Great in 08 Regional Convention Summary 6-4-08
In 2003, we made a commitment as a club to pursue hosting
another Great Plains Regional Convention.
After 2 years of going thru the bid process we secured the
bid for the 2008 Great Plains Regional Convention, to be
held at Maddens on Gull Lake.
We began preparations to host the Regional Convention, with
the formation of a regional convention committee in the fall
of 2005. Our Goal was to host a convention that would be
thought of as one of the more memorable conventions, by
providing a great location and showcasing our club, and
providing top notch speakers and entertainment.
After 3 years of planning we hosted that convention, just a
short month ago, at Maddens. Here is a summarized version of
the numbers and the overall participation.
We hosted 195 members from across the Great Plains Region,
along with the Brainerd Club, registering 170 members prior
to the convention. We had many members who participated in
the various parts of the convention, throughout the weekend.
We offered an opportunity for clubs to participate, in a
Golf Tourney to Benefit Camp Sertoma. Which we had 83
participants and 6 hole sponsors.
Our Meal Counts for the Convention, were
Thursday Evening Buffet---240 of which-47 were Brainerd
members
Friday Noon Lunch---------275 of which- 88 Brainerd
Friday Evening--------------365 of which 167
Saturday Lunch-------------225 of which 31
Saturday Evening----------235 of which 45
Our Speakers added some special moments to the convention.
Lt Col. Robert Intress, who provided us with an insightful
look at a soldier's life and the concerns they have as they
serve our country on the frontline, and how we has a
community can help those families of those serving our
country, while they wait for their loved ones to return
home.
Kathy Buckley, who was our keynote speaker, shared her story
of her challenges as a person afflicted with deafness, and
the struggles that confronted her through out her life, all
the while using her humor to bring us down the path with
her, but leaving those who were there to hear it, a powerful
message of the Hope! We bring people with the work we do as
Sertomans!
Our Entertainment, Ken Thomas, our DJ, and the Easy Street
Theater, provided us with entertainment for our guests, on
Thursday and Saturday Evening.
The Swinging Sertomans provided the Great Plains Region a
wonderful night of entertainment, on Friday evening, sharing
with us one of the last performances of this talented and
dedicated group , which gave us a chance to honor them for
there hard work, by presenting them with plaques for their
years of service!
We had also provided presenters for the training sessions,
on Friday afternoon, for School Partnerships and Audio
Enhancements, along with a presentation on "Recipes for
Success". I wish to thank, Bob Ehrich, Linda Hamilton, Steve
Mau and Aimee Anderson for their roles in those two
presentations.
Overall, the content of this convention was very well
received and the participation in all aspects of the
convention was great.
Financially, we did not meet all our expectations, due to
down attendance, we have a shortfall of about
- $ 5300.00 of expenses to income.
Overall we had originally planned for 250-300 members from
the Great Plains Region to be our guests and our club
members being pre-registered. So attendance was down from
that, many of us on the committee, feel that the uncertain
economic times and gas prices influenced the attendance
numbers.
If attendance would have been 50 more Sertomans attending,
we would have covered everything easily.
As convention co-chairs Joe Schulte and I owe many people a
huge thank you to many people for stepping up and handling
various parts of the planning and preparation for making
this a Great!! Great Plains Regional Convention,
Here is a list of key people, we would like to thank
Bob Sherman and Midwest Captions--for website design and
hosting
Laura Beilke-Camp Sertoma Golf tourney
Mary Marana-decorations and Chaplin Duties
Joyce Anderson-Guest registration tracking them over 18
months
Veronica Jensen-Convention registration and member meals
purchasing program, along with assisting putting together
the guest welcome bags
Nancy Hallum-committee and registration
Aimee Anderson-Transportation for Saturday events
Lori Ruben-----Booking Agent for Kathy Buckley, and host for
her stay, Saturday Beach Bonfire party
Paul Hienlen-Booth Setups, Saturday Bon Fire and many other
tasks
Jeff Fitch, Anna Goreky and Shannon Fanth, for the club
presentations and helping with Flags, and assisting many
other activities.
Kathy Williams, for helping with all out great in 08 gear!
Scott Fisher, for coordinating the Hospitality Room Liquor
and Beer needs, with the Sioux Falls club and the North
Minnesota District.
Sue Slaybaugh, planning and Saturday's Camp fear event.
Pam Sachs and Tom Krekow for the photography work at the
convention!
Dale Bolt, and Doug Campbell for the Saturday Afternoon Golf
Event
Kristen Larsen for planning and marketing assistance
Steve Mau, for MC duties as needed.
Darren Larsen for his role as Treasurer
Gary Walters, for hosting ahospitality suite for the North
Minnesota Dist.
To the Swinging Sertomans for another great performance on
Saturday evening, and all their efforts over the years!
A very special thank you has to go to Cathe Picek, who was
our coordinator with the Maddens Staff, our secretary of the
Committee, who recorded everything, who printed and
disbursed meal registration tickets and all the name badges
for convention attendees, and who also was the chief editor
for the Sertoma "Recipe for Success" Booklet, along with so
many other little things she did behind the scenes.
I would also like to thank Joe Schulte for his help as
Convention Co-Chair, when I asked Joe to be the co-chair
with me, it was because I needed someone who could get
people to participate and sign on to help with all aspects
of the convention. Joe's ability to find people to take on
those various responsibilities was a key to our success and
making our job easier as convention co-chairs.
The members of this club have always stepped up to make
things happen and I wish to thank you all for making this
Great Plains Regional Convention a great event, the amount
of compliments and praise we received from our guests was
overwhelming and very humbling to me! It is because of all
of your efforts and hard work, that I am proud to be a
Sertoman and a member of the Brainerd Noon Sertoma Club!
Thank You
Rory Coit and Joe Schulte
Convention Co-Chair's
Great In 08
Great Plains Regional Convention |
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