Thursday, October 19, 2006

Whirlwind Weekend




Wow. Just wow. None of us can get over the high that we’ve had since the end of the conference on Sunday night. However, I must confess that mine actually started when I got to the hotel Friday evening.

On the way to my room, I passed by the event room. I just had to peek in. When I did, I found rows upon rows of tables with what seemed like hundreds of chairs. I stood in the doorway, in awe of the magnitude of this year’s event. We are a grass roots organization with no paid staff and here I was staring at a room that looked like it was awaiting the arrival of the United Nations. Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but that’s how it seemed to me at the time.

My experience Friday evening set the tone for the whole weekend. There was just so much excitement. Attendees were excited as they filed in Saturday morning; the BAD RAP team was excited as they showed up with coffees in hand; and the guest presenters were also excited. That energy carried through hours of presentations and into the Saturday evening reception at Pit Bull Hall http://www.badrap.org/rescue/pitbullhall.cfm.

In addition to all of the formal presentations, we talked informally sharing stories and ideas. We all made so many new friends and can already feel the momentum this weekend generated and the new projects that will come out of it. Keep your eyes out for information on our multi-day intensive ‘Pit Camps’ and the ‘BAD RAP road show’ as we look at taking our information to shelters across the country.

I’m already told that there will be a next year. I had anticipated we’d discuss the idea as a group after the conference was over like we did last year. But how can I say no to people saying ‘see you next year’ as they drive away?

Stay tuned while we sift through the feedback and wait for the photographs from our ‘official’ photographer, Rachel Young.

Special thanks to all of the volunteers at BAD RAP without whom this conference would never have happened!

Bambi

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The conference was great! My husband and I came from the East Coast (NJ) and it was well worth it. We're already talking about planning our vacation around next year's conference. Came away with much valuable information to better help the deserving pit bulls on the East Coast. It was very well done, everything, from providing us with the Bad Rap folders and notebooks to the great topics and professionalism of all the speakers. A job well done!!

Anonymous said...

The conference was great! My husband and I came from the East Coast (NJ) and it was well worth it. We're already talking about planning our vacation around next year's conference. Came away with much valuable information to better help the deserving pit bulls on the East Coast. It was very well done, everything, from providing us with the Bad Rap folders and notebooks to the great topics and professionalism of all the speakers. A job well done!!

Anonymous said...

The conference was great! My husband and I came from the East Coast (NJ) and it was well worth it. We're already talking about planning our vacation around next year's conference. Came away with much valuable information to better help the deserving pit bulls on the East Coast. It was very well done, everything, from providing us with the Bad Rap folders and notebooks to the great topics and professionalism of all the speakers. A job well done!!

Anonymous said...

Great conference. Learned alot and throughly enjoyed myself. I've been going to work related conferences for 25 years and inevitably fall asleep. Not a chance of sleep at the 2006 BAD RAP Pit Conference. The presenters were excellent and very knowledgeable of their respective subjects. And let's not forget about thoses magnificent breed ambassadors: Amy, Morey, Leroy, Betty, et. al. Hoping to make the BAD RAP Pit Conference an annual pilgrimage.