2024 Recreation & Community Class Programming Conference

Monday, March 18
5:30 pm Complimentary networking reception, Meet-and-Greet

Tuesday, March 19
8 am Breakfast networking

9 am Opening Session
-Welcome, Jill Korsok, Chair of the LERN Board, Orange Community Education and Recreation, Pepper Pike, Ohio
-“State of the Field,” Brendan Marsello, Assistant Vice President for Program Development, Jackson, New Hampshire

9:15 am- 10 am   “Top New Advanced Ideas for 2024”
-Steal these ideas. They are the Best-of-the-Best.  From Recreation Departments, Community Education programs in public schools, and other community class programs. Each is a LERN International Award Winning idea for 2024.  Visual vibrant slides to illustrate strategies, programs and ideas you can steal for your program.

10 – 10:15 Morning Break

10:15 – 11 am “Using Influencers”
-Carlotta Wade, Prince George’s Parks, Riverside, Maryland. A nationally respected recreation professional shows you how influencers can help you draw a crowd to your class or event.

11:15 – 12 noon Concurrents
-Presentation. “Key Benchmarks,” with  Brendan Marsello, Jackson, New Hampshire. The best numbers to monitor to measure your program’s success and plan for your next sessions.  These numbers will simplify your decision making.
-Discussion. “Digital Marketing.” In this fast changing area, discuss what works currently with your colleagues for social media, reels, Nextdoor, video and more.

Noon – 1:30 pm Luncheon (included in fee)

1:30 – 2:15 pm Concurrents
-Presentation. “Email marketing using MailChimp and Outlook,” with Raul Matos, Coordinator, Community Learning, Arlington Public Schools, Arlington, Virginia. Tracking where your customers are coming from. Using email mail merge to personalize emails and recruit instructors. Using an interactive PDF to facilitate registrations, and using coupon codes.
-Discussion. “New Ideas to Recruit and Retain Instructors,” moderated by DeDe Kern, CPP, Extension Manager, New Trier Township High School, New Trier, Illinois. The great resignation presents new challenges. Brainstorm new ideas.

2:15 – 2:30 Afternoon Break

2:30- 3:15 pm  Concurrents
-“Optimizing Prices,” with Brendan Marsello. Maximize both registrations and income with good pricing. Don’t guess. Discounts, competitive pricing, image pricing and more. Ask your toughest questions.
-Discussion. “Building Community Through Cultural Events.”  Share your latest hot event, and the next hot event you are planning.

3:15 -3:30 First Day Closure
Optional: Networking and Dinner Groups (on your own)

Wednesday, March 20
7 am Breakfast networking

8 am – 8:45 a.m.  “Time To Review Your Policies, Procedures and Processes”
-with Jill Korsok, Director, Orange Community Education and Recreation, Pepper Pike.
A national leader in the field discusses how she just reviewed her program’s policies, procedures and processes. With new tips to respond to the current situation of increasing customer demands, limited staff, and the need for increased productivity and cost-recovery.

9 am – 9:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions
-Presentation. “Marketing Essentials,” with Brendan Marsello. Discover the critical marketing techniques that work for 2024. Cut out the activities that don’t work.  Bring your latest marketing question.
-Discussion. “Community Relationships and Partners,” moderated by DeDe Kern, New Trier Township High School, New Trier, Illinois.  Discuss with your colleagues the partnerships that work best for you, and what issues you have to improve your partnership win-win.

9: 45 – 10:00 Morning Break

10 am -10:45 am Concurrents
-Presentation. “Branding for Teens,” with Carlotta Wade.  Reach and serve more teens by rebranding your centers. This national expert will show you how.
-Discussion. “Reinvent!”  The environment is different post-pandemic.  Discuss what major new programs, services and features you are exploring for this new world.

11:00 – 11:45 am Concurrents
-Presentation. “How to Finally Write Your Employee Handbook,” with Jill Korsok. Respond to the latest developments in employee handbooks. How to write, or revise, your employee handbook to remain a preferred employer.
-Discussion. “New Hot Community Classes,” co-moderated by Raul Matos, Arlington Public Schools, Arlington, Virginia; and Brendan Marsello.  Bring one new class ideas and take away another 19 great class ideas. A LERN original, and favorite, session for over 40 years.

Noon – 1:30 pm Luncheon (included in fee)

1:30- 2:15 pm  Concurrents
-Presentation. “Keep Customers Coming Back,” with Brendan Marsello. The best way to grow your program is to get your current customers to come back. Tips and tweaks that work.
-Discussion. “AI and your program.”  Are you using, or thinking about using, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your program? Tell us what you’re thinking about the hottest topic today.

2:15 – 3:00 Concurrents
-Presentation. “Developing the Best Programs,” with Brendan Marsello. Understand the criteria for what you should repeat; and how to select new classes.
-Discussion. “Reaching New Audiences.”  Group brainstorm on your experience and thoughts on reaching new audiences and serving your community better.

3:00 – 3:45 pm Concurrents
-Presentation. “Talk to Your Customers: Needs Assessment,” with Brendan Marsello. It takes the same staff time to set up a course that fails as a successful one. Your customers will tell you what you should be doing IF you ask the right questions. Find out those Right Questions.
-Discussion. “Staff Morale.”  Spend a few minutes dialoguing about an issue that can dramatically improve your program performance and make work fun.

3:45 pm – 4 pm Closing Session
“The Top 3 Trends for 2024,” with Brendan Marsello. A quick look at the most important trends in the field for 2024.

And a look ahead to the 2025 March in-person conference for Recreation Departments, community education in Public Schools, and other community class providers.

Added Benefit: Become a Certified Program Planner (CPP)
Stay til the end, and go home ready to take your CPP exam the next week. Attend all the presentations by Brendan Marsello.  They prepare you for the exam. Optional Online study group week of March 25. Take the exam online the week of March 25, at your convenience.

4:15 pm -4:30 pm CPP Exam Briefing
What you need to know, and do, to prepare for, and pass, the CPP Exam.

Right on Mission Bay, The Dana is just walking distance from Mission Beach on the Pacific Ocean, with boardwalk, ferris wheel, restaurants, shops, bike rentals and more.

Sleeping room rate of just $199 per night, plus taxes and services. The Discounted Daily Resort Fee is $15 ($32 value). Discounted Overnight Parking $10 ($30 value).

The Cutoff Date to Register in the LERN Room Block is February 18th.

Click Here to reserve your room or call 800-345-9995 and mention the LERN Conference.

$495 per person which includes Lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday and a Cocktail Reception on Monday evening.

Click Here to Register or call 800-678-5376, or email [email protected].