Diabetes UK Volunteer conference Scotland - DUAG attendance?

Dear All

I wonder if this (see below) is something DUAG would consider attending as exhibitors? We would try to get a discount on the price of exhibiting; may be a good way of raising the profile of DAFNE and DUAG in Scotland.

" Diabetes UK Scotland Volunteering Conference; 27th November 2010 Dean Park Hotel, Chapel Lever, Kirkcaldy, KY2 6QW. The conferences offer the opportunity to hear inspirational speakers, meet others and find out more about Diabetes UK Scotland’s work. These events will also provide an opportunity for Diabetes UK to say thank you to all its volunteers and recognise the support and contribution our volunteers give to supporting people living with diabetes in Scotland. We are expecting around 130 attendees as well as members of staff from across Diabetes UK and speakers within the field of diabetes research in Scotland. Exhibition space is £250 + vat."

We will nee dot know quickly (deadline for applications 1 Nov.
if you want to go to book a spot.

Gill

I guess this is something that would need feedback from Brian ( who is on holiday for at least another week) or Peter. I would point out that is not a one off, there are volunteering conferences all over the country in the coming months. I really should know all the dates since I get sent them in my Diabetes UK voluntary group role, but at the moment can't find the details.
Thats not to say I disagree with Gill, just that I'm not sure if we should just target one event. This obviously needs to be a chair/vice-chair decision.

In addition to the cost of the stand, we also need to know whether anyone is willing to volunteer to man the stand. It would probably need 2 of us and, unless those based locally are willing, would also involve accomodation as well as travel costs. Finally, having seen the reaction of the attendees at the DAFNE Collaborative, a joint DUAG/dafneonline stand is likely to be of much more interest than DUAG alone.

My view is that there would be quite alot of effort in organising this, and cost in attending. If the audience is expected to be ~130, would that be worthwhile? It would perhaps be better to try attending one of the other events that Mark mentions, picking one where the audience would be higher and we have a larger number of DUAG members living nearby to assist.

Peter makes a persuasive comment re selecting just this scottish event. I agree with his comment on the linking of both duag and dafneonline as the 2 are inextricably linked but we come back to the greographic concerns re our members. I would place this activity into our medium term goals and would hope that given time we could construct a roadshow program to visit all of these opportunities to spread our message.