Welcome to the Speaker Center

This page is intended for the reference and use of all confirmed speakers for this workshop. If you are a speaker, please be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this page to log into the system.

The workshop sessions are designed to provide an opportunity to learn and discuss business and technology issues, and are not intended to sell products or services. YOU MUST STAY AWAY FROM SALES PITCHES. Please limit to only one slide on your company. Failure to meet this requirement will jeopardize your participation as a speaker at any future AWEA programs.

All submissions are due on or before: September 2, 2010 11:59 PM EST.

Presenters will need to upload 2 separate files for each of your presentations. One PPT file for AWEA to review before the conference and use onsite, and the other a PDF file so attendees can download and view your presentation online or print out.

Convert your PowerPoint presentations into a PDF format handout. Please save 2 slides per page. This handout is very important to your audience. It allows them to focus more on the content of your presentation and less on taking notes of your slides. Remember- Most people can absorb and remember about 15 percent of the spoken word.

All presentations will be pre-loaded on a conference laptop for easy transition between speakers. Speakers will be asked to advance their slides at the computer. There will be a static podium mic. If you have any special AV requirements, such as audio or video, please let your program coordinator know ASAP.

Remember that you are the presenter, not PowerPoint. Use your slides to emphasize a point, keep yourself on track, and illustrate a point with a graphic or photo. Don't read the slides. Follow the tips below to create a great presentation.

1. Cover Slide - Create a cover slide for your presentation with the title, author(s), and pertinent information including any copyright statements.
2. Fonts - Make your slides legible. Avoid using type smaller than 18 points. No one beyond the first few rows of the audience can read type smaller than this. Use common fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Helvetica. This will alleviate any font problems on other computers. If you must use uncommon fonts (e.g., Boostlight, Academia, etc.), please send the font with your submission. To make sure your slides are legible, print out all your slides on standard paper, and drop them to the floor. The slides are probably readable if you can read them while you are standing.
3. Gradients - Do not use complex gradients in your artwork for purposes of reproduction as it drastically increases the file size and redraw time. Some background gradients will not be printable when converted to PDF and show up as solid black on screen.
4. Text Contrast - Use high-contrast text and graphics only (i.e., dark type on a light background). The more contrast you have between background and type, the more your words will stand out.
5. Clutter - Keep text to a minimum (6 lines per slide, no more than 30 words per slide). The bullet points should be headlines, not news articles. Write in sentence fragments using key words, and keep your font size 18 or bigger.
6. Charts and Graphs - Complex graphics do not reproduce clearly. The audience will not be able to comprehend a graph that is too detailed and your message will be lost. A common error is using a system configuration drawing. Communicate your message either by text or by dividing graphics over several slides.
7. Animations, movies and sound - Leave out the sound effects and background music, unless it is related to the content being presented. If you haven't made arrangements with AWEA before your presentation, your audience members might not be able to hear your sound effects anyway. The same goes for animated graphics and imbedded movie files. Because the PowerPoint slides are converted to PDF format any audio, video, or animations will not be included in the conference CD-ROM if AWEA decides to provide them.
8. Proofread. You don't want to discover that you misspelled your company's name during your presentation in front of 200 attendees, with your boss in the front row.
9. Practice. The more times you go through the presentation, the less you'll have to rely on the slide for cues and the smoother your presentation will be. PowerPoint software allows you to make notes on each slide, and you can print out the notes versions if you need help with pronunciations or remembering what comes next.

Places to go for more help:

1. http://www.microsoft.com/ for a host of free templates, tutorials, and tips on using PowerPoint software.
2. http://www.bitbetter.com/powertips.htm for more tips and tricks.

As we continue to market this event to wind industry professionals, we ask your assistance with these efforts. Click here for a sample email that you can easily forward to your clients, colleagues or friends to encourage them to attend the conference. Since we wish to fully realize the tremendous value of the time and effort you have so generously extended to this program, it is important for us to reach the largest group of attendees as possible.

Please feel free to change the text as you see fit.

Please also note that members of the media may be present at this event, and that the information you present is for the public record and may be used in articles that they write about the workshop. If you have any questions, please contact our communication staff, Christine Real de Azua at christine@awea.org or 202-383-2508.

Questions should be directed to Annie Sznajder, asznajder@awea.org or 202.383.2540