Amy Lytle is the Executive Director of HandsOn Northwest North Carolina.

It was one of those things that seemed like a good idea at the time–sure, I could do three trips in seven days, no problem.

I mean, it wasn’t my fault that the Las Vegas Regional Meeting for HandsOn Network and our rescheduled-due-to-Hurricane Earl NC statewide center director’s meeting was on two ends of the same week.  Plus, I had committed to a weekend getaway after that with my four-year-old daughter while my husband had his own travels at the end of that same week.

I knew all three of those trips would be valuable, and since I’m superwoman, I could easily swing it, right?  Because I definitely wanted to be at the regional meeting.  All it would take was a flight in the wee hours of the morning on Monday, and then returning on the red eye the next night, leaving close to midnight on Tuesday.  What could be easier?

Only one day in, and I was grateful that I had agreed to lead only the opening session. Fresh off the plane, and before jet lag could really set in, I was at the best I would be for the whole week.  I was excited about hearing more from my peers about the trends and challenges they were seeing at their affiliates, as well as the innovative ways they were responding.  I’m a big believer in the idea of innovating your way out of a crisis, and I knew they would have good ideas to share.

Indeed, even though I faded more and more through the two days I was there, the ideas kept getting better and better.  I loved the more intimate setting of the Regional Meeting, compared to the mob scene that is the National Conference.

I relished the opportunity to get a chance to know my colleagues both from other affiliates and from the national network on a more personal, as well as professional, level.  I was blessed by their understanding, as my hair-brained scheme for the week didn’t look so sane once I was in the thick of it!

The best part is that I did make the right choice to attend–despite the awful travel schedule.  I brought home heaps of valuable information that will immediately impact my relatively new affiliate.  I got some confidence about ways to begin integrating a managed projects program into our existing programming.

I figured out what the HandsOn Connect switchover will mean to my affiliate, and got help in trying to sell it to some interested local corporate partners.  I also was inspired to take more advantage of our social media presence, although I’ve been back three weeks, and still haven’t been able to post as much as I would like.

I was so impressed with everyone I met at the Regional Meeting, and the listening, feedback and questioning that took place.  I wish I could have brought my whole staff with me.  I wish I could have stayed for the full session.  I wish I had taken advantage of the managed projects boot camp.

Still, despite it meaning three trips in seven days, the decision to attend was a smart one. I hope you got the chance to attend the Regional Meeting in Mobile, or will attend one of the ones that will be offered in 2011.

One piece of advice, though: don’t take the red eye.

Amy Lytle became the first-ever Executive Director of HandsOn NWNC in Winston-Salem in October, 2007.  Prior to this, Amy worked for nine years in a variety of roles for a volunteer center in a neighboring county, and has spent the majority of her professional life working with volunteers and within the nonprofit sector.