Jul 20, 2010
Conference Organizer Solutions is an electronic toolkit designed for the SPS conference organizer. While the name means what it says, there are many layers to what it can do for you and your event. One of its layers is the difference the services you can expect from the SPS staff. Our procedures and methods for supporting Conference Organizers is changing and we are implementing a staff training strategy aimed towards customer service and applicable conference planning skills. The staff is always looking for ways to deliver solutions to organizers like you. So making your job simpler is at the top of our change list.
In the last CO Newsletter we announced the kick off of the advisory committees that will guide the development of the COS tools. Discussion among committee members has been both candid and beneficial, giving staff a more thorough understanding of the conference organizer’s perspective. We have also learned how what the COS tools need to serve you.
One change you will see soon difference in timing and amount of information sent to new conference organizers. The current “Welcome” letter addresses nine critical procedures, all of which have different levels of urgency and different time constraints. The new Welcome letter will be replaced with a “Quick Start Guide”. It will address only those procedures that must be accomplished in a short time frame. The Quick Start Guide will be followed up with periodic messages to lead a conference organizer through the IEEE compliance procedures. This idea was inspired by the Advisory Committees and it is one you’re sure to like.
Preparing COS for you and other conference organizers has led to other positive steps and time-saving ideas. Please share your ideas with us by e-mail to: l.schwarzbek@ieee.org.
The Advisory Committees are now able to access the testing sites for each component of COS. To test the online systems and determine where the systems need streamlining. This will, without a doubt, lead to more discussion. We’re looking forward to it! We are grateful to the Advisory Committees for their time and commitment.