The 2010 Annual Meeting in Vancouver has come and gone, and was it ever spectacular. Over six thousand members and guests gathered in one of the most beautiful cities in the world to be regaled by wonderful stories, music and the sharing of ideas which have sustained production through very difficult times.
I have received numerous emails and letters raving about the meeting and the individual experiences each member enjoyed. I would have to say, the meeting far exceeded our expectations as organizers – and those expectations were set very high. Congrats to all the volunteers who participated in the program – you were instrumental to its success.
MDRT is so unique in the way it gives our members a chance to give back, even if it is just a little, to such a great industry. There was no greater example of this spirit of giving, than the Million Meal Challenge that took place at the Annual Meeting. In just 72 hours, volunteers from all over the world stood side-by-side to package 1 million meals to be shipped to local food banks in Vancouver and to the impoverished in Haiti, India, Jamaica, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Tanzania.
I was most touched by a story relayed to me during the meeting. At one of the 80 packing tables, during the eight sessions set up to prepare these meals, stood MDRT members from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Israel and Turkey.
Imagine that, citizens of the world, from countries who have acrimonious political drama going on daily, working together to contribute their time and talent to a major world problem – hunger. Only at MDRT could global leaders in financial services work together to solve a humanitarian problem, despite the strong political differences in their countries. What an example of cooperation.
If you are not currently joining in the fun, experience and life changing opportunity MDRT offers at the Annual Meeting, you are really missing out. You will never be the same after you attend. Plan now to be in Atlanta, next June. See you there!
