Add to this a fairly diverse programme consisting of education, motivation, sightseeing and fun and you begin to appreciate what goes into making for a successful conference.

This year some sixty nine full term delegates, fifteen partners and a further twenty seven people attended selected functions, with the New Zealand Sign and Display Awards attracting 211 attendees for the night’s festivities.

The Wellington Conference started with a registration mix and mingle amongst the trade display.  Every delegate was provided two really practical NZSDA branded items, a leatherette briefcase with pockets and storage for Africa, and a fleece lined, short sleeved, jacket.  So popular were these latter items that the extras were snapped up by delegates before the conference was over.

Thursday kicked off with the President’s Breakfast at which the scene was set for the rest of the week.  This was followed by the trade presentations which had a very professional look about them this year, more like the trade exhibitions of old, complete with competitions and lucky draws for participants.

From here it was lunch and delegates then split up to take in the pool and golf tournaments or free time until the AGM the following morning.

After the AGM delegates heard presentations from past Wellington Mayor, Mark Blumsky, Brendan Ward of Water Safety NZ, who chaired the Standards Committee on which David Gower of Zimstone represented the NZSDA, and the Site Safe CEO who outlined some of the responsibilities of employers under today’s working environments.  This was followed by the conference group photo and then there was free time up until the NZ Sign and Display Awards at the Michael Fowler Centre that evening.

The Awards adopted an Austin Powers theme with MC Brett Rutledge really getting into the role of both Austin Powers and Dr Evil.  The whole evening was quite groovy right down to the Beat Girls who kept people up and dancing from their first number right through to the very last.  The evening could have easily gone on for an hour or two longer.

Saturday provided a late start so as those who had partied on the previous night had time to recover.  Mini-buses left the hotel touring a circular route to the port where delegates and partners, along with a host of others, boarded the “Sweet Georgia” of local identity Paul Gubb who treated us to a cruise on the Wellington harbour over the next four hours with a lunch menu that seemed unending.  There’s always a joker or two in the pack and on this occasion a certain 3M employee, who shall remain nameless, Neville, taped up a hapless PR Officer, Peter Sherwood.  Tables were turned a little later on when he who shall not be named (Neville) was securely taped in the ‘head’ (toilet for those non-seafarers among us).  After some fifteen odd minutes a rescue was initiated by Nick Minogue.  Apparently Neville was OK except for the solid imprint of a toilet seat on his nether regions!

Mini-buses were the order of the day again in the evening when we were treated to a good night’s entertainment at  Theo’s Greek Taverna, award winning restaurant.
Dancing, music, plate smashing and feats of bravado, followed by some unusual side bets (ask Arlon) made for a most enjoyable evening during which Brian Holbert, who heads back to the USA after his years as the Arlon manager of Australia and New Zealand, was presented with a memento from the kiwis.

Sunday saw the closing breakfast at which Ian Grant of Mulford Plastics was declared the winner of the golf tournament while Jeff Harvey won the pool tournament.  Art Lester won the Farr Cup for his signage on a race car.  Another award, the Offence Award, has yet to be given to the winner so we wont embarrass them at this stage (we’ll wait ‘til later!)

Andrew Braddock on behalf of the Wellington branch thanked those who had attended and delegates in turn thanked the Wellington branch for a great conference.

All in all a damn good conference.  Roll on 2004 and Nelson!

Jo Hulsdouw tries his hand at the tyre changing competition that 3M ran from their trade display.	The  NZ Sign and Display Awards followed an Austin Powers theme.
The Beat Girls kept the house rocking until the very last.	Colin Frampton demonstrated not only the Greek dance but also the way you have to take your drink down once the dance has finished.  (Look Ma - No Hands!)
Peter Sherwood looked to have been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time but the payback was sweet.	Arlon’s Brian Holbert is obviously well used to tucking five dollar bill’s into ladies underwear.  The ladies returned the complement when Brian got up to dance and smash plates.
There was very little dancing in the streets but quite a bit of dancing on the barrels.	Smash the plate and then perform the dance around the broken pieces.  Apparently this is normal but no reason was given.
Yet another Greek dance.  I think Theo invents them just to meet new people!	Joe Atkin demonstrates poise and style in his rendition of the ‘let’s smash the plate and celebrate’ dance.
Jeff Harvey won the coveted pool cue and trophy for 2003 beating off some tough competition from 23 other hopefuls.	Art Lester made the mistake of owning up to a major typo on a race car and collected the Farr Cup for his honesty!

The Wellington branch wish to thanks all those who participated in this year’s conference.  The delegates, the partners, the awards attendees and of course the sponsors and trade show participants.