DuVita Leadership Dinner with Amber and Nelson @ Amber McAdam's Home

What a night!  I am overwhelmed with joy and excitement about what the future holds for this great company of DuVita after spending the evening with over 30 of the top Field and Corporate leadership.  Words cannot express my deep respect and admiration for the quality individuals I met tonight, many for the first time.

Amber & Nelson were absolutely stellar hosts; making myself, my husband Mike, and all of the guests feel completely at home, appreciated, and pampered; from the parking attendants to the servers, the delightful menu selections and fresh floral arrangements at every table.  The time flew as we had the opportunity to connect, share ideas, and get to know each other during the informal meet and greet hour, and there was no shortage of laughter and dialog at the dining tables dotting the outdoor patio adjoining the grand sitting room.  How fun it was to watch the fireflies dancing around the estate - something we don't see in the Pacific Nortwest!

Tomorrow in the morning we will connect at a breakfast meeting for corporate presentations and open forum discussions regarding DuVita's state of the business and strategy for the second half of 2010.  I am confident with the talent pool assembled we have nothing but paramount success in store.  Thank you to all of the Associates who made the trip to Tennessee, and thank you Amber & Nelson for your vision, your heart, and your belief.  Onward & Upward!

DuVita Leadership Dinner with Amber and Nelson @ Amber McAdam's Home

DSA Centennial Gala - Closing Night

What an unbelievable final day and the DSA event, I will never forget the learnings, the inspiration, and the stories I have heard.  Today marked the recognition and awards for great companies that have gone before us, and new achievers and partnerships whose accomplishments are nothing short of incredible.  Special congratulations to one of DuVita's strategic partners Grimes & Reese who were awarded "DSA's Annual Partnership Award" for excellence and contributions to companies in the Direct Sales channel.  In spending time connecting with them over the past couple of days, it is easy to understand why this law firm was chosen as best in show.

Tonight the DSA applauded the contributions of it's members for charitable contributions to causes such as women's issues, cancer research, children's hunger, the disabled, the poor and others.  The tens of millions of dollars donated by the direct selling companies clearly demonstrates that we are a family of people with heart and compassion, who seek to have purpose and meaning in all we do.  After a very moving video reflecting the generosity of our family of companies, singer Sandi Patty closed the night with "You'll Never Walk Alone"; no dry eyes in the room of 1400 people - the largest attendance ever at a DSA event in their history.  Wow.

DSA Centennial Gala - Closing Night

Day Two Connecting People, Products & Opportunity @ the DSA Conference

Tonight was a fantastic celebration of the 100 Years of the DSA with a theme party "Celebration of a Century" where people picked their favorite decade and dressed up.  The boys from Cutco celebrated the Blues Brothers with flavor! Together Executives from different companies joined on the dance floor for a collection of music that ranged from the 60's to the present, Neil Diamond to the Black Eyed Peas!

What has been so incredible is the feeling of community among all of the companies, some direct competitors in the marketplace, side-by-side sharing the common bond we have of lifting the human condition through the products we offer, the opportunity we provide, and the cultures we create.  We saw our industry in the light of history today, door to door sales of books that led to perfume, that became Avon, women persuing their dreams on their own terms before they had the right to vote, evolving into a force of 15 million men and women doing well by doing good. 

During the Social Media presentation we learned that of the tens of thousands of fans that visit our sites, by far the largest amount of click-throughs occur where there are success stories about real people experiencing real results.  Guess it goes to prove the old saying "Facts tell, stories sell".  Our stories are reflections of the human spirit, together we celebrate.

Day Two Connecting People, Products & Opportunity @ the DSA Conference

Opening Night at the DSA's 2010 Annual Meeting & 100th Anniversary Celebration

What an incredible industry we are members of.  At a private reception tonight we were addressed by President Neil Offen and members of the Board of Directors talking about the work being done to preserve the integrity and power of independent contractors everywhere.  The millions of lives who have been touched by the work of this great organization may never realize what goes on behind the scenes, but they are benefactors nonetheless - we all are.
I remember when I first read "The New Professionals" a book from the 90's that established additional credibility for the profession of Network Marketing.  It gave me great pride in being an independent associate myself while raising our young family, and the fact that Princess House, Inc. was a proud member of the DSA at that time added to my understanding that direct selling is indeed a noble and credible profession.  Here I am, 20 years later, still filled with the same sense of respect and pride in our great industry.  One that gives people the ability to set their own agendas and priorities, and to be rewarded without limit for efforts they are willing to devote to building a better quality of life for themselves and their families.
I wish every Associate could be here to see this, I know it would do nothing but build belief in this industry and in the work that you do every day!  So I will soak it in and bring it back...

Opening Night at the DSA's 2010 Annual Meeting & 100th Anniversary Celebration