ARCIT conferences, regional meetings and legislative drive-ins can change your community. Send someone who loves your town, is willing to go in with a positive attitude and is ready to absorb information like a sponge. He or she will come back inspired by the people they meet and the tons of ideas and examples you can put to use in your community. The excitement is contagious!
• Rural success stories. Hear first-hand from other communities about what they are doing, how things are working or not working. When we talk to others struggling with the same small-town problems we can collaborate and discover new ideas and ways of achieving goals and dreams for our own communities.
• Visibility. Just because your community may be off-the-beaten-path doesn’t mean you have to be “out-of-sight and out-of-mind.” Put your community in people’s minds by telling your stories, showcasing your assets and building new outlets. Nothing beats the connections you make in person.
• Community Connections. Rural and small towns have a unique way of forming their own communities outside their city boundaries, often over vast distances through commerce and family ties. Connecting at the ARCIT conference can strengthen ties and makes communities stronger, more resilient and better able to weather whatever storms come our way. Where people gather, community happens!
• The energy of like-minded people. Get out to see what others are doing. It can be exciting to be in a room full of people who, like you, want to make a difference in their communities and will help you see that your vision really is within reach.
• New ideas. People can — and will — take away something a little different from what they heard from the same expert. Get new perspectives, expand your own creative processes, and get excited about trying relevant, affordable and do-able ideas to make our own communities even better places to live and work.
Bonus reason: Come to have fun! Take some time to explore and enjoy before or after the day’s events — make it a working vacation! Added bonus — drive to and from the event so you can drop in on small towns and rural areas along the way. Who knows what new ideas you might find?
And don’t even start on the “we can’t because…” track., “Can’t, never could, and you’re not trying.” Put on your positive thinking cap and figure out how you CAN attend because this is a conference you don’t want to miss.
It’s an investment — new ideas for creative housing, marketing, improving public spaces, filling empty buildings, adding pop-up-shops, gaining funding sources and other opportunities can benefit everyone in your rural town or area.
Every community, no matter the size, has something of value. What are your hidden assets?
REGISTRATION INFORMATION – Please see the 2018 Annual Conference Invite for pricing details and registration deadlines. The invite includes a registration form, so if you prefer to register by mail rather than online just complete and mail. We will get you registered! You may also register online at http://www.arcit.org
HOTEL INFORMATION – Hotel Rooms have been reserved at $124/night & the daily resort fee is WAIVED. Book your room under “ARCIT”. To reserve your room, click here or call 1-800-233-1234. The “Cut-Off Date” for room blocks is September 18, 2018. Please make your room reservations as soon as possible to ensure you have accommodations for the ARCIT Annual Conference.
The Conference will be held on Monday, October 1 – Wednesday, October 3, 2018 in San Antonio, TX at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort & Spa. Click ARCIT Annual Conference Agenda to review the GREAT content that will be offered at this years conference.
Do not miss out on this event! It is a great opportunity to meet and discuss the important issues of ARCIT directly with state agencies and elected officials. The event will include keynote speakers, agency roundtables, expert industry panels and networking opportunities.
***ARCIT has been approved for 15 hours of continuing education credit for county commissioners.***
Rural Texas is the REAL Texas!
Questions? Please email kris@arcit.org or kara@arcit.org.
