Is a BSA Top Gun Conference being planned for 2010?

Indeed, it is in the planning stages as we speak.

Mark your calendar for the last week in February.

We're going to change things up a bit this year. The conference will be two days long instead of two and a half. It will be done once via streaming video (like the Lending Compliance Triage was) so bankers could register to attend remotely and have the ability to replay (or watch at a time and date most convenient to them within thirty days after the live event), PLUS it will, of course, also be done live.

We're pinning down the location. At this point, I believe it's been narrowed down to St. Louis or Chicago.

I'm not sure whether the streaming video will be the Tuesday/Wednesday or the Thursay/Friday.

If you have strong opinions, voice them now!

Wow - sign me up - Chicago in February - I can't wait!!!

Thank you for the quick response Mary Beth!

For those of us who did not participate in the Lending Triage, could you give us on overview of how the streaming video works?

For example, do you watch the live conference from your own office? Can you have more than one person watching it for one price? Are you able to ask or submit questions?

Thank you! (as you may have guessed, it budgeting time!)

I vote for Tue / Wed.
For people who want to either travel early or stay late, over the weekend - - - doing it on Thur Fri runs into the End Of Month & that is always a busy time for many bankers & some just can not be gone at EOM.

Randy, you smart a--! Think of it this way -- if it snows, they know how to deal with it about as well as anywhere in the country. And Southwest flies there, which is always a plus.

In terms of how the streaming video works, it is very cool. You can log in from your office or a conference room with one attendee or a roomful of employees from your branch. You can watch it real time and submit questions, watch it later (anytime within 30 days), or do a bit of both.

Questions may be submitted in advance via email or live during the program, using the Web interface.

What you see on the screen is video of the presenter(s), along with PowerPoint slides. The materials are available for download a day or more ahead of the program.

While Top Gun isn't for me, I can speak for attending the Lending Triage. My only suggestion would be to allow those that attend in person the ability to rewatch the video for the 30 days afterwards the same as remote viewers can. I've wished I could go back and relisten to a particular section more than once since then.

Mary Beth - I'm glad to know that you knew I was just kidding. Being born and raised in Michigan, I'm not afraid of a little cold or snow!!! Spring also is known to come early and Chicago is a very interesting city to visit. I also lived in St. Louis for three years and would equally look forward to that venue. I think a more central national location makes a lot of sense.

While I have been a presenter and people might think that this is a shameless plug, even I have to admit that the Top Gun Conference is a great conference and based on the number of conferences that I have attended over the last twenty years, it always presents reliable hands-on information by some of the most respected people in the nation from both industry and the government when it comes to BSA/AML. I find that I learn as much or more from the other attendees and instructors than I am sure I could ever impart on them. I look forward to the 2010 conference and have the time marked off on my calendar.

It is an excellent conference and I refer back to materials on topics all the time. Snow - oh boy!

I have to chime in and agree with Randy. I have been a presenter at the both of the BOL BSA Conferences. First, it was more educational than any other conferences I have participated in - as either an instructor or student. Second, it's like a family reunion. BOLers get together and match the faces to the names (or avatars). There is an energy level I haven't ever seen at other conferences. It really is like family.

I, too, have this marked on my calendar and don't plan to miss it. Be sure to get this in your budget and on your calendar.

From an attendee point of view I can only say that I totally agree.
Over the last couple of years I have basically sworn off of other providers of Seminars / Webinars / Conferences... and almost exclusively depend on BOL.
Because - - - In short, the BOL Gurus have experience of working in financial institutions and are not afraid to give guidance of " How to make this work in the real world ".
I am putting the date in my planning for next years budget & looking forward to it.

I attended the conference in 2008 (San Fran) and it was AWESOME!

I want to applaud BOL for being sensitive to our budgets by offering the streaming video option. Wow! We have a full time BSA/OFAC staff of 3 and being able to allow all of us to participate is so much more than I could have dreamed of!

I have to plug in dollar amounts on my budget as part of the approval process. Is it possible to offer an estimate on what the price of the video conference will be? Or even an approximate range? i.e. $1,000 or under; $1,000 - $2,000; etc. If not, I understand.

Chicago ALWAYS gets my vote - they have Lou Malnatti's Pizza...

Any thought of doing it in March after we've submitted our HMDA data? I can't miss Top Gun.

Ditto PeeWee's post -

I think it's awesome that BOL is offering the video conference in 2010. It's a great opportunity to allow my BSA staff to participate and reduce travel expenses (definitely a plus for the budget approval!).

But as PeeWee stated, I would also like to know what amount to budget b/c I'm preparing my training budget as we speak and need to get that amount in the budget ASAP for approval. So I would appreciate an estimate, if not an approximate fee, if at all possible!

THANKS again Mary-Beth for offering this conference via video conferencing.

While I would have liked it to be in NYC, Chicago is close enough. Im hoping to convince the powers that be to spring for this.

We are still getting cost figures from the tech company (for the remote viewing event) and hotels for the live event. We are thinking that it will be somewhere around $895-$995 for the in-person event where you fly or drive in and join us and somewhere around $1095 - $1295 where you gather folks in the conference room and view from your location (or from the archive for 30 days afterwards).

Also, we're hearing some southern folks don't even OWN winter clothes and we're evaluating the option of making the live event in New Orleans or St. Louis. Thoughts???

I always vote for Orlando in the South. It's easy to get there and so much to do in your spare time.

I hear ya.. For various reasons, we can't have the conference in Florida.

New Orleans is good...I could drive over!

Mary-Beth, thanks for providing an cost estimate for the BSA Top Gun Conference. One of the other posters inquired if those person who attend the live event will also have the opportunity to access the archive event (FREE or modest fee)?

Well, then, I guess my vote would go for Atlanta, GA or Nashville, TN.

New Orleans or St. Louis would both be great. I'm not opposed to Chicago either. Am really looking forward to it!

I've always wanted to attend a Top Gun conference, but I am one of those southern girls who doesn't particularly like trudging through the snow. For February, the further south, the better. New Orleans, Atlanta, or even San Antonio would be great! I look forward to seeing the selection.

Has a location been finalized yet?

Feb. 22-23rd in St. Louis
Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark

Details to follow soon.