Things to Know
2025 All Organization Conference
Wednesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 13, 2025
Wells Conference Center, University of Maine Campus, Orono, Maine
Bridging Technology, Community, and Personal Growth for a Thriving Extension
Table of Contents:
- Agenda
- Conference Norms
- Dress
- Travel
- Soft Money/Grant Staff and Staff Who Work 20 Hours or Less
- Hotel
- Wells Conference Center, Orono, UMaine Campus: Directions
- Parking Information for Conference Attendees
- Program Sharing | Poster Session
- Cash Bar
- Evening Events and Music
- University Photo
- Rec Center Access and Directions (New Balance Student Recreation Center)
- Cancellations
Agenda
If you would like a hard copy of the agenda, visit the Agenda page to print it and bring it with you. We’re saving paper by placing QR codes on your name badge and on the table tents. Your name badge will also indicate the breakout sessions and meals you’ve selected. There will be a poster of the full agenda in the lobby as well as other helpful signage with all location information.
Conference Norms
Meeting norms are standards of behavior a team expects of its members and can be viewed as the ground rules for how we collaborate. While we’re gathered, we expect your participation and engagement in this once a year opportunity to connect in-person with all of Extension. Some common norms include:
- Starting and ending sessions on time as much as possible to respect each other’s time.
- Meet as many new people as you can.
- Introduce yourself and share what you do.
- Be present with the people in your sessions. Put away phones and other devices during the meeting.
- Give presenters your full attention by limiting distractions from electronic devices.
- Engage and participate.
- Look ahead to positive action – not back on “shoulda, woulda, coulda.”
- Get up, stretch or stand up.
Please share any norms you would appreciate from your fellow colleagues or ones that you promise to uphold yourself.
Dress
Be prepared for the weather since some sessions may meet buildings outside of Wells and require you walk outdoors to access them. Comfortable shoes are also a good choice for the same reason. Casual attire is fine. We prefer that you are comfortable enough to fully engage in activities and discussions!
It is also good to dress in layers to be prepared for meeting rooms that fluctuate in temperature. The top layer should be warmer than you’d expect to need indoors.
Travel
Central organizational funds will support mileage costs incurred beyond your typical daily commute, as well as any additional meals according to normal travel practices. Please carpool or use UMaine Extension vehicles as much as possible.
Chartfield for All Organization Conference travel: 5400983-12-5600169
Soft Money/Grant Staff and Staff Who Work 20 Hours or Less
We want to make sure there are as few financial barriers to attending as possible. Soft money/grant staff members will have their lodging and mileage paid by central funds. Staff members who work 20 hours or less may (with the supervisor’s approval) work your regular schedule in addition to reporting 16 hours to attend the conference. If you or your supervisor have questions or concerns, please contact Beth Hawkyard, beth.hawkyard@maine.edu.
Hotel
Rooms in Hotel Ursa may be available to Extension staff at no charge. Hotel availability is based on your proximity to the Orono campus. For those who live more than 1.5 hours away, hotel rooms may be reserved for the evenings of Tuesday, November 11 and Wednesday, November 12. For those who live more than 30 minutes away, hotel rooms may be reserved for the evening of Wednesday, November 12. If this is a hardship for you, please reach out to Ella Glatter at ella.glatter@maine.edu or 207-581-2919. Hotel reservations are due by July 31.
Accommodations will be at Hotel Ursa on the University of Maine Campus. For more information about Hotel Ursa, please visit their website (opens in a new tab).
If you need to cancel your reservation, please make every effort to cancel prior to August 11. This will help prevent us from being charged for your hotel room. Contact Ella Glatter at ella.glatter@maine.edu if you need to cancel your registration.
Wells Conference Center
Location on Both Days: Wednesday, November 12 and Thursday, November 13, 2025
Wells Conference Center is a versatile, spacious, all-in-one conference facility with on-site catering and three separate event rooms (the two largest can be combined into one) as well as a bright atrium. With nearly 10,000 square feet of conference space, Wells is ideal for medium- or large-scale meetings, banquets, exhibits, and presentations. The Center offers complimentary wireless internet and standard audio-visual equipment.
Directions to Wells Conference Center, Orono Campus
Parking Information for Conference Attendees
There will be parking spaces reserved specifically for this conference in the lot close to Wells Conference Center.
