Event FAQ
Round Tables:
Round tables are a popular session at every conference and this year we are mixing things up and bringing them to you on Thursday at 2:30 PM EST. We will have tables with topics for nannies, NCS, and business owners. The topics are still being planned and announced on social media as they are solidified. If you are interested in hosting a round table, reach out to us at info@nanny.org.
Membership Meeting:
Each year when we get together we host our Annual Membership Meeting. This year’s meeting will be on Thursday, May 16th at 4:00 PM right after our Round Tables. We encourage all attendees to join us but especially our members. If you would like to address the board during this time, we ask that you fill out THIS FORM by 2:30 PM PST on the day of the meeting.
Conference Kick-off: Our debut event promises to kick off the conference with a fun, interactive, and inspiring event experience. You will get a chance to make new connections and participate in the conference in a totally unique way!!
Meet-Ups:
This year, during our Networking Breaks, we will host a series of Meet-ups, in our Gathering Place room. No need to sign up, just join us when you can.
- Friday 10:30 AM: First-Time Attendees
- Friday 1:30 PM: International Attendees
- Friday 3:15 PM: Agencies Under 5 Years in Business
- Saturday 10:15 AM: Agencies Over 5 Years in Business AND Nanny Support Group Connection
- Saturday 1:00 PM: Meet the INA Board
General Sessions
- Opening Reception Thursday at 5:30 PM 2nd Floor Mt Hood.
- Breakfast Food Trucks starting Friday and Saturday mornings at 7AM outside on Clay St – South of the building.
- Conference Kick-off on Friday at 9AM in Salon E&F.
- Friday and Saturday lunches will be in Salon E&F.
- Saturday Closing reception is at 2:30 PM again on the 2nd Floor in Mt Hood.
Breakout Sessions
- The INA Conference allows you to attend any of the breakout sessions you want. If you are a nanny, you do not need to stick to the nanny workshops but can check out the NCS offerings or even the Business sessions. For the 3rd year in a row, we have a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) session during each time slot with workshops that are focused on the whole industry and with a focus on improving Diversity Equity and Inclusion.
- You will notice that during each time slot on the app and in the schedule on our program, there are 4 different colors indicating the 4 tracks
Airport: The closest airport to the Marriot Portland Downtown Waterfront is PDX-
Portland International Airport.
Parking: There is a $54 per day fee for parking at Marriot Portland Downtown Waterfront.
Hotel Reservations: The INA Conference Hotel block is now open. You can reserve your room through THIS LINK.
Find the full schedule HERE.
Awards Dinner RSVP:
Get ready to be dazzled at our 2024 INA Conference Awards Dinner on Friday night of the conference! This year’s theme is “Black and White,” promising an evening filled with fun and laughter. There’s no need for formal attire at this event—simply opt for clothing in black, white, or a combination of both. Join us for a delightful sit-down dinner, where the atmosphere will be as vibrant as the INA Nanny of the Year and Service Award Pins that we will be honoring people with.
To ensure a seamless experience, we kindly request your RSVP featuring assigned seating by May 3rd. Each attendee will enjoy two complimentary drinks with their meal. For those looking to elevate their experience, consider purchasing a table for your group at $100, which includes seating for eight and an extra drink ticket for each person. Without prior arrangements, you’ll be placed at a table randomly. However, if you desire, you can secure a table for yourself and seven companions. Don’t forget to confirm your attendance, settle any guest fees, and reserve a table for you and your group through our RSVP form.
It’s an opportunity to celebrate excellence, share laughter, and create lasting memories. Don’t miss out on this extraordinary night of recognition and camaraderie!
Group Dinners:
If you are interested in joining a small group of people at a local Portland restaurant on Thursday or Saturday night, you can sign up through our 2024 Conference Group Dinner Sign-Up Genius. We are still looking for hosts for a few of these restaurants. You can sign up to be a host directly on the Sign-Up Genus.
Certificate of Attendance:
We know that the Certificate of Attendance is important to many in our community. To ensure you receive a conference, please fill out this form. We will only make hard copies for those who request one.
Credential Exam:
Those of you hoping to take our Nanny or NCS Credential Exam, have one chance during the event. Sunday, May 19th at 8:00 AM. (NOTE NEW TIME) This is free for INA Members and $50 for non-members. To sign up for the Exam, use this form to register by April 25, 2023.
QR Code Personalization:
This year at the 2024 Conference, each attendee will have a QR Code on their Name Badge. This QR Code will be loaded with your name only. Use this form to personalize the information you want to link to your QR Code.
Each year the INA selects a local charity that serves children and families to highlight and support. This year’s charity is Baby Blues Connection. Their mission is to support parents and their families coping with pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders, with information, resources, and community; and connect and support the volunteers, staff, and professionals who serve them.
The Conference Menu will be posted at least one week before the conference so you can plan accordingly. Please note that with your registration, you are provided the following.
- 1 Drink and Horderves at the Opening Reception
- Breakfast on Friday from sponsored Breakfast Food Trucks
- Lunch on Friday in the General Session Room
- 2 Drinks and Dinner at the Friday Night Awards Dinner
- Breakfast on Friday from sponsored Breakfast Food Trucks
- Lunch on Saturday in the General Session Room
- 1 Drink and Horderves at the Closing Reception on Saturday
Subject to changes.
