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The Countdown to Indy

June 2013

By JOHN WALDA

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It’s just around the next turn: the 2013 NACUBO Annual Meeting, in Indianapolis. The conference theme, "Driving Innovation," couldn’t be more appropriate, with Indiana’s state capital surging from robust high-tech and manufacturing growth; a focus on clean technology; and a downtown renaissance that combines the city’s rich history with captivating art, culture, and natural beauty.  

While we’ll provide our traditional high-quality programming, wide range of educational opportunities, and ample networking venues, you’ll also explore the best that our host city has to offer.

And, I can tell you it will be an adventure. Some of you may know that I used to call Indianapolis home. It remains one of my favorite cities in the world, and summer is a fantastic time to enjoy it.  

My Top 10

When asked what I’m most looking forward to during the July meeting, I’ve been unable to come up with a simple answer. Instead, I’ve compiled the top 10 reasons I’m excited to attend. In case you haven’t yet registered, here are what I consider the top 10 great incentives for you to join  your many colleagues at our annual gathering: 

TEN  Hear Judy Woodruff, coanchor of the PBS NewsHour, previously with CNN and NBC News, who will share her thoughts about higher education in our highly politicized world.

NINE  Listen to Jeremy Rifkin, American economist, writer, and founder of the Foundation on Economic Trends, who will speak to us about global economic issues, the "Third Industrial Revolution," and  the future of our planet.

EIGHT  Catch Frans Johansson, author of The Medici Effect and The Click Moment, who, during his general session talk, will make the business case for diversity and prepare us to capitalize on opportunity. 

SEVEN  Choose from dozens of concurrent sessions that tackle the hottest topics of the day for business officers—such as innovative strategies for managing endowments, advice on liquidity and debt, and effective student financial literacy programs.

SIX  Socialize and have some fun at the annual golf outing on the only championship golf course with four of its holes inside a racetrack; at the opening event at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art; and during the closing event at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, a fabulous 1920s big band and entertainment venue.

FIVE  Visit a local university campus (there are eight of them!), and don’t miss the opportunity to tour facilities at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, an exciting urban campus with more than 30,000 undergraduate students and a broad array of graduate and professional schools.

FOUR  Meet new friends  at the Expo Hall and learn about solutions for your campus needs. 

THREE  Join colleagues with like interests for networking and idea-sharing opportunities, at lounges and lunches tailored to your institution type.

TWO  Experience the comfort and convenience of an integrated convention center/hotel district—including our headquarters hotel, the largest JW Marriott in the world—all connected by skywalks and pedestrian trails.

… and the number one reason to join us in Indianapolis: 

ONE  Learn what makes this city, recent host to the Super Bowl and Final Four, one of the nation’s great new destinations. There’s something for everyone: the eight-mile Indianapolis Cultural Trail for walkers and bikers, which links downtown museums with historic sites like the NCAA headquarters and Hall of Champions; clubs, cabarets, and 200-plus downtown restaurants; Victory Field, home of baseball’s Indianapolis Indians and rated by Sports Illustrated the best minor league stadium (you can catch a game!); and the gondola ride on the Central Canal, which links downtown with the Indiana University Health complex. 

The NACUBO 2013 Annual Meeting, July 13–16, held in a fast-paced city offering diverse cultural and sporting experiences, will help you fuel up for the challenges ahead. Register now at www.nacuboannual meeting.org. 

JOHN WALDA, NACUBO President and Chief Executive Officer