September 19-20, 2010
Contact Center Roundtable
Account Management Summit
DSM Executive Council (by invitation only)
Utility Marketing Executive Council (by invitation only)
Westin Tabor Center
Denver, Colorado

September 20-23, 2010
23rd Annual E Source Forum
Westin Tabor Center
Denver, Colorado

The E Source Forum offers three days of sessions focused on utility programs, issues, and technologies; insights from panels of experts; numerous networking opportunities; and exhibitors offering relevant products and services. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to bring back a host of new ideas, utility success stories, and personal contacts that will help you and your company meet your business goals.

We’ll be holding our closed-door utility leadership council, roundtable, and summit meetings the day before the E Source Forum gets rolling, so you’ll be able to reap the benefits of attending two meetings from a single trip! Come to Denver and gain the insights you need to meet the unique challenges that utilities are facing today.

Just look at what last year’s Forum attendees had to say:

Use the following preconference justification letter and customize it with your details. Also note the conference information you’ll be returning with! Show your manager that this investment will provide you and your company with unique insights, education, and actionable take-aways.

E Source will be providing post-conference “trip notes” highlighting key points raised in this year’s sessions. You can use this information as a springboard for sharing your own take-aways and new ideas with your colleagues. Offer to prepare and deliver a short presentation and Q&A session for your colleagues to share what you learned. That way others in your utility will get the benefits of your attendance, too.

Dear [Insert your manager’s name]:

I’m writing to request your approval to attend the 23rd Annual E Source Forum in Denver, Colorado, on September 20-23. I believe my attendance at the E Source Forum will provide important benefits to our organization and enable me to learn from a number of utility-specific seminars on [Select topics relevant to your job: energy-efficiency technologies, customer service, business marketing, residential marketing, demand-side management, smart grid, account management] that are directly applicable to my job. I would also gain from networking with other utility program managers and industry experts. Many of the presentations will focus on how to increase program participation, reduce costs, or deal with regulatory compliance issues.

Special rates at the conference hotel have been arranged and Denver offers many different public transportation options, so I won’t need a rental car or have to pay for parking at the hotel. There is also free wireless Internet in my room. All of these factors will bring down the travel costs. The total cost for the conference is $XX. The detailed cost breakdown is listed below. Conference fee: Free! Because we are members of E Source, there is no cost for me to attend the conference. [If you are not an E Source member, registration is $1,500.]
[Next, insert your actual travel costs in the following sections:]
Airfare: $[XX]
Transportation: $[XX]
Hotel: $[XX]
Meals: $[XX] (remember, breakfast and lunch are provided)

After reviewing the conference agenda, I have identified a number of sessions that will allow me to gain knowledge and understanding in the areas of [Insert topics from above] and provide insights that could immediately be put to use with the [Insert project(s) you are working on]. The presentations will be facilitated by industry experts, my peers, and vice presidents and directors from utilities across North America. These sessions will greatly reduce my own research time and accelerate the implementation and effectiveness of our programs:

[List the titles of sessions that would provide the greatest benefit to your company. The list of sessions by “Track” can be found on the Forum agenda web page at http://www.esource.com/ee/event/agenda/37061]

Summary of Benefits
Attending the 23rd Annual E Source Forum will enhance my knowledge and skills in the area of [Insert topics from above], which will enable me to provide better [Select based on job function: customer service, program implementation, technology selection, recommendations]. When I return, I’ll share what I’ve learned with my colleagues through post-Forum trip notes, copies of the Forum presentations, and highlights of the information I plan to act on right away.

The opportunity for me to develop key contacts with other utility managers and industry experts and to gain knowledge in the areas listed above makes my attendance at this conference a wise investment, and I’m confident the benefits far outweigh the cost. Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,
[Insert your name]