We are introducing 20 new concurrent sessions at our 17^th annual Training and Performance Conference. Two of those sessions are Social Networking and Using Simple Opener and Closer Techniques to Enhance Your Training Session.

In 2009, social networking became the number one driver of online traffic, surpassing even pornography. The Social Networking session, facilitated by Becky Pluth, looks at various social networking opportunities and tools. People are spending more time connecting online and seeking innovative ways to digest the events of the day. This session will explore the why AND the how of social media in training and will include the basics of how to reach out to your learners using these tools.

Doug McCallum's session on finding simple and quick openers and closers will focus on eight activities that can be done in two minutes or less with props found in your kitchen or office. Each participant will develop a presentation during the session that can be immediately applied to training material. So Doug will share eight tips and your peers will share many more in this 90-minute session.

Our night of creativity this year will be an Evening of Astonishment with master magician Giovanni. His tantalizing sleight-of-hand and uproarious audience participation carries on our conference's pursuit of attaining the impossible.

Giovanni, a recipient of the coveted Gold Cups Award from the International Brotherhood of Magicians, will engage us as his "living prop" during this hilarious roller coaster ride of a stage show while involving up to 20 willing participants to achieve the impossible right before our very eyes. This Evening of Astonishment, which includes a fabulous feast, is included in your registration fee.

For a PDF of our conference brochure, click here.

Our hashtag for the conference for Twitter will be #BPG10.