The four day training is split up into dual tracks. Two tracks help us accommodate our most advanced users while at the same time allowing a new user to feel comfortable and confident. We try to balance the sessions and post them ahead of time so all trainees have the opportunity to plan the path that is best for them.

Be prepared to bring a project from your office. This session, where we help trainees with particular needs, has proven to be very popular and helpful. We have seen projects that range from fixing database issues all the way to changing field labels on the Client Intake.

Having two people attend is recommended for several reasons. First, there are always scheduling conflicts, where there are two sessions you'd like to go to at the same time of day. Second, have a geek and a management/advocate attend. If you have only the geek attend, no one will listen to them when they return. If you have only a management/ advocate attend, people will listen, but they won't remember the more technical aspects of applying what they learned. This is why we offer a discount for two people to attend.

Be prepared to deal with an enormous amount of information.You will be provided with manuals that attempt to cover the sessions you attend. Annotate these manuals, rather than try and take notes about everything.

Although all the sessions may not apply specifically to your job, remember that you are being sent as a representative of your program. Be prepared to bring back information that you may not be interested in, but is invaluable for other staff in your program. Talk to other people before you go and see what they would like you to ask and return with.

We also usually have the trainings in interesting cities. Although we work extremely hard during the day, we also try and relax in the evenings. Be prepared to take a dinner cruise, go to a museum, go to a club or ride to the top of a mountain in a cable car. These are all things that we've done.