Presenting a workshop - why YOU should submit a proposal!

It's THAT time of year for art teachers.  Here in NY state, proposals are due soon for workshop presentations at the annual NYSATA convention, held in November.  And I expect that soon, it will again be time to submit proposals for the NAEA annual convention, to be held in Minneapolis in March 2020.

Today, there was a conversation on Facebook about whether or not there were enough elementary workshops at the NAEA in Boston.  My immediate reaction was this: were the people who wanted more elementary workshops willing to present a workshop?  Because, after all, we who attend the convention ARE the convention!

I've been presenting annually at my state convention for at least a dozen years, and nationally for about 5 or 6.  So, I want to tell you why, despite the inconveniences, I continue to present workshops, even now, in my 7th year of retirement.  I'll explain the many benefits of presenting a workshop at either your state convention or at the NAEA convention, in hopes that maybe YOU will take the leap and submit a workshop proposal.  And for full disclosure, I'll explain the negatives as well.  I hope you'll find the positives outweigh the negatives and you'll take the leap and dive in!

FIVE GOOD REASONS TO PRESENT A WORKSHOP:
Presenting a workshop helps you to meet lots of awesome people, and make meaningful connections.
Years ago, before the internet was such a big thing, my region of our state organization (NYSATA) was inactive, and, teaching in a rural school on my own, I knew nobody, and wasn't good at making easy connections in crowds.  I decided to present a workshop at my state convention.  The workshop was a major success, and I suddenly had people inviting me to sit with them at meals, hang out at the Saturday night party, and so on.  They became my friends, and my workshop groupies; I was no longer all alone.  The connections I've made as a result of teaching workshops have been lasting and meaningful. 

Presenting a workshop is a fabulous advocacy tool.
After I presented my first workshop, I brought copies of my evaluations, which were excellent, back to my administration.  They were so proud that I represented my little rural district so well at such a big event, and shared the evaluations with the school board.  It made them value my program, and ME, as the reason the program was successful.

The bonus of this was that, each year afterward, when I requested to go the convention, and they turned down my request, I told them I already had a workshop proposal approved, and they changed their mind and allowed me to go. EVERY TIME!!!  And they made sure that my registration fee, and sometimes my hotel (depending on the year's finances) were paid for.  They wanted our school district to be noticed!

Presenting a workshop helps you to refine your presentation.
We get used to talking to kids.  But adults can be a more challenging audience.  As a result, I've discovered that figuring out how to present successfully to adults helps you to refine your presentation to kids.  You HAVE to be organized and prepared.  If you are not, you'll bomb.  Even in a good workshop, if something goes wrong, you will learn from it.  Last year someone wrote something on an evaluation of one of my NAEA workshops that made me reevaluate my presentation.  I took it as a challenge to improve.  The workshop had been successful but still, there was something to fix.  So I presented the same workshop this year, and tried to hopefully right my wrong!

Presenting a workshop will make you feel appreciated and proud.
At the state level, here in NY, presenters receive a certificate, and a little token certificate for the NYSATA store, to use for something like a t-shirt or an apron.  Nationally, you don't get those perks, but you DO find that people will remember you, and will show their appreciation. Maybe they'll approach you in the vendor hall to tell you you are appreciated.  Maybe they'll offer to help you with your stuff.  Or maybe they'll 'friend' you on Facebook after the convention.  Whatever the case, even without a certificate or token for goodies, you WILL feel appreciated!  And that's something we all need!

It feels good to give back.
Yup, it feels good to share your knowledge with others.  It's as simple as that!

THE DOWNSIDE OF PRESENTING A WORKSHOP
Scheduling of your workshop(s) will define your convention schedule.
You probably won't be attending a workshop before your presentation, unless you want to attend the workshop that will be in the same room where you are presenting.  And you probably won't be attending a workshop after your workshop, because by the time your laptop is back in your bag, or your supplies or visuals are packed back up, you really have to hustle to get to another workshop (unless, of course, you want to attend whatever is in the room you've just presented in!).

Also, workshops at NAEA can be at wacky times.  This year, I taught a studio workshop from 6-7:50pm, which made it more challenging to make dinner plans.  Or maybe your workshop might be right smack in the middle of the day at NAEA, when all your friends are heading to a museum for the afternoon with free admission, and you fear you won't be back in time.  These challenges are not unmanageable.  This year, even with the timing, I still made it to the Boston MFA, and still managed to grab dinner with friends!

You will probably have stuff to transport, beyond your suitcase, and that can be an annoyance.
You'll likely need to bring your laptop for a slide presentation, and maybe you are bringing visuals or examples of some sort.  For a hands-on workshop, you'll need to transport materials, too.  If you are presenting at a distance and need to fly to attend the convention, rather than driving, that can present a challenge.  Nationally, NAEA will pay to cover the costs of shipping your  materials for a ticketed studio workshop.  But they do not cover the costs of shipping anything back home afterward.

Also, you might find yourself dragging your stuff around the convention for a while in order to keep yourself from missing anything, if you aren't staying in a room near enough to quickly drop off your materials/laptop.  Convention centers rarely have lockers where you can put stuff temporarily.

 SO... note that I've listed FIVE positives and only TWO negatives.  Be brave; next time you have the opportunity, offer your expertise!  You won't be disappointed!