Valley of Fire Photos

Another obligatory camera phone self portrait this time in the Valley of Fire about 40 minutes outside of Las Vegas.

The rocks are beautiful and you can spot hundreds of petraglyphs.

Back in London

It is good to be back in London even if my luggage is still in Philadelphia. The Philly airport was a mess with bad weather. Our jumbo jet was empty which was fantastic for me as I slept across three seats. Plus, got to watch Music and Lyrics with Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant. It was very sweet.

I welcome the sanity and, surprisingly, the prices back here in London. My last meals in the US, in the Vegas airport, cost me a fortune. A $7.31 yogurt with fruit and granola, $10.00 chicken salad (for the flight since there was no meal service), $3.00 bottle of water (that security confiscated and chucked in trash, unopened - in the desert no less) and $4.59 Odwalla. US airports are really taking you for a ride.

Walked into a Marks and Spencer at London Gatwick and there were countless healthy, fresh and affordable choices. Purchased a lovely egg salad sandwich on whole meal bread and a fruit smoothy - total - 2 pounds and 50 pence.

Okay, I'm Ready to Come Home

I'm vegassed out. Been here for a week and it has blown my mind. Everything is full-on, over the top and frankly, draining. The Americans for the Arts convention is amazing and I'm learning in every session. But vegas - oy. Can someone turn down the volume?

Heading back to London tomorrow and arrive on Monday. I will need a vacation from this holiday.

Americans for the Arts Takes Over Flamingo

I'm here in the Flamingo hotel, Las Vegas, at the coputer kiosks at the registration room for the Americans for the Arts convetion. There is a buzz like no other this year. 800 folks attended last year's convention in Milwaukee but this one has attracted 1200 registrants. Is it the location, mystique or great persenters?

All of Humanity

All of humanity can be found on Southwest airlines. And when you're headed to Vegas they let it all hang out. You would think the party started on the flight. I had the pleasure of sitting next to a young mom and her 14 month old terror who puked on me. Thought for the day - don't give your kid peanuts, cranberry juice and 7 Up. They, unfortunately, mix very well.

San Diego go go

Vegas is sow close to San Diego that I took an overnight side trip to visit my friend Julie for dinner and breakfast. The two of us have interesting parallels including living in Houston, England and San Francisco plus having worked at Business Arts Council.

So good to connect with her and get to see beautiful San Diego. Now back to Las Vegas for the Americans for the Arts conference. Gotta love Southwest Airlines.

Valley of Fire

When you think of Vegas you imagine The Strip. However, my mother and I have been here three days and have yet to go there. Sure, we see it in the distance but our destinations have all been in Las Vegas propper. I will admit that we've done a lot of shopping but we've also dont some fab adventuring.

Yesterday we explored Valley of Fire. Advised by our cousins to get there early, before the heat of the day, we arrived before the Memorial Day crowds. Just 40 or so miles outside of Las Vegas it was like being on another planet, literally. The landscape is breathtaking. To see photos visit this link (my shots to be uploaded later). There are thousands of petraglyphs.

This morning we're up at 7 am for a walk in Red Rock Canyon just a few miles from our cousins' house.

Leaving for Las Vegas

Tomorrow I depart for Las Vegas to attend the Americans for the Arts convention. For the start of the trip my mom is joining me to do a Thelma and Louise holiday, without the plunging ending. However, we are happy to pick up Brad Pitt if he needs a ride.

I will do my best to post but computer access may be limited. Leadership posts and convention reports on my other blog Career Goals: Take the Lead.

Developing the Leadership Pipeline

This year's Americans for the Arts Convention is themed Risk and Reward and what better city to take risks and perhaps be rewarded than Las Vegas. We will be there June 1-3 and I am presenting a panel called Developing the Leadership Pipeline.

Details follow:

Finding qualified successors to aging baby boomers has become a critical concern for many arts organizations. At the 2006 Annual Convention, Americans for the Arts posed Art in Changing Communities as its theme, setting the stage for addressing the field’s impending leadership transition. This concern is further complicated by U.S. census data that indicates a shrinking labor pool in the next 10 years, as more Americans than ever before hit retirement age. For many in this career stage, an executive director position is perceived as the only viable leadership pathway. Join this interactive session as we launch a dynamic dialogue that will explore strategies for attracting, engaging, developing, and retaining midcareer professionals.
Presenters:

Amy Kweskin Duncan, Principal, Arts Management Consulting
Shannon Daut, Associate Director, Programs, Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF)
Brechin Flournoy, Director of Public Relations, Quinn & Associates
Essence Newhoff, Director of Major Gifts, Folger Shakespeare Library
Eric Wallner, Cultural Affairs Supervisor, City of Ventura Cultural Affairs Division