I feel like a jet-setter

My feet are back on the ground having returned from the LA Spotlight, the Easter Seals annual Celebration in Las Vegas and then the U.S. Dream Academy gala in Washington D.C. last night. I've got two suitcases full of laundry and my dog has sad eyes. Thankfully this weekend is a four-day one here as Friday is a floating holiday selected via employee voting at the end of last year.

Can I just say that I'm so thankful to have this position here at Quixtar NA/Amway Global? What generous, passionate IBOs we have. This year, between the company and IBOs more than $900,000 was raised in support of Easter Seals programs and services for children with disabilities. I always enjoy attending the annual celebration to mix and mingle with Easter Seals' other national sponsors. It's very motivating. Quixtar was happy to host several IBOs at this function in order to share the enthusiasm and light the fires. I'm looking forward to seeing what creative ideas come down the pike as a result.

Look for a blog post soon about two of our IBOs, Jim and Pam Pierce of Girard, Ohio who were honored last week for surpassing $1 million in lifetime giving to Easter Seals. What an incredible couple. I've got some pictures to download and a story to write before the post.

Last night was a quick in and out to Washington D.C. with our V.P. of Sales, Sandy Spielmaker, Connie Altschwager the IBOAI Executive Director and Melissa Timmer, also of IBOAI. We attended the U.S. Dream Academy annual gala where Jim Payne, Executive Vice President of Amway, was honored. Prior to the dinner we met with Wintley Phipps, founder and president if the Dream Academy, Diane Booker-Wallace, Dream Academy executive vice president, and IBOs Jody and Kathy Victor. During the conversation Rev. Phipps used the phrase the "normalization of incarceration". What a powerful sentiment. It really got me to thinking about how we don't seem to be surprised by the growing numbers of individuals incarcerated in our country and more importantly the impact that this has on the children of prisoners or the children from the neighborhoods where there is a high proportion of crime and imprisonment. The U.S. Dream Academy is working diligently to break this cycle and we should all do what we can to support that effort. These are our children. Children of the United States. Shouldn't we all be concerned about their futures?

I'll have more to share about the gala in the coming days. I have to say I'm a total romantic and that hearing Peabo Bryson singing his love songs sure got me to swooning and thinking of a special someone in my life. And holy Toledo can Jennifer Holiday kick it out. Look forward to pictures and videos coming your way soon.