Another 3 Am morning to meet Denise at 4Am for our flight to Pittsburgh. We were picked up by Lloyd and Connie Lingle for transport to the hotel where we checked in and got ready to meet everyone at 6:30 for dinner. There was more early arrivals than could be seated at one table so we were a bit spread about but all had a great time anyway. The specialty sandwiches, which I had to try, were a bit different as they put cole slaw and french fries ON or IN the sandwich. They were actually very good and I loved the cole slaw. We returned to the hotel and Tess and Clarence had arrived. There had been some movement on the rental of the CA Foundation building so Wendy, Tess, Clarence and myself retreated to the Alvey room to discuss. Tess called David, our realtor, and gave him our counter proposal. We then went down to the hotel restaurant for a drink before retiring for the night. I had a great suite all to myself while Wendy and Denise had the connecting room.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Denise, Wendy and I had breakfast with Tess and Clarence before having the hotel shuttle take us to Walmart to pick up supplies for the presidential assistants gathering, the first ladies reception and for Herbie and the political advisors meeting. We called the hotel and they sent the shuttle to pick us up and return to the hotel. After stowing all the supplies the shuttle driver was kind enough to take us to the Harmony Village. This was built by the Harmonist society that I had never heard of but in the early 1800's George Rapp broke off from the Lutheran church and formed his own society in Germany where they were so persecuted that they all traveled to the US where they were the first settlers in Pennsylvania. After about ten years they moved to Illinois and built a settlement but after a few years there decided to return to Pennsylvania where many of the buildings are preserved today. They believed that they were the last people to be on Earth and that Jesus would come to claim them. They were very industrious and built many manufacturing facilities which also became financially rewarding. After our guided tour of the area and an individual stroll we called the hotel for the shuttle to come and retrieve the group.
When we returned the hospitality room was opening and the early arrivals started to beam in. I met with Mike and Newton to discuss the Liaison duties and goals for the year. The relationship with the Jaycees is doing well and that is one of our major priorities.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Started the morning getting things ready for the presidential assistants meeting at 10 AM. During the meeting I gave Denise and Wendy their new jackets with my logo and had gifts for the PA's as well. They all received a silver necklace with the Turkish good luck charms (the all seeing eye) as well as a few other items. We discussed the agenda for the weekend and each PA's duties. We had time to just relax and chat for a while and finish off the mimosas as well.
At 11Am the California Delegation came up for a short meeting where I had the opportunity to express my thanks for their attendance and support. There was also some conversation about the 2010 Concord meeting and how the presentation would be handled at the business meeting. Everyone worked on the food and champagne before dispersing. We went to the hospitality room where Frank Butler was there and was waiting for Bill Cheesman to arrive. When Bill arrived we retired to the hotel bar to have a short talk among old friends. The committee meetings were starting so Denise and I made our rounds to each meeting for my short Rah, Rah talk. We finished just in time to make the bus to the Baseball game.
The game lasted a bit long and I had to get the Officers and VP's back for the Executive Committee meeting. At the 7th inning we had one of the two buses loaded to get us back to the hotel. There were also may others that wished to leave early and there was 28 on the return bus. Convened the meeting at 10:30 (1/2 hour late) and the meeting went smoothly until Bid Review. During the Bid Review Committee meeting the Florida committee wanted to raise the registration fee to $65 since they had printed that amount on their form. The committee voted (not unanimously) to increase. The executive committee vote was a 50/50 split so it came to me to break the tie. I am bound by the bylaws and policy which states that the registration fee will be between $50 and $60 unless a waiver is requested. No such waiver was requested when the meeting was submitted to the BOD for approval and the contract was signed at the $60 rate. Florida had sent an initial document that confirmed that they would abide to all policy requirements and there was not any request to deviate from bylaws when proposed. My vote was to not approve the rate increase. Registration stands at $60. Ron Whitmore was furious but the rest of the Florida delegation accepted the decision and will put on a great meeting as always. The Exec meeting was adjourned in an hour. Time for a short stay in the hospitality room then to bed,
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Up, had coffee in the suite and prepared for the BOD meeting at 9Am. We convened about 5 minutes late due to some nonworking sound system. Katina had set up for a display of the logo and the theme music to start the meeting but we had to dispense with the music. The Regional Vice Presidents beamed into the meeting room all dressed in Spock headgear and they played the part to the hilt while giving their reports.
The meeting went well and we adjourned by 11:30AM.
Lunch was served in the hospitality room where I did partake with a few hundred of my close friends. I accepted an invitation to say a few words to the DC Senate meeting at 1:30PM. They have upwards of 48 members now although they are all dual members. They just charge the $5 national dues to become a member. I had a chance to get to the suite for an hour to lie down and relax until time for the evenings festivities. Wendy and I stopped by the Canadian Reception at 5 PM then proceeded to the banquet room at 5:30PM. After dinner we finished all the Foundation awards then during the presidential raffle drawing one of the entertainment group had a heart attack (he eventually died at the hospital). This really put a damper on the festivities but WOW how quickly the nurses and EMT's responded to that gentleman's emergency. They continued to administer CPR until the paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital.
I adjourned the meeting immediately and asked everyone to move to the hospitality room and everyone did so quickly. Chaplain Larry Bohn said a prayer for those assembled in the hospitality room and I thanked everyone for their caring and concern for someone they had never met and for the most part did not know. What a caring family of Senators.
The evening ended on an upbeat note and everyone was having a great time with all their friends. I went around to each table and thanked them for coming while also saying my goodbyes.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Up in the morning, packed by bags and went down to the hospitality room for coffee. Then it was back to the suite and schlepping my bags to the lobby where I would meet Harry and Sandy Kolodner for the drive to their home and a week traveling through Region 3.
No comments:
Post a Comment