Craig Verley

It is hard to believe that the 2025 Annual Texas School Public Relations Association Annual Conference-Viva TSPRA is right around the corner already. Have you started to think about what to pack? No! It is not too early to wrap your head around that subject. Don’t be that person frantically tossing stuff into a suitcase or duffel the night before you leave; or worse yet, the day you leave.

I have never been a big list person, but if that is your thing, start working on that list now. Be methodical and think through everything from the location (San Antonio River Walk), to the various activities you might get involved in outside of conference sessions. The actual conference attire is the easy part, especially with the fun dress topics for each day:

• Tuesday: Viva TSPRA – Anything Fiesta
• Wednesday: Remember TSPRA – Wear Your New TSPRA T-shirt
• Thursday: Nacho-Average PR Squad – Celebrating our TSPRA School PR Teams
• Banquet: Cocktail Attire – Time to get dressed up and celebrate in style!

If doing the themes is not your thing, you can’t go wrong with business casual. Yeah, the weather might play into your packing. As of this writing, computer models have lows in the 30’s and 40’s, and highs in the 50’s and 60’s.

Now that your suitcase is stuffed, think about the other things to take. Most of us end up taking some sort of work bag/backpack. Ensure you have charging stuff and a battery for your phone, etc. Be sure to include plenty of business cards. Yes, they still have a place in our world. Now make sure you have something to take notes with (paper or laptop, etc.) and pen/pencil. Any work notes you might need, just in case.

Take a moment to grab 25 copies of at least one of the print projects from this past year that you think is cool or might serve as inspiration for others. The Publications Exchange relies on us to bring stuff to share…and that is part of the TSPRA way…sharing ideas.

Now the most important thing to bring to the conference is your willingness to share your skills, your thoughts, your ideas, your insights, and your knowledge. You don’t have to be a presenter to share. So many great ideas and discussions happen before, during, and after sessions. Those are also the times when you make great connections with TSPRA members from other parts of the state that become valued support that lasts your entire career. Don’t stick to your regional group. I know how hard it can be to jump into a conversation or approach others. However, try it once or twice. It does get easier, and the payoff broadens your enjoyment of the conference and TSPRA as an organization.

Hopefully, you leave a little wiggle room in your suitcase for conference swag, prizes, and materials. You will be lugging some of that home with you. Grab session handouts where they are available or be sure to bring back the contact information for session presenters. Visit the publications exchange and bring back a few items to borrow ideas from later. I always had a pile of items from conferences that I would go through now and then to use for inspiration. Bring back all the ideas. Just don’t plan to implement them all immediately. Bring back at least a couple of new TSPRA contacts to keep in touch with or who you know you can call later.

Most of all, bring back the confirmation that you are not on this professional journey alone. We may all come from different backgrounds, with different skills, and from different-sized districts and communications teams; but we are all in it to support our students and districts.

If you are a more senior member of the school PR world, bring back the renewed energy that comes with hanging out with a few hundred others of your professional world. Bring back the contact information for a TSPRA newbie to mentor or to keep in touch with. That will also bring you a different perspective on how you approach your job as you see things again through the eyes of that person.

Bring back the knowledge that what you do does make a difference and that your contribution to your district and TSPRA matters.