The room is filling, the music is swelling. They start with student dancers, joined by some of the staff from SHRM, pounding oput some rhythms on the stage. The crowd is up and dancing and it is a HUGE crowd. The volume is up from last year – Michelle in Programs said that they set the general session for 14,000. Glad to see things are up and bigger.
It kicks in
The first presentation were a set of “youtube” type of videos shot by members coming from Shanghai, Dubai and somewhere in the states. Big fun. Then the normal administrative grind of having the President Lon O’Neill and Chair VanCleave come up, make some well-scripted self-depreciating jokes, then methodically thank everyone including a mother-in-law (not kidding). You know it’s a fun party when they take time to thank the board of the HRCI, the MAC, and so on.
They then had everyone stand that had some form of certification. It felt good to get some applause, but the guy standing next to me noted that most of the board did not appear to be certified, and that they should be…hmmm.
Everyone is waiting for the main event – Steve Forbes.
14,000 of your closest friends.
Karl Ahlrichs' Uncommon Experience 
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