LEAD!2026
LEAD! is AGA’s chapter leadership training event. It will be held July in Arlington, VA. LEAD! connects volunteers with AGA national office staff to support leadership development. We plan to cover:
- AGA’s national direction and initiatives
- Expectations of our national and chapter leaders
- Strategies to enhance services, retain members and attract new leaders
- Ways to access key information for more effective leadership
Event Details
Date: Sunday, July 19 – Monday, July 20, 2026
Times: 8:30 AM Sunday – 12:00 PM Monday
Location: Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel – 2800 Potomac Ave, Arlington, VA 22202 | (703) 413–1300
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) – 0.9 miles from the hotel
- Complimentary airport shuttle [learn more]
Hotel Accommodation Information: AGA will book your room based on the information you provide in the attendee travel and hotel accommodation form.
- Check-in: 4:00 p.m.
- Check-out: 12:00 p.m.
- Navigate Your Stay
- Local Attractions
Questions? Contact chapters@agacgfm.org.
Pre-conference Resources:
Pre-Lead Webinars
Webinars will take place bi-weekly from April 14 through June 23 from 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET. While these sessions are open to all chapter leaders, LEAD attendees are required to attend.
- April 14: Chapter Resources – recording | slides
- April 28: Leadership Roles – recording | slides
- May 12: Citizen-Centric Reports (CCR) – recording | slides
- May 26: Citizen-Centric Reports (CCR) – recording | slides
- June 9: Achievements of Chapter Excellence (ACE) Overview – recording | slides
- June 23: National Council of Chapters (NCC) Meeting – recording | slides
Know Before You Attend
July 7 from 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET.
- recording | slides
- LEAD dress code is business casual attire
- Monday (optional): wear your Area color (reference the Chapter Regions Map)
- Bring your CCR pages 2 & 4 information in any format (additional details about CCR’s can be found in the CCR webinar recordings and slides)
Attendee Resources
- LEAD 2026 Agenda
- Quick Reference Guide
- Attendee List
- Chapter Regions Map
- Contact Information
Sunday, July 19
- Membership
- Communicating the AGA Brand
- Partnerships and Citizen-Centric Reports
- AGA National Breakout Sessions
- Art of the Ask
- Marketing & Communications
- CGFM
Monday, July 20
- AGA Transformation Task Force Committee
- Getting and Retaining Corporate Sponsorships
- Chapter Award Photos
Travel & Attendance Policies
Expenses
AGA will not provide stipends to LEAD attendees for incidental expenses this year. Covered expenses include hotel accommodations, train or mileage, and airfare.
For expenses not covered (e.g., rideshare, incidental travel costs, select meals), please consult your chapter leadership regarding possible reimbursement.
Cancellation Policy
If your plans change and you can no longer attend LEAD 2026, please notify AGA National as soon as possible by emailing chapters@agacgfm.org.
Please note the following:
- Airfare: If your flight was purchased through Avenue Travel, you will be responsible for reimbursing AGA for the cost of your airline ticket if you cancel your registration.
- Hotel: Cancellations made on or after July 16, 2026, will incur a $136 hotel cancellation fee, which will be the responsibility of the attendee.
- Early Departure: If you must leave before the conclusion of LEAD (Monday at 12:00 p.m.), please notify AGA National staff no later than July 19.
Health & Safety Guidelines
By attending LEAD, attendees acknowledge and agree to AGA’s event liability waiver and health & safety guidelines.