It’s that time of year again …. not President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or any other February occasion. It’s the upcoming Spring Equinox — how I refer to the Spring Symposium for Advanced Wound Care (the SAWC). The days get longer and longer and busier in preparing for the conference.

Members of the Association for Advancement in Wound Care (AAWC) who serve on a committee are gearing up for this premier event. The Association depends on volunteers to champion on behalf of the specialty of wound care. Some volunteers serve for only a few hours each year, manning the AAWC booth for hour-long stints at the SAWC. Others opt for more involvement — usually no more than a few hours a month — and there are committees that always welcome help. Either way, the AAWC will find a place for you. Please contact Executive Director Tina Thomas at the AAWC national office via phone (800-237-7285, ext. 223) or email (tthomas@aawconline.org). There is no excuse not to get involved. If you are shy or a new member who just wants to explore the Association, you can attend the annual AAWC Membership meeting at the SAWC and get the lay of the land.

Speaking of the SAWC, here are some tips I have found helpful in preparing for wound care’s premier educational event.

1. Register early! It helps you get the hotel you want.

2. Spend a bit extra — it’s not much — and attend a pre- or post-conference symposia. Valuable, indepth information is presented at these sessions.

3. Make sure you register for industry-sponsored breakfast or lunch sessions. Sessions presenters are top-notch — they provide the science behind the products and usually hand a clinical pearl or two out — and the sessions are offered free of charge. They usually fill up very fast; register ASAP.

4. Network, network, and network some more. There are lots of knowledgeable, interesting people to meet, all willing to explain their varied approaches to care. Broaden your knowledge base and perhaps improve your outcomes.

5. Visit the exhibit hall often. There are two reasons to support exhibits: 1) Without the exhibitors, our attendee costs as healthcare professionals would be astronomical, and 2) you’ll gain insights into new and existing products that can enhance patient care.

6. Skip the pool and attend a research abstract session. Hear up-to-the-minute research developments that will affect your practice within the next 5 years.

7. Skip the pool and view the posters. Our colleagues are sharing new innovations as well as twists on old approaches. Again, we can sometimes foresee our future by perusing the latest clinical, scientific, and practice endeavors.

8. Review your CD of conference materials before coming to the SAWC. When you initially register, you may sign up for a session with a flashy title. Look at the materials again before you go to ensure it’s still a topic of interest. If not, main conference sessions are interchangeable — you can select an alternative session.

9. Buy a CD of the recorded sessions you couldn’t attend or want to hear again. Some people say there is so much sharing of information that by the end of the conference, their brains can’t absorb anymore. No problem. Many sessions are recorded and available on disk.

10. Relax and have fun. Although conference days are full, be sure to let off some steam with friends over dinner, read a good book, enjoy the venue. The SAWC is your chance to re-charge your batteries and remind yourself of your professional and personal value.