Here we are in the FEMA convention breakout session.
This is just before we got started.
We have a full house that includes some bloggers. I’m happy to see that and think it’s a “trend?”
Maybe.
More in a moment.
He’s Incoming President
So if Jim Wessing is the outgoing president of FEMA, who’s incoming?
He’s Richard Heiniger, Hemisphere GPS. Jim got introduced at the beginning of today’s general session here at the FEMA convention.
Later this afternoon I’m on the panel of a breakout session on “Marketing Communications Strategies & Tactics.” I’m going to be using these posts in my presentation. Hey, they’re even better than PowerPoint slides don’t you think?
I’m sure all the folks here will want to be in the Ramsey Room here at the Hilton at 2pm to see what we’ve got to say. It should be interesting.
Jim Wessing Opens General Session
Jim Wessing, Kondex Corporation, is the president of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association. At least until the end of the day.
Jim got the morning general session started today.
I’m hoping to catch up with him later today for a short interview.
By the way, the FEMA convention also has members of FEWA, Farm Equipment Wholesalers Association and AIMRA, Agricultural & Industrial Manufacturers Representatives Association here with them.
Morning General Session
The final day general session is in progress.
In the early part of the session attendees will hear from David Goldsmith.
His presentation is “You Can’t Begin Without A Product: New Product and Service Development.” The room was pretty full by the time it started.
From what I’ve learned there are about 425 members here at the convention.
Get and Send Messages
Since we’re all about communications I had to take a picture of this message center.
It’s out in the foyer area in front of the registration counter.
One of the things you get when you register is a number that identifies you. It’s used as a mechanism to send you a message using this computer.
That’s about all I know about it at the moment. I’ll look into it further and update this post if I have more to offer.
The Center of Communications
One of the first things I ran into here at the FEMA convention was the communications center. It’s a big room with lots of tables so you can meet up and have a nice chat which a bunch of folks were doing.
In it you’ll find things like this Information Center which lists companies who’s services FEMA endorses.
There’s also an interesting set of boards listing members and who is here representing the company. It even has a place for their room number if they care to share it. I don’t think I’ve seen that before.
Getting Started at FEMA
What’s the first thing you do when you go to a convention? That’s right.
I got into Minneapolis yesterday evening. It was kind of drizzly and cool. Better than snow and ice. The weather should be nice here by this afternoon and it looks like we’re going to have a midwest warmup for a couple days.
The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association convention has been going on for several days but I couldn’t get here until today. I’ll try to have several posts for you and a couple of interviews as time allows. I’ve also got several great meetings lined up as well. It’s going to be a busy one.
Make Your Voice Heard
I’m sure I don’t need to remind you to vote today but I am anyway?
Cindy and I have decided not to listen to any more of the rhetoric. We’re going to read about it in the news tomorrow. But that doesn’t mean we don’t care. We’ve done our duty and registered our vote. Now it’s up to the rest of the country to stand up and be counted.
Does your one puny little vote count? You bet it does. What do you think makes up that big number at the end of the day? So, no matter what side you’re on please get out and add your vote. As I heard someone say yesterday, we have the freedom to do this at the cost of many, many lives and they should not be forgotten. I also think our vote is a way to honor those who are still in harm’s way defending our right to do this.
New USB Members
The United Soybean Board has some new appointees thanks to our Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns.
All appointees will serve 3-year terms beginning December 2006. The interim appointee will serve a 1-year term.
Appointed members representing soybean producers by state are: James H. Carroll III, Arkansas; Mark L. Detweiler, Georgia; Kenneth L. Dalenberg, Illinois; Karen L. Fear, Indiana; Laura L. Foell, Iowa; Benny F. Cooper, Kentucky; Ike P. Boudreaux, Louisiana; James A. Call, Minnesota; Terry L. Ecker, Missouri; Loyd L. Pointer, Nebraska; Floyd L. Peed, North Carolina; Vanessa A. Kummer, North Dakota; Thomas F. Brown, Ohio; Michael H. Gerhart, Pennsylvania; George L. Christensen, South Dakota; and Robert B. Johnson, Virginia.
Robert N. Haselwood, Kansas, was appointed to serve the remainder of a term vacated by resignation.
Keith M. Dunn, Virginia, was appointed as an alternate member.
FEMA Convention Time
The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association convention is in full swing in Minneapolis and that’s where I’m headed.
I’ve got several interesting meetings lined up and will be part of a panel discussion tomorrow afternoon. You can find out what’s on the agenda here.
Have a great day and I’ll see you in Minneapolis.