Planning an ISBA CLE Program |
The ISBA CLE Department is dedicated to meeting our members’ needs. We could not do this without our section and committee chairs who volunteer their time. This page is designed to help in the CLE planning process. Please keep in mind that planning for in-person seminars should start 6-12 months prior to the seminar.
Selecting a Date
A section council or committee meets to determine the goal and topic of the seminar. They will decide the date (first and second choice). ISBA staff will then check the CLE Calendar for conflicts with other ISBA events.
Choosing Seminar Format and Location
The committee or section council selects the type of seminar. Options include an in-person seminar, live webinar or both. If the decision is to do a live webinar, there are several options. The speaker(s) can come to the ISBA Building and we will broadcast the webinar from the ISBA office. This allows for us to stream the video of the speaker(s) and their PowerPoint materials. If the speaker(s) can’t come to the ISBA Building, ISBA staff will provide support remotely for the webinar. Staff will set up a time for a test webinar with the speaker(s) to walk them through the process of using the software for live webinars. ISBA staff monitors all live webinars.
If the decision is to do an in-person seminar at the ISBA Building, in-person attendance is limited to 100 people. If in-person attendance will be over 100, then the ISBA staff will work with the section chair or committee chair on selecting a different location. The ISBA office will handle any hotel and meeting arrangements. It is important to give the ISBA office this information as soon as possible so the preferred date and location of the event can be secured.
Program Agenda Content
In order to properly market an event, the following event information should be provided to the ISBA CLE Department no less than three months out for in-person events and one month for live webinars if possible:
- Event title and scheduling/times of presentations (topic titles should be concise and intriguing to the reader)
- Event description (be informational and creative)
- Provide speakers’ name and their firm or employer’s name. Include at the bottom of your agenda any speakers’ email and contact information.
- Include lunch, break times and any social events (normally an all-day event has two breaks and one lunch break)
- Provide inventive and engaging event or topic titles
- Indicate on the agenda which presentations may qualify for federal and/or ethics credit. The ISBA CLE Department will obtain CLE credit.
Once all the information is completed and received by the ISBA, staff will create the event page, set-up registration and begin marketing the program. Incomplete information will lead to delays in this process, which may lead to decreased event attendance. It’s imperative that complete and accurate information is provided to ISBA staff in a timely fashion.
See Event Example
Speaker Communications
Please send a copy of the information you send to speakers and/or committee and sections members to the ISBA office. A copy of the speaker letters and any committee/section communications will be sent to the chair(s).
Speaker letters from the ISBA office include:
- An outline deadline which is usually 4-6 weeks before the seminar
- Outline formatting and detailed instructions
- A request for biographical information to use in introducing speakers
- Audio visual requests
- Hotel information*
- Lunch and /or banquet attendance check lists
*The ISBA will make reservations and pay for one night's hotel room and tax for speakers traveling over 100 miles.
Contact the ISBA CLE Department
cle@iowbar.org
515-697-7874
