What is the Agenda for the Spring Launch Meeting?

[wadesgirl]

Bummer no CN! Do we at least get a new catalog to browse through or do they just show pictures of it? They provided coffee and tea, did they provide water or should I bring a few bottles?

 

[BethCooks4U]

I contacted registration about dress code (and I think they did say business casual on something). I wanted to know if our team t-shirts would be okay. Here's the response: "I guess you would need to decide how casual the T-shirts are? Maybe if you had a blazed or sweater to wear with them?"

Jeans are always discouraged at this type of event but people will wear what they will wear. They won't keep you out but when some are so casual to wear sweatshirts for example it takes down the atmosphere from a business meeting to just a gathering. Also, in many venues we are not the only group and most other groups are much more strict about the dress codes.

I think of it like this: We've gone to a nice restaurant for our anniversary dressed nice for the occasion and others were there in shorts and t-shirts. Seeing them made our special event less special. We could have gone to McDonalds and had the same atmosphere.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

Yep - new catalog. And don't forget the minis that you get to take home. We had coffee, tea, bottled water (small) and cans of soda, with cups & ice. Oh and I think they had hot tea as well. But I don't know if that's different for each venue or not.

 

[Becca_in_MD]

Another piece of logistical advice...

We were in a convention center. Big place. I think we were the only event going on for the day. Plenty of bathrooms in the facility.

Conference pros may already be thinking this, but scope out the bathrooms on your way in. Everyone lined up for the one closest to the meeting room. By going down the escalator that was right next to the line they were waiting in, I had a bathroom all to myself at the base of the escalator.

There are not bathroom breaks except for the lunch break.

 

[Becca_in_MD]

We had the same beverage selection in Baltimore as Crystal had. Hot beverages in the AM, cold beverages available with lunch. No water pitchers at your seat. I brought a bottle of water with me and drank that as well as the one from lunch. I'm pretty proud of myself for drinking as much as I did. I usually end up dehydrated after a day like that. Hence my post about the bathrooms!

 

[crystalscookingnow]

And for us, they had converted the men's bathroom like the do at conference. People were looking at me strangely when I walked into the men's bathroom. I was out & they were still in the other line.

There weren't bathroom breaks but several people got up to go - and we had 'stretch' breaks where everyone ran to the bathroom.

 

[wadesgirl]

Yep - new catalog. And don't forget the minis that you get to take home. We had coffee, tea, bottled water (small) and cans of soda, with cups & ice. Oh and I think they had hot tea as well. But I don't know if that's different for each venue or not.

Good to know about the catalog! I'll probably still bring some water with me, I drink a lot of it.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

Good to know about the catalog! I'll probably still bring some water with me, I drink a lot of it.

We had ice water dispensers on the sides of our meeting rooms. People were filling their bottles during the day.

 

[DebbieJ]

Quick question, you went to a Spring Launch? There are not any close to my city in Montana...I've got a party on Saturday and everyone wants to know what items will be discontinued, so they can order their favorites. Do you have that list from Spring Launch??

Nothing will be revealed here until Saturday afternoon and everything will be on CC on Monday.

 

[etteluap70PC]

In Minneapolis we had all the same beverages as Crystal, We had water and glasses at our tables all day as well as a small bowl of "tiny" hard candies. Lunch was a bummer... I expected just a bit more of such a nice hotel. That was really the only small let down to the day.

 

[wadesgirl]

In Minneapolis we had all the same beverages as Crystal, We had water and glasses at our tables all day as well as a small bowl of "tiny" hard candies. Lunch was a bummer... I expected just a bit more of such a nice hotel. That was really the only small let down to the day.

Speaking of that, what did you get served. I'm not on a "special" diet but do not eat a lot of processed foods.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Speaking of that, what did you get served. I'm not on a "special" diet but do not eat a lot of processed foods.

Probably the food will be different at each different venue, depending on what the venue offers. I don't eat a lot of processed foods either, so will probably be bringing some snacks. Nuts, dried fruit, etc...

 

[wadesgirl]

Probably the food will be different at each different venue, depending on what the venue offers. I don't eat a lot of processed foods either, so will probably be bringing some snacks. Nuts, dried fruit, etc...

I know it will be different but serving us a sandwhich compared to something else can make a difference on if I need to bring more food. Already have my "snacks" planned as I actually eat 6 small meals a day.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

Ours was a sandwich, chips, fruit cup & cookie

 

[etteluap70PC]

Speaking of that, what did you get served. I'm not on a "special" diet but do not eat a lot of processed foods.

we had a super boring turkey sandwich on a white roll with 2 slices of turkey (I did not see any other meat choices) two 1/2 slices of cheddar and a wimpy slice of lettuce.Fruit cup, like I would put in my kids lunch (I saw many people NOT eating this!) a packaged cookie like from a vending machineA decent bag of chips.A few small things would have made the boxed lunch nicer...A nicer roll or croissant
Different meats to choose from with just 1 more slice. I felt like I had a "Bread" sandwich
A fresh fruit to choose from
baked cookies from the hotelI did not hear one person say "lunch was nice". I tried to keep things positive when I heard some people complaining. I did not want to get in that mode, I was there for positive reinforcement! In the long run it was food and it held me until we went to a fabulous dinner with my director and other cons. In my line, some whom I had never met. It was really wonderful!

