Member surveys tell us that the number one reason people join ACE is for professional development. But not all members have the resources to attend the annual international conference. That's where workshops play an important role within ACE.

It's important to offer workshops that address member needs--no matter how diverse membership is. An ACE workshop can be sessions where members share how-to information and success stories, or it can be an in-depth, skill-building session. Many members tell us the most valuable part of an ACE workshop is sharing ideas and meeting others who do the same work they do.

With these thoughts in mind, consider several approaches for an ACE workshop:

1. Promote growth in professional knowledge, skills and attitudes. This workshop may incorporate beginner, intermediate or advanced sessions and may focus on one or more simultaneous topics or tracks.

2. Provide symposium-style or issues-based sessions. These sessions are designed for teams to focus on timely topics. Teams usually include administrators, researchers, subject-matter specialists, technologists, and communicators. These sessions often are planned and carried out in a short timeframe.

3. Offer online training that allows individuals to learn within their own timeline.

Whether your workshop is for 30 or 100 people, identify your objectives early and stick to them. Good ideas always surface late in the process, but it is wise to compare them with your original objectives. On the other hand, don't be so inflexible that you won't consider a great last-minute idea.

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