Around
the World in 60 Days?
It
always seems like once we celebrate Memorial Day our
summer is on the fast-track and before we know it, Labor
Day has arrived and the kids are back in school. We
have graduations, weddings, picnics, trips to the beach,
and family vacations, among other activities. Of
course, let's not forget the NALS regional conferences. This
summer there are eight conferences being held in various
parts of the country, offering outstanding educational
and networking opportunities for our members. Regional
conferences have the same flair and flavor of a NALS
conference, but on a smaller scale.
Granted
most to the attendees are from the region where the conference
is held, but in the last few years, more and more members
are taking a step "outside the box" and traveling
to a conference in a region different from their own. This
year's conferences are being held in Novi, Michigan;
Green Bay, Wisconsin; Salt Lake City, Utah; Boise, Idaho;
Dallas, Texas; New York City; Baltimore, Maryland; and
Mobile, Alabama - where members will take an educational
cruise en route to Cozumel, Mexico.
How
many of you remember the old Dinah Shore commercials
where Dinah told us to "See the USA in your Chevrolet?" As
NALS president, one of the most enjoyable "tasks" is
being able to visit with members at regional conferences
all around the country. No, I didn't see the USA
in my Chevrolet, but by the end of the summer, I will
have had the pleasure of being able to attend four regional
conferences in less than 60 days. Yes, I would
have loved to attend each and every regional conference,
but some conferences were held the same weekend and without
the NALS jet, it's impossible to attend two conferences
in different parts of the country in one weekend. I'm
good at traveling, but certainly not that good!
My
summer started off with a quick drive up I-75 to the
Region 3 conference near Detroit, a mere 4-hour drive
from home. As always, it was great to spend time
with my fellow regional members whom I have gotten to
know quite well over the years and who have become very
special friends.
By
the middle of July, I was leaving on a jet plane for
Salt Lake City to clown around at the Region 8 conference. I
haven't spent a lot of time visiting the "West" and
it was my first trip to Utah. It's pretty flat
in Ohio so it's a wonderful change of pace to be in a
city surrounded by beautiful mountains. The first
conference I attended as a NALS officer was the Region
8 conference, and it was a lot of fun to go back and
visit with my friends (both old and new) from the West.
Who
needs sleep? Certainly not NALS members! My
next stop was a trip to the Big Apple, the city that
never sleeps, for education, networking, a little sightseeing,
shopping and a Broadway show.
Ahoy,
Mate! My last trip of the summer will be on the
first-ever regional cruise. We'll set sail for
Cozumel from Mobile, Alabama on the Region 4 Carnival
Cruise. It will be interesting to see how we pull
off 12 hours of CLE while having fun in the sun and visiting
a "foreign country" as well.
NALS regional
conferences are a great way to learn, have fun and meet members
from all over the country. Don't let another summer
go by without attending a regional conference. Make
plans to attend a 2007 NALS regional conference! It's
a decision you won't regret.
