Hey, folks, before we get started with the show, I've got a public service announcement to make on behalf of NSECA.

So here is an N-Secrets for N-Sika.

Hello, Potter's cast audience, and welcome to our first segment of N-secrets.

As a former board member, I cannot reveal my identity, which is fine because my voice isn't recognizable at all.

So there's no worries there. Let's just call me Becky. I'll be popping in from time to time to give you a little

NSECA insider information. What you need to know today is that NECA conference proposals for 2020

are coming due fast. Here's the inside track. Less is more, people. We live in a fast-paced society where 60-second

Instagram videos are about the extent of our attention spans anymore. So those 90-minute panels and 60-minute

lectures that are still listed on the Instaic of Proposal Form are fine, but consider cutting it down.

If you think about community kiln philosophy, tall and thin, pack it in, short and stout, leave it out,

you probably will stand a better chance of your proposal getting accepted.

It's a basic math principle.

And Sika can say yes to three times more 30-minute presentations than 90-minute ones.

Also, consider the attended audience.

There is a place on the form to identify this. The broader the appeal, the better your odds of acceptance into the program. And look at this year's program guide and last year's. Propose something new and different. Or find something that was really popular and go into more depth. Also, make sure you are selecting the most appropriate thematic program strand.

But here's my absolute number one and secret advice for you. Write a killer short description.

That short description is what goes into the program guide if your proposal is accepted.

So that's what the conference attendees will use to make their decisions about what to attend.

Therefore, that was always the first thing I'd look at when I was reading the 120 to 150 proposals that Encega gets for each conference.

And of course, speaking of 150 proposals, don't wait until the last minute.

Applications are due May 15th, but don't wait until the 14th to put it together and upload it with those other 149 proposals.

If you get it in early, you'll be glad that you did.

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