The goal of the EMWA member buddy scheme is to have experienced members help members at a first conference figure out how our conferences work and to break the ice in meeting other members.  There is no serious work involved, other than giving some helpful explanations and introducing the new member to your colleagues at the conference.

To be a buddy for this conference, you should:

• Have been to at least 2 EMWA conferences in the last 2 years.
• Be coming to the Lisbon conference.
• Ideally plan on attending the opening session and welcome reception. (Unless we can pair with a new member that is not attending until later).

The responsibilities of an EMWA buddy are not difficult!  If you think you can handle the following, then you can handle the job:

• Be available by email and/or phone prior to the conference to answer questions (e.g. about logistics of the meeting) and plan a time and place to meet up on arrival.
• Let the new member(s)* tag along with you during the welcome reception.  This way they can get to know your friends and colleagues at the conference, which makes it easier for them to get to know people.
• Be generally available during the rest of the conference to answer questions or point them in the right direction if they have questions you don’t know the answer to.

* If you feel you can handle being a buddy to more than 1 new member, let us know.  We will only assign as many as you indicate you would like to have.

If you would like to be a buddy and you fulfil the points mentioned above, please tick the relevant box on the registration form or let Head Office know as soon as possible or no later than 30 April 2010. Everyone who volunteers will be given the name of their assigned new members with contact details prior to the conference so that you can contact each other ahead of the conference.