2026 Post Leaders Workshop (PLW)
August 2 – 4, 2026 | Scottsdale, AZ
The Scottsdale Resort and Spa, Curio Collection by Hilton
7700 E McCormick Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
This year’s Post Leaders Workshop will focus on “What Members Want” based on SAME’s recent member survey and provide information, resources, including Lessons Learned and Best Practices from Posts, for those attending. Sunday afternoon we host “SAME 101” strictly for new Post Leaders or those who need a refresher on the basics of SAME. Be ready for plenty of fun, giveaways, networking, social activities, and connecting with the national leadership. The laid-back atmosphere is where many SAME friendships are made!
You will receive a special email within 48 hours with hotel reservation instructions.
Questions? Contact Jill Murphy at jmurphy@same.org.
Download the PDF file version of the schedule.
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Sunday, August 2 |
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8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
Board of Direction Meeting |
Invitation Only |
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12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
Registration Open |
Pick up your badge & tote |
| 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
New Leaders Lunch |
RSVP Required |
| 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. |
Opening General Session
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| 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. |
Icebreaker Reception & SAME Bingo |
Wear your “hometown” pride! |
| 7:30 p.m. onward |
Dinner / Evening on own |
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Monday, August 3 |
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7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Registration Open |
Pick up your badge & tote |
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. |
Breakfast |
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9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. |
General Session: What is IGE? |
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9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. |
IGE Tabletop Exercise |
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10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. |
Group Photo & Break |
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11:00 a.m. – Noon |
General Session: Resources for Posts |
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| Noon – 1:15 p.m. | Lunch |
Seating by Region |
| 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. | General Session
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2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
re:Members Overview & Post Experiences |
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3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. |
Break |
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| 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Posts Sharing Best Practices
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| 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Networking Reception |
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| 6:30 p.m. onward | Dinner / Evening on own |
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Tuesday, August 4 |
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| 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
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| 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Breakout Concurrent Sessions |
Posts will be grouped by size |
| 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Breakout Concurrent Sessions |
Posts will be grouped by size |
10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
Break / Hotel Check out |
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11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. |
Open Forum: How can we help you? |
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12:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
Lunch |
RSVP Required |
*SAME101 is open to first time Post Leader attendees or if you have been a member for less than five years.
Attendees are expected to stay through the closing session on Tuesday. Tuesday lunch is optional and RSVP
is required.
Schedule is subject to change however the program start and end times are set.
What to Know Before You Go to PLW 2026
We are thrilled to have you join us at the 2026 Post Leaders Workshop (PLW) starting Sunday, August 2nd at The Scottsdale Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, AZ. Below is information to assist you in having the best experience possible, please take a few minutes to read through everything. This email confirms your event registration.
If you have a question about your hotel room reservation, please email Amira Kruyne at akruyne@same.org.
You will come away with new connections, ideas for creating value for your Post’s members, retention & recruiting, succession planning and providing industry government engagement opportunities. The schedule/agenda can be found above and here. Presentations will also be found here when available.
Opens Sunday at Noon in the Grand Coronado 1-3 Room on the ground floor of the hotel. We request that you pick up your badge and event materials prior to the Opening General Session on Sunday. Please be sure to wear your name badge to all SAME activities.
If you need to cancel your PLW registration, please email registration@same.org AND contact the hotel to cancel your room reservation. SAME will not pay for no-shows or late room cancellations.
Conference Hotel Information
The Scottsdale Resort & Spa
7700 E McCormick Pkwy
Scottsdale, Arizona, 85258
480-991-9000
Hotel website.
The Scottsdale Resort & Spa is located about 17 miles (25 minutes) from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Taxis are available outside Terminal 3 and 4 at door #7; taxi fare is approximately $45
Uber/ Lyft Terminal 3 and 4 outer curbs: est. $35-42
Hotel Check-in/Check-out
Hotel Check-in starts at 4pm.
Hotel Check-out is by 11am. We will have a longer break Tuesday morning to allow for check-out. The hotel can store your luggage until you are ready to depart.
Weather
Scottsdale weather is expected to be extremely hot and over 100 during the day. Please ensure you stay hydrated! We recommend that you start drinking more water than you usually do a few days before you arrive in Arizona.
The Scottsdale Resort & Spa is located about 17 miles (25 minutes) from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Taxis are available outside Terminal 3 and 4 at door #7; taxi fare is approximately $45
Uber/ Lyft Terminal 3 and 4 outer curbs: est. $35-42
Hotel Check-in/Check-out
Hotel Check-in starts at 4pm.
Hotel Check-out is by 11am. We will have a longer break Tuesday morning to allow for check-out. The hotel can store your luggage until you are ready to depart.
Weather
Scottsdale weather is expected to be extremely hot and over 100 during the day. Please ensure you stay hydrated! We recommend that you start drinking more water than you usually do a few days before you arrive in Arizona.
Sunday Opening Session & Icebreaker – Cool & casual! Wear your hometown pride! Come with a shirt, hat, or other accessories that represent your hometown, school, favorite sports team, or current location! The Icebreaker will be in the Vista Verde Dining Room. We will have a fun networking activity which will allow you to meet lots of people.
Monday/Tuesday – Business casual (NO shorts please!) and plan for air-conditioned rooms. Uniformed members are not required to wear uniforms.
SAME Code of Conduct – by attending you agree to comply with SAME’s code of conduct.
Come with Questions
What are the things you and your Post want to know? We will strive to cover them during the sessions. If not, our final session will be “How Can We Help You?” and we’ll get to them there.
Prepare to Collaborate & Share!
We also want to know your Post Best Practices, and we hope you will have one to share. Think about what your Post has done to streamline administrative tasks, deliver value to members, drive partnerships with government or other organizations, develop people/volunteers or recruit new members. Be ready to share during our “Hear from Posts” sessions!
After PLW…
As your Post has invested in your participation at PLW, ensure you have time scheduled at your next Post Board meeting to share and start planning to implement what you learn! And to keep the collaboration going, join the PLW Alumni Engage! community.
Questions?
Please do not hesitate to contact me. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, August 2nd!
Jill Murphy
Associate Director, Membership & Post Operations
SAME | same.org/plw703.549.3800 | jmurphy@same.org.
Thank You 2026 Sponsors
Gold
Silver
Access the 2025 PLW Presentations and Resources
Join the SAME Engage PLW Alumni Network
PLW Presentation Files
Share the Value and Strategic Plan 2030
Drive Partnerships + Deliver Solutions
Post Resources Part 1: Post Resource Center, SAME Website, SAME Engage! Platform
Posts Resources Part 2: COIs Educational Content – CFPs, PDHs SAME Foundation
It is a great idea to survey your members from time to time; not every year per say, but let them tell you what they think. Don’t assume the reasons that they find the Post valuable. It varies from person to person. But you will get the themes and that helps you articulate your themes and give your elevator speech when you’re meeting a new person on why they would want to join your Post.
Ann McLeod, SAME Director of Membership, Events & Business Development