Forward Letter

On behalf of the 2009 NAAUC Executive and Conference Working Party, it is with great pleasure that we extend to you this invitation to attend the 41st Annual NAAUC Conference held at St Andrew’s College, within the University of Sydney.

This year we aim to build on the fantastic efforts of last years conference population by 100 delegates. By boosting membership throughout the year and holding the conference in the more central location of Sydney we aim to attract close to 300 delegates from nearly 100 residential halls and colleges. These delegates will be representing some 40,000 members of today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders. The Conference aims to inform, provoke and inspire delegates from all over Australia through a diverse range of speakers and is widely regarded as on of the nation’s finest youth leadership programs. It also provides forums for the discussion and debate of the numerous issues that affects students living in residential colleges, as well as the wider community.

The theme for this year’s Conference is; ‘ Uniting Today, Empowering Tomorrow.’

This year the focus of the Conference will be on inter-college relationships, how they affect college communities and promote achievement. The exemplary inter-college community held with the University of Sydney will showcase the healthy competitive spirit fostered by inter- college experiences. Not only will delegates be privy to their host college, the reputable St Andrew’s, but they will also be able to view other well established Sydney University colleges whilst talking to their members These include Sancta Sophia, Wesley, St Paul’s, Women’s and St John’s.

The conference will inspire and direct young leaders from all over Australia to make the most of their time at college, while at the same time teach them the importance of inter-college unification and it’s effects on college morality. As leaders of their respective University residences, delegates will be given the motivation to inspire other members of their colleges to take action, integrate and lead with a united front. By learning how to facilitate these skills at the conference, along with many other important leadership techniques, delegates will return to their respective colleges refreshed and enthusiastically prepared to make the positive changes needed within their college communities.

Great leaders, whilst seizing opportunities that come their way, are the ones that put in the hard work and take the risks that nobody else is willing to take. The 2009 NAAUC Annual Conference at St Andrew’ College will be a conference to remember, run by students, for students, whilst striving to provide your delegates with a balanced program of academic and social opportunities.

We look forward to your involvement at NAAUC 2009, making this the largest conference in the history of NAAUC. As always, you delegates will return to your college after a week with us with renewed enthusiasm and bubbling with fresh ideas, ready to empower tomorrow by uniting today.

See you in Sydney!

 

Carina Lee & Sean Hubert

Co-Conference Directors