May 10, 2012
As the final session wrapped up and the annual CLM conference came to a close in March, I sat back and thought about what it means to me to be a part of this organization.
Certainly, I left a better educated person. The roundtables offered interesting and useful content, and were most notable for what was lacking: sleep-inducing PowerPoints. Discussions were put into motion by able instructors, and participants in every session I attended were up to the challenge of keeping it going. This approach can fail miserably if no one participates, but CLM members proved that if there is one thing they are up for, it’s talking and interacting with each other, whether it’s in session, on the flight deck of the USS Midway, or in San Diego’s historic Old Town district.
I expected to be educated, but I walked away from my first CLM experience with two exceptional memories: preparing and serving lunch to 700 Navy SEAL “buds” with 40 other CLM members who volunteered their time, and an emotionally stirring donation on the final day of the show of more than $20,000 to the Semper Fi Fund, a program that provides immediate financial support for injured and critically-ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.
These personal and professional experiences make me proud to be a part of such an amazing alliance of professionals because it shows that our organization cares about making a difference both in work and life. I hope you feel the same way, and I hope to see you at next year’s event.