WALA IN MONTREAL

WALA was well represented at the ALA Annual Meeting and Conference with 5 members traveling to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  Jana Waltman, Cindy Ratzloff, DeAnna Williams, Diane Hutchinson and June Huie all attended.  Each attended sessions designed to bring the latest in professional management information to our members.  Look for articles and more pictures, but in the meantime we can tell you that the conference was

Educational

Every day of the conference was packed with educational sessions. Although we could not attend all of the sessions, we did bring home written materials and the audio recordings of the sessions.  The CD with all of the written materials which comes as part of the registration fee should arrive shortly.  If you would like to see the list of courses offered, please see  http://www.alanet.org/conf/index.html

It gave us great access to

Exhibitors and Vendor Partners

ALA could not begin to produce a conference with the quality and variety of presentations and materials that it does, if not for our marvelous vendor partners.  Each of the attendees spent significant time on the Exhibitors' floor learning about the new hardware, software, and services offered to the legal community by our excellent vendor partners.  Each of us could be found on the Exhibit floor shopping and searching for tools to helps us do our jobs better. 

Jana was caught on film as she visited with her PerfectLaw vendor.  Many others of our vendors were represented as were vendors new to our industry. 

 

For a complete vendor list see http://www.eshow2000.com/ala/exhibitor_list.cfm. 

And thanks to our vendor partners, June did not have to suffer the dreaded effects of "computer withdrawal."  She was easy to locate at the beginning and end of each day as she kept up with the happenings back at the office and at home.  E-mail is a wonderful thing.  

The CyberCafe was available to anyone with the need or inclination to "get on-line".  A message center connected to the conference "scan cards" made it easy to connect with old friends and new acquaintances  for conversation, consultations or meals.  Some of the best conversations and learning experiences happen in the halls, on the vendor exhibit floor and at meals.  Who knew that the father of one of the owners of Wichita's own Two Brothers Bar-B-Que restaurant was an ALA member.

We were presented to our fellow member chapters on Monday night - as

Award Winning

WALA was very proud to be the recipient of several awards this year.  The Chapter's hard work was recognized at the Awards Event on Monday night of conference week.  We are so proud to see our now past president, Jana Waltman on stage to represent us and accept the awards on our behalf.  For a complete listing of National Awards which include WALA's awards see http://www.alanet.org/conf/awardswinners.html#out

Jana Waltman, 2005-2006 WALA President - Front and Center to receive our Chapter's Award for Excellence.  Wichita was one of only 14 chapters to achieve the Platinum level award.  Pretty good for a "small" chapter. 

We celebrated the Chapter's Success with our colleagues and friends.  The little but very active Chapter in the middle of the country shines again.

 

The joy spilled over into a chapter celebration where

Fun and Friendship

Was the first order of business.

Dinner at the Bonaparte Restaurant http://www.bonaparte.ca/ 443 Rue Saint-Francois-Xavier, was a culinary adventure for the attendees.  This excellent restaurant selection made by Cindy, our designated "expert" for the evening, offered a wonderful selection.  The menu chosen by several of the group can be found at  http://www.bonaparte.ca/en/rest-degustation.html.  Others chose specific favorites.  June couldn't resist a long time favorite, rack of lamb.  She reports it was so tender a knife was unnecessary and the presentation worth a picture.  As soon as she finds the roll of film with that picture - we will bring it to you. 

DeAnna, on the other hand, was not too sure about about some of the foods and flavors she had not tasted before.  But in the true spirit of adventure, present in all legal administrators, she tried everything.  Others of the group, knowing the delights of some of the more unique flavors helped DeAnna "make a happy plate".  We are truly grateful to DeAnna for sharing with us.  It was a wonderful meal and a great time.  Shared memories and experiences are always the best.

Several of the attendees took vacation time in conjunction with the conference. 

We toured and shopped and unwound. 

Jana and June took advantage of tourist time both before and after after the conference to hunt down the fabric shops (both are quilters).  The task was to find special fabrics to add to their stashes, as gifts for other quilting friends and to make that special memory that will remind them of their time in Montreal for years to come.  Their adventure included using the City's rapid transit trains and buses which proved an enjoyable experience.  Trains run on time, maps are legible and people watching opportunities plentiful.

 

The first fabric shop called La Maison de Calico http://www.economusees.com/la_maison_de_calico_en.cfm   welcomed them in true quilter style (kind of like  legal administrators - it is a worldwide family).  The store specialized in "American Fabrics."  The irony was not lost on our intrepid adventurers.  They each, however, managed to find and purchase something unique to make a memory. 

 

After the shopping came time for tea and crumpets in the little tea shop adjacent to the quilt store.  A perfect "girls day out".  Other shopping and touring took place both before and after the conference. 

 The underground City of Montreal was another great adventure.  Look for more information as we update this page with other adventures.

After tours of Québec City and time spent with friends and spouses, the two friends once again found each other at a fabric store (having arrived independently with no plans to meet the other) as each sought a final treasure to take home and share.  The store, Fabricville http://www.fabricville.com/ had a wonderful selection of fabrics, many of which are made especially for the store.  The store is Eastern Canada's largest fabric and drapery retailer and is part  of a 170 coast to coast chain of stores.  We learned a little about Canadian business and the economy as we experienced the City and its surroundings. 

June found a great fabric to share with her "little quilt group" at their next meeting.  It will form the basis of a "challenge".  Jana also found some special fabric to make some memories.

 

 

 

 

Look for more pictures and stories as our members get time to get that last roll of film developed and get their notes pulled together from the educational sessions.

As always the experience was well worth the effort.