The World Waterpark Association is currently accepting submissions from those interested in presenting seminars as part of the educational program of the 28th Anniversary Symposium & Trade Show, Oct. 26-30 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, USA.

WWA asks those interested to prepare a written topic summary of their idea, which can be presented by an individual or as part of a panel. The educational program consists of Core Curriculum, Professional Development and Advanced Curriculum Seminars that will provide action and peer interaction for attendees' careers and lifestyles.

• Core Curriculum Program: Topics for these sessions are geared toward first- through third-year WWA attendees.
• Professional Development Program: These seminars are geared for all WWA attendees and include topics pertaining to leadership, personal and professional development, and training, among other topics.
• Advanced Curriculum Programs: Advanced-course sessions are for WWA "veterans" and upper- management employees.

Topics for the three curriculums are divided into the following categories: human resources, Internet marketing, marketing, financial management, management, operations, revenue, risk management, public sector, international, group sales, hotels/resorts, family entertainment centers, expansion, legal, maintenance, food and beverage, and merchandising.

Once individuals have submitted their topics, WWA staff will evaluate them on the following criteria: overall quality, relevance to the industry, clarity of topic focus, practical application and noncommercial orientation. Those selected must comply with speaker requirements, which include an objective presentation of the material. (No company logos or company names are permitted on handouts, on overhead sheets or slides, etc.)

Sessions will take place in informal surroundings and typically last 60 to 90 minutes. Session chairpersons are responsible for contacting panelists to coordinate sessions into cohesive, relevant programs. Presenters are responsible for their own expenses. 

Speaker requirements

To participate as a speaker in the World Waterpark Association's Annual Symposium & Trade Show�s educational program, keep in mind these simple requirements:

1) Please do not include commercial orientation or product/service presentations as part of your presentation.

2) Feel free to mention your company name and what you do for your firm at the beginning of your presentation - and also tell attendees they can talk to you in more detail after your session.

3) Incorporate handouts in your presentation - but make sure they focus on the material you are presenting. And don't use your company letterhead for the printing up the handouts. You may include a contact information page as a convenience to attendees to contact you for additional information on the final sheet on a handout.

4) Remember requirements 1 through 3. WWA attendees have come to expect that the presentations they attend will not be of a self-promoting nature - and when the sessions are, they let us know! Feedback from post-show questionnaires has revealed the audience prefers an overall view of your subject matter by not focusing only on your product or service in particular, which is perceived as commercialism.

The WWA is aware that, to ready your presentation, you have expended valuable time and effort to share your expertise on your particular subject matter. We, as you, want your session to go as smoothly as possible and be well-accepted by the audience.

Submit proposal

To submit a topic summary, fill out the online form. Proposals are due by April 15th, 2008.  (Time saving hint: Where convenient, copy and paste from your prepared document into the form.)  The form will ask for the following information.

• Your name, title, organization, address, phone, fax number and e-mail address
• The name of the category (listed above) that best describes your topic
• The title of your presentation
• The format of your presentation (roundtable, panel, interactive lecture, etc.)
• Three learning objectives ("By the end of the session, attendees will be able to...")
• A 100- to 200-word topic summary describing the presentation
• A description of your intended audience (Is your material for beginners or the advanced?)
• An indication of the amount of time you will need
• A list of the names of any co-presenters or whether you would like the session to be developed into a panel discussion with WWA's aid
• A description of your expertise in the proposed topic and any public-speaking background you have.

Submit proposal now.