What's Your "How I Got to SolidWorks World" Story?

Mine is boring. 

When I first approached my boss about attending SolidWorks World 1999 in Palm Springs, the immediate answer was "No, I don't think so".  I came back a few days later with a better offer - I would submit an abstract for a technical session, and if accepted, the admission fee would be waived.  He agreed, I was accepted, and the rest is old news.

In 2000, I helped a fellow SolidWorks user convince his boss by posting some really good reasons to attend on a newsgroup.   That post has since morphed into what has become a set of "justification" emails that have helped many users over the years convince managers of the conference's benefits.

Jason Raak has an interesting story to tell.  Weeks of blogging, pleading, and preparing a good presentation for his boss led him to sunny San Diego in 2008 for his first SolidWorks World conference.  You can read his wrap-up here.

So here we are getting ready for SolidWorks World 2009.  Someone, somewhere must have an interesting story to share on just how they were able to convince the boss to send them this year.  Was it because of a discount?  Did the justification email do the trick?  Maybe you had to take vacation time or work the following weekend?

We're looking for your story, and if it's a good one, Jeff Ray may just share it with 5000 or so folks in his keynote address at the conference.  Tell your story here (comments), or share it with a lot of folks in the SolidWorks Discussion Forum - we've started a thread there as well.

Comments

[Jeff Mirisola]

My first trip was in 2005 to Las Vegas. I had two big hurdles to overcome. One was the cost, the other was my boss' wondering if I'd actually attend the sessions knowing my "appreciation" of Texas Hold'em.
After presenting him with a full proposal, complete with a promise of an extremely detailed trip report, he agreed to send not only me, but two of my co-workers.
In the end, it turned out so well that he wrote a letter that Jason used in his presentation to his boss. Said letter, I believe, was the catalyst for the interview my boss had with the SolidWorks podcast guys on "Why a manager should send staff to SolidWorks World".
I'm looking forward to attending my 4th SWW in February.

[Steve Calvert]

My first was in 2007 at New Orleans and my approach to my boss was, "It would make me a better designer". My boss, who I've known for years and used to be a user, went along without hesitation. I found out later that within our big company, this kind of seminar is considered the same as taking a class at a local community college so HR paid for the entry fee and my boss paid for the hotel and air. It is a good benefit to go and I would tell this to anyone but if you have an HR department maybe try this approach in justification of the trip.

I'm looking forward to SWW09, my third.

Steve

[Todd Blacksher]

I started asking my previous employer about going to SolidWorks World in about 2003 or 2004. Every year I would ask, every year I would be denied. Finally I decided that it was important enough for me that I would finance the trip myself. Given the fact that my employer was not covering the trip, I put "Free Agent" as my employer on the form - my badge did receive some funny looks. Since SWW2006 was held in Vegas, my girlfriend and I decided to tie the knot while we were there. Jeff Ray announced our pending marriage during the Monday morning session. At lunch we went to the top of the Stratosphere, and we were married on the Big Shot ride. When we got back to the hotel we ran into the Mythbusters on their way out and took some pictures with them. My wife and I have been to every SolidWorks World since then (although we might not be able to make it this year.) As someone that has actually paid their own way just to attend, I can tell you that it is worth every penny.