Congratulations Minneapolis Northwest Tourism!

On Tuesday, January 26, 2016 Minneapolis Northwest Tourism celebrated their 30th Anniversary where guests were treated to a reception, followed by an Annual Meeting, and entertainment hosted by Whirlyball in Maple Grove .

After an informative Annual Meeting for the organization, guests were treated to some Laser Tag and Whirlyball!  Shawna Sukow from SPIN challenged a group to a lively round of Laser Tag, which was a first for me.  Basically, you put on a vest with sensors, a laser gun is attached, you're sent into a two story darkened cavern with funky music, and off you go!  Wind your way through to find your next victim, or look for a little nook and lie in wait.  This is a great activity, especially if you have a group, guaranteed to bring out the competitor as well as loads of laughter!  Next up was a SPIN around the Whirlyball floor, no pun intended.  You're strapped into a bumper car, given a scoop, a whiffle ball is thrown onto the floor, and it's game on!!  The idea is to scoop up the ball and score by hitting a target similar to a basketball hoop.  It's hilarious as maneuvering the bumper cars is as challenging as trying to chase a little ball around the court with other folks trying to maneuver their cars!  Whirlyball is a great place, with a fabulous staff, good food, a full bar, and a fun way to spend time with co-workers and friends!  www.whirlyballtwincities.com

This area of the Twin Cities is a favorite of mine and perfect for your groups that don't want to be in a downtown big city environment, but want all of the amenities, and more.  Visit www.minneapolisnorthwest.com for additional information!  They have a fabulous website and a top notch staff waiting to help you with anything you need, guaranteed!!

An Old Address Book...

This morning I sat down to finish up the Christmas cards, and found that the addresses kept in the Franklin Planner were somehow incomplete.  I dug up the old address book from the junk drawer where it lies forgotten, broken, faded, stained and far, far out of date.  I asked myself why I continue to keep it year after year, despite it's place in life as "no longer useful".  As I turned the pages, I discovered exactly why I keep this piece of history.

My Mom gave this to me as a gift, so how could I part with it.  Her old address is there, though she's been gone since 1996.  It's full of people no longer with us, and I smiled as their memory returned of the days when I lovingly placed their address on the Christmas envelope.  There are anniversaries of those no longer together, and those who are still together after all these years.  This little book was passed around to friends so they could record their addresses when we moved from North Carolina to Minnesota in 1993.  Some looked suspicious....like Elvis "the King" Presley at Horseshoe Trailer Park, Lot 69 in Lutz, FL.  His birthday is "you know".

It was a walk through history with all of its eraser marks from moves, and the addition of cell phone numbers and email.  There was even an old pager number!

The missing addresses have now been transferred to the Franklin Planner, which will likely meet its fate at the back of the junk drawer some day.

So now you wonder...where did the old address book go?  Yes, you guessed it.  It went back into the junk drawer, a treasure trove of memories I just can't bear to part with yet.

A Trip to Boise, ID - Part 1

A Trip to Boise, ID

Part 1

Earlier this year I met two great ladies from the Boise Centre in Boise, ID at the IBTM Trade Show held in Chicago, IL.  It took about 5 minutes for us to become friends, and when they heard I had not been to Boise, let alone Idaho, it wasn't long before an invitation to visit their fabulous area arrived in my Inbox.

So last week, I experienced Boise and the surrounding area in all its splendor!

First, a huge thank you goes out to Lynda Alexander and Lori Brown from the Boise Centre for making sure I received an invitation.  Second, many thanks to everyone at the Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau for making it happen, and to the The Riverside Hotel for hosting the group.  To say you were the most gracious hosts would truly not do justice to your amazing hospitality!

Day 1

I arrived into the Boise Airport on Sunday afternoon.  The airport is efficient, well laid out, and convenient to the city (less than 10 miles).  It was surprising how many direct flights come into this airport with more being added.  I loved the local flavor in the selection of restaurants, and the fantastic artist's co-op where I was able to get some shopping done!   Click here to learn more about the Boise Airport.

