Letter from the President - October 2014
Are You Ready?
By the time you read this letter, Autodesk University will be looming on the horizon like a large thunderstorm. Those of you living in the United States Midwest know exactly what I’m talking about. And while the simile seems to be threatening, it is apt for several reasons. Let me explain.
Similar to a thunderstorm, it is easy to be caught in the whirlwind of the event. Each year over half of the attendees are new attendees. I would not be surprised if the percentage was near the same this year, or even a bit higher. If this is your first AU you should make plans to attend the Freshman Orientation on Monday at 5PM. This orientation is a recent addition to the event and I have heard some great things about the session.
There has lately been a lot of emphasis on creating an emergency plan for your family for when disaster strikes. AU should not be considered a disaster (laughing). But you do need a plan: your schedule.
Because you are an AUGI member, the first thing you should do is search the catalog for “AUGI” and sign up for the “What’s Happening with AUGI” session (session ID 7403) on Wednesday, December 3, at 5:45PM. Immediately following that 30 minute session is the AUGI Reception. Long-time AUGI members who have attended AU in the past know this event as the AUGI Beer Bash. Never fear! The AUGI Reception will still have AUGI-branded glasses on a first-come, first-served basis. They usually go quick so that’s all the more reason to attend the “What’s Happening with AUGI” session where you will have your chance to get the glass before the reception.
But your emergency planning isn’t done yet. The AUGI sessions are only one part of the entire event. I wish I could tell you that determining the rest of your schedule is easy, but that would be a lie. There are always multiple sessions in one or more time slots that you would love to attend. Picking between them is tough. One thing that can help is to go to Autodesk University with some coworkers and they can attend the sessions you cannot make.
Like any good emergency plan, your schedule needs to be flexible. It’s a good idea to have a second session picked out in each slot. Why? There can be sessions that just don’t meet your needs. The presenter should provide a list of expectations at the beginning of the class so you can leave if another session might fit your needs better. Don’t stay in a session you don’t need. There are plenty of choices.
See you at AU!
