Why Attend – Make the Case to Your Supervisor
Thank you for deciding to join us at MSSA’s 129th Annual Training Conference & Expo. We know that you will leave the conference full of applicable knowledge, new resources, and with refreshed passion to share with your colleagues and clients. We also know that sometimes, it’s not up to you to decide whether you get to attend. Aside from the cost, it is hard to take the time away from your clients and your team.
We believe we can serve our clients better and avoid burnout if we make time for growth and new ideas.
We hope these tips and a sample letter for your supervisor will help you justify your MSSA 2022 attendance. We look forward to seeing you in-person or take advantage of our virtual on-demand only registration option!
Tips
1. Emphasize the specific skills you’d like to strengthen or develop at the conference and connect them to specific conference sessions being held this year.
2. Offer to share your learning by taking detailed notes and delivering a short presentation for your colleagues. This will benefit your whole team and organization.
3. Share the conference schedule and sponsor list with your colleagues and offer to seek out resources to meet their needs.
4. Prepare a plan that shows who will cover for you while you are attending the conference.
5. Show that you’re conscious of the costs by by pointing out the extra virtual on-demand content you will receive with your in-person registration. Or if you prefer to attend the virtual on-demand option, point out the savings on travel and lodging.
Sample Letter
Hello [FABULOUS MANAGER],
This year, as always, I would like to bring my best self to support our organization’s mission and help serve our clients. To help me strengthen the skills I’ll need to continue to grow and do my best work I’d love to attend MSSA’s upcoming 129th Annual Training Conference & Expo.
The 129th Annual Training Conference & Expo takes place March 16 – March 18, 2022. Health and human service professionals will come together for over 100 sessions exploring current and emerging best clinical practices, hear from presenters on their lived experiences, and be presented with diverse cultural and regional perspectives. Networking opportunities with participants and conference sponsor organizations will highlight the latest resources and services.
I think this conference is an excellent opportunity for us to engage with health and human services experts, connect with potential new partners/resources, and bring back best practices to the organization. I’m particularly excited about [SPECIFIC SESSION, EVENT, OR TOPIC], which I think will help us [APPLY TO YOUR WORK].
My registration will cost [COST]. The registration fee includes my entire participation in the conference. I will ensure my duties are covered while I’m away and will take detailed notes and give a short recap presentation for our team when I return.
Thanks in advance for considering my request. I’d love to chat more about this opportunity and answer any questions you might have!
Thank you for your consideration,
[FABULOUS EMPLOYEE]