Have a question about NCDD 2018? Look no further! We’ve compiled all of the most frequently asked questions for you here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who attends NCDD conferences? Is it for me?
The short answer is that NCDD events bring together current and future leaders and innovators who utilize highly participatory practices like dialogue and deliberation in order to help people work together to solve their most challenging problems. Our attendees are a wonderful mix of practitioners, consultants, academics, community leaders, public administrators, funders, non-profit organization leaders, artists, activists, and students — all of whom are involved in public engagement, community problem solving, or conflict resolution work.
As NCDD supporting member Christine Whitney Sanchez of Innovation Partners International said about our conferences, “Where else can you collide with social entrepreneurs, scientists, journalists, film-makers, business owners, academics, artists, students, engineers, actors, electeds, consultants, social profit leaders, public servants, graphic recorders, techies, videographers, philosophers, lawyers, executives and more who are also agents of transformation?”
Dig deeper on this question on our “Who Attends?” page here.
As NCDD supporting member Christine Whitney Sanchez of Innovation Partners International said about our conferences, “Where else can you collide with social entrepreneurs, scientists, journalists, film-makers, business owners, academics, artists, students, engineers, actors, electeds, consultants, social profit leaders, public servants, graphic recorders, techies, videographers, philosophers, lawyers, executives and more who are also agents of transformation?”
Dig deeper on this question on our “Who Attends?” page here.
What’s the best way to stay updated on the conference?
There are several great ways to stay updated on the latest conference news and opportunities. First, fill out our Interest Form to let us know you’re interested in receiving periodic email updates on the conference, possibly presenting at the conference, serving on the planning team, or sponsoring NCDD 2018.
You’ll be added to the Conference Updates announcement list when you fill out the interest form — or you can subscribe directly by sending a blank email to [email protected].
Also visit the Facebook event for the conference to indicate that you’re “going” or “maybe” going in order to stay looped in and connect with other attendees.
And finally, watch for posts about the conference on the NCDD blog by checking the NCDD 2018 tag.
You’ll be added to the Conference Updates announcement list when you fill out the interest form — or you can subscribe directly by sending a blank email to [email protected].
Also visit the Facebook event for the conference to indicate that you’re “going” or “maybe” going in order to stay looped in and connect with other attendees.
And finally, watch for posts about the conference on the NCDD blog by checking the NCDD 2018 tag.
What’s the conference agenda?
The conference agenda is posted here!
Registration begins Friday morning November 2nd and the opening plenary launches at 10am, and with the conference closing Sunday November 4th at 3:30pm. And we are offering some interesting pre-conference offerings on Thursday, November 1st, which you can read about here: www.ncdd.org/27245.
Also check out the About NCDD’s Events page here for more details (and a bunch more great links) that will help you understand what our conferences are all about.
Registration begins Friday morning November 2nd and the opening plenary launches at 10am, and with the conference closing Sunday November 4th at 3:30pm. And we are offering some interesting pre-conference offerings on Thursday, November 1st, which you can read about here: www.ncdd.org/27245.
Also check out the About NCDD’s Events page here for more details (and a bunch more great links) that will help you understand what our conferences are all about.
How much is registration?
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You’ll be happy to know that we’ve kept the same low rates as the last two NCDD conferences! The registration fee is $450. NCDD members save $50 off the regular registration rate ($400 rather than $450).
We also have a limited number of discounted registrations (just $250!) for full-time students, so now’s the time to register if you’re a student. After you register, you can send verification of your full-time student status to [email protected]. Register here today to secure your spot! Group registration discount If you’re registering a group of 4 or more people, send a quick email to NCDD’s managing director, Courtney Breese ([email protected]) to see if we can offer you a further discount. We love groups! |
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What are the fees listed beside the registration rates on the registration form?
Those are fees associated with using the Eventbrite registration website. We cannot reduce or remove them, unfortunately.
How can I get the NCDD group rate at the conference hotel?
The conference is taking place in Denver, Colorado at the Sheraton Denver Downtown. We’ve negotiated a great rate of $165/night for conference attendees. You can learn more about the hotel on their website here, but you must use this link to get the NCDD rate:
www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/NCDD2018
Alternatively, you may book by phone by calling Central Reservations at 888-627-8405 and mentioning you are part of the “National Conference on Dialogue & Deliberation – NCDD2018” block.
Note that the rate is only in effect until 5:00pm MST on Friday, October 12th, so you’ll need to reserve your room before that to guarantee the $165 rate.
www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/NCDD2018
Alternatively, you may book by phone by calling Central Reservations at 888-627-8405 and mentioning you are part of the “National Conference on Dialogue & Deliberation – NCDD2018” block.
