SLA Countdown: 13 days to go!

I've got that feeling that I should be more organised and prepared than I actually am. In exactly 2 weeks time I will be at the Vancouver Convention Centre at the first day of the SLA Annual Conference. ARGH! For those who haven't got a clue what this means, see my previous post on winning an Early Career Conference Award (or ECCA for short). I still feel like it hasn't really sunk in, and it probably won't until I'm in the airport. I've got all my business cards ready though, which is the most important thing.

'Head on Vancouver' from flickrcc.net

The SLA support network

One thing I've noticed already, before the conference has even begun, is how supportive a lot of the SLA members are. I've had so many good tips and pieces of advice from former ECCAs, my SLA Europe Mentor and other members of SLA who are regular attendees at the conference and all round stars for the amount of help and support they've given to me and my fellow ECCAs. Because of the level of support we've had so far, I feel confident that I won't feel lost or confused at the conference. Overwhelmed, definitely, but not lost or lonely!

Over the next few weeks, I'll no doubt be updating my blog with several reflective posts about Vancouver, as well as contributing to the SLA Europe blog and publications for the Leadership and Management Division. We're also going to be contributing to some podcasts, recording our impressions of the conference 'on the go' and I'm considering doing some kind of video diary, like the one Ned Potter did when he won the award in 2011. In the meantime, I'm just going to spend the time mentally preparing for the lack of sleep and sheer enormity of the conference. I'm also going to be spending a few days after the conference in Vancouver and I'm going to travel to Seattle for a few days too, so I'm making a proper holiday out of it. It's going to be an amazing, life changing experience and I absolutely cannot wait.

Watch this space for future updates about the conference and all the ECCA adventures. You'll also be able to follow the conference tweets using the hashtag #SLA2014. For now, I'll see you on the other side of the world!