Conventions

Seatrade Cruise Shipping Miami is “your passport to success”. Says so on the big disply right above where you sign in and get your badge. Things have moved on since The Love Boat was topping the bill on network TV. Get on one of these big beautiful babies (stand one on end and it’s like a seagoing skyscraper), and there’s more on offer than just a leisurely game of shuffleboard with the senior citizens. You could bring back more than a tan and a straw donkey in a Mexican tasselled sombrero, too: like how about your mega-winnings from playing the slots? Or a new spouse? Or a certificate saying you’re now a qualified salsa dancer? The 4-day conference program was kind of a virtual cruise in its own right, particularly with all that audience participation and interactivity. There is actually some justification to the often-heard claim that cruise vacationing is the last recession-proof business on earth. Wait, that’s my favorite song! Jimmy Buffett singing “Boat Drinks”…

It’s the Helicopter Association International you have to thank for this one. What’s the matter man? Stuck in traffic and late for yet another important business meeting? What you need is an executive helicopter to land you on the roof of your business associates’ building — all you have to do is look out for the big white-and-blue-painted “H” between the rooftop water tower and the big ol’ satellite dish. Man, do those rotor blades save time! Heli-Expo was the one-stop shop for everything helicopter-related, covering half a million gross square feet of space, and complete with real live helicopters on the show floor. Delegates got to visit the displays of nearly 600 exhibiting companies. And everyone who is anyone in helicopters was there to greet you. You want to look the part? Get yourself a pair of those shiny wraparound aviator shades…

Ever stop to think where ‘yer eatin’ irons came from? All a’ them knives, an’ forks, an’ spoons, an’ pizza-cutter wheels an’ such? Well, the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers will be right proud to answer your question, since you ask. NAFEM is a trade association of nearly 550 foodservice equipment and supplies manufacturers, providing products for food preparation, cooking, storage and table service. They provide educational opportunities to ensure that the next generation of young professionals is prepared for the foodservice industry’s future direction. The NAFEM Show connects buyers and sellers of foodservice equipment and supplies every other year, providing a showcase for the hottest and coolest products available. The show also features social events with big-name entertainment. If you really want to be a whiz with the kitchen utensils, you need yourself a NAFEM professorship in culinary arts — or at least acquaintance with somebody who has one…

The big question being asked at the Golf Industry Show was “What’s in your bag?”. And they didn’t just mean your golf bag. Answers ranged from golf hats and other golf apparel to brochures and price lists to kids’ toys. (Fathers occasionally seem to get the guilts for all the time they spend on the links and at, well golf shows. There was quite a focus on the women’s game. Veteran lady golfer and TV commentator Judy Rankin gave a keynote, and offered her thoughts on making the game more accessible and enjoyable, especially for women. In another keynote Pat Williams elucidated his views on leadership and revealed who he would choose to create his ultimate golf foursome. (Sorry, you weren’t on the list).

FETC Conference & Expo is a comprehensive and progressive educational technology conference in Orlando. The event exposed all the latest hardware, software and successful strategies on student technology use. ETC is designed for teachers, principals and deans, district administrators, curriculum designers, media specialists, technology directors and other educators. The profile of exhibit includes Assessment Solutions, Assistive-Learning Technologies, Computer/Presentation Furniture, Computer Hardware/Peripherals, Literacy Solutions, Administrative/Business, Management Software, educational/Instructional software, and Multimedia Software. What do you mean, the dog ate your e-mailed homework?