National Conferences

To Conference or Not to Conference:
Is There Really Any Question?

In challenging economic environments, with business, schools, and individuals forced to make tough decisions about expenditures, it’s more important than ever to consider which investments offer the strongest return. These decisions are particularly important when it comes to opportunities for career advancement.

Annual conferences are among the most useful activities for students and professionals to engage in, offering a venue for networking, education, and employment recruitment. Conferences can also provide welcome support to those who may at times feel isolated and excluded in mainstream workplace and school settings. The connections and sense of community formed in a conference setting can serve an essential role throughout the entire arc of your career.

Furthermore, as useful a tool as online job hunting resources can be, the face-to-face value of conference attendance is undeniable. Conferences create opportunities for direct encounters with potential employers – or hires. Diversity conferences offer the added benefit of providing a means for learning about and experiencing cultural differences in a genial and relaxed setting. Sitting down to share a meal, or participating in a traditional event, provides a window for understanding both the values of others and your own sense of self.

The structure and purpose of the AISES National Conference resonates with Native sensibilities, according to Pamala Silas, CEO of The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). She notes that Native people are very interested in and deeply value relationships. Further, she points out face-to-face meeting is essential to the recruiting process because it provides a basis for relationship-building that is ultimately crucial to successful recruitment and retention of employees and students.

The “cultural connection” is of particular significance within the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) community, whose representation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields remains proportionately less than that of other under-represented groups in the U.S. and Canada. It was to create this sense of community, support, and advocacy that AISES was founded in 1978. The annual AISES National Conference is a key component of the AISES mission of substantially increasing the representation of American Indian and Alaska Natives in the STEM fields.

Like all AISES events, its National Conference is convened with a prayer, typically offered by Elders. According to Silas, "This reminds attendees of their obligations as human beings and to each other that while you’re here studying and getting your credentials, you have an obligation because you are connected to all things, to be a good human being, to be good brothers and sisters, to be good aunties and uncles, to take the decisions and the talents you have and do good with them. And that sets the pace for the rest of the AISES Conference.”

Justifying Conference Participation
In belt-tightening economies corporations, government agencies, and schools are limiting how many individuals they send to conferences – meaning more and more conference attendees are paying their own way. If you are seeking to gain attendance sponsorship from your employer or school, stress the many benefits of conference attendance, such as the abundance of networking and learning opportunities offered in one convenient venue. In regards to the AISES National Conference, stress that this is the premiere venue of its kind, a uniquely valuable “one-stop shop” for its many constituents. AISES is committed to providing its student and event participants with high value, and giving its corporate partners consider the event a priority for them from year to year. 

For Pre-College, College, and Graduate Students, the AISES National Conference offers the chance to:
• Deepen your understanding of career paths in the STEM field
• Learn skills that will help you be better prepared for college, grad school, or the workplace
• Meet representatives from higher education institutions, and learn more about scholarships, internships and other opportunities
• Meet companies and organizations that are committed to advancing opportunity and access to the AI/AN community
• Gain hands on experience in developing your college application and/or resume
• Enjoy a gathering of people with similar interests, leading to networking and friendship
• Experience potential ways to find a mentor, or become one

Professionals attending the AISES National Conference are able to:
• Enhance your career through access to the latest information in your field
• Mentor students and other young professionals
• Bolster the reputation of your company or organization within the AI/AN community
• Network extensively with your peers
• Gain access to information about jobs and hiring trends

Educators and Business Leaders attending the AISES National Conference can:
• Remain abreast of advancements in trends and developments in the STEM disciplines
• Network extensively with your peers
• Generate awareness for your company or institution as committed to equal opportunity
• Meet talented prospective candidates for degree programs, employment, or research
• Establish and sustain your relationship with the AISES family

And of course, everyone at the AISES National Conference has tremendous opportunities to enjoy traditional cultural activities and have fun!

Prep for Success
Whether you have prevailed in securing sponsorship to attend the conference, or are opting to foot the bill yourself, it is important to determine which connections and resources are most important for you to make, personally and professionally. Study the pre-conference literature to determine which topics and speakers will be presented. Consider what questions you need answered and map out strategies to get them addressed. Consider making a list of goals – or even a mission statement – to properly position yourself to gain the most benefit from your experience.

Recent M.A. laureate Kristina Halona is one who credits the AISES National Conference experience with helping her career. Kristina, who holds a recent Master’s Degree from George Washington University in engineering management with an emphasis on aerospace engineering and technology, says "I took advantage of the career fair and networking opportunities at the 2008 AISES National Conference and kept in contact with various companies and individuals throughout the spring semester. Before I knew it, I had job interviews lined up, despite the slumping economy. These (companies) want to help (AISES’) members succeed and AISES certainly played a part in my pursuit to obtain an engineering position.

"I encourage everyone to attend an AISES National Conference, and to take advantage of the many programs AISES has to offer – whether it be to find a new job, learn more about scholarships and/or internships, or just to network and gain support from the AISES family. It is important to consistently hone your professional skills and AISES can definitely help in that regard no matter what the state of the economy is."

For more information about the AISES National Conference or other events, the Leadership Conference for college students, and the National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair for high school students, visit our website: www.aises.org or contact the Events Officer, Sandy Langelier at (505) 765-1052 ext. 108 or sandy@aises.org.

Photo credits: J. Weidlein. Adapted from an article by Barbara Wakshul served as Marketing Director of Winds of Change magazine when this article was published in the Summer, 2009 issue.se