Encourage Your Members to Join You in Houston: Talking Points That Inspire a ‘Yes’ to AMPP Annual Conference + Expo 2026
Lead & Succeed | Chapter Leader Toolkit
Help Your Members Make the Most of AMPP Annual Conference + Expo
Chapter leaders can make conference attendance feel much more approachable. A recommendation, a useful talking point, or a little help connecting the experience to someone’s career goals may be all a member needs to start planning.
The Key Idea
You do not need to “sell” the conference. Help members connect the experience to something they already care about: technical knowledge, career growth, professional connections, new solutions, or greater involvement in the industry.
What You’ll Get From This Guide
- Simple talking points for chapter meetings
- Ways to tailor the conference message to different members
- Ideas for helping members explain the value to employers
- A chapter communication plan you can reuse each year
- Ready-to-use email and meeting language
- Ways chapters can support members before and after the event
SAVE THE DATE
AMPP Annual Conference + Expo 2027
April 11–15, 2027
Columbus, Ohio, USA
Why Chapter Leaders Can Make a Difference
Members already look to chapter leaders for recommendations about training, networking, industry involvement, and professional development.
That makes your voice useful.
You may know:
- Who would benefit from a specific technical topic
- Who is ready to expand their professional network
- Who is early in their career and needs more industry exposure
- Who could benefit from meeting suppliers or technology providers
- Who may be ready to become more involved with AMPP
A personal recommendation can help someone recognize an opportunity they might otherwise overlook.
YOUR ROLE IS SIMPLE
Help members understand how the conference could be relevant to them.
What Makes AMPP Annual Worth Exploring?
AMPP Annual Conference + Expo brings together materials protection professionals, technical experts, industry leaders, innovators, suppliers, researchers, contractors, asset owners, and others from across the corrosion and coatings community.
The 2027 event in Columbus is scheduled to include more than 600 hours of technical content along with research, industry solutions, exhibits, and networking opportunities.
MEMBERS MAY COME FOR
- Technical education
- Exposure to new research and technology
- Product and solution discovery
- Professional development
- Industry networking
- Career connections
- Committee or volunteer involvement
- A broader view of the materials protection industry
DON’T GIVE EVERYONE THE SAME PITCH
The strongest reason to attend depends on who you are talking to.
Tailor the Message to the Member
| Member | What May Matter Most |
|---|---|
| Engineers & Technical Professionals | Technical education, new research, practical solutions, and professional development |
| Inspectors & Contractors | New equipment, field solutions, industry practices, product demonstrations, and technical learning |
| Asset Owners | Emerging technologies, risk reduction, materials performance, supplier connections, and real-world solutions |
| Students & Emerging Professionals | Career exposure, mentorship, professional connections, industry awareness, and future opportunities |
| Experienced Professionals | Advanced technical content, leadership connections, committee involvement, and reconnecting with peers |
4 Easy Ways to Talk About the Conference
1. Add a 60-Second Conference Update to Chapter Meetings
You do not need a presentation.
Share one useful conference update whenever it is relevant.
SAY THIS
“AMPP Annual Conference + Expo is coming to Columbus April 11–15. If you’re looking for technical education, new industry solutions, or a chance to connect with people outside our local market, take a look at the conference program as it develops and see what might be useful to you.”
2. Make Personal Recommendations
If you see something that would be especially useful to a member, tell them.
SAY THIS
“I saw that AMPP Annual is coming up, and I thought of you because of your work in [AREA]. It may be worth looking at the program to see whether there are sessions or exhibitors that would be useful for what you’re working on.”
3. Ask Past Attendees to Share What They Got From It
Peer recommendations are often more convincing than promotional copy.
Ask a past attendee:
- What was the most valuable part of attending?
- What surprised you?
- Did you make a useful connection?
- Did you bring something back that helped at work?
- What would you tell someone attending for the first time?
TURN THAT INTO CONTENT
“Thinking about attending AMPP Annual for the first time? We asked [MEMBER NAME] what they found most valuable last year. Their answer: ‘[QUOTE].’”
4. Help Members Think About the Return on the Investment
For many professionals, deciding to attend involves more than registration.
They may need employer approval, travel support, or time away from work.
Help them think beyond:
“I want to attend.”
and instead build the case:
“Here is how attending can help me do my job better.”
Help Members Build a Stronger Business Case
A member asking for employer support should make the value specific to their role.
