Take Back Your Time - Economy Conference: Agenda(s)

TENTATIVE PLAN FOR VACATION MATTERS SUMMIT

SEATTLE UNIVERSITY - AUGUST 10-12, 2009

LENGTH: 2 DAYS (Monday Evening Through Wednesday Afternoon)

SIZE: 200-300 PARTICIPANTS

ROOMS NEEDED: MAIN PLENARY ROOM—200-300 PEOPLE

FOUR BREAKOUT ROOMS: 50-60 PEOPLE EACH

DAY ONE—RECEPTION AND SOCIALIZING

6:00 PM EARLY REGISTRATION AND RECEPTION

DAY TWO

8:00 AM	REGISTRATION
9:00 AM	WELCOME
9:15 AM	OPENING KEYNOTE - AMERICA’S VACATION DEPRIVATION (ARTHUR FROMMER OR SIMILAR LEADER)
10:00 AM	BREAK
10:15 AM	BREAKOUT SESSIONS BY TRACK (EACH INCLUDES 2-4 PRESENTATIONS AND GROUP DISCUSSION

TRACKS—

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF VACATION*
CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL BENEFITS OF VACATION*
BUSINESS BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES*
FAMILY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES*
POLICY AND PERSUASION*

11:45 AM	LUNCH AND POSTER SESSIONS
1:30 PM	PLENARY SPEAKER—VACATIONS AND HEALTH
2:30 PM	BREAK
2:45 PM	BREAKOUT SESSIONS BY TRACK—SEE ABOVE
4:00 PM	BREAKOUT SESSIONS BY TRACT—SEE ABOVE
5:15 PM	DINNER BREAK—DINNER ON YOUR OWN
7:00 PM	EVENING KEYNOTE—BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES (YVON CHOUINARD OF PATAGONIA OR JOE ROBINSON?)
7:45 PM	PRESENTATION OF AWARDS FOR BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES (?)
8:15 PM	RECEPTION/PARTY
10:00 PM	CLOSE

DAY 3

9:00 AM	PLENARY SPEAKER—MAKING THE CASE FOR MORE VACATION TIME
10:00 AM	BREAK
10:15 AM	BRAINSTORMING BREAKOUTS TO DISCUSS IDEAS FOR FUTURE STRATEGY (EACH PARTICIPANT WILL BE GIVEN A NUMBER FOR A GROUP—GROUPS WILL BE FACILITATED BY A MEMBER OF OUR STEERING COMMITTEE)
11:15 AM	BREAK
11:30 AM	FINAL PLENARY, PRESENTATION OF IDEAS FROM GROUPS AND SENDOFF SPEAKER
12:30 PM	LUNCH, SUMMIT OFFICIALLY ENDS
1:30 PM	SPECIAL PLENARY ON WASHINGTON VACATION INITATIVE (IF IT IS HAPPENING)

*SAMPLE IDEAS FOR PRESENTATIONS BY TRACK—WE WOULD SEND OUT A CALL FOR PRESENTATION IDEAS TO ACTIVISTS AND ACADEMICS; THESE PRESENTATIONS SHOULD BE NON-TECHNICAL AND ENGAGING, USING POPULAR RATHER THAN ACADEMIC LANGUAGE, ETC.

TRACK ONE—HEALTH

· THE IMPACT OF VACATIONS IN REDUCING HEART DISEASE

· THE IMPACT OF VACATIONS IN REDUCING DEPRESSION

· TAKING ELECTRONIC DEVICES ON VACATION—PRO AND CON

· HOW LONG DO VACATIONS NEED TO BE TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES?

TRACK TWO—CULTURE, EDUCATION, RECREATION

· TRAVEL AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING—THE CASE OF HOSTELING

· VACATION DEPRIVATION AND THE CONSITUENCY FOR NATIONAL PARKS AND FORESTS

· APPRECIATING AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH VACATIONING

· VACATIONS AND NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER IN CHILDREN

· VOLUNTEER VACATIONS

· WHY DO MANY AMERICANS WITH VACATION TIME FAIL TO TAKE IT?

TRACK THREE—BUSINESS

· DO VACATIONS IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY? LESSONS FROM CASE STUDIES

· IS INCREASED VACATION TIME AFFORDABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESS? WAYS TO EASE THE TRANSITION.

· THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY’S STAKE IN MORE VACATION TIME

· IS THERE A “RIGHT” TIME TO DO THIS?

· COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF A MANDATORY VACATION LAW

TRACK FOUR—FAMILY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

· VACATIONS AS A SOURCE OF FAMILY BONDING AND MEMORIES

· FAMILY VACATION CHALLENGES, ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL (EG. WIRED KIDS), AND WAYS TO ALLEVIATE THEM

· THE LIMITS OF “STAYCATIONS” IN HELPING FAMILIES BOND MORE STRONGLY

· KEEPING VACATION COSTS DOWN-SIMPLE VACATIONS

· WHO DOESN’T GET VACATIONS IN AMERICA?

· HOW CAN ORGANIZED LABOR HELP TO INCREASE AMERICAN WORKERS’ VACATION TIME?

TRACK FIVE—POLICY AND PERSUASION

· EDUCATING AMERICANS ABOUT WHY VACATION MATTERS

· PROS AND CONS OF PAID VACATION LEGISLATION

· BUILDING A VACATION MATTERS ALLIANCE

· MOBILIZING THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

· WHAT THE POLLING SHOWS AND WHAT IT MEANS

· WASHINGTON STATE’S PAID VACATION LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN

THE HISTORY OF VACATION TIME IN THE US