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WELCOME BACK!
THE FDCC 2021 ANNUAL MEETING
By Jennifer & Gary Johnsen, Convention Chairs and Casey Stansbury & Chrissy Vessels, Program Chairs
Jennifer E. Johnsen Gallivan White
& Boyd PA
Greenville, SC
Casey C. Stansbury Freeman Mathis
& Gary LLP
Lexington, KY
We did it! After
a more than 17-month hiatus from in-person meetings we (501 strong) gathered for the Annual Meeting at the beautiful Greenbrier Resort in West Sulpher Springs, West Virginia. Our theme was “Welcome Back” and that’s exactly what we
did. Members
think sudden and unexpected rainstorms), we enjoyed perfect weather all week, a welcome reprieve from the oppressive heat felt across the country.
For those who have attended meetings at The Greenbrier in
the past, there was comfort in the familiar – the timeless Dorothy Draper interiors, the beautiful grounds, 4:00pm tea and tours of The Bunker. But there were also many new activities and adventures to experience including Jeep and Razor driving experiences, escape rooms, mountaineering and even a charcuterie class.
Although COVID-19 was not fully in the rearview mirror FDCC members enthusiastically engaged in the week’s events. From the President’s Reception on the lawn, where we were the unintended
recipients of the WV Coal and Gas Association’s elaborate fireworks display, and the Theme Party at Kate’s Mountain Lodge where we ate and drank in the midst of a breathtaking sunset, axe throwing and rock climbing, to the Dessert Party with [un]forgettable karaoke, and the Starry Starry Night Gala where we danced to the sounds of The Big Beyond, members and their families embraced it all.
Recognizing that this might be the first-time attendees had
taken a vacation since early 2020, Casey Stansbury changed up our programming to make sure that the plenary presentations were interesting and exciting for both members and their families. Why? Because at its core, our Annual Meeting is about family. With that in mind, the program kicked off with Miranda Soto’s inspirational
and their families from near and far spent a fantastic
week reuniting with old friends and making new ones. And, despite President & First Lady Mike and Trisha Glascott steering the Federation ship (for those who attended La Malbaie (2016),
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