Roommates and Conference Guides: Those of you who signed up for help finding a roommate or requested a conference Guide, should receive an email from the office by January. If you need immediate help, please reach out to us at info@nanny.org.
Facebook Page: We encourage you to connect with other attendees through the INA Conference Attendee Facebook Group. This is the best way to share your plans for before and after the conference as well as evenings.
App: Our 2024 Conference App is available and ready to use. You can find it available for both IPhone and Android. You can see the schedule, workshops, vendors, and sponsors in the public view. To see our attendees, you will need to log in using your email address.
Orientation Video: New to the INA Conference? Check back early in May of 2024 for a virtual Orientation video.
Packing: Seasoned conference attendees will recommend you bring the following:
- A light sweater, as the rooms can become chilly
- Business Cards to pass around to the various businesses, caregivers and agencies in attendance
- Comfortable shoes. It can be a lot of walking from session to session.
Recommended Attire: Business Casual is requested. This article can be helpful to understand what this is. We also ask that you refrain from heavy perfumes/ scents as many have allergies or sensitivities to smells and the small confines of our spaces can make it uncomfortable for some.
Photos: Photos of any part of the event are welcome but we ask that if you plan to share any photos on social media, you not tag anyone in the photo without permission. We may have an official INA Photographer walking in and out of sessions. This person will have a name badge with the designation that they are the INA Photographer. These images will be put on our website following the event and be used for future promotional purposes.
Recordings: INA retains the sole right to record (audio or video) presentations at workshops and the keynote address. Individual attendee audio or video recording is not allowed. Recording of caucuses is strictly prohibited. Anyone found to be recording a session will be asked to delete any recordings and may be asked to leave the session. You may record award speeches.
If you are interested in purchasing a vendor table, we have a limited number of tables that can be purchased through our 2024 Sponsorships.
Before Conference
Power
We have a limited number of tables that we can provide powers to this year. If you need power for your table, please be sure to let me know by Monday, April 1, 202, so I can ensure you will have access to it.
Shipping to hotel
Supplies may be shipped to
- Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront
- Atten: INA – [Your Name]
- 1401 SW National Parkway
- Portland, Oregon, 97201
Please see the attached PDF from the hotel with all shipping details and pricing.
Hotel
If you plan to stay at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront and have not already reserved your room, you should do that ASAP. After April 23rd, the hotel will be releasing any unsold rooms in our room block.
App: We have an INA Events App, where you can choose what you show off your company with advertising images and short explanations of your services and offers. If you have not already provided this to us, please send:
- Digital add for your listing: width 480px height 270px
- Short description:100 Characters
- Any other information you want to have on the listing
You can find the INA Events App available for both IPhone and Android. In it, you can see the schedule, workshops, other vendors, and sponsors in the public view. To see our attendees, you will need to log in using your email address.
At Conference
Snacks
We are encouraging our Vendors to bring small treats, snacks, or candies to give away at your vendor table. This is a great way to get people coming to your table so you can connect with them!
Giveaways
Giveaways are another great way to attract attendees to your table and gather valuable info from them. If you would like to offer a giveaway and do the drawing on Saturday at our Closing Reception, we will need to know by Friday at 4PM so we can add you to the timeline for the reception.
Swag
This year we will be giving all attendees a Conference Bag provided by one of our sponsors. However, rather than having our vendors provide something before the conference to put in this bag, we will be encouraging our attendees to visit your booth for any “swag” you are giving away.
General Table
- Tables are 6×3 with a black table cloth
- Each table will have 2 chairs provided.
- Please do not tack or tape anything to the walls.
- Reminder to let me know if you will require power for your booth.
Set-up
The vendor tables will be in the Salons E-F, the same room our General and Lunch sessions will be in. You can set up on both Friday and Saturday at 7:00 AM. While this is a private room and the doors will be closed and locked at night, we do not recommend you leave anything valuable overnight. Breakfast this year is served outside via Portland’s iconic Food Trucks but we will be encouraging attendees to bring their food inside to this room to eat, socialize and connect with our ventors! There will be several network breaks both Friday and Saturday where we encourage attendees to visit you all at the vendor tables. When you arrive after 7 AM on Friday, you will look for the table with your company name on it.
Vendor Attendance Giveaway
We will be offering $50 in cash to 4 individuals who visit all of our vendors. We will give you a pack of stickers, and as attendees come around to the tables, we ask that you put a sticker over your name on the Vendor Card. Please don’t leave these stickers on the table if you are not present.
After Conference
Takedown
On Saturday, the final sessions of the day start at 1:30 PM, and things will likely be quiet after that point. This will be a good time to begin taking down your table.
Return shipping
The hotel has a xxx that can help you with return shipping if needed after the event. Please refer to their policies for prices and costs associated with this.
If you have any questions, please email me at info@nanny.org.
Call for Speakers is officially closed but if you would like to reach out to the INA office to inquire if there are any open spaces, please email info@nanny.org.
INA Branding for Slides: Attached are the INA Conference Logo and the colors. We ask that you include at least the Logo on the media presentation you create for the conference.
Handouts: We ask that all speakers provide a digital handout that can be added to the INA Google Drive and made available to all attendees – in-person and virtual. This can be a PDF of your slides or something more detailed. Please send these to info@nanny.org by May 6, 2024.
App: Please check out the INA Events App, available for both IPhone and Android. In it, you can see the schedule, workshops, vendors, and sponsors in the public view. To see our attendees, you will need to log in using your email address.