Getting the best out of SUGI (or Regional SAS User Group conference) experiences - a couple of tidbits that I learned up the hard way:

1) If you are trying to decide between 2 different presentations that are being held at the same time, check the Proceedings to see if either did not make it into the book. (Or rather, CD - old habits are hard to break.) You can always read the paper once you get back to your office - but only if the paper made it into the Proceedings. 1a) A codicil to the above: Panel discussions are never in the Proceedings. Occasionally, there may be a related paper, or some intro material. But even in these instances, the meat of the presentation can only be obtained by attending and listening.

2) Experience has taught me that there are some folks who keep getting invited back, because they do a good job every year and present interesting topics. However, among those, there are an elite few people that I would be willing to listen to for 50 minutes no matter WHAT they are talking about - because if THEY think it is important enough to speak on, then I will learn something I probably should know, and they do a fantastic job of explaining things. (For example, I have been quoted as saying that I would pay money to listen to Ian Whitlock read the phone book for an hour, because he would make damned sure that I got something out of it before he wrapped up! Just to name a few others of my personal favorites from experience - and probably embarrass the heck out of them in the process - Paul Dorfman, Don Henderson, and Rick Langston.) Other people may name a totally different cast of characters if asked the same question.

Of course, if their topic ties to your current interests, any presenter from the 1st timer on up to the 20+ year veteran would be a good investment of your time!

3) Try to write up a trip report when you get back to the office, even if your management does not require it. The writing process will help you summarize your experiences and help you to remember what you learned. Plus, sharing the knowledge with your co-workers helps make the company's expense in sending you to the conference a better investment - potentially an important consideration for the next time that you ask to attend a conference.

4) "I attended this paper ..." looks better in a trip report than "I talked to an interesting individual in the hallway ...". However, at most of the conferences I have attended, the most memorable tip came out of a hallway conversation or from a one-on-one in the demo room, rather than from a formal presentation - so don't be afraid to talk with your peers. And often, these one-on-ones occur during meals and at the mixers, so do try to make an appearance. (Every year, I learn something interesting by walking around at the Opening Mixer and finding a person who looks like they're alone and attending their first conference, then talking with them awhile about their job and how they use the SAS System. Just like someone did with me during my first SUGI in Dallas back in '87.)

Just my opinions, offered for free and worth every cent of that!

Andrew T. Kuligowski