Stuffing It In On Day One

I've only been through Day One and already I'm in trouble. I just can't pace myself. There is so much to see, do, and learn here at the HLAA convention at Disney World, and I am soaking up everything I can. That doesn't leave much time to write about it.

My hat is off to the local volunteers. They've done a fine job training the hotel staff, right down to all the restaurant people. It is amazing to see how carefully the staff enunciate their words and try to accommodate us.

The ever bright and cheerful Flo Innes of the Sarasota area group, which was involved in the trainings, tells me that the welcome party her group put on lasted until nearly 11 on Wednesday night. I miss some good stuff!

Registration went very smoothly. The registration staff were cheerful, well-trained and efficient. The lines weren't long, not that I would have cared because so many interesting people were in my line. What were the odds, Beth Wilson was the first person in front of me.

I've heard some debate about color of the new HLAA website, with some people claimig it was blue and others purple. I am here to tell you that the new HLAA display was set up by the registration table, and my informal poll showed that virtually everyone agrees the color is purple. I would describe it as a sort of warm plum.

HLAA has a table selling tan-colored HLAA tee shirts with the new logo for $10 and a selection of books and videos.

The layout of the conference center is ideal. Everything is concentrated on one floor which has very wide hallways, lots of natural light, and good signage. After the gloominess of last year's exhibit space, this year's is a delight. Like the hallways, it's well lit and spacious.

My Day at the Exhibits is going to have to stretch out to My Three Days at the Exhibits. There is so much exciting new technology and so many new services to learn about that I only finished about a third of the exhibit hall. I can't wait to write more about what I've learned, but there's no way I'm going to miss this morning's breakfast with its Awards Ceremony.

I got plenty more hugs yesterday, though I can't begin to compete with the number of people who petted Galaxy. We were both energized! HLAA Executive Director Terry Portis found me at the exhibits (another hug!) and told me that wife Denise has completed 50 of the 60 volunteer hours required in her quest for a hearing dog from Fidos for Freedom.

Virginian sightings included Mike Royer (who helped keep me entertained while waiting for the opening session), Vic Matsui, Betty Wiley and her husband. I saw NVRC's Lise Hamlin before she headed to help with the TDI exhibit, which has CEPIN material. I also saw Jon McCelland, another expatriate who retains honorary Virginian status.

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