For the third time in the last four years I drove my ice cream truck to the International Association of Ice Cream Vendors Convention It alternates coasts and this year it took place just south of Orlando at the Omni Resort. I didnt really know what to expect my first year when I drove to Santa Fe after Vegoose and I imagine most people are just as curious. Id like to say its a super-big ordeal, like the Amusement Park Expo but its actually quite small.
The part most people would be interested in is the Exhibit Booth Program. This is where you get to sample all the treats out there. A lot of companies bring out the items theyll be introducing the following year and its always great to see what cartoons will be immortalized on a popsicle. This time around, for Blue Bunny, they two biggies are Batman and Hannah Montana. Dont get all excited thinking youll actually see Miley on a pop, its a guitar with a gumball and an HM stamped in it. My favorite new addition to the Exhibits was the Snowie ice cream truck. Hopefully we can get them to customize Newt a bit before next year so we can roll in something almost as cool as the Snowie Bus.
The convention takes place form Wednesday through Saturday so theres quite a bit of time to catch up with other members. There are dinners and parties hosted by Unilever and Blue Bunny and I kicked some serious butt at the Casino night and won a cordless laser mouse. When I accepted it I tried to shoot everyone in the audience with the laser but I think it needed batteries or something. The biggest bummer of the whole weekend was that we missed the shuttle launch nearby. The people at the hotel told us to stand out front to see it but you actually had to be behind the hotel to watch it.. argh. When else am I going to be in Florida during a shuttle launch?
Usually I participate in the Volleyball tournament on Friday but we planned an ice cream social at Disney Childrens Hospital so I wasnt able to make it. I was able to check out the motivational speaker, Jim Davidson, who spoke about adventure and High Altitude Teamwork based on his ice climbing and hiking expeditions. It made me thinkdamn I need to start doing some paid speaking gigs. I could come up with some good angles to push then give everyone free ice cream after SLAM DUNK! Im already traveling all over the place as it is why not hit up some colleges. Free money.
So all in all, I was happy I went. Its good to touch base with other truck owners, distributors , and manufacturers and who knows whatll come of it. Maybe next year Ill head up a meeting about younger ice cream truck owners and we can find a way to get some new people involved in the association. Anyone interested?
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