 

[wadesgirl]

Bummer, white bun... no. chips... no. cookie... no. fruit cup... no. Crap, gonna have to figure out something else for lunch.

 

[mountainmama74]

We had a NICE turkey sandwich - it had a lot of meat on it and good lettuces. Apple, bag of pretzels and a cookie - like they have at Subway. It was a decent lunch! As one who plans meetings and events for large groups often, I understand why they did the boxed lunch - they're usually cheaper by as much as $5 per person!!

 

[Becca_in_MD]

For the low registration fee, I was not expecting anything more than the box lunch I got. The company is putting a lot of money into running these 21 launches, much more than one Leadership would have cost. No way did our registration fees cover the entire cost. Maybe it covers the food and some of the room rental. But there's AV, flying and lodging people, shipping materials...

 

[mountainmama74]

Guaranteed... the production company alone probably charged upwards of $4000 in each location. I was not unhappy with the lunch at all!!

BUT I will say this - next time I'll bring some snacks. All the food talk in the morning (seeing the new products and recipes) made me HUNGRY far before lunch. LOL!

 

[etteluap70PC]

I totally expected a boxed lunch. As someone who has planned events I understand the cost factor. I just think at our venue maybe PC did not get what they paid for. Yours (mountainmama) sounds like it was just the "a bit" nicer that I was referring to.I have had other boxed lunches at (less expensive PC events) and had a nicer lunch.Overall like I said it was a slight smudge on our day. Nothing major and it in now way made me a crabby patty. I had a blast and am excite to see what 2010 will hold.

 

[mountainmama74]

LOL I was happy to see an apple rather than a fruit cup. I would've been bummed out about that too!!

 

[crystalscookingnow]

Our fruit cup was fresh fruit - chunks of fresh pineapple, honeydew & cantaloupe, not the prepackaged, gross fruit cups with syrup them. Our turkey sandwich was nice too. Lots of turkey slices, swiss cheese & a kaiser roll. The chips were lays classic and the cookies were the ones like Subway has. Overall, I was pleased.

 

[etteluap70PC]

Our fruit cup was fresh fruit - chunks of fresh pineapple, honeydew & cantaloupe, not the prepackaged, gross fruit cups with syrup them. Our turkey sandwich was nice too. Lots of turkey slices, swiss cheese & a kaiser roll. The chips were lays classic and the cookies were the ones like Subway has. Overall, I was pleased.

I would have been very happy with that too! It was more what I expected...

 

[janezapchef]

Bummer, white bun... no. chips... no. cookie... no. fruit cup... no. Crap, gonna have to figure out something else for lunch.

We didn't get a fruit cup, but an apple. Our bread was wheat with turkey breast (deli) and processed cheese. In the future, I'll be requesting a gluten-free diet! They got an awesome looking salad with what looked like feta, hardboiled eggs, bacon, lots of fresh veggies, etc. Bummer! Maybe you could request it first thing when you get there????

 

[wadesgirl]

We didn't get a fruit cup, but an apple. Our bread was wheat with turkey breast (deli) and processed cheese. In the future, I'll be requesting a gluten-free diet! They got an awesome looking salad with what looked like feta, hardboiled eggs, bacon, lots of fresh veggies, etc. Bummer! Maybe you could request it first thing when you get there????

You know I was thinking about that the other day... wondered if the gluten free food would fit my diet better.

 

[kcmckay]

Well I'm glad there has been some discussion about the lunch. It sounds like what I was expecting which is too bad because I won't enjoy it. I'm not complaining I understand it's hard to please us all. I agree having choice of different meats would be better. I personally do not like Turkey at all. But I'm an extremely picky eater myself. At conference our boxed lunch was a turkey sub and it was not good at all. I attempted to force it down but it was awful. At least mine was and it was soggy! :yuck: It sounds like most of you had decent lunches though. So I'll just have to bring my own sandwich or something to suplement the rest. But I do a agree that maybe a choice of like turkey or ham and maybe veggie or something would probably cost about the same as all turkey but I could be wrong.

 

[Chef Bobby]

I just got back from Houston last night. It reminded me of a 1 day conference. I like our small spring launch meetings in our home town better. I had to use 2 days of vacation to go during the week. I liked most of the new products. The lunch was good too. I did see jeans.

 

[NooraK]

Oh Bobby, you could have always joined us in Atlanta on Saturday!

 

[beepampered]

This has been very helpful to get me thinking about this Saturday. I would not have been able to go if it was during the week so I'm fortunate that my location (Raleigh) was on the weekend. I assumed they all were.

I guess there is no assigned seating? Do you have to hold seats to sit with your group?

 

[esavvymom]

Thank you for sharing this information! It is very helpful! Especially about the food and the meeting room/times itself! I saw a few of you mention having water at your tables. Are there tables or was it more like conference where you just have the chairs in a row? I know it will vary from venue to venue. We (Raleigh) are in a convention center, but not sure which room.