Thank you for the opportunity to serve as a delegate for eChapter this year. My first visit to Chicago was very exciting and Congress week seemed to go by so fast as usual. I arrived on Saturday, and after a quick pit stop at the hotel, I hopped the bus to the convention center. After registering, I went straight to the posters so I could add mine amongst the other wonderful and educational displays. On Sunday, it was nice to see other eChapter members that we only usually see once a year and catch up on eChapter business; however, it was disappointing that our president could not attend this year.
Later, after attending the Candidates’ Forum, where all of the candidates delivered inspiring speeches, and the First Forum, I enjoyed a fabulous meal at an Italian restaurant -- one on the many varieties of food the city has to offer. My best meal of the week though was in Chinatown, where I savored authentic Chinese dishes – steamed dumplings, hot and sour soup, crispy beef to mention a few—and ending with a bubble tea.
The opening session is always a moving and touching experience and this year was no exception – from the bagpipes to the firemen to the procession. One of the highlights of Congress this year was the “What If and Why Not?” session that followed. I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed Mike Rayburn and the talent he displayed on his guitar – I know I did! As always, the sessions presented were excellent and relevant to current practice – informatics, Never Events and SCIP to name a few.
The House of Delegates sessions were organized and despite a full agenda, there was enough time allotted for discussions. As was the case last year, the proposed changes to the Nominating Committee fueled much debate. Concluding the Second House of Delegates was the announcement of the election results at the end of the session. While I was not enthused with the Closing Session speaker, I enjoyed the speech by Patrick Voight and his selection for next year’s theme. After watching the video of Denver and having visited the city many times before, I am truly looking forward to next year’s Congress with much anticipation.
In conclusion, thank you once again for the privilege of representing eChapter as a delegate.