Too Excited To Sleep!
I’d love to have a seat in the Edward R. Jones Dome this morning, just for a chance to watch all the activity going on in preparation for this year’s National Convention. Of course we all know who the star attraction is at this point, and that’s our very own Lady Liberty.
I mentioned a week or so ago about how much media attention this year’s convention is getting because of Lady Liberty, which certainly hasn’t changed with five communities vying for its final resting spot after the Convention. Originally, Crown Point was the front runner, but with so many communities in Northwest Indiana ready to take her in, the anticipation of just where this near life size replica would end up became an event in its own right.
As early as July 25th The Times announced that the 8 foot sections of Lady Liberty were finally finished and ready and preparations had started for St. Louis and the Edward R. Jones Dome. Then a few days later, The Post Tribune begins to anticipate its return to the region and just where she might stand tall and proud. This weekend, The Times attempted to be the first to announce just where Lady Liberty would finally end up, but all we really knew as of Saturday were plans for the big party and parade scheduled for those who wanted to see the sendoff.
It wasn’t until late last night that the Nation found out via WGN America that the final resting spot for Lady Liberty would be July 4th, 2009 at Wolf Lake, in Hammond, Indiana. I have to wonder at this point if Lady Liberty will be facing towards or away from I-90 when it’s complete.
This week however, all focus is in St. Louis for the 2008 National Convention for more than 20,000 people to get the first glimpse of this beauty Friday morning at 9:00AM Central Time. If there has been this much attention going into this years Convention, it’s likely that the announcements made at the Convention will cause an even bigger stir in the weeks following.
Being in the public eye like we are, does have its advantages. ;-P
I’ll be leaving with team members from here in Atlanta first thing Tuesday morning. (Some have already started in that direction.) The Disney commercial with the two little kids keeps running through my head with the line “I’m too excited to sleep!”
With classes and training starting first thing Wednesday morning and ending on Thursday evening with more than 160 classes being conducted and seating from more than 230,000 over the two days, scheduling will be at a premium. General Sessions for all the announcements and awards will begin Friday morning and conclude Saturday afternoon.
That being said, I will have my laptop and camera with me and will certainly be taking notes and pictures with a keen interest in our companies direction and the tools that will be unveiled during the week. Like last year, there will certainly be plenty to write about.
I don’t know at this time however, just how much free time I’m going to have to dedicate to this blog with “Reports from the Field”. While I would certainly like to, (I do enjoy writing here) my schedule with break out meetings, team meetings, and others who want to hook up while in St. Louis might prohibit me from writing as much as I’d like.
Some may know that part of my Newsletter is written on behalf of Tim and Georgia Dominey, Level 2 Directors with the company, and close friends. While discussing the upcoming events of the week, we have discussed the possibility of a couple extra Newsletters to be sent out to the field, which is an easy copy and paste for those that subscribe to the free Newsletter here. This may be the best way to get any updates and news concerning the Convention until I return home a week from today.
For those of you who want to hook up during the Convention, I’d LOVE to meet you! I’ll be staying directly across the street from the America’s Center and the Convention at the Renaissance Grand. Those that have registered for YTBU classes should have a couple of courses at this location, as the courses this year have been expanded. This historic location should be quite a scene this week.
It’s going to be a busy day, so I have to get going. Packing, picking up the passenger van, printing out confirmations, and last minutes phone calls for our teams departure at 6:30am in the morning begins the week of training, seminars, news, and just a little bit of fun with my fellow YTB’ers.
Hope to see YOU at the Convention!
PS - If you’d like to keep up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB feel free to sign up for my FREE Newsletter. Just like here, it’s loaded with food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
Book Your Travel & Vacations With
Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635
I mentioned a week or so ago about how much media attention this year’s convention is getting because of Lady Liberty, which certainly hasn’t changed with five communities vying for its final resting spot after the Convention. Originally, Crown Point was the front runner, but with so many communities in Northwest Indiana ready to take her in, the anticipation of just where this near life size replica would end up became an event in its own right.As early as July 25th The Times announced that the 8 foot sections of Lady Liberty were finally finished and ready and preparations had started for St. Louis and the Edward R. Jones Dome. Then a few days later, The Post Tribune begins to anticipate its return to the region and just where she might stand tall and proud. This weekend, The Times attempted to be the first to announce just where Lady Liberty would finally end up, but all we really knew as of Saturday were plans for the big party and parade scheduled for those who wanted to see the sendoff.
It wasn’t until late last night that the Nation found out via WGN America that the final resting spot for Lady Liberty would be July 4th, 2009 at Wolf Lake, in Hammond, Indiana. I have to wonder at this point if Lady Liberty will be facing towards or away from I-90 when it’s complete.
This week however, all focus is in St. Louis for the 2008 National Convention for more than 20,000 people to get the first glimpse of this beauty Friday morning at 9:00AM Central Time. If there has been this much attention going into this years Convention, it’s likely that the announcements made at the Convention will cause an even bigger stir in the weeks following.
Being in the public eye like we are, does have its advantages. ;-P
I’ll be leaving with team members from here in Atlanta first thing Tuesday morning. (Some have already started in that direction.) The Disney commercial with the two little kids keeps running through my head with the line “I’m too excited to sleep!”
With classes and training starting first thing Wednesday morning and ending on Thursday evening with more than 160 classes being conducted and seating from more than 230,000 over the two days, scheduling will be at a premium. General Sessions for all the announcements and awards will begin Friday morning and conclude Saturday afternoon.
That being said, I will have my laptop and camera with me and will certainly be taking notes and pictures with a keen interest in our companies direction and the tools that will be unveiled during the week. Like last year, there will certainly be plenty to write about.
I don’t know at this time however, just how much free time I’m going to have to dedicate to this blog with “Reports from the Field”. While I would certainly like to, (I do enjoy writing here) my schedule with break out meetings, team meetings, and others who want to hook up while in St. Louis might prohibit me from writing as much as I’d like.
Some may know that part of my Newsletter is written on behalf of Tim and Georgia Dominey, Level 2 Directors with the company, and close friends. While discussing the upcoming events of the week, we have discussed the possibility of a couple extra Newsletters to be sent out to the field, which is an easy copy and paste for those that subscribe to the free Newsletter here. This may be the best way to get any updates and news concerning the Convention until I return home a week from today.
For those of you who want to hook up during the Convention, I’d LOVE to meet you! I’ll be staying directly across the street from the America’s Center and the Convention at the Renaissance Grand. Those that have registered for YTBU classes should have a couple of courses at this location, as the courses this year have been expanded. This historic location should be quite a scene this week.
It’s going to be a busy day, so I have to get going. Packing, picking up the passenger van, printing out confirmations, and last minutes phone calls for our teams departure at 6:30am in the morning begins the week of training, seminars, news, and just a little bit of fun with my fellow YTB’ers.
Hope to see YOU at the Convention!
PS - If you’d like to keep up to date with all the latest news, acquisitions, and developments with YTB feel free to sign up for my FREE Newsletter. Just like here, it’s loaded with food, water and sunshine to grow your YTB business.
Doug & Ronda Bauknight
AKA: TravelPro
Travel Agent / Networker
Phone: 678.458.5812
Learn How To Become A Travel Agent
Book Your Travel & Vacations With
Travel Reservations: 1.800.243.4450
RTA #24635
Labels: Lady Liberty, Post Tribune, The Tiimes, WGN, YTB National Convention
