--- title: Welcome to the 36th Annual Congress! description: Annual Congress is a 4 ½ day educational conference that presents the latest in payroll news, more than 180 workshops, and the largest payroll expo in the country. If you’re a chapter member, we have five events you can’t miss during your week in National Harbor. image: https://blogs.payroll.org/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Ronn-3.jpg --- [![soc-fb](https://blogs.payroll.org/hubfs/ct-23-assets/footer-icon_fb.svg "soc-fb")](https://www.facebook.com/American-Payroll-Associations-Chapter-Relations-877434285724525/) [![soc-in](https://blogs.payroll.org/hubfs/ct-23-assets/footer-icon_li.svg "soc-in")](http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=1051077&trk=anet_ug_grppro) [![Twitter-X-White-Logo-PNG](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Twitter-X-White-Logo-PNG.png?width=20&height=19&name=Twitter-X-White-Logo-PNG.png)](https://twitter.com/APAChapters?lang=en)   - [Home](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders) - [About](https://blogs.payroll.org/about) - [Connect](https://blogs.payroll.org/connect) - [Resources](https://blogs.payroll.org/resources) ![23 PAYO Chapter Blog](https://blogs.payroll.org/hubfs/CL-2023-images/23%20PAYO%20Chapter%20Blog.jpg "23 PAYO Chapter Blog") ![](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/60668d0caf1a25209693951c0ef1b2bf) by [Julianna Hunt](https://blogs.payroll.org/chapter-leaders/author/julianna-hunt) on May 15, 2018 5:58:00 AM # Welcome to the 36th Annual Congress! Congratulations! You made it to National Harbor and have an exciting week ahead of you at the 36th Annual Congress. Be sure to download the [Congress App](https://events.crowdcompass.com/events/edo2RFm6S6/download) to track your personal schedule and find your way through the convention center. As you plan your week, keep in mind these five must-see attractions to make this your best Congress experience ever: **Power Hour: “Chapters are Forever”![Ronn-3](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Ronn-3.jpg?width=217&name=Ronn-3.jpg)** **Location: Chesapeake 1-3** **Tuesday, May 15** **1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.** In this session, discover how to create a successful chapter with APA’s 2016 Payroll Man of the Year, Ronald Gilson, CPP. Learn how to craft chapter bylaws, form a comprehensive mission statement, maximize your chapter’s outreach through marketing, and plan memorable chapter events. This is a must-attend for all chapter officers!   **Congress Expo** **Location: Prince George’s Exhibition Halls A-C** **Wednesday, May 16 – Friday, May 18** Leading vendors in the payroll industry will showcase their latest products, services, and technology at the Annual Congress' one-of-a-kind payroll Expo. Interact with vendors to see how you can improve your organizations' payroll processes. ![Expo-1](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Expo-1.jpg?width=500&name=Expo-1.jpg) The Expo will also feature opportunities to meet keynote speaker, [Steve Spangler](https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/), watch insightful presentations at the Technology Solutions Stage, and win prizes! **Chapter Exchange** **Location: Maryland Ballroom C** **Wednesday, May 16** **6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.** **Sponsored by Global Cash Card** Meet APA’s Chapter Relations Manager, Elizabeth Herrera, APA’s Board of Advisors, and chapter leaders from across the country at the highly anticipated Chapter Exchange. This is a great opportunity to network, learn more about chapters, and find out the winners of the 2018 Chapter Contests!  ![Chap exchange](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Chap%20exchange.jpg?width=500&name=Chap%20exchange.jpg) **Chapter Hospitality Booth** **Location: Prince George's Exhibition Hall C** **Wednesday, May 16 – Friday, May 18** Stop by the Chapter Hospitality Booth to meet volunteers from the [Washington Metropolitan Area Chapter](http://wmac-apa.org/index.php), [Charm City Payroll Association](http://charmcitypayroll.org/index.php), and [Charlestown West Virginia Chapter](http://www.ctwvapa.org/). At the booth, attendees can find information about the National Harbor area, sign up for a [Monuments by Moonlight tour](http://wmac-apa.org/content.php?page=Congress_Monument_by_Moonlight)\*, and enter to win prizes.  \**Please note that the Monuments by Moonlight tour is nearing capacity and may sell out soon.* *![Hospitality Booth](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Hospitality%20Booth.png?width=500&name=Hospitality%20Booth.png)*   **Costume Contest** **Location: Expo Hall Stage** **Thursday, May 17** **6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (During the Expo Cocktail Reception)** Dress up and enter the competition or watch the fun and cheer on your favorite! This year’s Costume Contest categories are: Best Bond, High Society, Absolutely Evil, and International Spy. Winners will receive ‘Top Secret Travel Case’ boxes! ** ![canva-photo-editor](https://blogs.payroll.org/hs-fs/hubfs/canva-photo-editor.png?width=500&name=canva-photo-editor.png)** Subscribe to [Congress Today](https://blogs.americanpayroll.org/congress-today) and the Chapter Leaders Blog for more updates on Congress activities! Which Congress events are you most excited to attend? Share in the comments below! 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