TUCSON SITE OF “TERRIFIC” CONVENTION
Participants attending the OSM Annual Convention (April 22-26) at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort were unanimous is their praise. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, the resort has been home to countless PGA Golf Tournaments and boasts, among others, a fully-equipped sports complex and luxury spa. As one convention-goer summing up the experience said, “You can only describe the beauty of this area of Arizona in glowing terms. Our location was one of the best conference sites we’ve ever had.”
The resort, located in a lush oasis, boasts 400 acres of carefully tended grounds with an abundance of mature shade trees. The sunny Arizona climate itself was a strong draw. “You couldn’t beat the weather,” according to an OSM member, “We got up every morning to sunshine. It was warm enough for us to eat out on the patio for every meal. I only have good things to say about the convention. The programming was uniformly terrific – everyone wants to return.” The southern location presented a golden opportunity for attendees to build a holiday into their conference plans. In fact, a number of delegates arrived early or stayed on after the convention in order to vacation around the Grand Canyon or in New Mexico.
The first order of business for the convention was the 8:30 a.m. Sunday Board of Directors meeting. Later in the afternoon, a Western solo guitarist set the tone for conference, serenading the group as members registered. Following the President’s Dinner later that evening, organizers of the annual OSM Golf Tournament left the selection of teams to Lady Luck, drawing names from a hat.
Later, during the President’s dinner a three-piece Mariachi band entertained conference goers setting the atmosphere for the entertainment following dinner, a dress up photo shoot. The “Quick Shoot Gallery” provided participants with costumes of either cowboys or saloon girls with a complete range of accessories to create the perfect combination for a series of memorable sepia-tinted photos mounted in burned oak frames, memories to take home.
The main item of the AGM held April 23 was an in-depth discussion on the merits of increasing the Industry Fund. In the end, a wide majority of OSM members voted to increase the Industry Fund by 2¢ effective May 2007. The purpose for the increase is create more budgetary flexibility to allow OSM to be able to office more services and programs to its members. The increase also means that OSM will be able to be more pro-active in labour relations issues, an important aspect of its operation.
Monday afternoon schedule was left open, allowing participants to make their own luncheon plans as they investigated the town. In early evening, delegates enjoyed a guided tour of the Old Tucson Studios an Old West theme park and movie location that has seen the likes of John Wayne and Harrison Ford walking its streets. The evening was capped by a staged gunfight to give participants a bird’s eye view of how movies used to be made.
Golfers convened early Tuesday morning for the Annual OSM Golf Tournament, a hotly anticipated event. Non-golfers opted for the Alternate Program, a trip San Xavier Mission de Bac, locally dubbed the “white dove of the desert” located on an Indian reservation in the Sabino Canyon. The Spanish-Mexican Baroque construction built by Jesuits in 1700, reputed the most exquisite example of mission architecture in the US, offered a unique insight into Arizona’s past.
In addition to dining on classical Mexican cuisine, participants had the opportunity to visit Tucson’s Old Town artists. Located in the El Presidio historic district, the area is home to hundreds of artists and artisans who reflect Indian, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo cultures. At the end of the day, the golfers and the explorers came together for a Chuck wagon Cookout Buffet featuring “tradition western fare,” one of the participants joked, “steak and salmon.”
The awards presentation following dinner revealed the heavyweights among the golfers. The team of Jim Gingerich (captain), Ian Penney and Deepak Nayak team captured low net score, while Alan Speed’s team (Burney Grist, Alan Van Oirschot and Daryl Brisco) bagged low gross. The best long drive was Terry Pierce and the closest pin, Peggy Randolph.
The 2007 conference will be held in Quebec City, June 8-10 at the Loews Le Concorde just outside of the walls of the old city. Stay tuned for more details.
