--- title: "Help Attendees Make Lasting Connections" id: "61292" type: "post" slug: "help-attendees-make-lasting-connections" published_at: "2023-10-30T18:18:08+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:07:01+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/30/help-attendees-make-lasting-connections/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/30/help-attendees-make-lasting-connections.md" excerpt: "Yes, attendees come to conferences to learn. But just as important to them is building connections with peers. A look at how associations can foster those connections before, during, and after meetings." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Associations Now" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Help Attendees Make Lasting Connections Part of the Deep Dive[Meetings Transformed](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/meetings-transformed/) For its first meeting coming out of the pandemic in November 2021, the American Headache Society wanted to make sure attendees felt connected at the event. “We’re a subset of neurology, and many attendees have known each other for years, sometimes even before medical school,” said Darryl Diamond, associate director of meetings at AHS. “So, it can be difficult for first-time attendees, especially for those coming in after 2020.” To help first timers, AHS created and launched its Plenary Pals program, which matches newbies with seasoned attendees. Prior to the conference, experienced attendees receive their pal’s contact information and are encouraged to reach out to them to answer questions. Programs like AHS’ help alleviate first-time attendee anxiety and allow them to arrive onsite knowing one person, helping them get a head-start on building industry connections. “Many large-scale association meetings are designed around content rather than connection,” said Lee Gimpel, founder and principal of Better Meetings. “A networking coffee break or first-time reception isn’t always enough.” Knowing that attendees are looking to get to know their colleagues and develop relationships with them onsite, associations must design a program that prioritizes connection and keeps them coming back year after year. ### **Make It Comfortable** Developing new relationships at annual meetings isn’t always easy and doesn’t come without effort. “When you boil it down, adults in their 40s and 50s are very much like kids in first grade: It’s hard to walk into a room and make new friends, it doesn’t happen magically,” Gimpel said. According to Diamond, AHS’ buddy program has been a great way for members to get to know one another before a conference so they feel more confident walking into a meeting where they don’t know anyone. “You can see that comfort right away,” he said. “People are more likely to talk to exhibitors, participate in sessions, and ask questions in the app throughout the meeting.” [Hannah Carvalho](https://associationsnow.com/author/hannah-carvalho/) Hannah Carvalho is a former senior editor at Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/hannah-carvalho/) Tags: [#Associations Now](https://associationsnow.com/tag/associations-now/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## More in this Deep Dive - [An Invitation for Everybody](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/30/an-invitation-for-everybody/) - [Develop a Winning Sponsorship Strategy](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/30/develop-a-winning-sponsorship-strategy/) - [Irresistible Allure: How Glitzy Locales Energize In-Person Events](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/30/irresistible-allure-how-glitzy-locales-energize-in-person-events/) - [What Meeting Pros Need to Know About Generative AI](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/30/what-meeting-pros-need-to-know-about-generative-ai/) - [New Metrics for New Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/30/new-metrics-for-new-meetings/) - [How to Get DEI Buy-In From Stakeholders](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/30/how-to-get-dei-buy-in-from-stakeholders/) [View the full Deep Dive →](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/meetings-transformed/) ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2023%2F10%2F30%2Fhelp-attendees-make-lasting-connections%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !