Training Conferences give attendees an opportunity to
experience a variety of instructors and often visit with many vendors and other
industry professionals as well as interact with a diverse group of peers all
for the price of one trip and a few days time.
I am a big fan of conferences and events that combine any
number of trainers at one time. Not only does this benefit the student, but I
have often found that the instructors themselves do a fair amount of
interacting and exchanging of ideas as well. The opportunity to attend an event
full of people interested in teaching and learning, from both sides of the
classroom or range, is what appeals to most to me about attending conferences.
There are great way to interact with and meet potential students, of course,
but the pure marketing aspects of attending are usually far outshined by the
experience and camaraderie. During 2008, I attended at least 6 conferences and
hosted one of my own, I expect to be at about the same number in 2009. The most
likely events where you can meet up with me and like-minded individuals will
be:
NE Shooters Summit,
New Hampshire, Jan 31 – Feb 1
Rangemaster Tactical
Conference, Tulsa, OK, April
Farmington Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Conference,
April
1
inch to 100 Yards, Laughlin,
NV, May 19-22
IALEFI
Annual Training Conference, West Palm Beach, FL, May 31-June 5th
New
York LE Expo, Manhattan, July
Blauer Annual
Combatives Camp, Virginia Beach, August
SWAT Round Up,
Orlando, FL, December
And, of Course, The 2nd Annual Combat Focus
Shooting Instructors Conference which will be held in Farmington, New Mexico in
October, 2009.
