Before starting I was calling it the best conference ever. I was of course excited about the role I played, but more excited about the people i'll see, including of course the MC. Tai (who I think is constantly testing me) emailed me late at night to ask for a report (I of course finished it, but still, so busy with last minute prep) One of the last things I did before the conference was meet up with Sam to work on a video for the MC (which we scrapped since we didn't have good footage).
Please note, I take out the conference agenda to help reflect on each day by how I found the sessions, so you'll either have to read the delegate package, or ask.
I actually just realized that this could very well have been my last NLDC but I guess the AIESEC part of my life had to end one day. Anyways, so I was travelling to the conference with Sam & Emil, we left quite early. LCP Summit & Legislation Fair went well, there were originally 3 LCs missing but 2 of them got sorted out. I met Taco, who's actual name is Taco, he is really cool. My speech about the motions to change the LC Minimum Standards document went well. Opening plenary was pretty good, there were some technical errors which luckily got sorted out so we got to complete it. Regional Rowdiness was okay, it gave me time to work on my secret assignment given to me by the incoming MC team (which was to film testimonials from AIESECers about outgoing MC members). I did not go to the party the first night.
External Day is usually a good day since it's supposed to be about work & is really professional. I went to both sessions & actually really enjoyed them. The first session by Colin Baril, I was asked to help with powerpoint, & as a reward was given an AIESEC pen with an AIESEC pen holder!!! The next session was fun because there were some people I knew in it & we were joking around during it, while also learning about ourselves & how we should work with others.
Meeting the Board is always great, this time they made it even better by letting us get together in break out groups to talk about the respective subcommittee topics. I met with Ted Kouri & will miss not having him around as much, but am happy about Colin being the next Chair. We were supposed to meet to discuss LC development but didn't get a chance to so i'm emailing him about some of the things i'm doing now or soon. Michelle (Incoming AIVPComm) was around for Lunch/Career Fair, & she remembered me from the party hosted by Kurt in Toronto she we talked for a bit. I was asked to take notes for the Board during Stakeholder Satisfaction (which I did, typed up & sent to Assem) I thought it was a great session, but underutilized as not too many questions about how we can do our job better were asked. The best comment came after our marketing calls, Brian was saying something & at the end of it, Mike Torres said "Brian stand up" which he was doing, but since he is vertically challenged it was hilarious! Mike also asked the person from P&G if they wanted to take an intern, which was totally what I was thinking about! I really hope the internships get raising as they should have after that session.
We had 2 really powerful sessions at the conference, impact & a session over dinner about hunger/poverty.
The party the second night was crazy!
Living our vision was a session I was looking forward since it was discussing AIESEC Internationally & comparing our current state to the ideal state. It did not disappoint. I only wish it got into more detail, but Isabel told me how they did for LCPs. Leadership engine was pretty good as well (maybe i'm baised because I was in Karolina's group!)
Year in Review was as usual a great session, I think LCs need to step up & do the same (some LCs do!) Again they had break out groups for us to discuss somethings further, I went to Assems group
Ultimate AIESEC really threw me off since it was basically a break from the intensity of the conference, similarly to the video on fish, however it was going outside to play. For the most part I was talking to some people, but then I got involved in a red rover game!
Then of course there are the tracks. This year I was at Finance tracks, I was called a traitor by Assem, but I know it was the right choice for me since I wanted to learn more for my CEED & to train my team & I wanted to connect with VPFs, to help with the external relations of the MQB.
I did not go out that night, but stayed up late talking to different people, mostly Sam. I wasn't sure if I was going to go out anyways since it was legislation the next day.
CSR session was pretty good, we saw a part of The Corporation, which if you haven't seen yet I would recommend watching. Then we discussed the case with general questions in a breakout group. I've been thinking a lot about AIESEC impact & it is creating the change agents which we need in society.
The party the fourth night was also crazy, maybe even more than the other one!
I was asked to help with Developing Leaders session by introducing the speaker in the break out group. Summer Action Satisfaction was okay since I got to talk to others about their summer plans, CEEDs or Internships. I wanted to stay with York to discuss last years CD activity, one of my goals for the conference was to develop a stronger relationship with my home LC, in some ways I hope I did, but I guess i'll know when I get back.
Handover was an emotional set of 3 videos, I had been talking about it before, about how I really connected with this team, saw them quite often, worked with them on small things, my involvement with AIESEC saw Araz go from MCVPCD to AI Director & Karolina from MCRVP to MCVPX & then there are other connections with other MC members, so I said that I don't want to sit in the front during handover since I didn't want to cry. The MC asked me to help them by playing the videos!
I was not up for a party during banquet, maybe it's because of handover, maybe it's because I knew I was leaving soon for the summer (at this point I didn't know it was the next day since I was having flight issues)
I was going to add more but the conference is long over now, i'll try & post pictures soon!
