R.A.D. Systems: Why you should go to the Conference

Hope this helps!

Information that might be helpful when you're asked why your department or organization should send you to the annual RAD/radKIDS conference

What is the Annual RAD/radKIDS Conference?

The annual RAD/radKIDS conference is a four-day family-friendly educational event, regularly attended by over 200 Instructors and their families. Instructors who understand why we teach, who've been there, and who feel the same way you do about what we do. The annual conference is a place to meet those Instructors, share information, learn new skills, improve your own program, and strengthen the living network of Instructors.

Is time at the conference time well spent?

The annual RAD/radKIDS conference is very much a working conference -- RAD Systems and radKIDS both know your time is valuable, and know that you expect good value for your conference dollar.

There is, in fact, *no* wasted time during the entire four-day conference -- You're on the move from 8:00am until 5:00pm or later all four days, with multiple different events taking place simultaneously throughout the hotel each day. The biggest problem you have is deciding which block or training segment to go to in the limited time you have. There simply isn't time to get to it all. To give you an idea how important that information is to most of the Instructors at the conference, most have learned that if they want to take some vacation time while traveling for the conference, they tack a day or two on *at the end* of the trip after the conference is over for it, since they know the won't have time during the conference.

Certification and Development Programs

So what do you get at the conference you can take home and show your boss? Here's a list of the Certification and Development Programs offered at the conference every year.

• Advanced Self Defense
• Keychain Defense Options
• Aerosol Defense Options
• radKIDS
• S.A.F.E
• R.A.D. for Men

• R.A.D. on Domestic Violence
• Simulation Instructor Development
• Crime Prevention for the R.A.D. Instructor.

Conference Blocks

There are also free Non-Certification Conference Blocks which are offered by the Instructors attending the conference. These blocks are taught by Instructors just like you, who volunteer their time.

There is no additional charge for these blocks, and some of the best discussions and idea-producing brainstorming sessions come from these blocks. Instructors share what they've learned to help everyone become even better Instructors than they already are. Attending these conference blocks is a way to avoid reinventing the wheel, and to learn from other's experience while sharing your own experiences at the same time.

Instructors share their ideas with each other at the conference in a way that simply isn't possible anywhere else. Learn what's worked (and what hasn't) for other Instructors around the country. Ask questions. Discover new tools. Get clarification on things you weren't sure of. Offer your own insight during the discussion and help other Instructors who are currently dealing with some problem you've already solved.

Every year is different for Non-Certification blocks -- You never know exactly what you'll get, as it depends on which instructors will be there, and what they've decided to offer. Here are lists of the Non-Ccertification conference blocks offered at the last two conferences:

This year's Non-Certification blocks *haven't been finalized yet* -- There's still time to submit a proposal for a block of your own, and you are *strongly* encouraged to do so. Copies of the submission forms are included in every TIV. Every Instructor has something to share -- Please share what you've learned with the rest of us!

The Pro Shop

Another reason to come to the conference each year is the RAD/radKIDS Pro Shop -- This is the one time and place each year you can get gear directly! T-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, mock-turtlenecks, buttondowns, fleeces, jackets, shorts, hats, keychains, whistles, bags, satchels, pens, patches, stickers, pads, you name it! All in the conference Pro Shop, begging you to take them home with you. Most of this stuff can *only* be gotten at the conference. Miss it this year, and you'll have to wait till next year.

Face to face

There are other things you get at the conference, things that are very important, but that it's harder to show your boss: Being able to see and meet and talk with other Instructors in person and attend conference events together gives you access to much more information than you can ever get on your own, over the web, or through the listservs.

Attending the conference also helps build the personal ties, particularly for newer or first-time instructors, that make us the successful living network of Instructors we are. Simply put, we help each other out! (Some Instructors have been known to drive as much as eight hours one way to help out another Instructor in need.) The conference is one of the best ways to meet people that understand why we do that, and who are likely to help *you* if you need it.

Recharge

There's really no good way to describe it if you haven't been to a RAD/radKIDS conference before -- If you've ever gotten discouraged or burned out about teaching, coming to the conference and being with the other Instructors there will get you totally recharged and fired up about teaching again. It's an amazingly healthy, friendly, ego-free educational event.

Recognition

Each year, at different times throughout the conference, various Instructors are recognized for the contributions they've made over the years. You definitely want to be there to share that with them.

Conclusion

The only thing I can say in conclusion that I haven't already said here is that if your department or organization is serious about teaching RAD, radkIDS, or both in your community, about giving the women and children in your community the tools they need to be safer, it is very definitely worth the time and money for them to send you to the conference.

See you there!!

Mitch RAD Systems Co-Webmaster