Note that the rate is only in effect until 5:00pm MST on Friday, October 12th, so you’ll need to reserve your room before that to guarantee the $165 rate.
How can I cut costs associated with attending the conference?
We know attending a national conference is an investment. Attendees at our past conferences will tell you it’s well worth it. We hope it’s an investment people who consider themselves part of the dialogue and deliberation community will make a point of making — especially since NCDD conferences are only held every two years and we keep costs as low as possible for attendees.
That said, there are some things you can certainly do to cut costs…
That said, there are some things you can certainly do to cut costs…
- Keep searching Kayak.com and Skyscanner.com for the cheapest available flights, and book them when you see them!
- Apply for a full or partial scholarship at www.surveymonkey.com/r/NCDD2018-scholarship-app. We will do our best to help you get to the conference.
- Consider sharing a room with someone else who’s attending the conference so you can split lodging costs. Check out our post over on the blog at www.ncdd.org/27183 where you can connect with others looking to share a room.
Where can I find travel details for the conference, like ground transportation?
Check out our travel page here for details on ground transportation options and much more.
What are the specific start and end times for the conference?
We’ll begin at 10am on Friday, November 2nd (with registration open at 8:30am), and we’ll go through Sunday, November 4th until 3:30pm. Conference attendees will have the option to register for pre-conference activities the day and evening before the conference (on the 1st) as well, so we strongly suggest you check those out before making your travel plans. We recommend you at least plan to arrive on the afternoon of the 1st if you’re flying in.
What is the conference theme?
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Our theme for the 2018 conference is Connecting and Strengthening Civic Innovators.
We are making space at the conference to dig deep into what we know about helping and healing democracy. Now is the time to bring the work of the dialogue, deliberation, and public engagement field into greater visibility and use. There are so many valuable processes and resources that our extended community of practice offers, and we’d like to explore ways to make this work spread. At NCDD 2018, we will explore bringing dialogue, deliberation, and public engagement to the forefront by:
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What are your goals for NCDD 2018?
Here are the goals that are informing our design of the 2018 national conference…
- Create new pathways, new partnerships, and new ways of thinking about how we can expand the scope of our work and find new ways to embed our practices in governance.
- Provide attendees with insights and know-how for harnessing the emerging technologies that support dialogue and deliberation.
- Connect seasoned practitioners to newcomers, for the benefit of all generations.
- Inspire and invigorate attendees’ current work through exposure to new ideas and innovations in the field, and by boldly addressing how to break down persistent barriers to participation.
- Map out the future tools of democracy that enable a thriving culture of engaged citizens and communities everywhere.
- Leave conference participants feeling energized and inspired to do more great work.
How can I apply to present at the NCDD conference?
We’re interested in finding many creative ways to highlight the best of what’s happening in public engagement, group process, community problem-solving, and arts-based dialogue — and we know you have a lot of great ideas! The Application for Session Leaders can be found at www.ncdd.org/ncdd2018/session-app. Be sure to read the call for proposals at www.ncdd.org/26191, where you’ll find important hints and tips for designing a successful session proposal.
Note: Proposals for concurrent sessions (workshops) are due Wednesday, May 23rd.
Note: Proposals for concurrent sessions (workshops) are due Wednesday, May 23rd.
How else can I share information about my work at the conference?
There are a variety of opportunities to share information about your work or your organization at the conference. Becoming a sponsor of the conference provides you with the most exposure during and before the conference. Details about sponsorship opportunities can be found here.
We’ll update this page as other opportunities are firmed up, but keep an eye on the NCDD2018 tag on the NCDD blog for announcements about these opportunities.
We’ll update this page as other opportunities are firmed up, but keep an eye on the NCDD2018 tag on the NCDD blog for announcements about these opportunities.
What’s your cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel your registration, please notify NCDD Office Manager Joy Garman via email ([email protected]) before October 15, 2018. Your registration fee will be refunded, less a 15% processing fee plus any Eventbrite or PayPal fees incurred. No refunds will be made for cancellations made after October 15th, though substitutions can be made any time. Refunds will be processed after the conference has been held.
I have more questions. Who can I contact for help?
Feel free to contact 2018 conference director Courtney Breese ([email protected]) with your questions. She’ll filter them to the right person if she doesn’t already have the answers. If you have questions about sponsorship, contact NCDD’s founding director, Sandy Heierbacher, at [email protected] or 717-448-8313.