This being my first SGF (and second major conference), I find the biggest benefit is from the simplest thing - talking to people. I am an introvert, but the reason I am at the conference is to network and communicate with others. Everyone at the conference is so passionate about SAS, sitting down at a table and (politely) introducing yourself will, in my experience, get a conversation going that will inevitably result in at least a friendly face at the conference, at most a new friend. I have met some of the biggest names in the SAS Community simply by walking up to them and saying "Hi".

The second recommendation I have for anyone new to the conference circuit is to submit a poster. Although you have to write a paper, and have to stand with your poster for an hour and a half, it is not nearly so as intimidating as doing an actual presentation. It gets you exposure, it gets you experience, and allows you to dig into an aspect of SAS that many people may not know about (I talked about 50 people about my poster over the course of the conference, only 4 of whom heard about Graph'n'Go - SGF paper 217-2012). I had a great time, met people from all over the world, and was able to have people using SAS for 20+ years going "Hunh, I'm going to have to try that!".

Well enough rambling from me - have a good night!
Chris