Conventions

AAHPERD? What’s that? Well, it’s the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, since you ask. AAHPERD’s mission is “To promote and support leadership, research, education, and best practice in the professions that support creative, healthy, and active lifestyles”. AAHPERD envisions a society in which all individuals enjoy an optimal quality of life through appreciation of and participation in an active and creative, health-promoting lifestyle. Topics that came up for discussion at the show included physical education, health education, kinesiology (that’s all that biomechanics and motor development stuff), sport, dance and recreational activities of every type. Oh, and don’t even THINK about sitting on the sidelines and not getting involved. C’mon, on your feet everyone…

“Dealing With Disruptive Technologies”; “Tangible Retail Lessons from the Digital World”; “Retail Innovation Do’s, Don’ts and Do-It-Nows”; “Ask: Why?”. These are bigger issues than deciding whether to put the Oreo Cookies in the gondola-end display unit nearest checkout number 12. How about this for a challenging issue to grapple with?: “All manufactured goods, especially intangible goods, are headed down a one-way street toward (but never actually reaching) zero price. This paradigm presents a problem for sales, and an opportunity for a different approach. In a world where free copies dominate, the only things that have value are those that are difficult to copy”. That’s from one of the keynotes. But never fear, another keynote tells delegates that “With 20/20 vision, Clear Customer Insights Will Reveal Your (Retail) Future”. A clue: Sam’s Club knows the secret…

It’s all about “connecting electric professionals with powerful ideas”. (Say what? Do these guys run on battery power or something?). Electric West is billed as the largest independent trade show serving the electrical design, construction & maintenance industry. Traditionally an event serving professionals from the electrical contracting, servicing and repair segment of the electrical industry, Electric West has expanded its focus to include information of importance to electrical engineers and consultants who oversee the design and development of electrical products, software and services; and plant and facility managers who are responsible for power quality and energy efficiency. The conference program also includes coverage of renewable energy and green business practices. Wait, what was that flash of pink zooming past the podium behind the keynote speaker? Must’ve been the Energizer Bunny…

WorldAG Expo is presented by World Agri-Center, and the nuts-and-bolts-and-wrenches motif tells you it’s about “tools for Agri-Business”. Apparently “the world’s largest annual agriculture exposition” was celebrating “44 years of innovative agriculture”. The colorful locale of Tulare is somewhere in between Fresno and Bakersfield, just off Highway 99. (“You can get nice wine — on Route 99″, as Bob Dylan DIDN’T actually sing). And there they were: 1,600 exhibitors displaying the latest in farm equipment, chemicals, communications, and technology on 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space — a stirring sight. Seminars homed in on topics important to dairy producers, farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals. And for their lady wives, there were cooking demonstrations by chefs from California’s top restaurants, in the World Ag Women Pavilion. May we recommend this presumptuous but well-rounded little red Tempranillo with your main course, ma’am?

Those who say “I’m a Mac” all know that their favorite tech company famously does not attend or exhibit at big consumer electronics shows like CEA. You wanna see Macs, iPhones, iPads, Mac apps? You have to come to San Francisco, where the show is a one-manufacturer-only affair. Anyone who thought that the boys in tech were getting it all their own way should have seen TechGirlz: Women in Technology Making a Difference. This was an elite group of women who have been able to breakthrough the glass ceiling to become trusted and relied upon voices in technology. Women are becoming an ever-growing force in the world of technology, social media, blogging, digital music and videocasting. This group of TechGirlz is here to tell you how it’s done. Just don’t call them Mac, Mac.