Homecoming Feels Like Coming Home

Homecoming at Ole Miss this weekend felt like coming home, though my only official tie to the state is my son, Gar, who is a student.  What a remarkable student body and alumni group!  Ten acres of  side by side open air tents were most hospitable to friends, strangers and opposing team fans.

What a great tribute to the whole community, that Oxford demonstrated in so many ways, what true Southern Hospitality means.  I'm grateful to have experienced graciousness above competitiveness, enthusiastic friends by association, and thousands of genteel, fun-loving Southerners who made me feel at home.

You Will Be Missed!

People sometimes think that no one will notice if they don't attend a corporate event even though they've indicated that they will be there.  The reality is that corporate events are planned and executed by real individuals who are trying to accurately assure that everyone who attends is warmly welcomed and well accommodated.  Budget, name tags, food, beverages, handouts, room size and speaker expectations of audience size are a few of the variables the event planner is trying to manage   The event planner is expecting you to be there when you accept the invitation.  And he/she is expecting to know if your plans change.

This week, I witnessed something I've  not seen before in my long career - the worst case scenario of everyone thinking that no one would notice if they didn't attend.  Acceptances for an all colleague event were received from 131 employees.  Actual attendance was 29.

Thankfully we did not have venue or hospitality expenses for this workday event.  However, we had the embarrassment of billing a large audience to our talented internal speakers, while delivering a small, but engaged group.

When queried, the post event explanations from the no-shows largely favored client serving opportunities and included a few things beyond the colleague's control.  Others clearly didn't realize that their response mattered.

Regardless of the nobleness of the  reason for the change of plans, courtesy requires timely communication.

Entertaining

There are a million different ways to entertain family, friends and neighbors. Though we each have our preferences, there is only one inviolable rule - we must welcome guests in a way that makes them and us feel comfortable.
  
I hear of so many parties that might have been, but for hesitant hosts.  Many averted parties are the result of would-be hosts who don't have time to plan ahead to create the "perfect" party.  The perfect party is one filled with good friends and lots of laughter.  The invitations, food, beverages, style and setting take a backseat to being together.  We've had a terrific time at many spontaneous gatherings as well as those that were planned well in advance. 

Entertaining doubles our pleasure.  We get to enjoy the event and the memories that are created.