Welcome to the City of Champions! In Boston we are just finishing our celebration of the Boston Celtics winning their 17th NBA World Championship title. This comes only a few months after the Boston Red Sox won the MLB World Series and the New England Patriots were the NFL's AFC Champions. It truly is a time for celebration in Boston — and we can't wait to share the enthusiasm with you.
By now you have received your conference brochure. The new tracks, speakers and session titles should finally give you a sense of the tremendous work your volunteer task force did in crafting a conference that will serve the interests of our profession. Hidden behind each of the session descriptions are real people who will challenge your thinking, ask you provocative questions, encourage continued dialogue and make you wish you could spend even more time in Boston.
Registration forms are pouring into the FPA offices faster than ever before. If you didn't know, the new Boston Convention Center is less than 10 minutes from Logan International Airport. If you happened to attend FPA's first national conference in 2000, you'll be blown away by the spaciousness, the architectural beauty and the convenience to Boston attractions from this brand new spectacle in Boston.
We know that the session choices are abundant and I encourage you to select speakers who you've never heard before. Whether it's Lt. Col. Michael Finer, CFP®, 181st Garrison Commander of Camp Cropper in Baghdad, who will discuss "The Odyssey of a Leader," or David John's presentation on "Longevity and its Impact on Retirement," you will find a host of new topics, ideas and revolutionary perspectives.
Imagine spending your day among some of Boston's greatest professors, from institutions such as Harvard University, MIT and Boston University — without paying those institutional tuition fees! Their insights and research will be on display for your consumption. Some of the most well-known practice management specialists, orators, academics and economists will fill your head with so many great nuggets of information that you'll wish you brought an extra suitcase.
But pace yourself because half the fun of FPA Boston 2008 will be the social events, networking opportunities and those spontaneous adventures that happen "in the moment."
With roughly 100 days to go before our National Meeting I'd encourage you to do three things right now:
- Register now and secure the early-bird registration discount.
- Book a hotel room. The most convenient hotels to the conference center will fill up fast.
- Try to catch an extra hour of sleep each day, because when you get to Boston you'll think "sleep is overrated!"
See you in a few months! Perhaps we'll be preparing for another Red Sox World Series title because, after all, when you live in the City of Champions, you never want the euphoria to end.
Marc
