Ask Mr. Answer Person: A reader asks about NEICAC training in New York

Chad e-mails Mr. Answer Person: "I understand Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation sent area residents to the Hilton in New York  City last week.   How many residents traveled to New York?  Who funded this trip?  What was the purpose of this trip?  Is this necessary--what does the community gain?  It seems very costly to send reps to New York City for morning sessions for a few hours."
 
Mr. Answer Person says: "Here are the facts about the trip to New York.  Two members of the NEICAC Board—Les Askelson and Janelle Langreck—attended the Community Action Partnership's National Conference in New York City.  Three NEICAC employees—Karen Henry, Jim Perry and Laurie Egan—also attended.  Henry went to receive her "Certified Community Action Professional" designation, while Perry got his designation recertified.  Egan is on a national committee.  NEICAC paid to fly the five to New York City on Sunday night, then paid for return air fares after the conference ended on Wednesday.
 
The Community Action Partnership brings together over 1,000 agencies like NEICAC across the country.  The national conference is a chance for representatives to get together and share problems and solutions.

Mr. Answer Person has no trouble criticizing officials who turn training sessions into junkets, such as the veterans program officials who "train" a casinos every year.  But this conference doesn't seem to come anywhere close to being a "junket."  Going to conferences and meeting with other professionals to discuss what's going on in a field is part of being effective in your job.
 
All non-profit groups and governmental agencies include money in their budgets to pay for training and conferences.  Does Chad object to this national conference because it was held at the Hilton instead of the Super 8?  Or because it was held in New York instead of Cleveland?  Maybe this will help: 2013's national conference will be held in Chicago.