As employees and human beings, staff members want to feel valuable and valued.

As employees and human beings, staff members want to feel valuable and valued.

... It's a Professional Association and a Community

The following are remarks from the NAA18 Monday afternoon plenary by Heidi Ham, NAA Vice President of Programs and Strategy.

Did you use the 4Cs today?

Of course you did.

But how?

The NAA Convention is an incredible four days, bringing together afterschool professionals and leaders for networking, learning and inspiration. Year after year, we hear from participants that their No. 1 reason for attending Convention is the learning opportunities.

On vacation last summer, I visited the Elliot Bay Bookstore in Seattle, Washington—IMO one of the best independent bookstores in the nation—and picked up Jenny Lawson's new book: You Are Here: An Owner's Manual for Dangerous Minds.

NAA's goal is to inspire, connect and equip afterschool professionals and leaders. Our Annual Convention is all about the participants and their experience.

Our brains are wired for novelty. We know this because we are alerted each time a stimulus in our environment feels out of the ordinary.

Afterschool's current leaders and our next generation of leaders have unique needs—for inspiration, connections, and the opportunity to build or share knowledge.