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How did we get here?
About four or five years ago, Mary Donato cornered Ric Bell at a
conference and convinced him that hosting an URMIA conference in
New Orleans (one of her favorite cities) would be a great thing.
She certainly exploited Ric's fondness for the city. Ric then persuaded
Beth Carmichael to assist as co-chair, also exploiting her love
of this exciting port where she had visited in her days as a marine
cargo broker! The outcome is that URMIA, YOUR professional association,
is meeting this year in fabulous New Orleans!
What will be happening at the Conference?
In New Orleans you will have an opportunity to learn from two
masters in personal and professional development, Robert Fritz and
Jack Groppel. You will also hear from some of your most respected
colleagues and risk professionals on timely and relevant risk-related
topics. Your URMIA professional development committee has established
a new series of educational sessions to help further develop your
skills in areas relevant to your careers. We even created a Web
Site Design course especially for Risk Managers.
On top of all that, we will have FUN!
You'll be in the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans. Almost
nothing further needs to be said. But we'll say it anyway...the
Hotel Monteleone is a magnificent hotel, truly beautiful and elegant,
a timeless classic, beautifully updated and nearly too charming
to be believed. The opening reception on Sunday will be at Pat O'Brien's
on the River, where you can sample your very own Hurricane, a veritable
whirlwind of a cocktail. Tuesday night we will celebrate our annual
reunion in grand New Orleans style, with our own night club "Le
Club Risqué," at Generations Hall in the Arts District.
How did we do this?
A lot of work goes into putting one of these things together. A
wonderful group of people have been working for several years to
produce this conference for you. I'd like for you to recognize those
involved this year. Our team leaders, Jill Laster, Margaret Tungseth,
Renee Block, Ellen Shew Holland, Ana Windham, Mary Breighner and
Christine Eick have all taken on massive amounts of work in organizing
and planning the details. All of the committee members including
Mike Bale, Julie Baecker, Mark Briggs, Brian Cappo, Larry Cistrelli,
Teresa Koster, Teri Howard, Linda Oliver, Elise Shanley, and Kevin
McGinnis, have dedicated themselves to helping put together one
of the best URMIA conferences to date. Please express your appreciation
to them when you have an opportunity.
Additionally, Steve Holland, Larry Stephens, Mary
Donato, Barb Davey, Tom Somerville, Dave Pajak and Bill Payton have
all been wonderfully helpful with their guidance and words of good
counsel. And this entire effort would be impossible without the
support and guidance of Lisa Hutner, Bobby Graft and Elizabeth Kunsey
at Association Resources. And finally, a special thanks to the folks
at Conferon, New Orleans Convention Company, and the New Orleans
Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc. for all their
help and efforts throughout this conference.
Many thanks to all.
See ya'll in New Orleans!!!
Ric Bell, Co-Chair
Beth Carmichael, Co-Chair
2003 URMIA Annual Conference
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