World Future 2012: Dream. Design. Develop. Deliver. The Annual Conference of the World Future Society July 27-29, 2012; Toronto, Canada

WorldFuture 2012: Dream. Design. Develop. Deliver.The Annual Conference of the World Future Society July 27-29, 2012; Toronto, Canada Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel Toronto, Ontario, Canada Register Today and Save $300! http://www.wfs.org/content/register-worldfuture-2012 The World Future Society's annual conference, "WorldFuture 2012: Dream. Design. Develop. Deliver" will give you the opportunity to learn from others in many different fields, and to explore actions affecting our futures in as yet unimagined ways. You can join about 1,000 futurists from more than 35 countries around the world. This is truly an international event. And if you register by August 31, you'll save $300 off the on-site fee. Should your plans change, you can receive a full refund through June 29, 2012. The conference will feature approximately 100 leading futurists offering more than 60 sessions, workshops, and special events over the course of two and a half days. And for those who want to take a “deeper dive,” into key studies of interest, the preconference Master Classes allow for an in-depth look in a small group setting. The focus throughout WorldFuture 2012 is empowering individuals to effect change, particularly in this time of global unrest. The theme of “Dream. Design. Develop. Deliver” evokes the energy of entrepreneurship and the spirit of “DIY” as applied to all of our endeavors for building a better tomorrow. Sessions will address a wide range of sectors, including business and careers, technology and its impacts, futures methodologies and processes, governance and communities, resources and the environment, education and learning, consciousness and spirituality, health--and much more! Those of you who attended our 2011 conference in Vancouver experienced some of the most innovative programs and speakers that WFS has ever offered. That conference offered new and creative ways to help futurists connect, because the best thing about a WorldFuture conference is always the people who attend. From the conference-wide WiFi to the Microsoft Tag system and from the Twitter network to our innovative new Web site, launched at the conference, Vancouver was a whirlwind of innovation and imagination. In addition, the two-night Futurists:BetaLaunch event gave attendees a chance to relax after the day’s sessions and try out tomorrow’s technology today. The highly competitive event brought inventors to the conference to showcase their creative solutions to real-world problems. Another feature of WFS conferences is the opportunity afforded to specialty foresight groups to meet, focusing on national security, international women’s issues, governmental forecasting, and global regions. This is a glimpse of the continuing outreach and networking offered at every WorldFuture meeting. As one Vancouver attendee said, “This conference is a wake-up call to the real alternatives for go-forward thinking.” And of course, the 2012 conference in Toronto will continue this focus on innovation. Speakers will be seasoned futurists as well as fresh voices in a resource-rich weekend of seminars, workshops, keynotes, panel discussions, coffee bar think tanks, and the like.  We’re also trying new events, like “Speed Futuring,” a fast-paced networking event designed to give you immediate connections with a personal team of other forward-thinking people you can collaborate with beyond the conference weekend. Speakers will be added to the program continuously throughout the next several months, so be sure to check the Web site for the latest updates: http://www.wfs.org/content/worldfuture-2012 A "Meeting of the Minds" Who attends World Future Society conferences? Business executives, government officials, educators, corporate planners, researchers, scientists, students, forecasters, well-known authors, and many other thought-leaders and visionaries like you--all with a deep interest in learning more about the future. Some conference goers will be coming to share their innovative ideas, while others are coming to learn new skills and hear about new opportunities. And still others want to explore the diversity of people and viewpoints to be found at Society meetings. Attendees range from those new to the study of the future to those already responsible for tracking trends and their implications for their companies, organizations or government, as well as those ultimately responsible for crafting responses to these challenges and opportunities. Conference attendees will be envisioning--and creating--humanity's future in the decades ahead. It's a rare opportunity to discover what's happening not only in your sector, industry, or region, but in many others as well. And there is one lesson the study of the future teaches, it is that many more factors affect your own future than you might have expected--and so a broad view is the most productive one. World Future Society conferences have earned their reputation as unique and exciting events. With so many creative, forward-looking people gathered in one place, addressing a common purpose, and bringing together a fantastic diversity of experience, opinion, and expertise, WFS meetings provide an incredibly rich, valuable, and stimulating experience. "WorldFuture 2012: Dream. Design. Develop. Deliver" will examine exciting new technologies now emerging in fields such as information science, genetics, and medicine, as well as practical strategies you can use to make important decisions in both your work and private life. No other meeting attracts such a broad array of leaders and experts from as many fields and nations to share ideas and forecasts and to establish networks of common concern. Special facilitated discussions and interactive learning sessions will give you the opportunity to share your experiences and expertise and to build relationships with others whom you would not otherwise have an opportunity to meet. For those who use futuring methods and ideas in their professional capacity, be sure to plan to stay an extra day for the WFS Professional Members' Forum. This Forum is open to all Professional Members of WFS free of charge as part of their membership. Toronto Welcomes You! Toronto, Ontario, located on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, is actually one of the southernmost cities in Canada. Accordingly, it has a mild climate and is the entertainment capital of Canada, with live theater, concerts and international headliners. Toronto is also a highly cosmopolitan city, with distinctive neighborhoods representing a myriad of diverse global cultures. Its international airport sees 25 million passengers from around the world and offers a range of convenient connections with downtown Toronto. The Sheraton Toronto Centre Hotel--our home for the conference--offers beautifully appointed meeting rooms and sophisticated design to enhance the conference experience. The hotel includes the largest indoor/outdoor pool in the city, as well as a 24-hour fitness center and full service spa. Several full service restaurants and the waterfalls garden and the stunning view from the hotel combine to create a warm inviting atmosphere and a highly enjoyable stay. Why Come to WorldFuture 2012? “It was a great pleasure and experience for me to meet all these people--futurists, consultants, etc.--at the WorldFuture,” said Dr. Heiko A. von der Gracht, managing director of the Center for Futures Studies and Knowledge Management (CEFU) at EBS Business School in Wiesbaden, Germany. “I found this a really inspiring networking event and I am sure that that I will come back and contribute again.” Indeed, participating at a conference is like getting the whole World Future Society experience live in one place and in person, at a dynamic event that you can share with old friends and fascinating new acquaintances. Many members have been attending Society conferences over the years as a unique vacation--an adventure of the mind--where they can explore the exciting world that they are helping to build themselves: The future! We look forward to welcoming you to Toronto--and bringing your World Future Society experience to life! Please join us. Cordially, Timothy C. Mack President P.S. And don't forget that if you register right away, you'll save a substantial amount over regular registration costs--$300. Register Today and Save $300! http://www.wfs.org/content/register-worldfuture-2012