"Dare to Be You" at the 22nd Annual NetIP Conference!
By Rachna Kapur
September 10, 2013
September 10, 2013
Network of Indian Professional's (NETIP) 22nd Annual Conference brought over 400 attendees from coast to coast and overseas to the beautiful city of San Francisco over Labor Day Weekend. This year's theme was "Dare to be You". The NetIP Conference encompassed a wide range of events from cocktail parties, wine tastings, a scavenger hunt and a special tour of Alcatraz Island. Depending on interest level, attendees could pick and choose which events to attend.
The weekend began with a Welcome Reception on Friday night featuring a well-known San Francisco Improv group "End Games". The group performed Improv on stage and then had attendees break out into groups where they played interactive games. This allowed participants to meet others in a fun way!
On Saturday morning, the Third Annual Day of Service began where volunteers built hygiene packets for the homeless that were distributed in the Community. The weekend continued with optional events such as a Scavenger Hunt around Downtown San Francisco led by "Clash" and a Wine Tasting event by "Patel Vineyard".
The conference went on with educational panels which featured doctors, matchmakers and subject matter experts. One speaker was Comedian Rajiv Satyal who stated "I had a great time at NetIP, I participated in a panel, recorded a podcast with two working actors in LA, and headlined the Closing Night Gala. I feel that NetIP and I have been building a symbiotic relationship for years and that was the culmination of it. It continues as NetIP LA/OC is sponsoring my one-man show. I truly appreciate the support of NetIP and its members".
Saturday night the participants gathered at Minna Art Gallery for an open mic, which was hosted by SubDrift San Franscisco. At the open mic more than a
dozen participants took stage and took the conference theme to heart. The performances included Poetry readings, Dances, and Comedy Acts. The
night continued with a fashion runway show displaying chic styles from CBAZAAR.
The conference concluded with a formal gala on Sunday night where comedian Rajiv Satyal, “The Funny Indian,” headlined the evening and brought about a lot of laughter to the audience. The Formal Gala also did a matching rally to raise funds for Smithsonian’s new exhibit called “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans
shape the Nation.” By the end of the night, the attendees and sponsor matches totaled up to a remarkable $23,000 that will be donated to this exhibit on
behalf of NetIP.
The conference was a great way to network, exchange ideas, learn through various panels and make lifelong friends. Next year's conference is slated to be in Atlanta, for more information on the conference and future conferences visit http://www.netip.org