BOth are good..but each in their own way. THe Mid Atlantic one is much smaller and PAII provides much more diversity and alot more offerings. But if you can't afford all that is associated with PAII for the travel etc...do go to the Mid Atlantic one. You will ALWAYS pick up lots of good information from sessions and innkeepers alike..
DH has expressed interest in going to PAII conference. We checked the schedule, and aside form keynote speaker and pre-conference sessions, there does not appear to be a daily schedule of speakers/workshops. Schedule only says at whatever time conference "opens:, "workshop", etc. Are we to assume that the vendors are the speakers, and that the same sessions are repeated each day? I get that if multiple sessions are running in the morning one must choose only one to attend......or are we missing something more specific?
.
white pine said:
DH has expressed interest in going to PAII conference. We checked the schedule, and aside form keynote speaker and pre-conference sessions, there does not appear to be a daily schedule of speakers/workshops. Schedule only says at whatever time conference "opens:, "workshop", etc. Are we to assume that the vendors are the speakers, and that the same sessions are repeated each day? I get that if multiple sessions are running in the morning one must choose only one to attend......or are we missing something more specific?
I don't believe a specific schedule for each workshop, other than the ones at the very beginning and the very end of the conference, has been published yet. You are correct in that multiple sessions will run concurrently - usually 5 or 6 at a time - and each person can only attend one per time. Of course, your partner can attend another, and they sometimes repeat the workshops they think will be popular. But for the most part, they are not repeated each day, so you do have to pick and choose what you want to hear about.
Some workshops are run by vendors, especially on the arrival day, but several are run by innkeepers or industry experts. A few of us on the forum have been speakers in the past - like Scott - and I will be on a panel this time. The ending workshop about food by Eight Broads in the Kitchen is run by innkeepers who are excellent cooks.
The official schedule may not be in place until right before the conference, so you will spend the first evening planning your days. Still there are always good workshops at every time slot.
.