Convention Followup
The convention was wonderful! Stay tuned for reports on what we learned, what we saw and what we did.
Michigan Society Hosts Special Reception
On Wednesday, July 27, the Michigan Society will host a welcome reception for attendees and their spouses, sponsored by ORG. Our sponsor has opened its showroom across the street from the Amway Grand Hotel, connected on the second floor by skywalk. Welcome baskets await each guest, and a complimentary bottle of wine will be presented to the first forty-eight members! Sample local wines at a wine tasting event hosted by Lake Effect Winery. Find something special, and they will ship your purchase home as a special 2011 convention souvenir! Help yourself to hors d’oeuvres and take a stroll through the showroom. ORG represents The Stow Company, which makes storage solutions including closet organizers and organization systems for the garage, pantry, home office, media area and more. All of their beautiful products are displayed in a living environment which is sure to impress. The reception will begin immediately following the Delegates Meeting, which is scheduled until 6:30pm on Wednesday, and it will continue for an hour or so until the dinner hour. So greet old friends and meet new ones at the Michigan Welcome Reception.
The Art Coast of Michigan
On Friday, July 29, AIBD those who register for the Spouse/Guest Tour will be treated to a special glimpse of West Michigan. They will travel to the village of Saugatuck, a quaint little town situated in the dune lands of Michigan. Right where the Kalamazoo River makes its last bends before it empties into Lake Michigan is a small town with big appeal. On the way to their destination, tour members will be introduced to the village’s history and features by one of the locals. She will explain its rich cultural history and its thriving arts culture which enjoys a national reputation. Upon arrival the guests will board the Star of Saugatuck for an excursion down the river, boarded on each side by towering dunes, and finally turning out onto the ‘big lake’ for a view back to the shoreline. After returning to the village, take time to meander thru town and duck into the art galleries and specialty shops which line Main Street. But don’t just shop! Check out the waterfront area where the yachts dock daily. Or ask the driver for a quick shuttle back to Oval Beach, where you can take off your shoes and tickle your toes in the sand. Oval Beach is ranked by some in the country’s top five, and among the top 25 in the world! For a special way to appreciate the dunes take a 35 minute dune schooner ride (not included in tour), or climb Mount Baldy for spectacular views of Lake Michigan. So much to see, so little time! Don’t miss it!
Where Are You Going From Here?
There may be nothing we can personally do about the current state of the economy, the housing market, the weather or the proverbial price of tea in China. But we do have complete control over how we respond to and adapt to all that is changing around us. It’s a new day that demands a new way of understanding, of thinking, of doing.
If you are like others, you are wearing more hats than ever before. Pack them all along with your “thinking cap” and connect with your industry to converse, contribute, discover and rejuvenate. Leave the convention equipped and prepared to face a new day and a new decade.
Your convention committee has designed a program that is a must to attend. Please join us in Grand Rapids, Michigan and return home with a new perspective, a burst of momentum and plenty of new ideas and knowledge. Are you ready to take the leap?
Your convention chair,
Viki Wooster
What's the Big Idea?
The Times They Are A-Changin’, said Dylan. The housing industry has been a-changin’ at an especially rapid pace lately. New this year at the AIBD Convention, we are introducing an “Idea Swap”, designed for small-group networking and discussion on a variety of topics that affect our profession here and now. This promises to be a lively incubator of great ideas and solutions to 21st century challenges. Box? What box? Learn more about the Idea Swap on the Education page.
Photo credits: istockphoto.com
