From the President-Elect: ATA63 Will Be Here Before You Know It!

From the President-Elect
Veronika Demichelis
veronika@veronikademichelis.com

ATA63 is just a few months away! I cannot wait to meet you all face-to-face in sunny Los Angeles (October 12-15) and hope you’re as excited about our 63rd Annual Conference as I am. The past few years have brought us much uncertainly, so I think we all desperately need to feel the connection, joy, and energy that make each ATA Annual Conference the highlight of our professional year.

Together with ATA’s amazing staff and volunteers, I’m busy working on this year’s conference, and you can be sure we’re doing our best so that ATA63 is an event to remember.

Early-Bird and First-Time Attendee Discounts: Registration is now open, so I suggest you register early to enjoy the early-bird rate! New this year, we’re offering a first-time conference attendee discount, so if you know of any colleagues who haven’t experienced an ATA Annual Conference yet, please spread the word. We would love to welcome them to ATA!

Education: With 168 conference sessions and 16 Advanced Skills and Training Day courses, ATA63 is your opportunity to fulfill your continuing education requirements for this year, build your subject matter expertise, discover a new specialization, or learn tips and tricks from experts in various areas of translation, interpreting, localization, and more. Just visit the conference website to see the excellent lineup of speakers whose sessions were selected through a rigorous peer review process. (Conference updates, including news about local COVID requirements, will also be posted on the conference website.)

Networking and More: Our big reunion in LA wouldn’t be complete without networking events—something that our regular conference attendees look forward to all year. You’ll have plenty of time to reconnect with old friends, meet new colleagues, expand your client base, and discover opportunities to collaborate. Attend the Job Fair and visit the Exhibit Hall to chat with representatives from language services companies, sponsors, and exhibitors. Join the Stronger Together Networking session to brainstorm new business ideas and meet like-minded colleagues, and make new connections at the fun and fast-paced Speed Networking event.

Looking for a chance to discuss business-related challenges? Attend the popular Brainstorm Networking event to tackle real-world business dilemmas with colleagues and work together on finding solutions. And if this is your first conference, you don’t want to miss the Buddies Welcome Newbies event, where you can pair up with an experienced colleague and learn tips and tricks for navigating ATA63 and making the best of this experience.

I’m very excited about the Welcome Celebration and the American Foundation for Translation and Interpretation Game Night, but there will be plenty of other great events to look forward to—from our popular Book Fair to the After Hours Café, themed breakfast tables, the Conference Dance Party, and more.

Help Shape the Association’s Future: And, of course, you don’t want to miss ATA updates at the Opening Session and the Annual Meeting of All Members, and a chance to celebrate our distinguished colleagues being honored with ATA Awards this year. We’ll also hear from the candidates for ATA’s Board election (a huge thanks to all the extraordinary candidates running for director positions this year!). Remember that our Association is only as strong as our volunteers, whose energy and enthusiasm are key to ATA’s growth. Please check if you’re a Voting member—and if you’re not, go through the Active Membership Process or submit proof of being a credentialed interpreter so you can vote in this year’s ATA Election.

The Conference App Is Back: This year marks the return of the conference app! It’s scheduled to launch at the end of September, so look for updates on the conference website. You’ll be able to fill out your profile, connect with other conference attendees, build your schedule, and get conference updates. This is also a reminder to update your résumé, ATA Directory profile, LinkedIn page, website, and business cards so you put your best foot forward as you make new connections at ATA63.

Book Your Hotel Room Today: If you haven’t made your hotel and travel reservations yet, now is the time! Our conference hotel is truly stunning—it’s even been featured in several popular movies and TV series! There’s something for everyone here—from the buzzing lobby bar to a quiet atrium, fully equipped gym, heated outdoor pool, indoor jogging track, full-service spa, a brewery, gift shop, and several restaurants. Located in downtown Los Angeles, the hotel is within walking distance from restaurants, shopping centers, museums, and entertainment venues.

So, book your room at the Westin Bonaventure hotel today before the room block fills up. We have a discounted rate of $249 (single/double occupancy), $269 (triple), and $289 (quadruple), available for booking directly through the conference website. ATA rates are available until September 16, 2022, or as space allows. Remember, if you make your reservation at the conference hotel by September 16, you could be one of five lucky attendees randomly selected to win one free night’s lodging! If you’re looking for a roommate or a ride, head to the ATA63 Conference blog.

Spread the Word!

I cannot wait to see you at ATA63 in a few short months! I know that attending a conference is an investment, but I promise you’ll be glad you made it. Apart from being a top-notch educational opportunity, this is a chance to grow as a professional and as a business owner. Nothing compares to the in-person connections you make with colleagues and clients, not to mention the feeling that you’re among “your people” who truly get what you do, who you are, and what our profession means to you.

Need a glimpse of what ATA63 will offer and bring back memories of last year’s conference? Then check out the “Get a Glimpse of ATA63” page on the conference website and get ready for an unforgettable week in LA on October 12-15, 2022. You can use the hashtag #ATA63 on social media to see updates from the conference team, speakers, and fellow conference attendees, and help us spread the word about ATA’s 63rd Annual Conference. See you in Los Angeles!