Our conference draws 250-300 participants, primarily line-staff, administrators and leaders from community development and affordable housing organizations who come together to discuss common issues, successes and challenges.  Attendees are organizational professionals across all industry sectors including housing and community development, advocacy, social services, community action agencies, housing authorities, government agencies, finance, and construction. They work in rural and small town environments, and in suburban and urban areas.

We welcome proposals from industry experts, vendors, researchers, consultants and front-line practitioners that focus on how-to, in-the-trenches, skill-building content, as well as examples of best practices and innovations.  Proposals should support one of our six practitioner groups listed below.

Conference sessions are generally organized around the following categories or tracks:  Leadership & Policy; Housing Development; Fiscal Management; Resident Services; Property & Asset Management; and Homeownership Counseling & Education.

Sample topics of interest include trauma-informed care; cost allocation policies; capital needs assessments; compliance and reporting for multiple funding sources; financial coaching; development or services case studies; and advocacy strategies.

For the Fall Conference, Oregon ON also seeks proposals that address Workforce Housing, Rural Policy and Development, Re-Entry Housing, Veterans Resources, Leadership Development, Fair Housing, Health & Housing Collaboratives and Diversity Inclusion & Equity implementation and evaluation strategies.

When submitting your proposal, you must indicate which category you believe is the best fit. Proposals that address more than one category are acceptable and multiple proposals may be submitted from the same primary presenter.

The Industry Support Conference includes four series of concurrent breakout sessions. Sessions are 90 minutes in length. There are three types of sessions for which proposals may be submitted:

1. Panel Discussions:  Panels may include a maximum of 4 presenters and one moderator.  A minimum of 30 minutes of interactive dialogue with session attendees is required.  Feedback from previous conference attendees has shown that the most successful sessions are those that exhibit the spirit of genuine discussion and exchange of ideas.
2. Facilitated Roundtables:  Roundtables, focused on specific topics, may be presented by a maximum of 2 facilitators.  The idea of the roundtable is to delve into the deeper issues of particular topics and focus on developing solutions, approaches, strategies, or innovative thinking.  They demand interaction from all participants.  Facilitators briefly introduce the topic and provide background information (this should not be a presentation and should not involve a slideshow), then pose questions to facilitate the discussion.  The outcome of each roundtable session is a collegial discussion and an exchange of ideas providing a range of perspectives and take-aways for participants.  Facilitators are requested to submit the discussion outcomes in writing to Oregon ON for posting on the conference website within two weeks of the conference.
3. Lecture or Training:  Lectures and Trainings may be presented by a single speaker, but not more than 2 lecturers/trainers.  The topic must be informative and relevant to affordable housing, equity or the intersection of housing with other sectors, such as health, education, etc.  Trainings should allow participants to practice or apply new skills during the session and/or include small group work.  A minimum of 30 minutes of interactive dialogue with session attendees is required

Indicate the type of session format for which you are submitting a proposal:

1. A panel discussion    2. A facilitated roundtable discussion    3. Lecture or Training

• Panel Session Proposals must demonstrate that at least 30 minutes are incorporated for discussion and interaction.  Panels should not be “talking heads” but rather allow sufficient time for adequate discussion and exchange between all in attendance.
• Panel Sessions should focus on lessons learned, challenges and issues encountered and how those were addressed.  Sessions should not be a “show and tell” of an organization or program.
• Facilitated Roundtable Discussions should pose a series of discussion questions and should NOT include any formal presentations.
• We will give preference to sessions that include multiple institutions and diverse perspectives.  Resident/Client perspectives are welcome.
• Regional diversity, including perspectives from institutions and presenters located outside of Oregon, are most welcome.

All submissions are peer-reviewed. The following minimum criteria for presentation proposal acceptance will be used:

• Session is educational in nature—proposals used to promote specific products will not be accepted.
• Session description, title and learning objectives are clearly defined.
• Speaker expertise and presentation experience is evident.

Other selection criteria considered include:

• Important, timely and practical content.
• Content deals with new trends, tools or strategies.
• Session showcases a proven, industry-changing example.

Breakout Session Criteria

• Speakers/presenters should provide sufficient copies of any handouts for the audience. Additionally, please provide session materials electronically. These will be posted on the Oregon ON website after the conference for attendees to download.
• Sessions are 90 minutes long. Please indicate the time you need to present your information and allow for questions and discussion.  Exceptions may be made for longer sessions if warranted.
• Presenters must bring their own laptops.Mac and tablet users should bring appropriate adapter cables for VGA, USB and HDMI projector ports.

Presenter Benefits and Responsibilities

• Each presenter must register themselves for the conference.  Panel Sessions will receive a maximum of five complimentary tickets and Facilitated Roundtable and Lecture/Training Sessions will receive a maximum of two complimentary tickets (a one-time use code will be provided).
• Oregon ON provides one screen, LCD projector and 2 microphones in each room.  Additional equipment, including internet connection, is at the expense of the presenter from the conference AV provider.  Presenters will be responsible for providing any audiovisual equipment or technology needs not listed above.

All presenters are responsible for their own lodging, transportation, parking, meal costs not provided through conference registration, and handout materials