August 14, 2005
Dear SayWhatClub members,
Two weeks ago today, the convention for the SayWhatClub ended in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Everyone was so happy they had come, and so sad to leave.
Bottom line about the convention, in my opinion, is ease of communication. Nowhere else can we talk to other people back and forth with such ease. There is total understanding when asking for repeats. There is CART, a loop system, and sign language interpreters at every scheduled function--workshops, banquet speaker, town hall meeting--everything. We travel around town as a group. If we get turned around and need directions, there is usually one person in the group who can hear well enough to understand and get us going again in the right direction. When we enter a restaurant, everyone at the table has trouble hearing, which puts the wait staff on alert that they have to face each one of us when talking to us, and they have to speak up!! At no other time of the year does all this happen for me.
And this results in love flowing to and from everyone. How can you not love someone who understands your communication needs instantly and will do everything--everything--to help you understand! Usually in a group, there is someone who has the right voice for you to hear, and that person is always happy to translate for you! It is simply an incredible experience, and those who have gone to one SayWhatClub Con always want to go again and again. For those who have not yet attended, please start saving your money now because you need to come to St. Louis next July 12-16. The Convention Committee has picked another outstanding hotel--a Radisson. Rooms have a view of the Arch and small balconies as well. The pool is on the roof! There will be places for us to sit and visit, workshops, shopping, sightseeing, and more. Much more--don't forget the easy communication and love!
Actually, the con feelings begin about a month or so before the convention starts in its physical location. The Commons list is opened for all con-goers and potential con-goers. Here we discuss such things as what we like to eat, what we want to buy to take home, what the hotel is like, how late the bar stays open, what a hospitality room is, and on and on, even including what to wear to the banquet. Any and all questions by newcomers are answered, and we get to "know" people who are on other lists whom we have never "met" before. When we arrive at the actual convention, we already have names and personalities in place, and we greet each other as if we are old friends.
Here are some comments about this year's convention's first day and some observations about the hotel itself.
From Sherri about the Welcome Party:
The first night was the welcoming reception. Here we met the Club! One by one, hug after hug, smile after smile - the seed had been planted and began to sprout. The love and warmth inside was building a firm foundation that will last a lifetime. Pictures were taken of the many wonderful faces - the most beautiful and handsome faces I've ever seen - that sat behind the names we see in our e-mails every day. The room was filled with glowing smiles and eyes sparkling with joy. Yes, I truly do have an extended family and it grew even bigger starting that fateful night. After a while the room was so full that everyone began moving outside to two tables set up on the hotel's lawn overlooking the beach. Tonight I knew right from the start that it was going to be very hard to leave everyone Sunday morning when everything was over. I desperately tried not to think about it as we had only just begun our new journey.From Maurice about the hotel:
The Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort was wonderful. All of the hotels have been nice when I have gone to a SayWhatClub Convention, but this hotel was exceptional. We had so much help from this hotel to give us a good convention. They put two round tables and chairs outside the Hospitality room, so we could gather at night and see the beach, and be with each other. It was better than the bar we usually gathered in.
Read on about day one: NEXT
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