Lots of groups talk about making their meetings more interactive, but the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association in Albany, N.Y., has actually done it. At the VHMA annual management retreat, there are no professional speakers and no lectures. Instead, participants provide the topics and make the presentations. They not only learn from each other's experiences — they sharpen their speaking skills.

During the morning sessions, attendees make short presentations about something they've tried at their hospital and then their fellow attendees jump in.

In the afternoons, roundtables provide further networking and discussion opportunities. Attendees can get 12 CE credits.

The three-day retreats typically draw about 40 people, and are held in an exclusive setting; this year's site was the West Wind Inn Hotel on Sanibel Island, Fla.

The give-and-take nature of the meeting reflects the organizations' membership structure in which veterinary managers, consultants, and veterinarians are equal partners.

If you've tried a successful or unusual meeting technique, let us know! E-mail spelletier@intertec.com.