After a little rest and relaxation at the hotel, it was time to meet the rest of the group and take a tour of The Riverside Hotel.  I found the sleeping room to be more than comfortable, with a bed that was absolute perfection!  My room overlooked the pool, so I was treated to live music coming from the Sand Bar, which goes on daily and into the evening.  The heated pool is open until 10:00pm and at 9:00pm I found myself enjoying it alone, with the twinkling blue lights in the trees above, and the music playing in the background...heavenly!  The meeting space is functional and was very busy with groups during our stay.  Check out their website for layouts and capacities.  Click here to go to the Riverside Boise Hotel site.  I understand the hotel is due for some renovation as it is showing some signs of being well loved.

It was then off to the Boise Centre, an incredible convention space in the heart of the city.  I would book this venue in a heartbeat.  It's new, it's light, it's expanding!  It isn't McCormick, but that's the point.  We enjoyed a steak dinner that was by far one of the best meals I have ever experienced, and this praise was shared by the rest of the group.  No worries about the quality of food at this venue!  The management and staff were top notch, and you can rest assured your group will be well taken care of by them.  To learn more, click here.

That's it for Part 1, Day 1!  There is so much to write about, it will have to be broken down by day.  Subscribe to the blog to get the next update and in the meantime, to learn all about Boise and to plan your visit, click here to go to the Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau website.

Honestly....

In Minnesota where I live, "Minnesota Nice" is worn like a badge of honor.  We are very polite here, almost to a fault, and that's wonderful, right?  Not one to reveal a secret, but I have to be honest here, "Minnesota Nice" is mostly another term for "Passive Aggressive"!  We know it, and freely admit it, but never to outsiders!

Enter this new phenomenon known as Trump.  We gasp at his blatant honesty and straightforwardness, and watch as he rises in the polls.  The media is stunned.  So this morning, I took some time to think about the driving factor behind this, and I think it comes down to the fact that people really do appreciate those who are direct.  In Minnesota, we snicker at the people "out East" who we deem to be SO rude.  Is it rudeness?  Or do they just want to quit wasting everyone's time and get down to business?

I recently exchanged an email with a New Yorker, trying to figure out how to dance around getting an invitation for a business partner to an important meeting.  She said "I don't want to waste his time as we'll never use his services".  Rather than feeling put out, I appreciated that she told me.  And not to pick on Minnesotans, because I am one, we would have said "oh yes, tell him to come", then would have quietly resented it!

I remember when I was working as a meeting planner and didn't have the heart to turn people down for an appointment, lunch, phone call, etc.  I found myself almost resenting the people who were "stealing" my time, yet whose fault was it?  Now that the shoe is on the other foot and I'm the one asking for a planner's time, I find that I'm appreciating when they say "we are working with another company" or "we don't have a need for your services".  Thank you...now I can move on instead of putting you on a reminder list.  We've both saved time.

I'm vowing to take a page out of Trump's playbook, only it will be balanced by a genuine dose of "Minnesota Nice".

I welcome your thoughts!

Madden's on Gull Lake - Brainerd, Minnesota

I just spent the past weekend "up north" at Madden's on Gull Lake in beautiful Brainerd, Minnesota!  Those who live in or are familiar with Minnesota know this is a very classic (and classy) historical resort that is very popular for meetings, family reunions, golf groups, weddings, and anyone looking for a relaxing OR active getaway.  You will find opportunities abound for both here!  In a nutshell, what really stood out:

Twin Cities SCAM JAM 2015

Yesterday I attended the Twin Cities SCAM JAM 2015 at the beautiful Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley, MN, a suburb just west of Minneapolis.  I've attended events here before, but forgot just how gorgeous the facility is, and how perfect for an offsite event!  Not to mention, it's right next to the Good Day Cafe, a "must do" breakfast spot!  Click on the links to check them out!

Fairchild Art - Perseverance

This isn't entirely related to the meetings industry, but it's just that cool!

Check out the work of Kim Clough.