The Centennial Celebration and Annual Meeting was a wonderful opportunity for CAS staff to meet and connect with the CAS members in attendance. I was particularly excited to meet members of the University Engagement Committee (UEC) and the University Liaison Program.
We were expecting to host a record number of attendees, so the CAS staff arrived at the hotel a day before the meeting got underway to start the behind-the-scenes preparations. This entailed locating and organizing the materials sent by our partners and meeting sponsors, and filling just fewer than 2,000 bags to be given to CAS members when they registered. Into each bag we carefully added several sponsorship items, as well as the CAS Centennial history book, which contains photos and recollections written by CAS members. We started around 1 p.m., and, by the time we were finished in the evening, we had filled 12 towering hotel bins!
Throughout the four-day event, I supported the team of CAS staff members working at the registration desk, checking badges and tickets on the Intrepid and at the Gala Dinner. Along with the rest of the staff, I jumped in wherever needed.
I also had the opportunity to work on UEC initiatives throughout the event. Upon learning that nearly half of the committee’s members were planning to attend the Centennial, the UEC leadership held a committee breakfast for the first morning of the meeting. After countless hours of committee teleconferences and emails, UEC members and staff were finally to meet one another in person!
I was also able to talk with several of the more than 100 University Liaisons who attended the Centennial Celebration. On the last full day of the conference, the UEC hosted a student program for 23 students from 10 universities. CAS members helped the students navigate the meeting as they attended student-specific sessions, concurrent sessions and networking breaks. The students also had professional photos taken. (See CAS Trust Scholarship Winner Erin Yetter’s headshot below.)
I really enjoyed staffing this historic meeting. The enthusiasm and energy of the meeting attendees were inspiring. I look forward to seeing the excitement generated during the meeting continue throughout this 100-year celebration!
