The teachers and staff at my elementary school ran out of gas decades before I got there. The summer before seventh grade, my parents moved us to a new school district.
I immediately noticed that the teachers at the new school were 387% (this is a real, quantifiable statistic) more energetic and happy. They welcomed us every morning. They smiled, and bantered, and had fun. They made the material interesting with stories. There was the hum of possibility in the halls. My interest in learning shot up, and so did my grades.
Associations are kind of similar. I’ve been to conferences put on by staff who were going through the motions, and I’ve attended events hosted by staff members who were super energetic and happy and who cared a great deal. It is amazing how much the vibe of the latter changes the attendee experience for the better.
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