I met Karen and Victor Ruddy my first evening of the SAMA 2011 conference – that was Tuesday evening after registration training. They were sitting at a table outside watching folks come and go. Victor spoke to me as I passed. I smiled and responded. Within moments I was seated at their table and we were deep in conversation about the conference and all the upcoming events.
Victor and Karen are snowbirds from Iowa wintering in south TX. Karen had heard the conference was being held here in Austin and they made a spur of the moment decision to attend. We talked about the various workshops still available, great places to eat and things they should see and do while in Austin. I left them discussing the possibilities. The following week was a blur and I saw Karen only once over the next few days. We both attended Sonia King's Substrates, Adhesives and Materials workshop.
Saturday afternoon I ran into the Ruddys again just as they were getting in their car for the drive south. They were “conferenced out" and ready to get back to normal. Victor told me that the Austin SAMA conference was one of the best run conferences of any kind he’d ever been to and that we were all just the nicest folks. He insisted I tell “whoever runs this thing” and I did pass it along to Dawnmarie.
The conference was a major achievement in more ways than one and we should all be proud of our individuals parts in it. We never know who is watching or when we'll have an impact on someone. The Ruddys left here with pleasant memories and excellent impressions of SAMA and Austin and the wonderful people that make up both. I'd say it was definitely a success!
No comments:
Post a Comment