This morning NAMA Chapter Leaders were invited to attend the Leader’s Workshop and hear about ways they can develop and grow their chapters.

The program featured a number of speakers who are all volunteer chapter leaders with years of experience. NAMA President, Stephanie Gable, started things off by welcoming everyone and giving a “state of the union” address.

Leaders also got to attend lunch together for some very informal time to discuss ideas that cropped up during the session.

These are NAMA professionals attending the student competition judges reception. I know, they look young enough to be students themselves right?

A lot of work takes place here at an Annual Conference but we also like to have a little fun too.

If you haven’t gotten involved in some of the opportunities offered by NAMA like student competition you’re missing out.

The student marketing competition got started yesterday with team practices in the afternoon.

The judges also got together in the evening for a short reception and to hear from Melissa Sanders, AdFarm, who went over information about the competition and their responsibilities.

I just dropped in briefly but it looked like everyone was eager to get started. This is something I’ve never participated in but I’ve been told is a very rewarding opportunity to interact with other professionals and meet some of our finest young people, many of whom we might work with one day.

As the ABEF golfers were led out onto the course I shot a little video of them going by. Most were all smiles and some were “serious” as they started focusing for the competition.

One of the benefits of membership in NAMA is being able to network with friends and colleagues in the business.

The ABEF Golf Tournament is just one more example of an opportunity to do this. Of course, isn’t that what golf is all about?

After the game the participants had a dinner and awards ceremony out at the course which is actually inside DFW airport!

The ABEF Golf Tournament had about 48 participants some of them seen checking in here at the Bear Creek clubhouse.

The day started off pretty breezy, cloudy and cool but that all changed as the afternoon progressed and there’s no doubt everyone had a good time. Hey, a bad day on the course beats a good day you know where.

Proceeds from the tournament go to benefit the NAMA Agri-Business Education Foundation.

Keeping in theme with “Think Big” even the hall signs are big.

These are just some of the ones you’ll find at lobby level providing schedule and sponsor information. These signs are also where you can find results of the student marketing competition which should be in full swing.

I’m thinking that when you’re in Texas you have to Think Big and that’s what we’ll be doing here all week.