MiALA Annual Conference Location Guidelines & Submission Form
Proposals for the 2025 Annual Conference should be submitted to the MiALA Board of Directors by July 1, 2024.
The individuals listed on this proposal will be considered prospective Conference Planning committee members. If your group's proposal is selected, then you will need to name a Chair and find additional committee members as needed to fill all the responsibilities.
Here are the general requirements for conference dates and locations:
The conference should be held from Wednesday evening thru Friday afternoon the second or third week of May (May 11-13 or May 18-20, 2025). Other dates in May may be considered if necessary.
The conference center must be able to accommodate a minimum of 250 people. The facilities must include
An auditorium or similar room for the keynote speaker and business meeting;
(and/or) A ballroom or similar space for lunch (the ballroom could also be used for the keynote speaker and business meeting);
IT staff, reliable Wi-Fi and/or direct Internet access for all participants, and projectors and screens (as needed);
Enough meeting rooms for up to 5 simultaneous breakout sessions that can seat approximately 50 people each; and
Adequate open space (i.e., banquet room, e.g.) for poster sessions.
If the conference center is adjacent to a hotel, check that a large block of rooms can be reserved for attendees.If the conference center is not adjacent to a hotel, a block of rooms must be reserved at a nearby hotel.
We will need a proposed site for an opening reception the evening before the conference begins (May 11th or 18th).
There must be an adequate number (10-12) of restaurants within walking distance of the conference hotel for dinearounds. If the conference hotel is not within walking distance of a variety of restaurants, the Conference Planning committee will need to plan dinner at the hotel OR make transportation arrangements (e.g., busses).
If your group is interested in submitting a proposal, fill out the online form here.
Upon submitting your form, please send any additional information to be considered with your proposal (including but not limited to: Hotel Room block proposals, conference center(s)/event location(s) proposals, menus, and A/V price lists) to the MiALA Administrative Assistant, Kalyn Huson, at contact@miala.org.
Proposals will be presented to the Board of Directors who will make a decision and all those who submitted proposals will be notified. Upon approval, the MiALA Administrative Assistant will secure contracts with the conference center/event facilities/hotels and conference planning will commence. If available, the upcoming Annual Conference location and Conference Planning committee members will be announced at this year's Conference.
If you have any questions, contact Kalyn Huson at contact@miala.org.
Annual Conference Locations
2024 - Western Michigan University - Kalamazoo 2023 - Haworth Center - Hope College 2022 - Online 2021 - Online 2020 - Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center at Ferris State University - Big Rapids - POSTPONED 2019 - Saginaw Valley State University - University Center 2018 - Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center - East Lansing 2017 - Grand Valley State University Eberhard Center - Grand Rapids 2016 - Central Michigan University - Mt. Pleasant