My name is Susan Kistler, and I am the American Evaluation Association’s Executive Director. It is my pleasure to contribute each Saturday’s post to the aea365 blog. Today, I’m writing about hot tips for making the most of San Antonio. Now, one might point out that this is a blog on hot tips for evaluators. Yet, I write from a hotel room in lovely SA where I’m doing a preparatory work for the AEA’s annual conference. Since there will be over 2500 evaluators in San Antonio in November, tips for making the most of SA are tips for evaluators!

Hot Tip: Use the Riverwalk to get around downtown. The Riverwalk is lovely and meanders around the center of town at a level below the city so that rather than cars and stoplights, you see beautifully landscaped green spaces, festively lit restaurants, and the reflection of it all in the river waters.

Hot Tip: Visit the Alamo to get a bit of history. The Alamo is right in the middle of town, easily walked to from any hotel and just off the Riverwalk. It’s free to visit and learn of the historic battle and a perfect respite for an hour out of a busy day.

Hot Tip: See the Missions and use a hop-on, hop-off bus pass. San Antonio has a hop-on, hop-off tour bus that allows you to get a feel for the city’s history and sights, and to get to two of the outlying missions that are too distant for a walk. This visit was among my favorite places in the city.

Hot Tip: Arrive a day early to be sure you have time to explore the city, including La Villita. La Villita is an historic arts village a short three-block walk from AEA’s conference headquarters hotel. Stop in one of the many small shops for handcrafts from local artisans.

Hot Tip: Come hungry! San Antonio has amazing cuisine, from the best of tex-mex to four-star eateries from top chefs. Stop by the Colonial Room at the Menger, next door to the Alamo, to eat where Teddy Roosevelt recruited the Rough Riders. Try a meal at the Emily Morgan hotel’s Oro restaurant for cutting edge fusion with great ingredients, or seek out Boudro’s on the Riverwalk for upscale Texas bistro cuisine at its best.

Hot Tip: Visit a museum. There is a museum for everyone in San Antonio. My favorite so far is the Institute of Texan Cultures – only a block away from our main hotel – that celebrates the 20+ cultural groups that settled in Texas; and tonight I hope to catch the new outdoor art installation along the Riverwalk.

This contribution is from the aea365 Daily Tips blog, by and for evaluators, from the American Evaluation Association. Please consider contributing – send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org.

aea2010, conference, San Antonio

My name is Susan Kistler, and I am the American Evaluation Association’s Executive Director. It is my pleasure to contribute each Saturday’s post to the aea365 blog. AEA’s Call for Proposals for our 2010 annual conference is now online at http://www.eval.org/eval2010/default.asp. We welcome submissions that explore the breadth and depth of the field – this post is designed to give you a bit of insider help if you are new to AEA proposal submission.

Hot Tips: Here is a set of 8 tips for success when submitting a proposal to present at AEA’s annual conference, Evaluation 2010:

1. Start Early: Review the Proposal Submission Forms and begin collecting your materials well ahead of the proposal submission deadline of March 19, 2010
2. Focus on Evaluation Issues Rather Than Findings: Your audience will be evaluators, focus on evaluation process/management/planning/methodology topics – present findings to ground discussions of context or use but not as the primary focus
3. Choose a Discussion-focused Format if You are a New Presenter: Review the list of session types, and perhaps consider a poster or roundtable if you are a fledgling presenter – these formats are more intimate and discussion-focused, and don’t require a formal stand-up presentation
4. Understand the Presenter Limits: For AEA, presenters may appear within proposals no more than twice as a primary presenter and twice as a discussant – an extended explanation is on the Conference FAQ page – because of these limits, extend invites for multi-presenter sessions early to ensure availability for hoped-for co-presenters
5. Spell and Grammar Check: Your proposal is an opportunity to put your best foot forward, be sure that it is professional and readable when submitted
6. Use the Space Available: You’ll have up to 500 words to describe the relevance of your proposal, while you need not use 499, take advantage of the space to make a strong argument for its inclusion on the program
7. Plan to Submit at Least a Day in Advance of the Deadline: If you have technology, weather, or personal challenges at the last minute, you will have a cushion that allows you to meet the deadline
8. Use the Proposal Submission Checklist: We uploaded a Proposal Submission Checklist to the AEA eLibrary to help as you prepare

Bonus Tip – Book Your Room Early: While this has nothing to do with proposal submission, experienced presenters know to book as soon as the notice comes out about the room block availability or it can be a long walk to the headquarters hotel

And, perhaps the best tip of all? If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact the AEA staff. We’re here to help! Try info@eval.org or 1-508-748-3326.

This contribution is from the aea365 Daily Tips blog, by and for evaluators, from the American Evaluation Association. Please consider contributing – send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org.

aea2010, conference, proposals