This paper describes lessons learned while planning a statewide conference to increase the knowledge of tobacco control advocates and promote implementation of the Alabama Comprehensive Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Plan (Plan) within the state. The Plan has three overall goals: preventing youth from becoming tobacco users; promoting treatment of tobacco dependency through promotion of, and increased access to, cessation programs; and reducing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. It emphasizes three key prevention components: schools, public education and community mobilization, and merchant education and public awareness of laws. Conference participants attended general sessions and selected workshops (teaching communities, mobilizing others for change, eliminating cigarette smoke, understanding the MSA, encouraging youth to abstain, helping smokers quit, serving as media spokesperson, and partnering with local media). This paper examined the background of the plan; planning methods; and lessons learned related to specifying a target audience, recruiting collaborators, selecting date and location, marketing and promotion, and meeting logistics. (SM)