For Staff with UMaine Parking Permits
If you currently have a UMaine Staff Blue Parking Permit, please park in one of the nearby “Blue” signed lots, such as those next to Corbett or Dunn Halls.
This helps ensure that the Wells Lot remains available for attendees traveling from other areas of the state.
For Attendees without a Parking Permit
If you do not have a UMaine parking permit, you may download and print the temporary parking pass (PDF) linked below and display it on your dashboard during the conference.
This PDF parking pass is valid for any “Black” signed lots and visitor spaces on campus. Copies of this same parking pass will also be available at the registration desk in the Wells Conference Center lobby when you check in on the first day.
If the Wells Lot Is Full
If the Wells Lot is full when you arrive, please visit the registration table or contact Planning Committee Member Ella Glatter at the conference to obtain a temporary pass for an alternate lot.
NOTE: The overnight parking ban, on campus, starts November 1. Please do not leave cars in the reserved parking lot overnight to carpool to the hotel.
Speed Sharing | Poster Session
Many new staff are interested in learning more about the programs, research, and organizational activities offered by Extension staff. We encourage you to share information about your programs and organizational activities. We have two wonderful opportunities this year!
Before and after lunch on the first day, we’ll host two popular Speed Sharing sessions, in which folks will present to the full group in 3 minutes or less using slides, video, or a brief talk! Committee members will be available during breaks and lunch to assist with set-up. Please see the objectives and guidelines below. The number of accepted presentations will be capped as time for this session is limited.
Before dinner on the first day, we’re inviting folks to have an informational poster about their program, an area of research, or a project they’d like to share with fellow colleagues. We welcome these posters to be set up starting at 4:15 p.m. on November 12, with the poster session scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m.
Objectives for Both Sessions
- Share a project you’re passionate about with the organization.
- Inspire others with unique program approaches.
- Highlight needs assessment, program development, program delivery, or evaluation approaches.
- Share administrative tools, methods, or topics that could benefit others.
- Learn about potential collaborations and overlaps in areas of work.
- Gain a better understanding of what UMaine Extension is about.
Speed Sharing Guidelines
- This is going to be a fast-moving session.
- Talks will be no more than 3 minutes each.
- If using slides, the file must be sent to the session facilitator no later than Friday before the conference.
- If focusing on a program, be sure to highlight the aspects of the program that could be helpful to others outside your area of expertise. Focus on unique approaches of your needs assessment, program development, and/or outreach activities and reporting.
Interested in joining in? Session facilitator Jason Lilley is leading this program sharing opportunities and will contact you to confirm your participation after you’ve submitted a proposal. When registering, please complete the Speed Sharing or Poster Session proposal section. If you have any questions, please contact Jason Lilley at jason.lilley@maine.edu.
Cash Bar
The cash bar will be open during the Poster Sharing Session prior to dinner on November 12.
Evening Events and Music
Join us for Extension Jeopardy with Dean Carter following dinner on the first evening of the conference! We’ll also share in creating an evening music mix – please bring your favorites!
University Photo
The Planning Committee is hoping to arrange to have a UMaine photographer at Wells Conference Center during the conference so that Extension staff members can have their photos taken to be added to their staff directory listings. More details coming soon.
Contact Ella Glatter, directly, at 207.581.2919 or at ella.glatter@maine.edu.
Rec Center Access and Directions (New Balance Student Recreation Center)
Why not spend some of your free time, getting in a work-out, in the afternoon of Wednesday, November 12 or end of conference on Thursday, November 13? Maybe an early morning session? The Rec Center is a great place to move!
How to Obtain Rec Center Access
If everyone is employed here then they just need to make sure they have completed their online waiver. They will need to go to “Employee Self-Service” under MaineStreet in the myCampus portal (see screenshot below) and then click on the box for “UMS Recreation Release Form” and complete it. Once they have completed this task the box should have a green circle with a checkmark. This will ensure they are able to swipe in when arriving.
Everyone will need to have their MaineCard or some type of Photo ID with them.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel your registration, please cancel by August 11, 2025, if possible. This will help prevent us from being charged for your food.
Contact Ella Glatter at ella.glatter@maine.edu if you need to cancel your registration.