If you're headed to CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference atthe end of the month, you're probably looking forward to catchingup with old credit union friends, learning about the industry'slatest innovations and convincing your state's lawmakers to putcredit unions' interests first (for tips on that, check out CUTimes Washington reporter David Baumann's debut column, The CUCapital Insider, on page 6). It's a major opportunity to network,absorb information and make connections that prove to be criticalto your career.

But big business trips like this one don't always come withoutsnags. At a past GAC, you might have brought the wrong clothes andfound yourself skipping an afternoon breakout session to rush overto H&M for a cocktail dress. Or if you flew in from out west,you stayed out a little too late the first night in D.C. andarrived at your 8 a.m. meeting the next morning completelybleary-eyed and feeling nothing like your best self. Maybe youarrived back home, excited to email that new contact about acollaboration opportunity, only to find his business cardmissing.

Mishaps like these are common and often the result of poorplanning. They also get in the way of what you really came to GACfor – to make your voice heard in Washington and bring ideas forgrowth and innovation back to your credit union. So make this theyear you avoid them. Here are a few of my favorite pointers for asmooth, successful business trip.

Before Your Flight

• To win the packing game, start by studying your day-to-dayitinerary and choosing outfits accordingly. Then pack them in orderwith the first day's outfit on top so you're not digging around inyour suitcase when you arrive (some travelers swear by packingcubes to keep clothes organized and wrinkle-free). To avoid overpacking, choose pieces in neutral colors that can be easily mixedand matched. Shoes can weigh down bags, so stick with two pairs:One dressy and one causal. Don't bring any jewelry or accessoriesthat you aren't prepared to lose.
• As a heavy packer, I couldn't follow this tip to save my life,but most business travelers recommend not checking a bag to savetime at the airport and avoid the lost luggage disaster. Also,don't forget to dress for the weather, especially you folks comingin from warmer climates. Snow and rain might be in the forecast, soa waterproof jacket, gloves, scarf and umbrella are amust.
• Flying from west to east? Avoid jet lag by adjusting yourinternal clock a few days before departure according to your timezone. So if you're coming from Central Time, wake up and go to bedone hour earlier than usual; from Pacific Time, three hoursearlier.
• Since you might get less sleep than usual and leave yourhealthy diet and exercise plan behind at GAC, treat your body wellin the weeks leading up to the trip. Get plenty of sleep, exercise,drink lots of water and avoid alcohol. If you feel your best whenyou arrive, skimping on sleep and indulging a bit when you're therewon't be as much of a setback.

A Stress-Free Schedule

• Don't let work messages from back home get in the way ofengaging with conference attendees in person. Turn your emailnotifications off and set aside some time each day, maybe in yourhotel room right before dinner, to go through email and reply tourgent messages.
• Before your first meeting or session, take some time to strollaround the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and get a senseof where everything is to avoid getting lost (and being late). Youcan also take photos of the convention center map and exhibit halllayout with your smartphone for easy reference.
• WiFi can be iffy in crowded places, so write down importantinfo (meeting times/locations, names, phone numbers, etc.) on anotepad or in a note in your smartphone before heading to theconvention center. If your phone is losing battery while you're outand about, put it in airplane mode for a bit.

Working the Room

• Conferences are a great opportunity to network, and it's bestto go into them with an agenda. Are you looking for a new jobopportunity? Partners in a credit union collaboration project?Clients for a side business? Write down a few talking points aboutyourself and your goal, and fire away as you meet new people.
• While it's great to have an elevator pitch prepared, it can beawkward starting a conversation with someone new. Here are a feweffective networking event icebreakers, according to HubSpot: “Areyou having issues with the WiFi?” “That [food or beverage] looksgreat, where did you find it?” “Did you hear X speak?” “Have youbeen to X down the street? I've really wanted to check it out.” “Isthis your first time here?” and “Did you understand what thespeaker meant when she said X?”
• Sometimes, getting out of a conversation can be harder thangetting into one. HubSpot suggests these graceful exit lines: “Didyou see the restroom anywhere?” “I think I left my[laptop/bag/phone] in the other room. I better go grab it before itdisappears.” “I need another drink, what about you?” “All right, Ineed to go check in with my team. It's been great chatting,” and“So, listen, it's been great catching up with you. Let's exchangecards?”
• To avoid losing contact information for people, take photos oftheir business cards with your smartphone as you receive them. Andfollowing up is a no-brainer, but make sure you do it at the righttime. Emailing a new contact the day you return home or whileyou're still at GAC might come off as pushy; plus, your message mayget lost in a pile of email. Wait until you've been back in theoffice a few days before making contact.

Got your own conference hacks or tips to share? Don't hesitateto send me an email or tell us about it in the comments. See you inD.C.!

Natasha Chilingerian is managing editor for CU Times. Shecan be reached at [email protected].