The reason for the two conferences each year wasn't to make people travel - it was to move it around the country so that people wouldn't have to travel so far.  Attending the conferences isn't a requirement to join NALTEA, it is just an opportunity to meet other like minded individuals in the same business and share experiences.  NALTEA tries to get some informative, educational speakers as well, and they have done a great job of it.

Also, NALTEA is trying to cut back to one conference a year now.  The attendance was much better at the winter conference so they are going to move their Annual Conference to the winter.  Initially the Winter Conference was set up to be more educational and the Annual Conferences were intended to be mostly for NALTEA business, such as elections and committee presentations.

Just a little information for everyone to think about.

Best,
Robert A. Franco
SOURCE OF TITLE