A Reflection on My Best Conference Experience

As I come home and try to catch up on lost sleep and reflect on this conference experience, I have come to the conclusion this was my best conference.I started off on a high right before leaving for conference finding out that we were pregnant expecting #2 March 13th. It was a long road, and I had given up and had accepted the fact we would have just ds. I feel really bad because I told my sis that she could have all the baby stuff, now I have to tell her sorry.We met Cheryl (Koolutos) & her group the first night and had a blast. She has such great energy.Having dinner w/ Morfia, Ida, & Karynne (I think that's how she spelled it) & celebrating Ida's promotion. She worked hard for that promotion, and I was very proud to celebrate w/ her.Both meet & greet's were awesome and it's always great to meet & talk in person vrs. over the computer. We kept MissChef on her best behavior this year (J/K), I love you.I had great workshops, and can't wait to start implementing some new things.My exec. dinner (Barbara Duke) was the aha moment that I needed. Ginny (kitchen2u) came and talked to Ida & Me and gave me the butt kicking that I needed w/ HW.
My Goals:
Walk at Leadership (big as a house)
Earn Level 2 or higher (I have to take the Gift Cert. Since I am due when the trips are)
Set my biz up so I don't have to take a leave when the baby comes.Then one of our guest speakers Jody Williams an AD in our group talked about how we always hear the success stories, but rarely hear the stories of how many tries it took to get there. It was awesome to here because I have had a goal for awhile to promote and have not made it, I feel like my dir has given up on me. Usually she will give me the talk about promoting, this year I didn't even hear a thing. Overall it was just awesome, thanks to everyone for being great, especially Ida for putting up w/ me.I can't wait till Den, so I can walk as a New Dir.

Amanda, I bet it was helpful to hear the struggles of people that had made it. You are right, you always hear the success stories, but never how they got there, or how they struggled to get there.

Congrats on your pregnancy! How awesome is that?

It sounds like you got just what you needed for conference and I'm so glad that you could go there and get that push you needed!!!

Yippee Amanda!

I am excited for you...pregnancy AND your business!! How cool!

Kitchen Diva said:

Amanda, I bet it was helpful to hear the struggles of people that had made it. You are right, you always hear the success stories, but never how they got there, or how they struggled to get there.

Congrats on your pregnancy! How awesome is that?

It sounds like you got just what you needed for conference and I'm so glad that you could go there and get that push you needed!!!

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It was extremely helpful. I love aha moments!

Does anyone know who had their baby at conference?

KellyTheChef said:

Yippee Amanda!

I am excited for you...pregnancy AND your business!! How cool!

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Thank you Kelly!

Where did you get those baby stages pics I thought those were cool.

crissy11 said:

Does anyone know who had their baby at conference?

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What? I didn't hear anything about that.

pamperedalf said:

Having dinner w/ Morfia, Ida, & Kareyn (I think that's how she spelled it) & celebrating Ida's promotion. She worked hard for that promotion, and I was very proud to celebrate w/ her.

Both meet & greet's were awesome and it's always great to meet & talk in person vrs. over the computer.

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I too had a great time at Shula's celebrating Ida's promotion. And the interesting man at the next table on a date and he bought us all drinks.

I went to both get togethers and they were fun. Whoever said that we won't be at the lunch get together next year is right. We WILL be at the Director's lunch. (I just have to start all over and find some recruits)

Glad you enjoyed the conference Amanda and you got a lot from it, that's awesome!

crissy11 said:

Does anyone know who had their baby at conference?

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Gross!! :yuck: Glad it wasn't anyone near me!


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I noticed that attendees were either first-timers, or had more than 5 years of service. That indicates to me that it was either excited newbies or people who have a long-term commitment to their business who were there.

If you round up extra on supply orders to make the lanyard recognition, don't bother. That doesn't count (otherwise, I'd have had the blue one instead of brown).

Be careful what you post. HO does have lurkers here, and they do recognize us. Ask me how I know.

chefann said:

Gross!! :yuck: Glad it wasn't anyone near me!


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I noticed that attendees were either first-timers, or had more than 5 years of service. That indicates to me that it was either excited newbies or people who have a long-term commitment to their business who were there.

If you round up extra on supply orders to make the lanyard recognition, don't bother. That doesn't count (otherwise, I'd have had the blue one instead of brown).

Be careful what you post. HO does have lurkers here, and they do recognize us. Ask me how I know.

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So...how do you know? Did someone say something to you? Were there a bunch of HO people waiting to meet you? LOL...inquiring minds want to know!!

chefann said:

Be careful what you post. HO does have lurkers here, and they do recognize us. Ask me how I know.

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OK, how?
Did you get in trouble?