HELP THEM IDENTIFY
- Technical topics connected to current projects
- Sessions relevant to company priorities
- Suppliers, exhibitors, or solutions they want to investigate
- Professional-development opportunities
- Industry trends they need to understand
- Specific knowledge they can bring back to their team
THE BUSINESS-CASE FORMULA
What I’ll learn + Who I’ll meet + What problem it supports + What I’ll bring back
A Simple Employer-Approval Starting Point
START WITH THIS
“I’d like to attend AMPP Annual Conference + Expo because several parts of the program directly relate to [PROJECT / RESPONSIBILITY / COMPANY GOAL]. I plan to focus on [TOPICS], connect with [SUPPLIERS / EXPERTS / INDUSTRY PEERS], and bring back a short summary of the most relevant information for our team.”
Planning Makes the Value Easier to See
Encourage members to create a simple conference plan before asking for approval.
| Plan | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Identify relevant technical sessions | Shows the learning is intentional |
| Create an exhibitor or contact list | Connects attendance to business needs |
| Identify company challenges to explore | Connects conference activity to real work |
| Plan a post-conference recap | Shows the knowledge will be shared |
What Chapters Can Do Before the Conference
Chapters can make conference planning easier without taking on a large project.
- Share conference information in chapter emails
- Include conference reminders at meetings
- Share important registration or planning dates
- Encourage members to explore the technical program
- Share travel information when useful
- Ask past attendees to share their experience
- Connect first-time attendees with members who have attended before
ESPECIALLY HELPFUL FOR FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES
A quick conversation with someone who has attended before can make a large conference feel much more manageable.
A Chapter Email Blurb You Can Reuse
COPY THIS
Thinking About AMPP Annual?
AMPP Annual Conference + Expo 2027 is coming to Columbus, Ohio, April 11–15. If you’re looking for technical education, new industry solutions, professional connections, or a broader view of what’s happening across materials protection and performance, this is a great time to start exploring the program.
Learn more and begin planning at
the AMPP Annual Conference + Expo website
.
A Simple Chapter Social Post
COPY THIS
AMPP Annual Conference + Expo is heading to Columbus April 11–15, 2027. Whether you’re looking for technical learning, new solutions, industry connections, or professional-development opportunities, start exploring what the conference could offer you. Learn more: https://www.ampp.org/expo/home
Don’t Stop at “Have a Great Trip”
Members returning from Annual can become a valuable chapter resource.
Ask them to bring something back.
AFTER THE CONFERENCE
- Ask attendees for their top takeaway
- Invite someone to give a five-minute recap at the next meeting
- Collect photos members are comfortable sharing
- Turn useful quotes into chapter social content
- Ask what they would recommend to next year’s first-time attendees
TURN ATTENDANCE INTO CHAPTER VALUE
Attend → Learn → Bring It Back → Share With the Chapter
Helpful Conference Links
AMPP Annual Conference + Expo
Start here for current conference information and updates.
About AMPP Annual 2027
Review event details, venue information, and future conference dates.
Registration Information
Review current registration timing, rates, and options.
Travel Information
Find current venue, hotel, airport, and travel information for Columbus.
YOUR 30-SECOND CHAPTER CHECK
Are You Making Conference Participation Easier?
- Have members heard the conference dates?
- Are we explaining why it may be relevant?
- Are we tailoring the message to different members?
- Are we connecting first-time attendees with experienced ones?
- Are we helping members think through employer ROI?
- Are we planning to bring conference learning back to the chapter?
TRY THIS AT YOUR NEXT CHAPTER MEETING
Give Annual 60 Seconds
- Share the dates and location.
- Mention one reason the conference may be useful to your members.
- Ask anyone who has attended before to raise their hand.
- Invite first-time attendees to connect with them after the meeting.
- Share the conference website in your follow-up email.
What to Take Away From This
Chapter leaders do not need a complicated campaign to encourage Annual Conference participation.
Make members aware of the opportunity, connect the experience to their goals, help them think through the business value, and use past attendees to make the experience feel more approachable. Then bring what your members learn back into the chapter so the value extends beyond the people who attended.
AMPP CAN HELP
Have Questions About Supporting Your Chapter Members?
If your chapter is looking for ways to share conference opportunities, support first-time attendees, or help members get more involved with AMPP, reach out.
Email
chapters@ampp.org
.
We’re here to help.
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