From Guest Blogger Eleanor Crumblehulme, IUG Chair
I am wrapping up my year as chairperson of the IUG Steering Committee, and I find I am coming to IUG 2026 with a slightly different perspective than previously on the conference and all the other services provided by the users group.
Organizing a conference is a tremendous undertaking that requires the coordinated efforts of a large number of people. Each person involved is contributing their time, labour, skills, and commitment to creating something valuable. The same is true, on a different scale, of the other benefits that IUG provides, such as the monthly zoom forums, the constant flow of conversation and community on the Discord server, the regional meet-ups, and each newsletter and forum post.
Everyone who participates in IUG is contributing to it as well as benefiting from it. So, as I look forward to the conference, I am looking forward to seeing and benefiting from the community of the Innovative Users Group.
Welcoming new members to the community
I am particularly excited to welcome the many IUG members attending the conference for the first time (over 130 at time of writing!). Some are new Innovative clients, some are new to their administrative/technical roles, and others have been involved in the group for years.
I hope they all find something of value in the conference, whether that is adding to their skill set, putting a face to a name, feeling inspired to try something new, or creating the beginnings of a professional (or personal) network that could change the course of their career (or life).
I can’t wait to see everyone in Chicago!