Two different HO people saw my button (with "chefann" written on it) and said, "Ohhh... so you're chefann." One was in the Tech area. The other was Kristi in the charitable programs booth. Both were actually positive interactions, but it was a little nervewracking at first.

chefann said:

Two different HO people saw my button (with "chefann" written on it) and said, "Ohhh... so you're chefann."

One was in the Tech area. The other was Kristi in the charitable programs booth. Both were actually positive interactions, but it was a little nervewracking at first.

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Yeah, I am thinking it may have given me a paranoid feeling!!

chefann said:

Two different HO people saw my button (with "chefann" written on it) and said, "Ohhh... so you're chefann."

One was in the Tech area. The other was Kristi in the charitable programs booth. Both were actually positive interactions, but it was a little nervewracking at first.

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Okay - the Tech area I can understand...we knew that last year...but the Charitable Giving person? THAT would be a bit un-nerving!

She said that she comes on here, mostly in May, to make sure that people are spreading accurate information about what the HWC money does. Some consultants say that it goes to research, but it doesn't. She also likes to read what HWC items people want. She had alreay gone through the sticky notes from Conference 1 by the time we were there and said there were some good ideas.She also thinks that my clustermate and I are nuts. We were having a hard time thinking of cute names for teams for the walk, and brought her a list from the internet later that day. They were funny: Save Second Base, Breast Friends Forever, A Trip Down Mammary Lane, Thanks for the Mammaries, etc.

Ann I reread the thread going where did that come from? Thanks for explaining.

A baby at Conference - man, I miss all the fun!

Meaning giving birth or taking the kid along????

My clustermate came w/child. Her parents came along to help babysit. The first day, the bus driver let her and her child on the bus. But when they pulled in, the transit authority had a cow about having someone under age 18 on the bus. They had to spend a fortune on a cab to get her parents over from the hotel to McCormick to pick the baby up.

chefann said:

We were having a hard time thinking of cute names for teams for the walk, They were funny: Save Second Base, Breast Friends Forever, A Trip Down Mammary Lane, Thanks for the Mammaries, etc.

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This one gets my vote. Love it!

From what I heard it was a lady who's doctor told her not to go that she was too far along. She went anyway and had her baby, the people I heard it from said at conference but they just may have meant while she was there.
I seen alot of pregnant women and wondered if it was one of them.

I saw a T-shirt for sale today that said "Save the Ta-Ta's !!

crissy11 said:

From what I heard it was a lady who's doctor told her not to go that she was too far along. She went anyway and had her baby, the people I heard it from said at conference but they just may have meant while she was there.
I seen alot of pregnant women and wondered if it was one of them.

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That's why I didn't go! It killed me, but I just felt I HAD to listen to him. Today, I am 36 weeks. I figured I'll go next year with DH and baby.

Same here. I am only 32 weeks, but I am already huge & all that walking would have killed me. Plus Dr. did not want me flying....

I sure hope mom & baby are well.

AJPratt said:

That's why I didn't go! It killed me, but I just felt I HAD to listen to him. Today, I am 36 weeks. I figured I'll go next year with DH and baby.

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Anne I can't believe you are 36 weeks already. Are you ready for the baby? We missed you at conference.

chefann said:

She said that she comes on here, mostly in May, to make sure that people are spreading accurate information about what the HWC money does. Some consultants say that it goes to research, but it doesn't. She also likes to read what HWC items people want. She had alreay gone through the sticky notes from Conference 1 by the time we were there and said there were some good ideas.

She also thinks that my clustermate and I are nuts. We were having a hard time thinking of cute names for teams for the walk, and brought her a list from the internet later that day. They were funny: Save Second Base, Breast Friends Forever, A Trip Down Mammary Lane, Thanks for the Mammaries, etc.

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There was a high school group from around here a couple months ago that was raising money for breast cancer research, & they made t-shirts with that logo & got all this negative attention & their school wouldn't let them sell them there. Sheesh, they were just trying to raise money!

Amanda---CONGRATS on #2! That's so exciting
And way to go on the aha moments!
Mine & another cluster-mate of mine's aha was during the new director walk. We were saying how we couldn't wear those feather boa's & tiaras etc.....(& that's in no offense to any of you if you did...just not for me!) So our director said that if we promote by leadership, we don't have to wear them. But, if we don't promote until next conference, she's buying us the pink feather boas & the whole works, & we have to wear them

OH, & I loved Kris Madden's story....didn't you all? I got to meet her too; she doesn't live too far away from me--such a nice gal!

lacychef said:

OH, & I loved Kris Madden's story....didn't you all? I got to meet her too; she doesn't live too far away from me--such a nice gal!

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I love Kris! I had lunch with her at the Director Event and she is a fantastic person.

pamperedalf said:

Anne I can't believe you are 36 weeks already. Are you ready for the baby? We missed you at conference.

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No where near ready!