Once at the convention, follow your plan.

1.  Schedule.  If you have not already obtained and marked a schedule and exhibit hall floor plan, do this first.

2.  Breaks.  Take breaks to rest your feet, reassess your progress, and write notes while your impressions are fresh.

3.  Speakers.  Don't expect to agree with everything a speaker says. Compare everything to God's Word; accept and use what you can and let the rest go.

4.  The Unexpected.  Allow some free time to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity.

1.  Work Your Plan.  Use your prioritized plan of booth visits and your shopping list to do your "must see" visits first, then go through the exhibit hall finding and learning more new things.

2.  Talk to vendors about their products' methods, goals, and philosophy, and how to use them. Use your list of questions.

3.  Purchases.  Use the parcel check or take your purchases to your room or car rather than carrying them around.

4.  Busy Exhibitor.  If the representatives are busy at a "must see" booth, go on and return later, or ask to be included in the discussion.

5.  Sleep on It.  If you are attending two days, gather information the first day, and then think and pray about your purchases before making them the next day.

6.  Also visit nonprofit and service organizations' booths to find out what they can offer you (e.g., your state organization).

7.  Give Feedback.  When appropriate, give a vendor a brief, clear, and focused comment about your needs, opinions, and experiences to help them produce better products and services.

Observe these guidelines to show consideration to everyone involved at the convention.

1.  Convention Rules.  Follow the rules set out for the convention regarding food and beverage in exhibit hall (check if bottled water is OK), children, strollers, etc.

2.  Exhibitors.  Support the ones who help you. Do not take up an exhibitor's time in counseling and explaining his products and then go buy the same product from another exhibitor or from a discount supplier. Exhibitors help make the convention possible.

3.  Babies and Children.  Immediately remove a crying or disrupting child from a workshop or meeting. Ask your child to give his chair to an adult if there is not enough seating.

1.  Meet and talk to other attendees; greet old friends and make new ones.

2.  Ask advice.  Get feedback on ideas and products and share opinions and experiences. You may get your most valuable information and encouragement from another home-school mom.

3.  Offer to help someone.  Hold a baby and give a mother's arms a rest; find a new home schooler (it will be obvious) and give a word of encouragement; offer to help a speaker or exhibitor.

4.  Smile at everyone!

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