What a week? I am one who always enjoys going to new places and trying new things; but, I think I am getting old or maybe just more mature?!?
Last week I was in New Orleans for the annual Visual Communications Industry Group (VCI-Group) conference. I have always known New Orleans to be called “The Big Easy”, the bayou and many other terms; but, it is now known as “NOLA” for New Orleans, Louisiana. I almost felt I was in New York with our SOHO and NOHO areas of the city.
We decided to go out to Bourbon Street our first night and experience it – can I say this: I only need to experience it once!!! It was early Saturday evening and there were two (2) college football games going on in town. Do I need to say much more?? Bourbon Street was full of young adults showing off their school colors, drinking in the street; and, not showing any pain at least for the moment.
This I think is the only town in the entire United States that allows you to take an exposed drink and drink it as you walk the streets. We wanted to go to Pat O’Brien’s for their famous hurricanes. We each ordered one – they were large at least 12 inches in height. They were potent and sweet; I could only take three (3) sips as I could feel the liquor quickly making me lightheaded for lack of food. We then moved on to the Palace Café where I enjoyed a great spinach salad and a shrimp etoufee. You should know that no matter what you eat there is always a little bit of spice so everything has a “kick” to it.
Sunday was a day to get everything in order and I have to admit that I never stepped out of the hotel – that is what happens at these type of events or when you go traveling on business; most of the time the only thing you see of the city you are in is the way to and from the airport. We hosted the Volunteer dinner to thank those individuals who would be performing various duties the next few days.
Monday was our first official conference day and there were education courses and the getting together of the Special Interest Groups (SIGs). We also opened the Exhibit Hall with the tradition of New Orleans and Mardi Gras with mask wearing and jazz playing – I also had outstanding jambalaya. Although the Exhibit Hall closed at 7PM a couple of us went up to the President’s suite to work on the Opening Speech to ensure that it encapsulated what our organization is about and what the conference was focusing on the next few days, “It’s the Experience”. I finally went off to bed that evening at 10PM.
Tuesday we began with a BANG!! Opening remarks, keynote presentations, the Exhibit Hall and concurrent speeches. What a wonderful day – we could hear the buzz of people as we moved from session to session or as we entered the Exhibit Hall. Everyone was talking about the conference, the words coined most often were: mobility, iPad2 and security. We all had the same requests and requirements whether we were in enterprise, healthcare or education – each of us had the same challenges and wanted to know how to mitigate them. What a great opportunity to network with others and see how they were solving the issues. The evening ended with a Special Event at the Mayfield Jazz Playhouse located at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. I ate so many bourbon meatballs and shrimp which I topped off with a small bananas foster that I was not interested in dinner.
We had a full day on Wednesday – this was the first time that on the last day the conference went until 5PM. Again the buzz was good; and, although the sessions were of great content some were not as well attended as we would have liked. Those individuals that stayed for the whole day realized how much more they were able to learn and share with their conferencing/collaboration peers. And, of course, some of them also were recipients of the gift card giveaways.
As a Board we went to NOLA for dinner – it is Emeril’s latest restaurant in New Orleans. All of the food was good and we were all in good spirits. At the end of the evening there was a contingency hitting the casino and then a few of us who choose to end our experience by having a chicory coffee and beignet at the legendary Café DuMonde. It brought back memories of when I first went to New Orleans with my aunt, Irma. We enjoyed a chicory coffee and a beignet every day. There I was at Jackson Square more than 15 years ago buying my nephew, Gerard a t-shirt from the Hard Rock Café, while my Aunt Irma bought her granddaughter a book on a bayou alligator. I saw the Cathedral, the market where I bought a pin that I recently received compliments on when I wore with a suit to work and taking a paddleboat ride.
All in all, this was a productive week for the conference, for the job and to bring back memories of when I was first in New Orleans. New Orleans has made a comeback and I urge everyone to go to this city at least once. It has a rich culture of French, Spanish and Creole – the food is to die for and there is much culture in the town. On the other hand it is still a scary town and we urged everyone to use the buddy system and to drink responsibly.
What I am most excited about is that the question asked by all attendees was, “where is the conference next year”; and, not “are you having a conference”. We have made our mark in the industry and we will continue to capitalize on that.
Pursue those things that you believe in and you will be successful.
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