For the past several months, the Conference Committee has spent numerous hours preparing for two days for the 46th Annual Arkansas Literacy Association's Literacy Conference...that flew by in the wink of an eye.
The long story? This was to be the last literacy conference. Declining registrants. Exorbitant overhead costs. Little (if any) profit.
The short story? The people showed up. Registrant numbers increased. An energy exuded from all. Not one negative comment. True!
The end result: "This just can't be our last conference." "These people love getting together face-to-face." "Let's talk about how we can make this happen..again."
So chat we will!
Why did this change happen?
Penny Kittle was the General Session keynote. They loved her. Her love of literacy and books was just contagious. Oh! I do remember a complaint...they wished she had talked longer. :)
I traveled to the conference with a bit of dread in my heart, knowing this would be the last. Then, I heard the numbers and hope arose....and continued to rise. Yay!
There's this thing about hope. Hope keeps one going when all seems hopeless.
This thing called hope...feels good!
Looking forward to what the future holds for this conference...for what number 47 will entail.
On a sub-note...just a slight switch of topics: If you are not involved in a professional organization, please consider doing so. I listened to one of our board members chat and reminisce about how this group was the reason she became a literacy leader and how she had watched this organization develop such skills in other leaders, including our current president, who planned and organized, who stood and spoke, who has grown into a tremendous literacy leader.
This group of ladies inspire me, motivate me, challenge me, change me.
In all we do, we work as a team, empowering one another. Just a precious thing. Truly.
