“Are we there yet?” “Are we there yet?” “Are we there yet?”
It’s a saying as old as time itself, because ever since people started traveling places, be it on horseback, in a wagon, a train, plane or cars, our children have this uncanny ability to get under our skin by asking the question repeatedly, and usually in a grating and annoying voice.
I’m certain I was guilty of this when I was a child, and I know my kids were as well. I still tease my wife by asking her the question on some of our travels. No… she doesn’t think it’s funny.
Truth be told, for the past couple years, I’ve been asking this of myself and of our NASGW team regarding the NASGW Expo. We asked the question last summer as October came closer and closer on the calendar, only to be disappointed when in August we were forced to cancel our trips to Texas.
We (and by we I mean usually me) have been asking the same question for the past few months as October 2021 gets closer on the calendar.
As I write this column, we are just over 5 weeks out from the 2021 NASGW Expo and Annual Meetings in Columbus, Ohio. So, to borrow a phrase from, well, from myself… “Yes, we are ALMOST there!”
The NASGW team is excited to see you all in Columbus for what we know is going to be a great reunion of our industry. It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to be together in person. We’ve got a great show planned and we’re looking forward it. We’ve got some great sponsors stepping up to help us with networking events and our annual Appreciation Dinner on Tuesday night, as our annual kickoff to the show.
Despite all that’s going on, and despite the lingering concerns of covid in the country, our Expo event is effectively sold out. We now have a waiting list for any new companies who’d like to get a spot on the floor. In part, that’s because we consciously downsized the show, and we will have about 40 fewer exhibitors than we had at our 2019 Expo. But we’re also sold out because there’s been a tremendous interest from the industry about getting back to in person gatherings. There’s a strong desire out there for people to get back to as close to normal as they can get. For many, that’s going to start with the NASGW Expo this year.
We of course are taking all the safety precautions we can, and we’ll have hand sanitizer available throughout the show floor. The Columbus City Council has just passed an indoor mask ordinance so attendees will need to mask up, unless things change prior to our arrival. We’d also like to encourage anyone who has not been vaccinated to go ahead and do so before you head to Columbus. Clearly, we want everyone who comes to the Expo to leave on a happy and healthy note.
If you’ve not been to our Expo website, I’d encourage you to pay a visit to www.nasgwexpo.org to get the latest details on the show, information about the community of Columbus and all there is to see and do, and of course to get the latest health and safety information on the Columbus Convention Center. We will use this location to update everyone on the status of the city’s mask rules. The site has everything you need for making a visit to the 2021 NASGW Expo can be found on that website. So be sure to get registered and continue making your plans to join us in just over a month.
We’re excited to be back with you, and we can’t wait to see you there! It’s full speed ahead to Ohio. We’re almost there!
Until next time,
Kenyon Gleason
NASGW President