Thursday in New Orleans (for AEs)
Arrived a day later than planned due to flight cancellations in Maine yesterday. So missed my favorite AE program this morning -- the Legal Seminar for state/board counsel and AEs -- but did quiz a Florida AE about it on the shuttle bus to the convention center. She said it was even better than usual with the addition of sections explaining association liability for hosting events with liquor; and examples of how associations can lose their non-profit tax status.
There are definitely krewe beads everywhere -- and the bead swap is well underway. The two that seem to be getting a lot of attention are the Hawaii beads (has floral pattern) and the Ohio beads (with a little OSU football dangling). I emptied my computer case of all equipment and files to cart some of the Maine beads to the convention center as my leadership waited for those to arrive too.
NAR was attempting an update session of under 1 hour ("59-1/2 minutes") this afternoon -- and met the challenge. Briefly-- 1) NAR President Update - Big applause for the new "Buy Now" media campaign; planning to continue to push for Small Business Health Plans with THIS Congress too; 2) Chief Lobbyist Jerry G held up a little donkey flag while explaining what we can expect next with the changes in Congress and committees of importance to NAR; 3) David Lereah had his usual excellent charts on the economy -- which I hope will be posted, as they'd be great for our members -- including one that compared this housing market to downturns in earlier decades; 4) NAR Governance (Election Process) Report - potential changes; and 5) Disaster Planning - Work Group recommending seven things for NAR including "disaster response and strike teams," benefits program for off-site data storage and communications programs.
The Inaugural banquet was held tonight, installing the 2007 officers, most notably incoming NAR president Pat Vredevoogd Combs; and the 2007 RVPs and Liaisons, including 2007 AE Liaison Rob Authier of MA. I planned to interview the AE at the worst table there, but it turned out to be .. ME. So opportunity to give a real "bird's eye view". Michigan AE Bill Martin again did a great job as co-emcee, and the very talented and adorable daughter of Grand Rapids AE Julie Reitberg sang the opening patriotic songs. Other notable moments: a) listening to a jazz band -- knowing that NAR donated instruments in lieu of spending money on gifts at the banquet; b) seeing all three former women NAR presidents on stage (Dorcas Helfant-Browning, Sharon Millett, and Cathy Whatley); c) Guy Combs ("first spouse") presented with a golf club instead of something made with a medallion; d) the "getting to know you' video about Pat where we learned her father used to make their family listen to motivational "records of the month," she owns and rides horses -- in her backyard, and boating on a lake helps her with perspective; e) when Pat asked all former or current board/state/national presidents to stand up -- and nearly the entire room stood; and f) the Drifters -- singing their popular hits.
Until tomorrow .....
