Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent NCGFOA Conference Schedule and Structure Survey. More than 200 members shared their perspectives, providing the Board with valuable insight into what you value about our conferences, the challenges that affect attendance, and what you would like to see from NCGFOA in the future.

Your feedback matters, and we are listening. The Board will review and discuss the survey results in detail at our August 28 meeting. While there is much to consider, several key messages stand out:

1. Members are highly satisfied with the NCGFOA conference experience. Overall, 89% of respondents are satisfied with their conference experience, and 76.1% are satisfied with the current conference frequency.

2. There is not an overwhelming consensus for changing the number of conferences. When asked directly, 39.2% favor keeping three conferences, 28.2% favor fewer, and 32.5% have no preference. Among those who expressed a preference either way, 58.2% favor keeping three.

3. Members don't necessarily expect to attend every conference. In a typical year, 34.0% expect to attend one conference, 36.4% expect two, and 16.3% expect all three. The primary barriers to attending more often are conference timing, time away from the office, and travel or location.

4. If NCGFOA were to offer fewer conferences, two per year is the preferred alternative. Just over half selected two conferences when asked what structure would best meet their needs if fewer conferences were offered. Importantly, this was a conditional question intended to identify the preferred alternative—not whether NCGFOA should reduce the number of conferences.

5. Members are also interested in additional educational opportunities. More than three-quarters (77.5%) said periodic virtual education would add value to their membership, with interest also expressed in regional meetings and shorter virtual training opportunities. At the same time, many comments emphasized the importance of statewide conferences for networking and relationship-building.

6. Members were clear about what NCGFOA should continue delivering regardless of structure: quality professional development and CPE, practical educational content, networking opportunities, and access to expertise.

The bottom line: The survey reflects a membership that is highly satisfied with its current conference experience while also interested in additional opportunities to learn and engage. It also reinforces that scheduling, workload, and travel remain real challenges for many members.

The Board's job now is to consider the survey as a whole and determine how we can build on what members value while continuing to make NCGFOA accessible and valuable to our entire membership.

On behalf of the Board, thank you for speaking up and helping shape the future of YOUR Association.

With appreciation for your engagement and commitment to NCGFOA,

Zachary Hewett
President, NCGFOA

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