Staff Arrives in Kansas City, Mo.

Most of the 13 headquarters staff attending the 2010 Convention arrived in Kansas City, Mo., on various late morning or early afternoon flights on Wednesday. What did they do once they got there?

Began to organize and unpack upwards of 40 boxes of supplies that had been shipped from Society headquarters in Baton Rouge, among other things.

And bragged that a big digital sign at the Kansas City airport welcomed Phi Kappa Phi to town.

After a quick check-in to their hotel rooms and lunch for some at the hotel restaurant, staffers took a tour of the maze that the Kansas City Airport Marriott turns out to be: Meetings and meals and other gatherings will take place on multiple floors in numerous rooms that aren’t necessarily connected. Particularly special events, like grand dinners, will occur in a massive, outdoor, air-conditioned, enclosed tent on the hotel grounds overlooking a lake.

Most staffers wound up in one of two workrooms the hotel had assigned to Phi Kappa Phi. One of them contained the many boxes. Despite itemized lists explaining what was in what box, some things got shipped afterwards last-minute, and so it took awhile to find the “banner hanging kit.” It took even longer to negotiate with the hotel administration where the Society would be allowed to hang its 15’ x 4’ welcome banner.

Some staffers wound up putting lists of people attending the Convention into folders that attendees will receive. Others perforated and alphabetized nametags for attendees, then affixed various signifying ribbons and other markings to them. Pop rock from the early 1980s, heard from a colleague’s iPod, helped set an upbeat atmosphere for a bit.

Posters were unpacked. Requests for more easels for the posters were made. Projectors were tested. Binders were sorted for Partnering for Success meetings for chapter officers meeting prior to the Convention. Chapter Relations Officers coordinated who will go to what roundtable breakfast. Wi-Fi was located for Internet hookup for computers.

All this, and more, before a late dinner with some board members in a hotel banquet hall.