Meanwhile, in beuatiful Florida...

Someone here complained about it being chilly last night. I was confused.

More and more people are showing up for the convention as we speak, and we are waiting for the rest of the NY contingent to make there way here to wonderful Crystal River. The morning was spent in competiton, with JCI NY having a competitor in Masters Speak-up, Speak-up, Write-up, and the Portfolio/interview section whose name escapes me right now. Thankfully I can come back and edit this later. My own prepared speech went well, not as good as I had hoped but then again, what does. This afternoon, we have our debate, which should be a good time, and also callbacks for Masters Speak-up consisting of a 3-5 minute impromptu speech.

Overall it's gorgeous down here. After morning comps, a group of us piled into a car to run to the liquor/food stores and search for lunch. Some bottles and sandwiches later, we drove past the hotel in search of a beach, for which the driver, Mike from Johnson City, saw a sign. After a while of driving by what can easily be described as "not-beach", a u-turn was made. The highlight of the drive, however, was the random singing involved in the car. The five of us attempted a rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart, nailed Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, and proved we didn't quite know all the Disney songs we thought we did.

Limos, songs in cars, speeches, and good conversation... so far so good with this Year-End National Convention.

And we arrive

The hotel is nice, an interesting little location tucked away amidst golf courses, offers to swim with the manatees, and other Florida occurences. We are checked in, and I am sitting at the business center waiting for ID competitions to start.

So due to my laptop being annoying, there was no post from Washington airport, where I got a bunch of dirty looks for the size of my carry-on, nor from Tampa airport. When I arrived, I met up with Pam and Cathy from Batavia and went about trying to figure out where the shuttle was going to pick us up, the hotel being a drive away from the airport. After some trials and tribulations, and meeting up with JCI NY Treasurer Kim, we discovered a whole group of other Jaycees waiting at one of the shuttle pickups. After waiting, our ride arrived. And what a ride. A full bus, tricked out inside, owned by a Ranch nearby that specializes in horse riding lessons and providing other vacation services so that families can all be entertained. The bus was a tight squeeze at first, with all the Jaycees and our luggage, but that problem was rectified when the rest of NY here right now and I hopped into the stretch limo they provided. It came complete with a gentleman in a cowboy hat behind the wheel. Pictures will be uploaded later if I can punch my laptop into functioning.

Well wish me luck, debate competition is scheduled for this evening. I am going to go get out of this suit coat, I feel like a used car salesman...

On the road again

Please do not feel I am neglecting the overhaul of the blog, but something big came up that needs my attention. And that big event is...

National Year-End Convention in beautiful Florida!

I am sitting in the Syracuse airport, hoping my laptop continues to work, downloading podcasts to listen to on the plane. In Florida, I will be participating in the Debate competition with some lovely ladies from Batavia, and also competing in the Masters Speak-up. JCI NY should have a good showing in these ID competitions!

I hope to be blogging all week, as well as adding pictures. According to the agenda there is a pirate costume contest, and I come prepared.

Apologies in order

As some personal and technical issues have prevented me from updating this blog. Please note that a complete overhaul is at hand, due to the voting in the above poll. I agree, Pirates of the Central Region has a nice ring to it.

I am posting this as an apology, and also as a thank you note. Many of you bought tickets for the first annual Liverpool Jaycees St. Patty's Day in a Basket Raffle, hoping to win the above:




And as for the winner, let some Liverpool Jaycees take it away (as well as our leprechaun mascot, clad in green, who picked the winner):



Congratulations to the Thompsons for their win, and thanks again to you all on behalf of the Liverpool Jaycees!