Tooting Your Own Horn is a MUST for Marketing ASL
We all know about the importance of marketing ASL. It is our responsibility to always make sure we ‘toot our own horn’ about ASL, Deaf Studies, Deaf History, Deaf Role Models. and successful programs which enriches the livelihood of the Deaf community.
There is an upcoming conference in this coming April. The conference is called “Deaf Studies Today! 2008: Montage”
First of all, I was really impressed with the quality of the conference.
There are four keynote presenters, Dr. Paddy Ladd, Dr. MJ Bienvenu, Ms. Ella Mae Lentz, and Mr. Samuel Kwesi Asare from Ghana.
Not only that, this conference will have 50 (yes, FIFTY!) presentations! These topics covers all of the aspects about Deaf Studies, American Sign Language, Interpretation, Deaf Art, Deaf History, Politics, Deaf Education, and many more…
Now, I am irked because…
I found out TODAY from one person who told me about this about one hour ago!
I was wondering why didn’t the conference planners tooting their own horn about this important conference?
I did some checking around the internet to make sure if there were any other blogs/vlogs announcing this event.
There are not many. That really disappoints me.
I found:
Jamie Berke reported this on her About.com blog in November 27, 2007 which was about three months ago.
Joan Naturale reported on her RIT/NTID’s Library Blog which she posted the letter dated on October 3, 2007 from Bryan Eldredge’s Call for Presenters. That was four months ago.
Dawn Sign Press wrote a very brief announcement about this conference. See this link - Conference Details
There is NO video clip from the conference planners announcing this event. I cannot believe this.
Don’t get me wrong that I am criticizing about this conference. I am trying to make the point why it is really NECESSARY for any organizations to toot their own horn as LOUD as possible.
Use the internet presence to make yourself known. Use video clips to make yourself visible. You may will attract more parents to this conference who wanted to learn a bit about this. What about press release? What about media coverage? What about live video feed? Will someone going to blog about this conference? Build your own momentum to attract the audience!
One quote, I found on the internet that I feel it is worthy to share with you:
“If he who has a thing to sell goes and whispers in a well, he won’t be so apt to make the dollars as he who climbs a tree and hollers!”
– Anonymous
It is okay to TOOT your own horn!
February 24th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Amy.
To tell you the truth, this event was out of my radar, I had no idea about this and I wished that I was more informed about it and could have already made arrangement about going to this important event because I need to learn so much about ASL.
Amy, it shows that we still have a problem about networking to inform deaf people about something like this and just why these people are not aware of this.
(As per John Egbert’s request - this part of his comment is removed).
It takes teamwork to achieve what we need to achieve.
John Egbert
February 24th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Wonderful use of pictures to bring out the mood of your post here. Kudos!
~ LaRonda
February 24th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Amy, you make a very valid point and I think you are right! We need to advertise as much as possible when it comes to conferences and such.
What interests me is that one of the keynote presenters is in DBC, and John Egbert didn’t know about the conference? Hmm.
But anyway, yes… it will require teamwork. I agree with John on that.
February 24th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Deaf Pundit,
I am happy that you agree with me that it will require teamwork to achieve the goal of marketing ASL.
But about me being naive that one of the keynote presenters is in DBC and I did not know about the conference? This person in DBC is a real professional person that is a “keynote presenter” just about every week this year and you expect me to know her agenda every week this year?
The biggest effort that this Deaf Community needs to do is to work together, teamwork, networking, etc. We also need to stop the “oppressors” from demoralizing the Deaf community to achieve our goal to get to the root of the problem in Deaf education and language deprivation.
(As per John Egbert’s request - the part of his comment is removed.)
Deaf Pundit, I am speaking from my heart, not as a representative of DBC.
John
February 24th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Agreed. Philip Moos, the owner of Deaf Times has for many years been circulating deaf news about and from the four corners of the globe to individuals. I am sure that Philip would be only too happy to do if our DBC contact person, John Egbert, would request that he forward any announcement to John directly, and then John would post it on the DBC blog. Visit http://www.DeafTimes.com or .org and click Philip’s email address.
February 25th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Maybe because it is an academic conference - deaf studies is essentially a program of study in colleges. Do they want to keep the audience membership to mostly academics? Have you seen the list of presentations?
Still, I am surprised that the horns are not tooting yet! You are doing a great job as the first tooter I have “heard!” Hmm, what would the visual equivalent of horn tooting be?
February 25th, 2008 at 4:45 am
Deaf Times? Excuse me …. they charge arm and leg just to advertise unless the price had been cut.
As for the Deaf Studies - I have YET to see the UPDATED information on their website showing the schedules of workshops and speakers.
I contacted Bryan Eldredge direct (I know him personally) about it and it has NOT been posted.
http://www.uvsc.edu/asl/deafstudies/schedule06.html
I need to know which day and time certain presenters are going to be on so I can plan to run down from Salt Lake City.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:36 am
John,
You lamented that you wished you knew about this conference. I don’t expect people to tell you about every speech they’re going to make - that is absurd. But for something like this, I am surprised it was not mentioned. If it’s something huge like this, and people know you are interested in topics like this, why not mention it?
And no, I am not advertising about Milwaukee. You guys are doing a fine job of that, but I am doing my part by working with the ASL Think Tank to advocate for ASL.
April 15th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
At the risk of “Tooting my own horn”…
I’ve finally got the DBC Milpitas Rally video edited… It should go up on DeafRead sometime soon, but for now, you can see it at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDeARF6lSX8
Hope you like it!
- Linda