Now More than Ever—The 2007 Direct Selling Association’s Annual Meeting

I arrived home Wednesday evening from DSA’s Annual Meeting and the event truly exceeded all my expectations. I couldn’t possibly convey everything I learned and experienced in San Diego in a single blog entry. Direct Selling News will provide extensive coverage of the event in our July issue, but I’d like to share just a few of my personal highlights:

• A Saturday night dinner with DSA Membership Director Nancy Burke at a restaurant that I had selected. We were served incredibly beautiful food that was incredibly mediocre, but nevertheless enjoyed a delightful evening of catching up.

• Sitting next to newly-engaged Joey Carter and Nora Serrano during the fabulous general session led by The Drum Café, and joking that if they invite me to their wedding, I’d cover it in Direct Selling News (or at the very least, blog about). I also received a much-needed neck and shoulder “chop chop” from Joey.

• After a two-year e-mail correspondence, finally getting to meet Nick Mallett, Partner at UK lawfirm Martineau Johnson, who gently corrected my abysmal American pronunciation of both “Martineau” and “leisure.” Hey Nick, I spelled your name right!

• Bonding with Primerica Financial Services’ Kathryn Kieser over the course of three days. Kathryn, it was such a pleasure to get to know you, even if you don’t share my weakness for tearful sentimentality!

• Creative Memories’ Lee Morgan approaching me at the Direct Selling News booth and asking me to explain exactly what it is that I do. Lee, if you have any further questions, you know where to find me. And congratulations again on receiving the 2007 DSEF Circle of Honor award.

• Connecting with Aihu’s Ann and Tom Walker, who offered much concern about my neck and shoulder pain (despite Joey’s ministrations), and expressed regret that they did not have any Aihu bath salts at the hotel.

• Enjoying a lengthy conversation with Regal Ware’s Pat Seitz and Jeff Reigle. If I remember correctly, Jeff Reigle told me he was planning to place an order for 50 Annual Reviews. Jeff, Al Wakefield was a witness.

• Moderating a Communications Roundtable on Getting Your Name Out that resulted in three 30-minute sessions of incredible idea sharing. Thanks to the executives and suppliers, both those new to direct selling and industry veterans, who generously shared their challenges and insights. A shout-out to WineShop At Home’s Melissa Lynch and 4Life’s Calvin Jolley who made the first session particularly lively!

• A chance meeting early Tuesday evening with DSA 2007 Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Orr led to a wonderful twenty-minute conversation that gave me a little insight into exactly why he was honored later that night. I was also able to confess to Charlie that I narrowly escaped identifying him as Mary Kay’s Michael Lunceford when he received DSEF’s 2005 Circle of Honor Award and I was writing about it in what was my first issue of Direct Selling News. Charlie, it was an honor to meet you and congratulations again!

• Simply Fun’s Chief Funster, Gail DeGiulio, delivering a bottle of Perrier to the ladies’ room after a glass of red wine accidentally ended up on my brand-new ivory pants. Gail then graciously helped me determine the best way to drape my Pashmina over the stain. But as I said to anyone who noticed, “A woman should always wear a touch of red.”

• Many, many fellow suppliers approached me Monday evening, all day Tuesday and even on the flight home to Dallas on Wednesday to say, “Nancy, today is all about you!” And while I regret that I cannot reveal why they said this—except to say it was not exactly spontaneous—I appreciate their enthusiasm, humor and friendship.

• Offering my congratulations to the 2007 DSA Partnership Award winner Dan Jensen and getting to meet his lovely wife. Dan told me about a dream he’d had the night before: He was up on stage receiving his award and videotaping his wife with his cell phone as she walked up the steps to join him. Dan refrained from doing this when he actually received his honor, but I think it illustrates how deeply moved he was by this well-deserved recognition from his colleagues. Congratulations again, Dan. And please don’t submit an entry next year…

I returned to Texas with so many other memories and the absolute knowledge that I will be committed to this industry for life. You see, I possess two characteristics that make me a perfect fit for the direct selling industry (and often elicit gentle ribbing from my colleagues): I am hopelessly sentimental—I cry at AT&T commercials—and I love to be involved in every aspect of whatever I’m a part of. I can think strategically and analytically when the situation requires, but at my very core I am an optimist who desires to make a difference. In San Diego, I was surrounded by more than 1100 colleagues, both suppliers and direct selling executives, all of whom strive on a daily basis to make a difference in the lives of all their constituents—clients, customers, employees and independent contractors—and I came away inspired and energized.

My hat is off to all who gave me this great gift of energy and inspiration: The staffs of both DSA and DSEF who planned such an incredible four days of education, motivation and just plain fun; the folks at Zoom7, who produced the visually stunning and seamless general sessions; each of the DSA Supplier Member exhibitors, who showcased their products and services with joy and professionalism; every single speaker and presenter, who offered such an impressive array of best practices, innovative ideas and enthusiasm; and the Direct Selling News team, John Fleming, Jerry Reagan and, back at the office, Erica Jennings—we say this to each other on a frequent basis, but I am blessed to work with each of you and I appreciate all you did to make our experience at the Annual Meeting such a roaring success.

Can’t wait for next year.

Make sure you use the comments tab below to share your Annual Meeting highlights!