This will be my 6th trip to GATC in Indianapolis. And I'm looking forward to it. It definitely won't be the same ol' thing from past years, partially because the curriculum will be taught in a different way, but also because I'll have a hand in presenting it — I'm rather looking forward (now that I'm not stressing over logistics or anything) to presenting on the few topics that I'm helping with and providing some Club Leadership Education Instructor training on Sunday. I think that the 'fun' or interactive activities we have planned for CLE Instructor training will be well received and shouldn't be duplicated from other aspects of GATC.
I'm happy that we're returning to the Embassy Suites Hotel (it was great last year!), and also that our 'fun' activity will be dinner theatre (The Music Man) — I totally love dinner theatre! Past 'fun' activities at GATC have been pretty varied in the years that I have attended, but I distinctly remember when I was a governor and attended an arena football game, and when I was an International Trustee and got a mild concussion on a waterslide before playing arcade games to win stuffed animals (but no DDR as the concussion was problematic for head movement, obviously) to donate to children. I'm not sure I really remember the 'fun' activities from other years: maybe they were less significant or maybe the conference was structured differently, but I'm definitely looking forward to this weekend!
Also, this is the first trip where the fact that I have status with Aeroplan may actually come in handy! I'm on eupgrade to Executive class on standby for the flight tonight to Toronto, which is neat! Perhaps that will actually mean something (though I doubt it). I also like the fact that I could technically check a couple of bags (though I won't take advantage of this this time) for free. Those little perks are the ones that make me happy to have finally gotten such status!
Now back to packing, and being frustrated at the person who hasn't taken his/her laundry out of the machine yet.