Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

How do I contact LGC by phone, fax, e-mail, and mail?
Please visit the Contact Page for more information.

What are the benefits of becoming a member of the Local Government Commission (LGC)?
Joining the LGC when you register for the conference gets you a discount on membership dues as well as the LGC membership discount on your registration! For details on becoming an LGC member and associated benefits, visit the Membership Page for more information.

Can I get an electronic list of attendees before the conference?
Our privacy policy prevents us from distributing an electronic copy of the participant list. However, we will provide an online searchable participant database on the conference web site, for those interested in finding out who is coming from their city or state. Actual contact information will not be included. A hard copy list of all conference participants will be distributed during on-site registration.

How do I ensure that I receive a conference brochure, conference updates, a notice when online registration opens, or conference newsletters?
Click the Get Email Updates option under the News and Resources menu on the home page and provide your contact info. You will be added to the distribution list to receive updates, promotional materials, registration information, and other conference announcements.

Facebook - The New Partners for Smart Growth Conference (NPSG) now has a Facebook Page! Visit our Facebook page to get conference updates and to network with others planning on attending the event.

What is appropriate attire for the New Partners Conference?
If you are an attendee, it is "business casual." If you are a speaker, it is "business."

Is there a code of conduct for the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference?
Yes, there is a code of conduct for the conference. Please visit the Code of Conduct Page for more information.

Registration Fees & Policies

How much does it cost to attend the conference?
Visit the Registration page to see the official registration fees for the 2012 conference.

What does my conference registration fee cover?
The full conference registration fee includes:

  • access to all plenaries, breakouts, workshops and trainings in the main conference program (February 2-4)
  • conference meals and refreshment breaks
  • name badge, conference attendees list, and printed program booklet

What MEALS are included with my conference registration?
Meals and breaks provided include:

  • Thursday (2/2) — Morning and afternoon coffee breaks, Hosted Evening Networking Reception (LUNCH & DINNER ARE NOT INCLUDED)
  • Friday (2/3) — Continental breakfast, and morning and afternoon coffee breaks (LUNCH & DINNER ARE NOT INCLUDED)
  • Saturday (2/4) — Continental breakfast, lunch, and morning and afternoon coffee breaks

Additional meal functions may be added if additional funding is raised to cover those costs.

I registered online — why haven’t I received a registration confirmation?
Please allow at least 1 hour after you registered for a confirmation to be sent to your email inbox. You may need to refresh your email browser or check your spam box. If you still have not received a confirmation, please email mbarton@lgc.org to confirm that your email address was typed correctly and that your registration is complete.

I received an email saying that my registration was incomplete— what does this mean?
Your registration may be incomplete for several reasons: 1) the allotted time to complete your registration expired before you clicked the submit button; 2) you failed to complete all of the required fields on the registration form; 3) your payment was not received (either you didn’t complete the payment process, or your credit card was not approved).
Use the link in your registration response email to complete your registration.

Please use link provided in the email you received to return to your original registration in order to complete the registration process. Do not start a new registration.

Do LGC Members get a discount on conference registration?
LGC members receive a $20 discount on the full conference registration fees. See  the Registration page for more details.

My organization is listed as a conference cosponsor—does this mean I receive a free or discounted registration?
Unfortunately, no. Given the large number of cosponsors associated with this event, we are unable to provide each organization with a free or discounted registration.

My agency/organization/company is listed as conference sponsor—does this mean I am eligible for free or discounted registration?
Conference sponsors are offered a specified number of free registrations based on their sponsorship level. Any free registrations are offered to the office the sponsorship originates from and are to be distributed by that office to whomever the sponsor chooses. Each sponsor registration requires the use of a Sponsor Registration Form provided by the LGC (this cannot be done through the online registration system).

Are discounted registration fees available?
LGC members receive a $20 discount off the full conference registration fees. There is also a group discount of $20 per registration if five or more people from one agency/organization/ company register at the same time. These discounts can be taken online. See the Registration page for more details.

What is the registration deadline?
Friday, January 13, 2012

Will registrations be accepted after the deadline?
If space is available, registrations will be accepted after the registration deadline (January 13, 2012). A $50 late fee will apply.

