Yesterday afternoon from 2-3:30pm, we had our annual all-staff assembly at the nearby Grand Hyatt hotel. About 1,000 people from our company headquarters gathered to get fresh perspectives from our leadership. Some of the other 1,000 people dialed in from field offices. In addition to our president and CEO on stage, various directors stood up from the audience under spotlight and video piped to two giant screens to give updates on major initiatives. There were also several video pieces of members and other leaders speaking.

I've met so many of the staff in the year since last assembly, that I was able to make a lot of eye contact and wave as I walked through the room--a good feeling. The program concluded on time and people gathered outside the ballroom for ice cream.

- mike lee - washington, dc