Speaker FAQ*

This FAQ is a guide for those interested in presenting an educational workshop at the 2017 RV Dealers International Convention/Expo, Wednesday - Friday, November 8-10. We hope this information will help make your speaking experience smooth and enjoyable. It is you, the speakers, who help make the event a great educational experience. 

*This document will continue to be updated.

Q. What is the objective of the RV Learning Center’s education program?
A. Throughout the years, the educational programming offered at the annual RV Dealers International Convention/Expo has achieved an enviable reputation for providing RVDA Convention/Expo attendees with the education and information they need to improve their businesses. The non-promotional and non-proprietary workshops provide RV dealers and their key personnel with tangible solutions to their everyday challenges.

Q. Who attends?
A. RVDA members are the retail powerhouses of the RV industry accounting for 84% of the RV sales in the U.S. market and 90% in the Canadian market. The event attracts over 1,300 RV industry professionals from across North America. We expect representatives from over 250 U.S. and Canadian dealerships. The over 600 dealer attendees are primarily dealer principals, general managers, and other key management personnel. 

Q. Why speak at the 2017 RVDA Convention/Expo?
A. First and foremost, we have found that presenting provides an opportunity for individuals to "give back" to the RV industry with information dealers can use to improve their businesses. The event also provides presenters with an outstanding opportunity to demonstrate their expertise while meeting face-to-face with a wide array of RV industry professionals. Additionally, RVDA aggressively promotes the program and individual speakers from the day a signed speaker agreement is returned, through well after the event.

Q. How does RVDA promote education speakers and sessions?
A. RVDA’s promotion and communication efforts vary from year to year, but typically includes email, web site, mobile app, print, telemarketing, social media and other campaigns, collectively resulting in countless impressions for the presenters involved in the education program. RVDA will publish the title, location, educational objectives, speaker photo and bio, and workshop description on the convention website and in a mobile app.

Q. What is the classroom set up and what AV equipment will be available?* 
A. The standard AV set includes:
  • Podium and podium microphone
  • 8 x 8 Screen (or larger)
  • LCD Projector on projector cart
  • 1 lavaliere
Note: *Instructors are responsible for bringing their laptops and loading their presentation materials. They are also responsible for bringing their own slide advancers. Classrooms will not have wifi or wired Internet. Any AV equipment ordered by speakers is at their own expense. 

Q. Do you distribute workshop handouts? 
  • Workshop handouts are strongly encouraged. Speakers must provide RVDA with an electronic file of handout material. Attendees want interactive information - a “user’s guide” on the topic -- that will assist them in learning the materials. This might include case studies, additional resource materials, articles, etc. The materials will be posted on RVDA's mobile app and website. We recommend that you include your contact information on the last slide of your presentation. With the exception of a simple logo and the speaker's contact information, handouts may not be promotional in nature and must be for the purpose of the presentation being given. speaker's responsibility to print and distribute to workshop participants. 
Q. May I provide a video to help promote my session?
Of course (and very much appreciated)! Speakers are given the opportunity – and encouraged – to submit a video to promote their session(s). These videos, running approximately 45-60 seconds, are added to the session's page, used on social media and included in RVDA's eNewsletters. This is a great way to encourage attendees to come to your session and tease them with bits of information that they'll learn in the session.

If you are interested in the opportunity, please note:
  • Record up to a 60-second video clip.
  • Include an elevator pitch for the topic you will be presenting on.
  • Give an idea of who should or will be attending the session.
  • Provide a few objectives the attendees will take away.
Note: We understand that not all of our speakers have access to professional video equipment and a studio, but almost all use a smartphone. Just remember to consider the following tips if you do plan to use your smartphone:
  • Turn the phone sideways, so that the picture is horizontal
  • Keep the phone as steady as possible for the best picture quality – prop it against something or use a tripod if you can 
  • For the best sound quality, shoot indoors in a quiet area
  • For the best lighting quality, shoot away from windows
Q. Who is eligible to present workshops?
A. The event is open to a wide array of speakers from both within and outside the RV industry. In all cases, committee looks for proven experts, especially those that convey an ability to attract and engage attendees. To insure the quality and credibility of the program, the committee tries to assemble a program that includes a number of first-time RVDA presenters and limit workshops from speakers that present year after year. One of the top reasons RVDA members choose to attend the event is the number of workshops with new topics and new speakers.

Q. How long are the workshops?
A. Sessions are 60 minutes in length and may not exceed or fall short of the allocated time. Give your audience the courtesy of allowing them time to ask any questions that they may have. Practice your presentations to assure it will not run too long or end early. Attendees are extremely disappointed if a session ends early – they expect a full program – one well-worth the expense and time away from their dealerships. Workshops are scheduled back-to-back. As a courtesy to the next speaker, end on time and take additional questions outside the classroom.

Q. How are articles selected for RV Executive Today and the convention's onsite program?
A. Every year workshop presenters are invited to submit articles for the preconvention issues of RV Executive Today, RVDA's monthly print magazine. These stories help build excitement about the convention and offer speakers a chance to become better known to our dealer members. The stories can provide a preview of your convention workshop or they can focus on another topic of your choosing. They must not be advertorials for your company or product. 
  • The deadline for submitting work is June 30
  • The word length should be in the 800-1,000 word range
  • Each story will  be tagged with the convention logo and a line that says “Don’t miss [speaker's name] convention workshop, 2017 RVDA Convention/Expo Speaker FAQ, at the 2017 RV Dealers International Convention/Expo”
  • You may submit more than one article
  • There is no fee for publishing the articles
  • They'll run in the August, September and October issues of RV Executive Today, and the onsite issue on a space-available basis
The article(s) may be emailed directly to Mary Anne Shreve, Editor, RV Executive Today, mashreve@rvda.org.