Will “walk-in” registrations be accepted on-site?
If space is available, walk-in registrations will be accepted. The $50 late fee will apply, as well as a $35 “walk-in” fee. The additional $35 covers our additional costs and time to process registrations and produce badges on-site.

What do I do if I need to cancel my registration?
If you cancel IN WRITING by the January 13th registration deadline, the LGC will issue you a refund of your registration fees, minus a $100 processing fee.

What if I need to cancel AFTER the registration deadline?
NO REFUNDS will be offered after the registration deadline (January 13, 2012). Should you need to cancel after this deadline (for whatever reason), you may send someone else in your place as long as you provide the name and complete contact information for the person replacing you, in writing, BEFORE February 1, 2012.

Continuing Education Credits

What designations are eligible to receive continuing education credits for conference sessions?
The LGC is plans to pursue accreditation for the conference program for the following designations: AICP Planners, AIA, ASLA, and Lawyers. Please check the Continuing Education page in the coming weeks for more details.

How do I receive continuing education credits after the conference?
Each designation has different requirements for receiving credits. Instructions for each designation eligible for CEUs will be posted on the Continuing Education page in the late Fall 2011.

Scholarships

Are there scholarships available to cover basic conference registration fees?
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to offset the cost of conference registration fees. Please visit the Scholarship page for more details eligibility, how to apply, and applicable deadlines.

Are travel stipends available to help offset my travel expenses?
The LGC is currently fundraising to secure additional funding to provide travel stipends for some scholarship recipients. Please check the Scholarship page for updates and more details.

If am looking for a roommate or would like to rideshare to help reduce my lodging and travel expenses, can the conference organizers help me?
Please use the Roommate Assistance form on the Roommate and Ridesharing page of the conference web site. Participants can use this form to provide their contact information and identify which nights they are looking to room share, then submit the form to the LGC. The LGC will attempt to connect those looking for a roommate with each other in advance of the conference, but cannot guarantee all who are interested that a roommate will be found for them.

If you are interested in ridesharing or carpooling to the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, please visit www.RideShare.us (will open in new window). Simply create a username and password and search for the event using the “Find An Event” link on the left hand side of the page. You can either search by the lookup code, NPSG12, or search by State, City, Zip code, or Keyword. Once you find the event, you can post a ride ad for the event or search for existing ride ads.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

How do I become a conference sponsor?
Visit the Sponsorship Opportunities page to download the Sponsorship Opportunities Brochure to understand the different levels of sponsorship and their associated benefits. Contact Michele Warren at the LGC to become a sponsor, or get more information, at mkwarren@lgc.org (916-448-1198 ext. 308).

As a sponsor of the conference, how do I register?
Sponsors cannot registration using the online registration system. Once conference registration opens in early October, all confirmed sponsors will receive a Sponsor Registration Form directly from the LGC. The Sponsor Registration Form should be duplicated based on the number of complimentary registrations each sponsor is eligible for (dependent on individual sponsorship levels), and completed by each person. All forms should be returned to the LGC as instructed on the form, by the appropriate deadline.

Sponsors may choose to share the complimentary registrations with others outside their agency, organization, or company.

How do I become a “non-monetary” conference cosponsor?
Visit the Conference Cosponsors link (under the Sponsor tab on the homepage) for details on how to become a cosponsor. If you have questions or need additional information, contact Melissa Harper-Barton at mbarton@lgc.org (916-448-1198 ext. 327).

Conference Program

I submitted a session proposal before the June 30th deadline.  When can I expect to hear whether it has been accepted for the program?
Those who submitted proposals by the June 30th deadline should expect to hear about the status of their proposal by September 9th, if not before.

Where do I find the latest program information?
Visit the Program page. A schedule of confirmed conference sessions will be posted by early October.

Where can I find a list of invited speakers?
A list of invited speakers will be posted on the Speakers page in early October. Our goal is to update this list weekly until all speakers are invited and confirmed.

Are bios available for conference speakers?
Brief biographies of each speaker will be posted on the Speakers page approximately six weeks before the conference.

