What a joyful week.  Full of learning, laughter and reconnecting.  I’ve been in SDA for 7 years and have attended 4 wonderful EDSymposiums.  I feel honored to have received the PPC Grant.  Thank you!!!!!

The last time we were supposed to get together, it was to be in San Diego (SD).  So, when I saw the first notice of where this EDS was going to be, I saw SD….oh yippee, San Diego.  But then I saw a notice of a bus tour of the badlands....badlands????  Badlands in San Diego....oh wait, South Dakota.  South Dakota?????  Ok, South Dakota.  But what a joy it turned out to be.  The people were delightful.  The location was amazing, the hills were beautiful, Mount Rushmore was unbelievable, and, bonus, $7 cocktails. 

It started when I got to my room, unpacked and took a shower….and then there was this noise.  Loud noise.  A storm blew in and man it was crazy.  It blew in and blew out, and the skies turned blue.

The bus tour was loads of fun.  We had Pastor Bill as our tour guide and driver.  Through the mountains and vanilla scented pine trees (no, I didn’t sniff the trees), but we were told they smelled like vanilla.  The tunnels through the mountains were fantastic, just the right size for our buses to pass through.  We learned that all the tunnels were designed so that you could see Mount Rushmore (and the boys), like a framed picture.  Pretty cool.

Wednesday’s “Unlocking the Leader Within” with Danielle Kennedy was an eye opening day.  It wasn’t just sitting and listening, it was interactive.  We learned about ourselves and each other.  I had a lot of “aha” moments.  We were asked to call 3 people and ask them for 3 words that describe us at our best and 3 words that describe us at our worst.  My first call was to my bestie…he took a moment to think about 3 words to describe me at my best.…so after a minute he says “ride or die!!!” Ha.  I loved that.  He finally figured out I meant 3 words, not necessarily a sentence.  But what a hoot. 

We also created a Wheel of Life ....8 spokes.…we listed all the aspects of our lives (family, home, work….that sort of thing).  The important things in our life.  And we rated them from 1-10 on how we felt we were doing in each category.  Another eye-opening moment.  Mine was a bit lopsided and certainly not round.  But I got to see how my life looks and where to spend more time to improve.  And seeing it in writing was especially meaningful.  Not just a thought in the back of my mind, but a visual. 

Simon Goodhead presented “Talent, Technology, Timing, What’s Coming Around the Corner”.  Very inspiring.  Scott Butcher presented “The Future of A/E/C Marketing.”  I’ve seen him before and really appreciate his style and what he shared.  I have to say that Brian Flynn’s “Financial Metrics for Improving Business Operations & Profitability” was a bit over my head.  He was engaging and funny, but beyond my little “non accounting” brain. 

There were lots to learn, lots to soak up, lots to process and I’m still sorting it out.  But I have to say that getting back together was the draw for me.  My friend Judy Beebe has had a devastating tough year, and I was sooo grateful she showed up….and I got to see her smile and laugh with friends.  It brings tears to my eyes just writing this.  Friendship and fellowship can help us heal.  I met new folks that just bowled me over with their kindness.  Susan Lankey was the most generous, genuine and delightful lady.  Brittany Jamison warmed my heart and made me laugh.  I understand when others talk about lifelong friends. 

We got to celebrate wins and the Gala was an especially happy event.  Jennifer Greene stepped up as Master of Ceremony (and big congrats on our new CDFA’er).  She did a great job.  Emily Meyer from Seattle was amazing on stage.  She is soo confident and charming.  We will all be looking forward to when she is our President (yes, I said it!!!).  Sandy Beckel was our Lifetime Achievement winner and what a sweetheart she is.  Congratulations to all who got to celebrate.

Our SDA leadership is smart, dedicated and inspiring.  I’m always awed just sitting in the audience with these people.  Years of experience at the ready to share with us.  I tend to think of myself as leading a small life, not a bad life, just a small one....and yet there I was sitting and laughing with the current and past leaders of SDA.  WOW.  Just WOW. 

I got to see the newbies stand up and share like they were old pros, giving of their hearts and energy.  Ready to be the next leaders.  My heart just fills up at the thought of this. 

I figured with the economy the way it is, everyone would be applying for everything.  But what the heck, so I sent off my application and was hoping I would maybe get one of them.  One of the funny things is that there has been several years where no one applied for tour chapter scholarship, and I heard from other chapters that they experienced the same thing.  I tell you this, because our chapters have scholarships to give, apply for them!!!!! I’m grateful to the Past Presidents Council for awarding me their grant and the ability to come to EDSymposium22.  It was truly a wonderful experience.

I can’t thank our Executive Director Stephanie enough for her hard work and dedication to all of us.  She works tirelessly and it shows in the fantastic events we get to attend.  Thank you, Stephanie, thank you Past Presidents Council and thank you to the past and current Board of Directors for all our chapters.  What an amazing group to belong to, and I’m proud to be part of it.  I can’t wait for next year in Tampa, Florida.

Carol Wanda Spradlin, CDFA, is the Office Manager for Baylis Architects in Bellevue, WA. She was the recipient of the Past Presidents Council Returning Member Grant for EDSymposium22.