First-Timer Information

• Check into your hotel first – get a lay of the land, finding your way around the David L. Lawrence Convention Center 2. Hotels are the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh and the Omni William Penn.

• Registration opens Wednesday, 4:00-8:30 p.m. – Exhibit Hall B on the 2nd floor of the Convention Center. Pick up your conference notebook and check out the Hospitality Desk for help or ideas.

• Exhibitors Sneak Preview is in the Exhibit Hall with free snacks and a cash bar from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday. Get a first look at the exhibits and the AOSA Boutique. Bring return address labels to save time when you sign-up for raffle prizes and for free information from the vendors.

• First-timer’s Orientation – Join us for the orientation on Wed. 8:15 in 315/316 in the Convention Center. Get your bearings, meet other new attendees and discover the abundance of conference offerings. Get the insider perspective from key members of the conference team and the scoop on hot tips from long-time conference goers.

• Pocket agenda – fits nicely behind your name badge. You won't need to be attached to your conference book, especially in the evening. The Hospitality Desk will have scissors for you. You can keep your hotel key card in your badge, too.

• Map out each day – find the session notes for each day and mark them with a post-it note or sticky tab. Use the maps in the back of the conference notebook to find your way to each session.

• Attend the Welcome Ceremony, Business Meeting, and Closing Ceremony. You’ll get a better insight to the national organization and be treated to excellent children’s performances. There will be a section with reserved seating just for you at the Welcome Ceremony.

• Banquet Seating – visit the Hospitality Desk to sign up for seating at the Banquet. Reserved seating will assure your place, especially if you want to sit with all your new friends.

• Join in the activities – Participate, put down the pencil, and join in the action. Many session notes will be available online. 

• Introduce yourself – while standing in lines, waiting for a session or concert to start, or waiting for the elevator. You have more in common with everyone you meet than most of the teachers in your own school.

• Things to bring and/or wear – highlighter, post-its, address labels, comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes.

Additional First-Timer Information HERE!

AOSA Professional Development Conference Promotion Video
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AOSA's "The Winning Way" Video
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