SPAN Conference Taking a Holiday
by Scott Flora, Executive Director

The SPAN Conference and Trade Show has, over the years, provided education, networking, and just plain fun to publishers, speakers, and exhibitors. It is always a wonderful event where everyone has gained knowledge and friendships enriching their publishing lives.

After evaluating our services to both our publisher and sponsoring members, we have decided not to hold the Conference in 2007. Our goal is to shift resources used to plan, promote, and run the Conference to provide additional benefits for SPAN members. We will especially concentrate on using the Internet and the SPAN Web site to provide benefits that will greatly improve the value of belonging to SPAN.

As most members know, over the last couple of years, we have been steadily adding content to the SPAN Web site. Right now we have, free to anyone who visits the site, an extensive independent publishing FAQ, a publishing glossary, articles, and connections to industry vendors and publishing nonprofits.

In the “Members Only” section, members can find SPAN Conference podcasts, our new Online Member Directory, a complete listing of SPAN member benefits with contact information, an archive of past SPAN Connection Newsletters, and an extensive listing of articles.

Over the next year, we will be working to deliver improved benefits to our members. We will increase the offerings on the SPAN Web site in many areas, including increasing the number of podcasts, videos, and articles. We will also offer “members only” teleseminars starting this summer.

Member discounts like the freight program and the Amazon Advantage waiver are two popular reasons many members choose SPAN. We will work hard to add new discounts on services that make SPAN memberships pay for themselves.

Everyone who has been to a SPAN Conference knows it is a very special event. I value the connections and friendships made at the last four Conferences. It is the 21 st century and it is time to concentrate on ways to get more information to more people. Watch the Web site and the newsletter for these great new benefits.