Acronym

Today is the last day for most of us in San Diego…what a great, GREAT venue! Here are the ups and downs of the conference through my lens…

Sunday, I was unable to get to my first or second choice learning lab (no room!). I settled for number three but it ended up not having relevance to my society nor my position. Then because I am a Circle Club member, I did not know that I had to register for Thought Leader Sessions in advance and by the time I got my tickets, they were full. I have tried to get into one, unsuccessfully the last couple days. HOWEVER, I grabbed six other people (two I knew, four I didn’t) and asked them if they wanted to do a renegade session with me out in the beautiful sunshine near the air hockey table. All I can say is…WOW! With ideas flying, solutions spilling over and an exchange of business cards….this is what ASAE Annual Conference is all about. Meeting people, connecting, sharing and solving. And on a personal note, it didn’t hurt that two of us are horse girls and afterwards, exchanged tips and techniques on our riding habits.

The ideas that I have gotten at the conference have exceeded my expectations. Chicago was great but San Diego truly brought the WOW factor. At a party hosted by San Diego Sunday night, I saw things that were so amazing that I never could have dreamed them up. Wooly go-go boot dancers spinning lighted hula hoops, electric bands and laser light shows, ladies suspended in mid air doing acrobatics that would give a daredevil a run for his money. San Diego, as one of my teammate, Laura, put it is truly “a destination city with a homey, Midwest feel.”

The wine and food classic last night was incredible. I had the pleasure of attending the classic with some of the most hospitable people in town, the representatives from Louisville. I have been to Louisville a few times for conferences and it is also a great venue. Easy to get around, great for entertaining and there is a wonderful brick street area right by the convention center which highlights restaurants, street bands and performers and my favorite, good shopping!

And yes, I admit, I am a “Diamond Girl”…I have heard rumors of a Neil Diamond Cover band playing tonight…if the rumors are true…be sure to see me close to the stage…”Forever in Blue Jeans.”

Finally, let me just comment on how important and effective it has been to come to the conference as a team. As a staff, most of us have met everyday and shared sessions, built upon each others observations and helped each other to expand our network in the association world. We will be meeting to debrief early next week and share with each other and our staffs. One other tip that I found helpful, we sent a list of conference vendors out to our staff before we came and coordinated on which booths were of great interest. I am armed with lots of information for people back home so many more than just the five of us who came to ASAE will continue to benefit from the information that we have gotten here.

I ‘m off to practice “Sweet Caroline” and “I am I Said” just in case I get to hear some Diamond tonight. I’ll see you tonight in the Gaslamp district where I’ll Have my “Heartlights” turned on! :-)

-Megan Mahan