The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2024 - 5

ATA65: An Investment in Yourself
I
ANDY BENZO
president-elect@atanet.org
When you
invest in
yourself,
you'll get the
highest return
on investment
because
it directly
enhances
your skills,
knowledge,
and personal
growth, all of
which have
lasting effects
on your career
and well-being.
n this crucial election year,
keep in mind your most
important vote. Attending
ATA65 means voting for you!
When you invest in yourself,
you'll get the highest return
on investment because it
directly enhances your skills,
knowledge, and personal
growth, all of which have
lasting effects on your career
and well-being.
Attending ATA's 65th
Annual Conference is not just
a professional development
opportunity; it's a necessity
for language professionals
who want to stay competitive
and thrive in this dynamic
environment. Here are some
reasons you should attend:
First and Foremost, the
Human Aspect: In an era
dominated by AI and bots,
there's nothing quite like
coming together to celebrate
our humanity. I've described
ATA's Annual Conference as
a Disneyland for Linguists.
It's the only place where you
can meet a thousand people
eager to discuss a comma
placement or the many
nuances of a word for hours.
The energy and excitement
you feel during the entire
conference lasts just long
enough until the next one.
We start with the Connect
and Celebrate Welcome
Reception, a time to meet old
friends and make new ones.
We follow it with the Keep
Connecting and Celebrating
with Divisions and Special
Interest Groups event, where
you can meet the people with
whom you've shared many
Zoom calls. These events are
a chance to mingle and be
merry! (For a quick overview
of everything ATA65
offers, visit the " Schedule
at a Glance " page on the
conference website.)
Networking: This is
absolutely crucial at
conferences. In Portland,
you'll have numerous
opportunities such as Buddies
Welcome Newbies, Stronger
Together Networking,
Brainstorm Networking, and
themed tables at breakfast
(e.g., ChatLTD " Breakfast
Club, " Student Breakfast
Meetup, Mentors and
Mentees, etc.). Seize every
opportunity available to
network! You'll find the full
list of networking events on
the ATA65 website.
Professional Development:
With over 168 hours of
professional development,
spanning a wide variety
of language pairs,
specializations, and industry
trends, ATA65 promises
something for every language
professional. We have
language- and subjectspecific
tracks with plenty
American Translators Association 5

https://www.atanet.org/ata65/schedule-glance/ https://www.atanet.org/ata65/networking/ https://www.atanet.org/ata65/schedule-glance/ https://www.atanet.org/ata65/networking/

The ATA Chronicle - September/October 2024

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