RECAP: 121st AAU Convention A Success
November 7th, 2008
> Award Recipient Listing
> Sport Award Photos
> Award Breakfast Photos
> Closing Banquet Award Photos
> Board of Directors Photos
> Congress Photos
> Welcome Reception/Exhibitor
> Other Photos
> 2008 AAU Year in Review: AAU Is…
The 121st AAU National Convention was held in Cancun, MX from October 27th – 31st. The 2008 AAU Convention brought over 400 attendees to the luxurious JW Marriott® and Casa Magna Marriott Resort and Spa®
Numerous Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVB’s), sport commissions, and sports-related vendors were busy participating in the Exhibitors open reception banquet on Tuesday, October 28th. The Tulum Ballroom was packed full with 70 exhibitors, promoting their organization/products to over 300 in attendance. The welcome reception hosted by ESPN Coaches Fundraising Program that evening was filled with food, give-a-ways and fun. Many CVB’s gave away unique souvenirs, like bags, pens, buttons, stickers, etc. to help promote their organization to the attendees. Also, AAU Teen Card gave away over numerous gift cards for correct AAU trivia answers at the end of the night.
>> Click here for a list of AAU Convention Sponsors.
Other AAU national sponsors in attendance during Convention were representatives from Motel 6 and People to People Ambassador Program, both of whom gave presentations during the Board of Directors meeting (sponsored by Rochester Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission).
On Wednesday, the annual Awards Breakfast was held – honoring various AAU volunteers for their hard work and dedication throughout the year.
Also, Wednesday and Thursday the meeting rooms with filled with various sport and administrative committee meetings. The annual Compliance Task Force Workshop along with the Insurance Q&A Workshop was held on Thursday. These are just two of the many meetings the AAU conducts to educate volunteers on preferred AAU organizational practices.
The AAU Congress meeting convened on Friday morning with the continental breakfast sponsored by Southwest Ohio Sports Zone. President Dodd and the AAU National Officers present (Louis Stout, and Roger Goudy) met with AAU leaders to conduct the business of the union. Reports were given by the officers, zone representatives, councils and committees.
Also, an election was held for the 2nd Vice-President post. Henry Forrest, AAU Compliance Chair, was elected to the office. Congratulations!
Steve Daugherty of Disney reflected on the events held at Disney this past year and gave the annual Disney report – recounting the highlights of the AAU at Disney’s Wide World of Sports® Complex including the opening of the new Josten’s Center, a state-of-the art, multi-court facility.
The highlight of the Congress session was keynote speaker, Wallace Renfro, NCAA Vice President and senior advisor to NCAA President Myles Brand.
Mr. Renfro gave an inspiring speech regarding the relationship between youth sports and of higher education. He stressed the fact of education for our youth through sportsmanship, and the integrity of college athletics – “Many thousands of students will go professional in something other that sports.”
The annual AAU Year in Review video was also shown at Congress. Highlighting the theme of ‘AAU Is…’ – the video showcased volunteers, parents, coaches, and athletes on how the AAU has affected their lives in a positive way.
Concluding the week’s festivities was the much anticipated closing banquet (sponsored by Cabarrus County CVB). A mariachi band entertained the crowd prior to the banquet in the Tulum Ballroom Foyer. Hall of Fame and President’s Leadership awards were presented by Pres. Dodd who then proceeded to thank all of the volunteers, staff and attendees for making this year’s 121st AAU Convention a successful one.
