Getting 2022 Started - Our First LIVE Event and a LOT of HOPE!

Angie here - I'm having such a great day because I'm planning for our first live event Thursday!  It reminds me of my favorite part of being a public school teacher - planning and executing an agenda that will lead to collaborative vision and action for our mutual benefit.  It's so fun to think of people gathering (even in a virtual event), focusing on ideas together, and thinking how we can "move a thing" forward!  Meanwhile, Teresa is stressing over the details and what ifs, lol.  This (being front and center) is not her comfort zone and I know that and I just love her for hanging in there with the process!  I might like "the show and tell" but she's the "substance" - she's been in the travel industry for decades whereas I'm just stepping in! Also, I NEVER think of what could go wrong, so it's really important to surround myself with people who can say, "hey, have you thought about . . . ?" Because honestly, the answer is usually no! So, we complement each other well and we have had a lot of fun working together on this project - so the experience has been a "win-win" no matter what happens next!

But I think great things are in the future with this project -- wow our MeetUp is just growing and growing?!  Every day, more people come!  We have 270 folks in the group and 180 have indicated they will attend the event @ 7pm Thursday.  Seventy-four women  have already officially registered as Travel Sisters through our website.  We also went from 16 to 61 followers on Instagram and have 164 followers on Facebook.  Just six weeks from launch, I feel like this is looking pretty promising!  

Another thing giving me some hope is I think the pandemic is reaching a new phase.  We have GOT to be nearing something like herd immunity, right?  It feels like just about everyone I know (who is not immune-compromised or under the age of 5) is moving into a level of immunity either because they have had Covid or are vaccinated and boosted.  I feel like we are really getting close to being able to travel again without so much inconvenience and fear.  We could build significant momentum in the travel industry this spring and summer and our timing could be spot on : )

Ok, back to event planning!  Just couldn't pass up an opportunity to spread a little hope and share my joy today.  Sure am grateful to my partner and sister, Teresa (and her husband Charles! He gives great advice, too!), our parents (our biggest cheerleaders and supporters) and ALL THE WOMEN OUT THERE who are moving this project forward with their participation and interest! Can't wait to be with a bunch on Thursday at 7pm!

​p.s. - Wanna join us but aren't sure how?  If you join our MeetUp (download the MeetUp app, search for “RDU Women With Travel Dreams”, join the group, click on the event) and RSVP YES to the event, we will send the link out 15 minutes before start time via email!