Traveling with RFN
Branson, Missouri
BRANSON – EVEN BETTER
By Charlene Adamson
RFN completed its fourteenth ConFAM© in Branson and, as always, Branson offers new venues, new attractions, and a terrific ConFAM©
experience!
Although the area had recent flooding, the weather for RFN could not have been better. Warm sunshine, cool evenings, and a starlit sky welcomed planners and exhibitors home.
Paul and I arrived on Sunday and enjoyed the Clay Cooper Show and agreed it was the best we had seen in Branson with choreography, song, comedy, and Clay’s family as part of the show. On Monday night RFN hosted a cocktail reception for the exhibitors and Branson hosted a planner’s Meet and Greet. Both were delightful and we especially enjoyed the opportunity to get to know the exhibitors better in a casual atmosphere.
Our thanks to Duane Cutler, GM at the Lodge of The Ozarks and Karen Phillips at The Savannah House, both of whom were gracious and accommodating. Debbie Chesnokov, sales manager of the Branson CVB, continues to be the professional who is everywhere at all times of the event. She and I coordinated the event and no matter what occurred and at what time of day, Debbie was always visible and working. Did I see her even pouring coffee at an off-site dinner? Our many thanks to the Lodge’s staff, and especially to Mary Fetner, Robin, Kim, Robert, Erin, Melissa, and Maurice.
Following a memorable Color Guard the Hughes Brothers sang the National Anthem and we were off to a running start of exhibitor marketplace and seminars. Dinner Tuesday evening was at the Howard Johnson followed by the Legends in Concert Show. My favorite was Buddy Holly and Paul’s was Aretha Franklin. What a show!
The Professional Tour Guide Associa- tion of Branson provided what I con- sider the best tour guides we have seen. Thanks to Nancy Kelley, Pat Eilert, and Nancy Towne.
The exhibitors rose to the occasion on Wednesday with enough door prizes for everyone plus more. The exhibitor displays were beautiful and the Spam cooking was a yummy surprise.
Wednesday’s FAM included riding on the Ducks and dinner at the Radisson followed by Sight & Sound’s production of Noah. The sets were incredible and it was difficult to determine which animals were live and which were not. Fabulous production!
Thursday was a full FAM day of site visits to other hotels, lunch and a show on the Branson Belle, and wine tasting at Stone Hill Winery and the Mt. Pleasant Winery. Dinner was at the Welk Resort followed by entertainment either at Hooray for Hollywood or The Osmond Brothers.
With lots of hugs and handshakes, Paul and I bid farewell to our planners and sponsors. We will see you at future ConFAMs©
soon!
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R E U N I O N F R I E N D L Y N E W S • S umme r , 2 0 1 1
Picture courtesy of David at Flash Photo
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