How to make the most out of your time at the AVA Summit

Attending the AVA Summit might literally change your life. 

Not only is it an incredible opportunity to connect with advocates from all over the world, it is an investment that might lead to new collaborations, new jobs, new hires, new funding, new projects, changing your approach to advocacy, and finding friends for life! 

To make the most out of your time at the AVA Summit and ensure your success, consider the following tips:

Pre-Summit

Get your ticket early and benefit from the cheapest rates (they do go up over time). We are trying to keep our rates as affordable as possible while ensuring we can provide high-quality meals and services to all of our attendees. Students, unemployed folks, NGOs with a budget of <$500k yearly, and people whose income is lower than $40k are eligible for subsidized prices. 

Wondering about our Covid-19 policy, parking, family passes, or one- or two-day-ticket options? Check out our FAQ at the bottom of this page.

Benefit from the free shuttle service from and to the airport! There is a shuttle running every 15-20 minutes from/to LAX/Marriott. It is a free airport shuttle service that runs from 4:30am to 11pm PST, seven days a week, to ensure international and domestic travelers a stress-free experience.

Consider taking off the day before and after the Summit to prepare and to recuperate!

Set clear goals and priorities about what you want to achieve, whether it's gaining knowledge, making connections, or promoting your work. 

Plan your schedule and identify the sessions that align with your goals, and create a personalized itinerary. This is a crucial step and you should aim to spend at least a couple of hours planning your time!

• Download the Whova App, check who else is going and plan 1:1 meetings ahead of time.
• Look up additional information on people (such as their LinkedIn profile or website) to ask better questions and have more interesting conversations.
• Many people also plan group meet-ups through our event app.
• Also check out our off-session program like morning workouts, film screenings, karaoke party, soccer game, ...

Prepare a short introduction you can use when you meet new people, for example: “I just started working at X and I’m looking to hear tips from campaigners and connect with people interested in corporate outreach”. It’s worth seeing what kind of results this introduction gives you and tweaking it if it doesn’t start conversations. 

Arrive early – if you haven’t been to the venue yet, you may need some time to orient yourself, adjust to the new time zone, and check-in without stressing yourself out. 

Dress code: Business casual to casual is great, and we suggest wearing comfortable shoes! There is a pool at the hotel and it will be hot outside, so maybe also bring a swimsuit to enjoy some California sunshine in your free time. Keep in mind it can become chilly inside due to the air conditioning though.

Bring an extra charger for your phone and/or another device with the event app installed beforehand. The app is the best way to communicate to the attendees and also to receive any important communications. 

On-site

Actively participate in sessions by asking questions, sharing insights, or engaging in discussions. Take notes and follow up on any ideas or contacts that stand out to you.

Utilize social media, take group pictures, and use #weareava to stay connected with attendees, share your experience, and engage in conversations. It's an excellent way to expand your network and follow up with new contacts after the event.

Take care of yourself, make sure to get enough rest, stay hydrated, and eat well. Use our wellness room or the outside area to take a break! Don't feel like you have to do everything, speak to everyone, and go to every activity you’re invited to. Even if you’re a people person, it’s always good to stop and think for a bit, even if it’s just listening to some music or meditating for 15 minutes. We also have a medical room if needed. 

There are several restaurants at the Conference Hotel and we've worked with them to maximize their vegan offerings. We recommend getting reservations for the Dinner Breaks! 

Network proactively by introducing yourself to others, participating in discussions, and remember to exchange contact information with those you meet.

Some Networking Tips: 

• Ask questions like “What are you currently most excited about?”, “What’s the most interesting thing you’ve found out about this month?”, “What’s your biggest challenge?”, or “How did you end up working on this/what brought you to the AVA Summit?” 
• Remember that you already know what you know, so your aim is to listen to other people to find out what they know :) 
• Look for ways to assist and support the individuals you meet. Share your knowledge, make introductions, or offer help when needed. Being generous and helpful strengthens relationships and makes you a valuable connection.
• Attend with a buddy: If networking makes you nervous, consider attending with a colleague or friend. Having a familiar face can provide support and make it easier to approach new people. 
• Respect networking etiquette by not monopolizing conversations, interrupting others, or only focusing on your agenda. Treat everyone with courtesy and respect, even if e.g. they are working on completely different tactics, approaches, or strategies. 

If at any point you find yourself in or you witness a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the AVA Team at any time! You can find us at the Registration Desk, you can use our Anonymous Concern Form, or send an email to me at julia@avasummit.com. 

Post-Summit

Follow up after the conference and send people a quick Thank you and suggest ways to collaborate or continue the conversation. This can also include a follow-up with any materials you promised to send them.

Organize your notes, save valuable information, and develop a concrete action plan to apply what you've learned.

Please fill in our post-Summit survey so we can make sure to improve and provide an even better experience for our movement next time.

Consider writing a reflection blog or social media post. Not only the AVA Team is interested in knowing how it went for you, but also you may inspire other people to come to one of our next events! 

Check out Asia Farm Animal Day, taking place October 8-10 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! It is co-organized by the AVA Summit and Asia for Animals. If you know anyone who is interested or working in Asia, let them know!

Attending the AVA Summit might change your life. We are beyond excited to provide this platform to our movement, create a space for growth, and help advocates increase their impact for animals!

Thank you to my amazing team Amie Albright , Taylor Waters , Amanda Cramer for making this magic happen!

And Thank you to our wonderful Strategic Advisors Michael Webermann and Flavia D'Erasmo , and to our amazing Advisory Board Aurelia Adhiambo , Carolina G. , Dawn Moncrief , Faraz Harsini, MSc, PhD, DipACLM , Genesis Butler , Jacob Peacock , Lauren Mee 🔶 , Lucas Alvarenga , Mal Graham, Monica Chen , Naijha Wright-Brown , Sebastian Joy , Sharon Nuñez Gough , Shawn Brown , Shweta Sood , Sophika Kostyniuk , Timothy Bradford Jr., Ph.D. , and Unny Nambudiripad !