Christmas Pet Industry Show in Chicago: debriefing
2009 H H Backer Christmas Pet Industry Show in Chicago: debriefing:
Jonathan at 2009 H H Backer Christmas Pet Industry Show in Chicago
Jonathan was honored to be one of the premier speakers in the educational module of the convention, entitled, “Go from surviving to thriving.” PetMassage was the only exhibitor that represented the animal massage and bodywork community. We are happy to report that our booth was continuously busy, providing information, products and support to the attendees, buyers and fellow exhibitors.
Sunday, October 4th, 9 AM Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont IL, Ballroom 44: a small ballroom was set up with tables and chairs for sixty. The title for the presentation was “Canine Pet Massage: A Great Service Opportunity.” The 90-minute PowerPoint made a connection with the hearts and minds of many of the eighty or so attendees who crowded into the room to hear about Pet Massage. They must have liked what they heard because almost all of them scored “5′s” on the evaluation sheet (5 is the highest number) and many requested that Jonathan be invited back next year.
PetMassage Booth
Most of those who attended later stopped by our booth to introduce themselves, get more information, and share their stories.
To all the people we met at the show: thank you. And, hey-glad to meet you. We appreciate your financial support in purchasing all the books, DVDs and CDs we’d brought to the show. We look forward to working with you again soon, perhaps in one of our workshops. Welcome to this email newsletter. We hope you enjoy what you read here. Please write us, too. We are growing, too. We appreciate any and all of your comments and suggestions that will help us.
Tribalism alive and well
One part of the presentation at the Backer show that seemed to resonate with attendees was my reference to us all being members of the same tribe. We may not be related by blood, but on a deeper, soul–level. We are the ones who were born with the natural ability to connect and communicate, honor and respect animals. We know each other when we meet. We are immediately comfortable with each other as we share the commonality of being able to easily and naturally live and work with animals. Not everybody shares this gift, or passion, or natural preference. Just as not everyone has the gift of easily understanding how to prepare tax forms, or fill cavities, or ski downhill (three activities that elude me). Thank you for acknowledging that you are in the tribe. My enthusiasm for connecting with like minded people, or our tribe, led me to create the IAAMB.
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009