Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 11:49:54 -0500 (EST)
From: Sheena Beaverson <sbeavers@balloonhq.com>
To: balloon@balloonhq.com
Subject: Party Show and IBAC

Hi everybody!

Well, I don't know about Mike or Larry, but I survived the
weekend of combined Party Show and IBAC experiences (and
had a lot of fun too).  I can't really give my usual
overview of new products unveiled at either event, as I 
was primarily stationed at the Balloon HQ booth for the 
majority of the time.  (thanks go out to US Balloon and
Balloons and Parties Magazine for sharing such a wonderful
location with us in such a fun and friendly manner)

What I can say was that it was wonderful being able to speak
in person with more people than ever before about Balloon HQ.  
Meeting long-time e-mail list subscribers for the first time and
also surprising people with all we have to offer were wonderful
experiences.  However, having someone come up and say "everyone 
says I had to come talk to you" and seeing people double back
to get a BHQ mousepad (because they are so cool) were the best!

Thanks go out Patty Sorrel, John and Johna Perry, for helping to
staff the booth to give myself, Mike and Larry some much-appreciated
break time (my feet hurt).  Thanks go to Melanie Binkley as well for
organizing the BHQ netters breakfast.  Marc Summers did a good job
of scooping us by being the first to post the list of winners.  In
Larry's defense, he was uploading gala pictures at that time.  

The IBAC competition pieces and party decor were outstanding, I
think the pictures speak for themselves.  (but if they don't, 
wait until you see the video!  :-)  Congratulations to all the
winners, especially Bruce Walden for his Crystal Award.

The new products at the Party Show were exciting as well.  New 
balloons, new printing on balloons, and all sorts of balloon-related
products and tools are on their way to take the industry to new heights of
creativity. (although my absolute favorite thing was seeing the Harry
Potter movie trailer at the booth across the aisle, I just can't wait til 
november :-) ... well, my second favorite thing...  Turns out that
Debra Ackerman is an Elvis freak, and a good impersonator means
fun for all.  Meeting Roger Siegel was a unique experience as well.  

We got a lot of new ideas for the direction and future of Balloon HQ.
Rest assured that we'll continue to search out exciting new ways to
bring balloon industry content direct to your computer.

Sheena K. Beaverson
BalloonHQ.com