NAOBI--Events_Past Conferences

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2004
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

LIVE/SILENT AUCTION

ITP/FIRST
TIMERS FEEDBACK

2003 CONFERENCE

PICTURES GALLERY

Attending this conference was probably the best conference I've ever attended. I've worked with an organization that promoted continuous professional development thereby constantly sending us to various trainings and workshops that became available so I was use to attending events such as this, but nothing can compare to the experience I had at the NAOBI Conference.

I attended the conference as a Student Representative so I was a working participant. When first arriving and gathering for our first meeting, we were able to meet everyone that also came as a Student Rep. from all over the globe, as well as the Board Members, the President and the person (s) who will be guiding us through this wondrous experience.

Each day was an experience, as a Student Rep. our job was to make sure the facilitator had everything they needed to make sure their presentation went smoothly. Controlled the flow of traffic throughout each workshop and insure that everyone was where they were suppose to be and that their name badges were kept on at all times to again insure that they're in the right place at the right time. We also had the responsibility of presenting the facilitators with appreciation gifts on behalf of the NAOBI Conference, thanking them for a job well done. We also conducted daily raffles to keep the participants motivated to continue on with each workshop, because you know people always come to things when they have an opportunity to get something free.

The first workshop we were all surprised with a Secret Pal, so throughout the conference we shared gifts and notes with our secret pal who was finally revealed on the last day of the event, I think that was the best part and you should keep doing that for student reps because it's a motivator. To know that someone is watching and looking out for your best interest, wanting to know about you as a person and hopefully gain a new-found friendship in the end; that's truly remarkable.

The Talent Show was fun, there was so much talent displayed that evening it was wonderful, seeing the positive differences in everyone and just being able to sit down and enjoy watching someone express themselves through song and poetry and others being genuinely supportive. Again attending this conference was again truly remarkable and I can't wait for next year's conference.

The signs of a great leader are ones who are secure enough with themselves that they are willing to share their knowledge to help another to grow and develop. NAOBI has plenty of leaders in the organization. Looking back over the four days at the conference I saw many leaders and not one of them boasted about their positions in the interpreting field but all showed true leadership skills in helping new ones in the field feel welcomed and appreciated.

I enjoyed the people I talked with. Thank you for making us seek out signatures on the conference booklet. That helped me to briefly converse with people I would never have introduced myself to. The secret pal notes of encouragement were an added enjoyment. Thank you for sharing your caring attitude with us as student representatives and for helping us to understand we are the next generation to care for the minority Deaf individuals receiving qualified interpreters

The hotel was wonderful. The rooms were lovely and spacious. I felt safe inside the hotel and out walking about. I especially enjoyed looking out my window seeing the ocean each day. The talent show night was breath taking. To see the interpretation of songs, poems, spirituals and jokes all working in harmony with the body movement, meaning, beat along with the perfect sign was amazing. The signs were alive in motion and felt as though the person presenting was the sign itself.

My experience was all good. Meeting such wonderful interpreting students, skilled interpreters from all over the United States, was a goal fulfilled. To see so many skilled Black interpreters sign with cultural influence behind the sign was amazing. I left the conference with a new desire not to change myself, but to become better with expressing my meaning/signs with the influence of my inherited culture. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

The NAOBI conference in Long Beach "Surfing into the Global Future: Oceans of Possibilities…Waves of Technology" was my first NAOBI conference and one of my best experiences yet of all the conferences I have attended. I attended, of course, as a student representative. It was great. Our duties included but were not limited to; introducing the speaker, giving announcements (such as changes in the program), providing water for the speaker(s), distributing handouts, closing the workshop, passing out door prizes, and presenting the speaker with a gift and certificate compliments of NAOBI.

The hotel was great the atmosphere overflowed with love and excellence. People knew what they needed to be doing and everyone was doing their part. Confusion was minimal and what little there was could be considered minor or trivial. The conference meals tasted fine to me. I heard some pretty terrible comments about the poolside selection and was convinced not to even try it so I didn't. But overall it was a wonderful experience for me. I have, since entering the interpreter-training program, attended two deaf blind conferences, deaf-blind camp, and a conference for deaf-blind children and children with disabilities. I can honestly say that you could put the best part of all four together and the other conferences still wouldn't measure up to my experience with NAOBI.

As everyone knows we were assigned a secret pal. I enjoyed that. I have since kept in touch with my secret pal and she has become an inspiration and great friend of mine. Standing on that stage and turning around to face her really brought tears to my eyes. It was funny because we had spoken and conversed without my knowing she was secret pal. I loved it.

I'm only 22 years old and I need that kind of influence in my life. Either through conversation or a quick bite to eat during the breaks in some way or another I had one on one conversations with several members and I was moved by their sincerity to know my ambitions in life and how much they cared about my NAOBI experience. As for improvements all I can say is keep up the good work. I was really impressed at the business meeting by how well and smooth the meeting went. Thank you for the great time in California and I can't wait to see you in Atlanta.

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2008 NAOBI, Inc.