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.