Deborah,
Given the fact that Program Officers come and go, I would opt for the
NSF meeting. Investing in a personal relationship with someone who may
be moving on shortly would not be all that useful. Also, the conference
would offer opportunities to connect with other researchers, and the
program might offer more perspectives than that of any individual
Program Officer.
But I like conferences, so that's my bias.
Roberta

Deborah Hofer wrote:

> Friends,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
> "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
>
> I ask your perspective on a strategy to encourage proposal writing and
> enhance award success rates.
>
> NSF is hosting a regional grants conference at Washington University
> to which I would like to send some of our faculty. According to the
> announcement:
>
> "Key representatives from the National Science Foundation as well as
> your colleagues – faculty, researchers and grant administrators –
> representing regional colleges and universities will participate."
> http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/outreach.htm
> Our Dean of Science is advocating instead, sending a team from our
> institution directly to NSF to meet one on one with program officers,
> contending that it would establish personal relationships and not
> allow us to get 'lost in the crowd' of a conference setting.
> Which effort would you support?
> P.S. I want to go myself but have to decide between this and the NCURA
> meeting in DC. Help?
> Many thanks.
>
> Deborah
>
> Deborah d'Este Hofer MM
> Grants/Human Subjects Administrator
> Vice President's Office for Academic Affairs
> Southern Oregon University
> 541.552.8662
> xxxxxx@sou.edu
>
> ======================================================================
> Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
> subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
> via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
> ======================================================================

======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
======================================================================