Gainesville, Florida

In March I went to Florida to evaluate another consultant.  He is from a town outside of Gainesville, Florida.  I had a great time visiting and getting to know him and his wife.  They were absolutely wonderful.  The day I arrived, they drove me to St. Augustine to have dinner so I can see the city.  It was absolutely wonderful.  Before dinner, we walked around and took some pictures of the Fort, Lighthouse, water, and the old part of the city....  What a great place.  I would love to go back!


It was such a great experience recruiting in Trenton, Florida.  It had such a great community feeling. The first person we talked to signed up himself as well as a young co-worker and also called the police chief to tell him we were coming to speak with him.  This was great to experience recruiting the way it is suppose to happen.

I also got to learn a lot about my consultants background and he really motivated me to act on my dreams so they become a reality to me.  I left feeling like a whole new person.  He also gave me a 10x12 glossy picture shot with the moon really close and a picture of the earth that he gave to all of his clubs when he was district governor.  The story behind it was that it was his dream as a little boy to go to the moon.  He didn't do anything to achieve that dream, but someone did.....  So you should always achieve your dreams so they become a reality. 

Back To Vegas... But for work (and maybe a little fun too)

The end of January I went to Vegas to evaluate a potential consultant and to meet with one of my senior consultants on ideas to expand the program to the next level.  It was a great experience.  I met a lot of great Lions from the state of Nevada and I also had the opportunity to recruit for a new club in Henderson, which is where my cousin lives. We stated at a station casino in North Las Vegas and I also had the opportunity to be on the radio during a Lions program they do every Sunday.

 
After the workshop was over, I moved to the strip for one night to stay at Harrahs.  My friend Dan was in town to visit his brother who lives there, so we met up along with the potential consultant I was evaluating.  We went to Hofbrahaus (my favorite German Beer Hall), then to The Pawn shop on PawnStars which was closed (I couldn't even buy a t-shirt) then Toby Keith's and Carnival Court.  It was a great night in Vegas! I can't remember if I did any gambling.  I guess if I would have won, I would have remembered.  ;-)

I'm Engaged!

Jay finally popped the question!  Yay!  It was New Years Eve 2009 in the afternoon at home, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him with my grandma's ring my mom gave him to use.  I could tell he was nervous, but he knew what my answer would be.  But for him to make that commitment, he was scared.  But after 3.5 years together, he knew I was the one for him, as he is for me.  We complement each other so much.  We are the same in so many ways, and different.  I truly believe that I have found my one and only soul-mate.  

Later that day we went shopping for rings, because I decided that I wanted my own ring from him.  I love my grandparents so much, and they had a very strong marriage, but when I look down at that ring, I want to see and think of Jay.  We didn't have much luck, until I decided to go with the ring I have been eyeballing for many years.  We ordered it from the JC Penney's and got a pretty good deal.  Problem was, is that I had to wait a few weeks until it was delivered.  But we are very excited and had set a date for Saturday, May 7th, 2011 

2009 Travels

So my travels picked up a little bit in 2009.  I had went to St. Louis for a workshop to evaluate one of my consultants.  And since it is so close I was able to drive and Allysse drove down with me because her friend Amy was going to school right outside of St. Louis.  We had a great time! We went to the casino out there, where I was on a winning streak playing craps, teaching Allysse.  We also went on the Anheuser Busch tour, and drove over the MLK Bridge at night which led to some late night excitement.
    

In June-July, I had the opportunity to go to the annual Lions Convention which was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  I flew over there and my parents drove up for a few days which was nice.  We were able to visit with my grandma, aunt and cousins who live there.  We also got to see a free Beach Boys concert which was really good. At the convention I was able to meet with consultants and lions over the world that I have haven't met yet.  So it was great to put a face to the name/email/voice.  Overall, my first Lions Convention was a great experience!  

In September, I attended my first USA-Canada Leadership Forum which was held in Memphis, Tennessee.  I didn't quite know what to expect from Memphis, besides Elvis, Blues, and BBQ.  But it was a great trip.  We had meetings for my consultants, we worked a booth in the exhibit hall, and had seminars about the Extension Workshop Program for Lions to attend to learn form about the program.  I went to dinner the first night with my manager and some other department managers to a restaurant called flight.  Everything is served on flights with three different options.  And you can order various wine or liquor flights to go with your entree.  It was really cool.  We also ate at a really cool BBQ place where everyone writes on the walls and table cloths. I forget the name of the place though.  After eating, I took a stroll down Beale Street to the Hard Rock Cafe to pick up my usual souvenirs (magnet bottle opener, t-shirt, pin for my cork board at work) and noticed the crazy party atmosphere and the abundance of Lions hanging out watching street performers and blues artists perform on various stages.  So I decided to hang out for a while before retreating back to the hotel. I had a great time.  I can't wait to go back.  It was such a great time, that I wish all my friends/family could experience.  It was very comforting with all those Lions out there tho.  If they wouldn't have been there, I probably wouldn't have gotten a couple of beers and strolled up and down the street checking out the various entertainers. 

2008 Travels

I started my job with Lions Clubs International in January of 2008 as a Regional Program Coordinator.  Pretty much meaning managing a program in various parts of the world on how to open new Lions Clubs.  I was in charge of managing a team of consultants, approving workshops,booking travel, and updating the curriculum and materials. I love my job!  It is such a great feeling working for a non-profit organization that helps people.  I love working with the local Lions and helping them, because ultimately they are helping those in need.  Finally a job with a great purpose!

During 2008, I had an opportunity to attend one of my workshops in Phoenix, Arizona.  I have never been to Phoenix, and never really traveled by myself (other than to Minnesota when I was like 12 and Vegas when I turned 21).  The workshop was great!  I got to experience first hand the program I manage, meet two of my consultants (husband and wife team from Arkansas), and I got to see, Dawn Dvorak-Kelly, one of my old friends from high school.  She moved out there right after she got married to her husband RJ and I haven't really seen or talked with her a whole lot since they got married in 2004 or 2005.  It was a great trip.  Dawn and I went to a few casinos, played Bingo and got pretty silly over Bingo, and I won $600 or so playing Keno!  Little did I know that this would be the start of my work travels.

 
I was also very fortunate to have the opportunity to go to Ireland with Jay, his parents, brother, sister, and almost entire extended family.  It was Jay's uncle's 80th birthday and everyone was going to celebrate.  Jay's dad retired and extended an invitation to me to join them on a trip, where-ever Jay and I would like to go in Europe that they were going.  Sooo many places, how do you choose?  Well, you go where all the family is going.  

Ireland was such a great time!  I didn't quite know what to expect because my only other times outside of the country was to Cancun, Mexico and Nassau Bahamas and well, both were touristy locations so we didn't really get to experience the true culture of the country.  

We flew into Shannon airport and that is where I got to have my new country experience right away.  I got to be on the rental car, since Jay wasn't 25 yet, and had to drive...on the wrong side of the road, well the right side, but the opposite of what we are use to here in the States.  It was quite the experience.  We had so much fun, shopping, going pub to pub, playing pool, talking to locals, visiting family... it was probably one of my most memorable trips.  Jay and I can't wait to go back, but we know it just won't be the same without the entire family there.