On April 19-21, 2007, the Hampton Roads and
Richmond Chapters of the Association of Information Technology Professionals
will host the region’s annual spring conference in Williamsburg, VA.
The conference theme -- From
Jamestown 1607 to Information Technology 2007 and Beyond --
recognizes both the past and the future. Throughout 2007, the Williamsburg
area will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first English settlers at
Jamestown. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to see a wide
range of activities in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration. While the
location and activities speak to our founding days, the conference program
will focus on information technology changes impacting us over the next few
years.
Williamsburg is a top tourist attraction
anytime. For 2007, it will be an even bigger draw, with the Jamestown
festivities but a few miles away. Moreover, spring in Virginia usually
brings nice weather and flowers. Garden Week begins on April 22. Most people
will arrive on Thursday evening for an optional dinner at a colonial tavern.
The conference runs Friday and half-a-day on Saturday. For those staying
longer, we will have an optional tour of Jamestown and a mystery
dinner/entertainment event, and the Hospitality Suite will be open on all
three evenings, Thursday through Saturday.
We return to the lovely Williamsburg
Marriott, site of the spring conference a decade ago. The facilities and
rooms are excellent, an appropriate setting for a major historical
celebration.
Topics and Speakers
The four IT
sessions will draw on the future-oriented side of the conference theme.
The keynote session will feature a regional VP from AITP
partner Robert Half on business and technology trends, with emphasis on the
hiring and compensation area. The second session will be the Research
Triangle Chapter’s Annette Foster on project management in the future, with
emphasis on the Agile methodology. The third session will feature a
Microsoft presentation on new collaborative strategies. Our committee has
decided to not have a fourth Friday session and, instead, to encourage
people to do something locally. There are several reasons to attend a
conference; education is but one of them. On Saturday, we will have one
longer session, a four-person CIO Panel, focusing on near-term business and
technology issues.
The non-IT
activities will take advantage of the Williamsburg/Jamestown area and the
400th anniversary celebration in Jamestown.
Other Activities
We will have
an optional dinner at a colonial tavern for those of you who will be in
Williamsburg on Thursday evening.
Friday
evening activities promise to be the conference highlight. We will begin
our reception period with drinks and hors d'oeuvres. We will have costumed
"interpreters"; and we will have strolling colonial musicians. The dinner
period will begin with a colonial welcome and information about the
Jamestown Settlement's history. The musical portion will continue, with a
nice dose of humor. We will have music and comedy entertainment during the
early part of dinner. This reception/dinner is ideal for spouse or friends,
and we already have several reservations from as far away as Florida.
After the morning session on Saturday, we will have an
optional tour of the Jamestown Settlement for those who are staying through
the afternoon. We will have a mystery dinner theater option for those
staying over Saturday night, and we will keep the Hospitality Suite through
Saturday. The Hospitality Suite will have a wide array of beverages and
snacks, including a popcorn machine.
Hotel
The
Williamsburg Marriott is a first class hotel, and we have used it before for
region functions. To reserve by phone, call the hotel at 757-220-2500 and
ask tell the representative that you are attending the AITP conference.
To reserve online, visit the
Marriott web site at
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/PHFCW. Look
for the "group code" and enter "ITPITPA". April 9 was the cutoff for a
great $114 rate, but some rooms may still be available at this rate. Call
the hotel directly to check.
More Information and
Registration
Please visit our web site at
www.aitp-hr.com/region18
for a schedule of events, detailed program description, registration form,
and other information.
The conference rate includes two
continental breakfasts, Friday lunch, Friday dinner, Friday reception, and
the Hospitality Suite on all three nights. The rate for members is $225.
For non members, the rate is $240. Partial registration options are also
available and are outlined on the web site.
Once you register, we will send you information about the three optional
events.
