National Convention Breakout Sessions

Wreaths Across America: Honoring Service Through Mission-Focused Community Engagement

Location: KICC L015-L019

Learn how Wreaths Across America can help ALA units and departments honor veterans, strengthen community partnerships, and create meaningful mission-focused service opportunities. This session will share practical ideas for getting involved locally, building partnerships, engaging members, and using remembrance projects to increase public awareness and community impact.

Funding Mission Impact: Veteran Projects Fund Grant Writing Workshop

Location: KICC L010-L014

The ALA Foundation has expanded the grant criteria for the Veteran Projects Fund Grant, making this a timely opportunity to learn how to build stronger, mission-focused applications. This interactive workshop will help attendees understand the grant process, develop project ideas, connect projects to veteran and military impact, prepare basic budgets, and avoid common application mistakes. Registration is limited to the first 125 registrants.

C&B Case Scenarios: Applying Governing Documents in Real Situations

Location: KICC M100-M103

Constitution & Bylaws questions are often most challenging when leaders must apply governing documents to real-life situations. This scenario-based session will help attendees work through common governance questions involving bylaws, standing rules, elections, meeting authority, officer responsibilities, and proper process. Attendees will leave with practical tools for approaching C&B questions with consistency, fairness, and confidence. Registration is limited to the first 175 registrants.

Leadership That Lasts: Mentoring, Supporting, and Growing Future Leaders

Location: KICC L005-L009

Strong leadership is not just about holding a title — it is about helping others feel prepared, supported, and ready to serve. This moderated panel discussion will feature leaders with different experiences and perspectives as they discuss mentorship, leadership development, and how to encourage more members to step forward. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for strengthening the leadership pipeline in their units and departments.

Navigating the New ALAMIS: What Department Leaders Need to Know

Location: KICC M104

With the launch of the new ALAMIS/iMIS system, department leaders and membership users will have an opportunity to better understand what is changing, what is staying the same, and where to go for support. This session will provide a practical overview from the department user perspective, with guided discussion and time for common questions. This session is intended for department-level users who process membership, manage member records, or support department membership operations.

Audience: 
This session is intended for department-level users who directly work with membership processing, member records, or department database support. It is not intended as a general member training or open forum.

Warrior Beat Healing Drum Circle

Location: KICC M1074


Join Warrior Beat for an interactive healing drum circle experience designed to create connection, fellowship, and creative expression through rhythm. National President Pam Ray experienced Warrior Beat at the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival and felt their message would resonate with ALA members and our shared commitment to serving veterans, military, and their families. No musical experience is needed — just a willingness to participate in a meaningful, mission-centered breakout.

Registration note: This breakout will be offered twice as two separate 50-minute sessions. Attendees should register for only one Warrior Beat session and should not register for another breakout during this block to avoid disruption from early departures or late arrivals. Registration is limited to the first 35 registrants for each session.