Viewer testimonials about the 2022 Camden Conference
Audience reactions to the Conference:
Being at the conference in person is the best! However, during Covid or if you are unable to be there in person, it is wonderful to have the online option. We are always amazed at your timely choice of subjects, and this year perhaps even more than usual, the subject allowed us to process events in Ukraine that were unfolding as the speaker’s spoke. What an incredible asset to the community. Thank you all for your perseverance and hard work!
An excellent event! Of course, the timing – given Russia’s aggression – was truly uncanny. A year ago we might have thought the focus on Europe would be interesting but not so critical (or alarming) to global stability as it turned out to be. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentations and learned much from the speakers – took notes like a college student! I also participated in the Conference’s community programs by giving a talk on Eastern Europe since the fall of the Soviet Union at three libraries and two other venues.
Congratulations on another outstanding conference! I’m sure I’m not alone in commending all of the panelists for changing their presentations so masterfully to incorporate the developing situation in Ukraine. Kudos to Moderator David Brancaccio who was well-prepared for the planned topic but adapted quickly to the unfolding events. To accommodate as many people as possible, providing options for in person gatherings plus “at home” would be appreciated! That can also help with winter weather conditions, people who can’t drive long distances, space limitations, etc. Due to the necessity of focusing on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it would be enlightening to have a mid-year discussion with some of the panelists to discuss Europe as originally envisioned for the Conference. There was so much that needed to be discussed that couldn’t be due to the Russian actions. It would also be very interesting to get some of the panelists’ take on how Europe has responded to these unprecedented challenges/crisis. Perhaps a special “mini” CF for a lesser fee to keep people informed and engaged. Many thanks to Kim and Lauren, and the Board for your year-round work and to Jim and the technical staff for presenting another thought provoking, flawless, and meaningful conference!
One of my favorite events of the year, every year, even when virtual, and this year was no exception. Thank you.
Fabulous conference very well organized and technically very well managed.
You certainly give timely conferences! And you decide a year ahead–that’s amazing but it happens year after year. The “surprise visitor” from Russia was as fabulous this year as he was in the past. What an amazing line-up of speakers you have.
Camden Conference was very prescient in their choice of topic I didn’t miss a second of this year’s broadcast.
The topic could not have been more timely and the knowledge and expertise of the participants went way beyond my expectations.
It was as if we were in the top echelon of information, so different from watching or listening to the news or reading stories I was very absorbed in all the presentations. In fact I was exhausted by be end of the. Conference, but pleasantly so 🙂
I actually loved the opportunity to experience the speakers in their own settings most especially the Arctic conference but also this one. Having the Russian journalist/scholar join us again was pure brilliance. I kept expecting his door to be smashed open and him arrested before our eyes. (Even last year). So while the intimacy of face to face is unbeatable, I hope the powers of the CC will also realize the excitement of “you are there” to those attending.
IMO, the Camden Conference continues to be the most informative, excellent and important media event in the country! As someone said, “it is our own Davos “! The chosen speakers are always extraordinary, and I’m sure they come away from the Conference inspired and grateful for such a unique collegial discussion. I only wish there could be thousands more in virtual attendance as it is that relevant!
Phenomenally important and timely conference. Maybe the best we have attended — despite having to be virtual. Cannot overstate how much better informed about the Ukraine-Russia war we feel after this weekend with your expert speakers. Kudos to David Brancaccio for another superb moderating job. The technical “glitches” this year were many fewer than last year; only problem seemed to be periodic “re-booting” by Vimeo that caused us to miss little chunks of the presentations. We found the audience questions to be more focused and succinct when presented online than they tend to be when live in the Opera House. Perhaps this was David’s skill at consolidating and summarizing but overall the Q&A sessions seemed much more informative and substantive than they sometimes are. A final note: being able to bring Sergei Medvedev back was perhaps the highlight of the conference. A real testimony to the relationships you have built over the years with these key players in geopolitics and the esteem in which they hold the Camden Conference organization. Congratulations to all of you on a spectacularly well planned and presented event. We look forward, as always, to next year.
This was amazing. I am one of the high school teachers and my students were so blown away and excited by everything they learned this weekend. This was astonishingly relevant and informative. Camden Conference weekend is always one of my favorite weekends of the year and this was probably the best yet!