Page 12 - WBG March 2025

EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR’S BRIEF

Dear Members,

We are now well into our 100th year as an association and
I look forward to our first gathering in Lisbon. I am thrilled that
our attendance at the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade is so large.
It appears we will have our largest attendance ever for a Midterm
Board Meeting. There is much to do and see nearby our hotel. We
are very close to Old Town and all the historic sites, restaurants,
and shops between our hotel and the sea. You won’t fall short of
things to do.
Everyone that registered by February 28th is also automatically
included in the day tour and luncheon in Sintra. I have been told
my several members that it is a must see if you are in Portugal.
We sold out our block of hotel rooms early, but fortunately we
were able to get more rooms. The additional rooms were sold
out by our release date of February 26th, but the hotel was very
accommodating in selling us some additional rooms by special
request after the deadline.

By now I hope you have blocked off September 2nd through 6th
on your calendars for the WAD Centennial Celebration, our 100th
Annual Conference at the historic Drake Hotel in Chicago! We have
been discussing this event at Board Meetings for at least 10 years
now. Now it’s right around the corner. I want to especially thank
President Wes Bearden and Past Presidents Chuck McLaughlin
and Mike LaCorte for the extra effort they have been putting in to
help me organize this conference. Also thanks to Philip Ryffel and
Joel Michel who each made a trip to Chicago to help us with plans.
There is an amazing lineup of speakers that have been arranged
that will be announced soon. We have some very generous
sponsors that have donated much more than we ever anticipated
was possible. Members can participate in sponsorships for as little
as $100 in the $100 for 100 program which you can find on our
website in the Chicago Conference Registration information.

After all the seminars and business meetings and meals we will
get to Friday night where we’ll have a very special gala in the Palm
Court, the historic ballroom of the Drake Hotel. We will have some
fantastic entertainment thanks to the Duluth Transit Authority
coming all the way from Duluth, Minnesota. They are a well-known
popular Chicago Tribute Band.

The gala will not be the last event. After seminars and the New
Board Meeting Saturday, get ready for our final event on Saturday
evening, a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan. Our goal is for you to
go home with lasting memories from the 100th Annual Conference
in Chicago.

Bob Heales

Executive Director and Association Manager
10 W.A.D Beyond Global