At Winter Meeting I heard the other Chapter and Division officers say the same thing. Whether I travel across town to a program or across the country to a conference, I do so because I expect the content of the presentation or training being offered to be compelling and relevant to my needs. But, you know, you can always read a speech or an article written by the presenter. You can sit at your computer and take a tutorial. The real benefit of going to a conference or professional event is the opportunity to meet others who share your interests.
Nothing replaces the personal contact with colleagues.
Those of us who truly enjoy meeting new people and schmoozing with colleagues may feel a little guilty at times doing something that seems like fun on business time. Those who would rather have root canal work than go to a cocktail party might regard professional networking as a punishment to be avoided. But whether it is a pleasure or a pain, networking is essential for professional development in the fast-paced information industry. Your network can help you find hidden resources or technical knowledge that can help you do your job. On more than one occasion, when faced with a tough reference question, I have used the SLA member directory to locate someone who could point me to the best resource for an unfamiliar industry.