About two weeks before the event is when the invites went out & about a week before the event I followed the letter up with phone calls trying to confirm that I would at least have some attendees. Out the 70+ calls I made, I think I spoke to about ten, and out of that ten I think I confirmed one. I did receive phone calls back the following Monday either confirming or declining their invitations. So when all was said and done, I had nineteen RSVP's confirming they would attend our luncheon.
So Thursday afternoon I put all my packets together with the correct powerpoint & half sheets & business cards. Got the last minute scoop from Charles about what I should/should not do & finally got all my technological goodies (digital camera & voice recorder). I was starting to feel really confident in the happenings of Friday.
Then, Friday came...major traffic accident on my way to work pretty much shut down the freeway into Columbus: Great way to start off any already nerve-racking day! Not to mention the wind & rain that just made it a miserable morning. But I made it to the office and finished up somethings around my desk before I headed out on the road. With the help of a dolly, I loaded the three boxes of mugs, laptop bags, flyers, & folders into my car & started out for 71S toward Cincinnati. About 45 minutes into the trip realized I left all my technological goodies in my desk & left my coffee mug on my desk. Strike three against Friday.
Once I actually made it to Voice of America Park it was very simple to find the room & unload my car (again thanks to a dolly). I set up all the seats with a packet of flyers, our folder, a Health Path folder, and an OBB mug. Then I played the waiting game for about an hour, in which I ate my lunch and caught up with Meredith (Southwest Ohio Regional Coordinator). About five til 1:00 a few people started to filter in. And by a few, I literally mean 3 people to observe the powerpoint, Tara with Health Path, and a guy from one of the local news stations (he didn't stick around very long though). I was a little disappointed that more people out of my nineteen RSVP's did not show up.
With the subtraction of a few minor hiccups of the day, my first event went very smoothly. I just hope that my next events go as smoothly (maybe just with a few more attendees!). I'm not going to let this one discourage me though! Next time will be better....I hope!
