Will I See You at the Annual Meeting?

We’re already getting excited here about the 2007 Direct Selling Association Annual Meeting coming up in June in sunny San Diego! I’ve been reflecting on my first experience with the Annual Meeting—not as an attendee—and how different my perspective is today. The first issue of Direct Selling News that I produced as managing editor was July 2005. I came on board in late June of that year and my very first task was to write an article about the 2005 Annual Meeting. There I was—new to the job, new to direct selling, and writing about an event I did not attend!

But very quickly, as I spoke to people who were there, I sensed that I had missed something special. I talked to DSA Hall of Fame inductee Alan Luce, who’s now CEO of Wildtree; Randall Oxford, VP of Communications at Mary Kay; and Janet Cronstedt, Executive Director of Sales at Cookie Lee, and they each conveyed to me the passion, excitement and commitment that I have learned are hallmarks of this industry.

The story I wrote that month came nowhere near capturing that excitement! But it set me on a path I am still traveling today: to learn as much as I can about direct selling and the companies and people I write about—and to strive to put into words whenever I can the emotional component of this industry that sets it apart from all others.

Last year, I did attend the Annual Meeting (and I hope Direct Selling News’ coverage of the event reflected that!), and it was truly the highlight of my year.

From amazing speakers like John Addison, Doris Christopher and Tom Peters, to the terrific breakout sessions that helped me better understand this industry, to the opportunity to meet many industry leaders who routinely take their companies and distributors to new levels of success—I found myself inspired and moved. And I returned to Texas with a renewed commitment to make Direct Selling News even more relevant and informative.

With a theme of Now More than Ever, this year’s Annual Meeting promises to be an even greater experience and, believe me, you don’t want to miss it! I’m already thinking about my game-plan—sessions I want to attend, who I want to talk to. Will you be there?