2009 Conference: Wet and Wonderful
Zac Colton and Jameson Atkinson give two thumbs up for this year's conference.
Smiles were bright at the Oley annual conference in St. Petersburg, Florida, this June, even if the sun wasn’t. The daily rains didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits and—to look at the bright side—kept most of us from having to worry about sunburns (most, but not all!) and dehydration. Conference sessions were stimulating and well received, the social activities and fundraisers were great successes, and many friendships were made and/or cemented.
At our welcome reception on Monday, we looked back at Oley’s past as we celebrated Joan Bishop’s twenty-fifth anniversary with the organization, and at the Town Hall meeting on Thursday, we looked to Oley’s future as many members contributed ideas and suggestions for next year’s conference and Oley programs. In the two days sandwiched in between, we chose between presentations by over thirty experts in the homePEN field, visited the booths of more than twenty-five exhibitors, swung to the beat of the steel drums, built boats from cardboard boxes, and walked on the beach.
Oley conferences, and especially the annual conference, offer a unique opportunity to learn, whether you’re in a formal presentation or in conversation at the buffet line. We learn from each other, as well as from the presenters and exhibitors, and we offer each other support. But don’t just take it from me. Read some of the comments from conference-goers on the Oley forum: www.inspire.com/groups/oley-foundation/discussion/conference-4/.
If you missed the
conference, the slide presentations are posted at
www.oley.org/Conference_Presentations.html, and the main sessions
will be available soon on DVD at
www.oley.org/video_dvd.html. Or call (800)
776-OLEY for a copy. We hope you can join
us next year in Saratoga Springs!
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Congratulations Oley
Award Winners!