Welcome to the Association of Former Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service
AFSA 2011 Convention Recap
and 2012 Convention preview
Where: Las Vegas, Nevada, at the J.W. Marriott Resort and Spa, off strip
When: Friday, 10/12/-10/17/2012
Website: http://www.jwlasvegasresort.com/
2011 Recap- The 2011 was very successful. We had 106 registrants and increase of about 49% from last year, and of that, 55 were members, an increase of 31% from last year. Much of this was due to Host Jim Meyers “Bring a Friend” program, as well as the excellent preparation, planning and groundwork done by Jim and his wife Myrna, and co-host Al and Nancy Selby, and volunteers Ron and Diane Line, Dan and Janet Pieschel and others. The location was incredible, the Grove Park Inn was fantastic and the value was also top shelf. Thanks to all, and to all who came and made this a success. It seems everyone had a good time, and the decision based upon by feedback from members to have some of our business conducted on the weekend also brought in more people. We were happy to see a number of first timers show, and also had a small contingent from western part of the nation. We truly hope that we have more members, especially from TX and CA, two of our largest bases of membership, at our 2012 convention in Las Vegas.
I rode the Harley up through the beautiful mountains, arriving Friday evening in pleasant autumn weather. Meanwhile, earlier in the day the Bob Manzi Golf Tournament was held at the Grove Park Inn Country Club, a 100 year old Donald Ross designed course. Later, we had the Welcome Dinner, formerly the Past Presidents' Dinner on the breezy and cool Sammons Balcony Terrace welcomed by interim Asheville Police Chief Wade Wood and his wife, Cheri. The first of many enjoyable hospitality room nights followed dinner.
Saturday morning, after a light breakfast in the hospitality room, while the Board of Directors had its meeting, some attendees and guests toured Asheville on the Historic trolley. Then at 11we began the business meeting with the presentation of colors by the Asheville Police Honor Guard, Invocation by Asheville PD Chaplain Sue Barron, Pledge of Allegiance, and the retiring of the colors. This was followed by a presentation by Headquarters’ member and Director of Strategy, Charles Hunter, who discussed accomplishment and initiatives, including plans on dealing with financial stresses as well as ways to fill vacancies created by retiring boomers. Afterwards, we had the business meeting, recapping the year, electing officers and selecting Las Vegas for next year’s convention, as well as discussing changes in the scholarship program. In the evening, a large group attended a motor coach to Highland Lake Inn for a group buffet dinner followed by a “Sounds of the 60s Concert” featuring “The Beatles at their Best’ in the North Carolina Playhouse in Flat Rock. The return trip from the inn included an “Asheville under the Lights’ tour.
Sunday had some people taking in the fall colors in the mountains by motor coach going on a shopping visit to Bryson City and a Smokey Mountain Railroad Museum with a rail tour. Meanwhile, back at the Inn, we had an enlightening and educations CPE conducted by Jose Marrero, a Consultants’ Summit with the Basel Institute on Governance, Madison Associates Inc., KeyPoint Government Solutions, McKing Consulting Corp.,MRW Consulting Group, Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations, Professional Risk Management and Security& Investigative Placement Consultants present followed, where they described their companies, what is going on, tips and networking. We also had a badly needed discussion with Jack Fishman, AFSA counsel and the presenter on a topic of the need for wills. Sunday night we had the AFSA Banquet and the hospitality suite, with a lot of networking, conversation, reminiscing, exaggeration and FOOTBALL.
Monday morning began with a seminar organized by Al Selby featuring a discussion on pensions and investing led by Michael J. Feeley, owner of Pension Advisory Services http://www.pensionadvisoryservices.com/ followed by a discussion led by SSA rep Don Blanchard focusing on weighing in on Medicare and FEHB as it related s to Federal retirees. This was very well attended and enjoyed lively Q&A periods. After this, many caught the bus for the Biltmore Estate Tour Part I including lunch at the Deer Park Center, and a tour of the Biltmore Mansion and Gardens. Man, $200 Million went a long way at the turn of the century. Simply fabulous.
Tuesday the pistol match was held at Rex’s Gun Range in East Flat Rock NC with Bill Connors taking first, Jim Meyers 2nd and Charlie Gibbs being the range master. At around 11, others took the bus for Biltmore tour II, which included a tour of the estate; lunch at one the restaurants at Antler Hill Village and a tour of the Biltmore Estate Winery.
It was a great time. It was well attended as far as our conventions go, but as editor Ross Brown pointed out, we should easily be pulling in number of over 100 members and their guest. So let’s shoot for that at Las Vegas. Contact your friends, especially former colleagues who are not members. That is what we are trying to do, is introduce ourselves to them, no hard sell. Also, check out the website for the Marriott listed earlier, this place is nice, price is going to be very reasonable and we hope to have some nice tours. You’re going to love it!
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