Since our last column, we have a few miles behind us. CASE conferences have taken us from Orlando, Florida, to Bellevue, Washington; Boston, Massachusetts, to San Francisco, California; New York City to Omaha, Nebraska, and a few places in between. So far, we’ve met CASE members from at least 38 states, 10 provinces, one district (Columbia), two protectorates, possibly three territories—and we’re not done yet. 

There are a lot of metrics that can describe these travels, but perhaps what defines them best are the people we’ve met along the way. Some are former colleagues and friends from when we were at our respective institutions. Others are volunteers who serve on district cabinets, extending CASE’s reach through local engagement and outreach. Still others are conference planning committee members, who coordinate everything from interest sessions to keynote speakers. We've met educational partners, many of whom are prior advancement professionals with innovative products and expertise to share. It’s been great to connect with all of these people.

Of all the CASE members we’ve met this winter, it’s the first-timers at the conferences that teach us the most about what is truly great in our conferences, content, and community. First-timers to CASE conferences come from different disciplines, levels of experience, types of institutions, and personal backgrounds. They may arrive with a bit of apprehension, a fair amount of anticipation, and an appetite to learn. These newcomers move through the conference with fresh eyes, and they can critique readily. They haven’t bought into the ethos of CASE yet (we have to earn that), but they are receptive to it—even hopeful of finding it. They might attend a preconference workshop, learn a bit about CASE, and hear sage advice from more seasoned CASE veterans. Once the conference is in motion, they roam freely and the next two days have a “choose your own adventure” quality to them. The evaluation from first-timers is embedded in how they look when they exit the hotel as well as in their responses on a post-program assessment. 

First-timers are often struck by how CASE shares and values collaboration over competition. They are impressed by the depth of expertise and access to it. There is a sense of inclusion, “how nice everyone is,” and the willingness to listen and help with questions. The conferences offer more than just an inviting atmosphere, they spotlight substance and strategy across the advancement disciplines, helping attendees to add new elements to their existing skillsets.

Sitting down with first-timers is one of our favorite things to do on the last day of a conference. Hearing firsthand the impacts that these conferences have reminds us of the strength of CASE to convene, validate, and motivate. 

If you’ve read this far, you may be wondering, “Where’s the punch line on this column?” Taking stock of our district conferences provides each of us the opportunity to remember what is great and enduring about educational advancement, not just in the work but across the community. To be sure, significant challenges abound. Advancement disciplines will likely evolve as public sentiment, market forces, and political goals shift. However, neither the importance of this work nor the core approaches of how we do it are altered. That continuity is embodied in first-timers’ experience at CASE conferences across the region. Check one out for yourself!