SUGA Conference Value...

During down economic times travel and training are often among the first items to be cut from budgets. However, the SUGA board believes that during these times training, networking, and professional development are among the most important aspects of maintaining a balanced and efficient workforce. This belief drives SUGA board members and volunteers to work throughout the year developing a quality training experience for SUGA members. We have developed the following tips in helping you to point out the value SUGA training brings to your organization.

The link on in the left column also contains a sample Request Memo using some of the following points for requesting and justifying attendance at the SUGA 2010 training in Orlando, Florida.

SUGA Training Specific points...
These points are specific to the SUGA training conference, and provide a description of training opportunities at the conference.

• Post-training ability to print transcripts of all classes attended.
• Over 330 training sessions held over a five day period.
• Over 150 SunGard Public Sector trainers, product developers, and executives in attendance, and available to consult with you.
• Opportunity to network with several hundred SunGard Public Sector software users, and discuss common issues and resolutions.
• Learn first hand of SunGard Public Sector furure technological trends and directions.
• Learn about new features available in your software applications.
• Give your input into software application enhancements.
• Network with SUGA members from your state and your region in regional specific lunch meeting.
• Over 30 User-led training sessions where you learn from experienced users like yourself.
• Vendor training classes designed to maximize your software and hardware investments.
• Hands on training in one of four training labs.
• On-site cybercafe for keeping up with your office e-mail.
• Ten organized on-site professional networking sessions.

Cost vs. Value:
This section describes the actual dollar value of training and hotel/meeting faciliity benefits.

• Your $410 registration fee gives you access to $5,120 in training value.
• All lunches provided, $130 value
• Complimentary transportation from/to airport, $75 value.
• Early registration discount, $150 value.
• Combined hotel/meeting facility and complimentary transportation to after hours attractions eliminates the need for car rental, $175 value.

Request Development Suggestions:
The following are tips designed to point out intangible benefits to your organization that do not necessarity have a dollar value associated with them, but provide value by other means.

• Understand and highlight the values of your organization, and link those velues to SUGA training opportunities.
• Point out the ability to document your training with transcripts, and carry this forward to document the dollare value of your classes.
• Document the intangible benefits to your organization. For example:
  • Increase in workflow/process efficiencies.
  • Ability to offer additional service to citizens.
• List items you attend to accomplish at while in attendence. For example:
  • Resolution of current issues your organization may be experiencing.
  • Ideas on increasing revenues, or decreasing costs.
  • Developing relationships with other governement agencies.
• When stating your training goals do not use passive verbiage. Use action verbs.
• Describe ways training will help to maximize ROI (Return On Investment) on systems used to run a major portion of your organization.
• Describe the synergy gained between you and your organization's employees, and the software you use on a daily basis.
• Renforce your willingness to bring your new found information back to your organization and share it with your supervisor and co-workers.

Comparison of SUGA Costs to Similar Conferences:

* American Airlines from Chicago's O'Hare Airport.
** Assumes lunches are included.
*** Assumes 4 night/5 Day stay at Hotel.