Preparations for the next Inside Self-Storage World Expo, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the downtown Mariott in New Orleans, are underway, and as a member of the ISS audience you have an opportunity to help shape the event. All you have to do is visit Self-Storage Talk, the official online forum of ISS, and go to the expo forum.

This new forum is the place to discuss all things related to the New Orleans expo and to provide suggestions for how to make the upcoming show suit your needs. The education sessions are still coming together, so your ideas will be considered by the planning team. Chime in on this thread to tell us who you'd like to see and what topics you'd like to have addressed.

Similarly, all confirmed speakers will be starting threads on the forum to ask for your input before they put together their presentations. Jim Chiswell, a veteran consultant with Chiswell & Associates, has already started a thread asking for your help in formulating his construction and feasibility studies session.

If you've ever given a presentation before, you know it's extremely helpful to know what questions the audience has before you start planning your PowerPoint slides. After all, no one wants to hear someone drone on about trivial information; it's best to have a game plan. Do yourself and the speakers a favor by sharing your thoughts in advance.

As the show draws nearer, the expo forum is also the best place to discuss travel plans and arrange meetups. Need help finding an affordable flight to the Crescent City? Looking for ideas for fun things to do while in town? Curious which restaurants will be the best places to wine and dine with peers and clients? Want to argue about which jazz venue is the best in the French Quarter? All of these discussions are appropriate and encouraged.

The New Orleans expo is your show, just as SST is your forum. Take an active role in both by participating in the planning. Of course, you'll have to register a username in order to post, but don't worry, it's free, it doesn't take long, and who knows, you might end up using the forum for more than you originally intended.

We'll see you on the forum, and I hope we'll see you in the Big Easy, too.