I am so happy to helping Maureen, a.k.a. The Speech Bubble, with her blog as she prepares for her little baby! Expecting your first baby is such a special time filled with joy, happiness and a healthy case of nerves. As many of you already know, my first baby is preparing to go off to college. I too am filled with many of the same feelings as Maureen! I wish her all the best as she readies herself for this next big time in her life. Without further adieu, let’s talk about ASHA Connect 2016.
Each July I expectantly wait for what used to be called “ASHA Schools.” These days the conference is referred to as ASHA Connect, as it combines the ASHA Schools and the Health Care and Business Institute Conferences. Yes, the conference provides myriad opportunities for professional development and I avail myself to as much as I can, however for me the best part is always the social aspect. This is where I put the “connect” in “connect.” I offer The Best of ASHA Connect 2016, from the social side!
In an article from Think Positive Magazine by Tenille Shelley, she describes how “Mental cognition is improved by stimulating your brain with as little as ten minutes of contact and conversation with a new person.” Professional conferences afford a wonderful opportunity to stretch your professional limits as well as social. Shelley cites a study in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin [source: psp.sagepub.com], that purports talking to new people and processing social cues arouses your brain and increases cognitive scores.
In the spirit of cognitive development I exercised my social skills and offer the highlights of ASHA Connect 2016!
- A trip to Hell’s Kitchen for dinner: average food and yummy beer.
- Dinner at Barrio where the food was exquisite and the tequila even better! I am honored to report we earned the empty bottle of of Asombroso Tequila!
- Ray Covington Music Group: While I was at first, a little hesitant to go into the bar where this band was playing, I overcame my discomfort and am so glad I did. This man CAN SING!! Some of the best live music I have heard in a while and the dancing was a blast. I met new people and hopefully “increased my cognitive scores!”
- Meeting the ever creative and kind Shanda and Manda of Twin Speech Language and Literacy, LLC. We had become friends through blogging and meeting these two women in person was as awesome as I had expected. We are kindred spirits (live long and prosper).
- Each year I join my colleagues for the ASHA Foundation event. The event offers an opportunity to support the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation and enjoy an aspect of the host city, such as museums, restaurants, or tourist hotspots. In my humble opinion, this year’s event was the pièce de résistance. I should mention, I had fallen asleep and woke up with a start at 6:45, the exact time buses were loading. I RAN from my hotel, through the convention center and was the LAST person to board! PHEW! I am so glad I didn’t miss this experience (and I had gotten my run in)!
- The post ASHA Foundation Event Yeti meet-up. Carol, Christy, Gregg, Bridget, Shanda, and Manda my cheeks hurt from laughing and I reminisced on our fun all the way home, occasionally laughing out loud. Stay tuned for a Yeti update!
After such a wonderful time both professionally and personally, coming home to New Hampshire was a little sad. I have reacclimated to life in a rural area, however I can hardly wait for next year and a trip to the Big Easy!!
Anne Doyle
Doyle Speech Works
Hi Anne. I loved reading your post about ASHA Connect Minneapolis. It was great conference and I’m so glad that you got to try out some local restaurants and meet up with so many SLPs while you were there. The best part of the conference for me was meeting you! You are fun and beautiful and I’m honored to call such an intelligent and talented person a friend! Thanks so much for the mention in the post and for your creative blog and perfect speech materials. I love them all! 🙂 Manda