Registering for National Conference (or trying to herd cats):

So Easter fast approaches & I thought I would by now be looking forward to attending my first National Conference down in Cardiff, lovely so I thought a few days away in the valleys & a chance to catch up with some colleagues/’friends’ (is it too early to call them friends?) and carry on with our discussions on the areas addressed at recent regional events. I had been asked back in December ’14 if I fancied attending by the Division ‘brass’

and thought ‘why not? that sounds different, enjoyable, challenging and could be fun!, a few days away in a nice hotel, eating nice food, and having a chance to put my opinion across on topics that affect me – Yes Please’, in hindsight that was

MISTAKE NUMBER 1…………

I mentioned that I had been invited to Conference at home and that partners & children could also attend, that really was in hindsight

MISTAKE NUMBER 2………….

The first mistake entailed me filling out various forms online, phoning various people generally adding to my already heavy work load, I should add I am somewhat a Luddite and crave the old days when you did these things by good old fashioned pen & paper – Anyone remember these?

Now it’s all register with this website, await your username & password, login, register online etc. it all really gets my goat up. I honestly don’t think its quicker or easier for me, however by mid- Jan ’15 I had done all that I needed to do or so I thought. That in hindsight was

MISTAKE NUMBER 3………….

The cold dark mornings gave way to spring & Easter approached, as such I was now instructed by the ‘Boss’ at home to research days out for her & the kids i/e Cardiff Castle etc….’Darling, I chimed, the kids will be in the crèche, lots of fun days for them, you can relax whilst I am at conference, its win, win!’. Life was good brownie points has been banked with my wife and all was well with the world.

Then I checked my emails late last week and find an urgent email from ’Conference  & Events’ team at NASUWT reminding me I hadn’t registered, enrolled the children in the crèche, signed up for fringe events, generally done anything that was needed NOW!

I naturally at this point went into panic mode and emailed everyone, phoned everyone at my school, division and Conference & Events and basically threw myself at their collective mercy claiming ‘it’s my first conference – help’ etc.

The kind ladies at Conference & Events took me through the whole process again, sorted out my logins, passwords and basically sorted it all out for me, Division advised me of traveling arrangements they were organizing & so panic mode was over and we are once again on the Road to Cardiff.

However I mentioned this little hiccup at home before all was sorted out, that in hindsight was

MISTAKE NUMBER 4………….

Home was not as supportive as those above & those brownie points have been removed from my account by my wife and I am once again in her bad books.

So what have I learned, well firstly my Division & the team at Conference and Events really do look out for you, all the arrangements behind the scenes means even a Luddite like me can do it (I know I didn’t, I got it all wrong, but you know what I mean) and the one key core message, if you see a big blue button on the on-line registration forms stating CLICK TO SUBMIT, it’s always best to click on it – Example below!