Do I need to pre-register for specific breakouts or workshops during the main conference program?
Participants do not need to pre-register for specific sessions during the main conference program (February 2-4).

Will there be events scheduled during the conference that require an additional fee to participate?
There will be optional events and tours scheduled before, during and after the conference that require pre-registration and include nominal registration fees. Visit the Tours, Special Features, and Registration pages for more details on these optional events and their associated costs.

Speakers

As a speaker, am I required to register?
Yes. All speakers must register to attend, regardless of whether a speaker registration fee is required. LGC staff will provide each confirmed speaker with the appropriate registration form to use (speakers cannot register using the online registration system).

As a speaker, will I be expected to pay a registration fee?
Speakers are comped on the day they speak only. If they would like to attend one or more other days of the conference, they are offered a reduced Speaker Registration fee of $150.

How do speakers register for the conference?
Speakers cannot use the online registration system. Each speaker will be provided a registration form to use that must be completed and returned. More details on speaker fees, required forms, and other logistical information can be found on the Speakers page by early October.

What forms are required from speakers and by when?
Speakers are required to complete both a registration form and a media release form, and provide a 50-word biography to the LGC. Each speaker will be sent a confirmation email from the LGC that will include these forms and provide instructions and deadlines. More details on speaker fees, required forms, and other logistical information can be found on the Speakers page by early October.

Will Conference Organizers provide travel assistance to speakers participating in the conference?
The LGC has an extremely limited speaker travel budget for this event, and most speakers will not receive any travel assistance. As a general rule, speaker travel assistance is negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Speakers representing small nonprofits, grassroots and community organizations, and local governments are given priority in allocating travel funds. More information on our travel assistance guidelines will be posted on the Speakers page by early October.

Where do I find out when and where I am speaking during the program?
A detailed confirmation email will be sent to each speaker, including the session title, date, and the time of each session that a speaker is confirmed for.

Do I need to submit my PowerPoint Presentation in advance to the LGC?
Speakers may submit their PowerPoint presentation to the LGC in advance of the conference, though it is not required. Speakers ARE REQUIRED to bring a copy of their presentation with them to the conference. Additionally, speakers may choose to send a copy to their session moderator as well. More details on speaker fees, required forms, and other logistical information can be found on the Speakers page by early October.

Will there be a Speaker Ready Room on-site for me to review my presentation before I am scheduled to speak?
Yes. In the weeks prior to the event, speakers will be notified of the meeting room secured for this purpose, and the dates/times that speakers will be able to access this room.

Will there be someone to assist me with getting my presentation set-up before my session?
Each session will have a Room Monitor (a staff person or volunteer) that will be available before the start of each session to assist speakers and the moderator with any needs they may have (distributing handouts, loading presentations onto the laptop provided, etc.). Audiovisual technicians will be available throughout the event to provide technical assistance and help with trouble-shooting, should speakers need additional assistance.

Will the LGC reproduce handouts for me to supplement my presentation?
Given our efforts to reduce waste, the LGC will not be able to reproduce handouts for speakers. Speakers are welcome to bring 75-100 copies of any handout they would like to distribute during their session.

What Audio-Visual equipment is normally available to presenters?
All meeting rooms will include PC laptops, LCD projectors, screens, mixers, wired microphones and a podium. Flip chart packages and wireless advancers are available upon request. More details regarding audiovisual equipment can be found on the Speakers page.

Will I be able to use my own laptop to give my presentation?
No. You will need to bring your PowerPoint presentation and/or other electronic materials with you to the event on a flash drive. You will need to load your presentation onto the laptop in the meeting room where you will be giving your presentation.

May I request additional Audio-Visual equipment (beyond what is provided) or Internet access for my presentation?
If you believe your presentation requires additional equipment not normally provided, or an Internet connection, you must contact the LGC and make your request in writing. Your request should indicate why the requested items are needed. The LGC will review all requests and notify presenters if they are able to honor them. Please refer to the Speaker Logistics document that was/will be sent to you by the LGC confirming your session details for a list of compatible presentation formats.

Will my session/presentation be audio-recorded?
Most likely. We request that all speakers sign a media release form giving permission for their session to be audio-recorded. Audio recordings may be sold during and after the conference.