately one hour in the morning and again for about one hour after sessions end from Tuesday through Friday.  Please use the LERN Conference App or check the front desk at your hotel for exact shuttle hours

#13. New! Trends & Issues session don’t miss it. This year we premiere new Trends & Issues sessions Tuesday at 4-5 pm, just before the all-conference reception.  You will meet with others in your institutional setting to discuss the issues, led by the LERN Council Chair for your constituency.

#14. Attention Age 40 and Under! Attend the Emerging Leaders session Tuesday from 4-5 pm, just before the all-conference reception. Meet with your fellow millennials to discuss your top issues as a young and emerging leader.

#15. Become a LERN Leader. Just attend the “State of LERN” presentation Tuesday from 3:30 – 4 pm. It is just after the all-day preconference seminars, and just before the Trends & Issues session at 4 p.m.  No obligation. Then sign up on the attendance roster to get more information about joining a Council and becoming a LERN Leader.

#16. Graduate Credit Available. In addition to the 1.6 continuing education units (CEUs) you may acquire for attending the full confer­ence, optional 1.0 graduate credit from the University of South Dakota is also available. The cost of the credit fee is just $40 paid to USD. The credit fee must be paid prior to attending the LERN Annual Conference by clicking here. For more details regarding the full Master’s Degree Program in Arts and Education, please stop by the University of South Dakota booth.

#17. Get Your Flu Shot Now. It reportedly takes 2-3 weeks for flu shots to take effect, so unless your doctor says otherwise, consider getting a flu shot this week, so you are less likely to get the flu just before the LERN conference.

#18. Use #lern19. The conference will have a social wall where attendee Twitter posts will be shown if they include the hashtag #lern19. This only works for Twitter, not Instagram like last year. Post to Twitter with #lern19 and get social with us!

If you have any other questions about the Conference contact Roy at info@lern.org or (800) 678-5376. Travel safe and be prepared for the most exciting week in lifelong learning!