Sometimes, things don’t go the way they’re planned. In the military, it’s called a SNAFU.
Last month’s Sales and Marketing Council meeting had all the trappings — literally — of a big show. Military gear greeted members at the University of North Florida with a giant parachute above the podium and other items in the hallway and meeting room.
They were there to highlight a patriotic presentation by Lt. Col. William Burney, a retired Navy aviator who lives in Green Cove Springs and tours the nation as a motivational speaker.
The problem: his audio-visual system contained major glitches and, as a result, the members found themselves presented with odd noises and faulty videos through what turned out to be a 45-minute show.
Burney’s presentation was overly patriotic, but had its moments. When a pilot was killed in Iraq, Burney, also a pilot, flew one of the planes for a missing man formation. When speaking of the emotion, Burney said, “Pilots don’t cry. Their eyes just sweat a lot.”
On the motivational side, Burney used the quip: “Get fired up with enthusiasm or I’m going to fire you with enthusiasm.”
Also at SMC:
• Glenn Layton of Woodside Homes mentioned combating the recent local media attention of what he calls “the doom and gloom” housing market message playing out in the media. “We’re No. 6 in the nation for growth, according to Money Magazine,” said Layton. “We as an industry are fortunate to have a hand in Jacksonville’s growth. Jacksonville is in a position of success.”
Steve Williams agreed with Layton. “If this is a slump and not good — bring it on. Just look at the numbers,” he said.
• Carolyn McMoran of National City Mortgage, title sponsor for the July SMC breakfast, auctioned off two packages of 10 tickets to preseason Jaguar football games. One set went for $550 and the other for $450. Proceeds will be divided between daniel and Builders Care.
• Laurel and Decker Day, children of a SMC member, collected money for SMC’s book drive to benefit the Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton’s literacy program. While the pair were working their way through the room of more than 300 members, with red wagon in tow, Chairperson Pud English said, “You gotta look for ‘em. They’re little bitty people.” The book fair ran Aug. 9-15. You can still donate books to the Rally Jacksonville! program. Drop them off area Barnes and Noble stores.
• Coldwell Banker brought 16 agents to the breakfast in the ongoing effort to raise membership in SMC.
• The “SMC Sisters” trio sang a song to the tune of the Andrew Sisters’ “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” prior to Burney’s presentation. They changed the words around to highlight the accomplishment of Northeast Florida’s SMC being the best in the nation.