From Singapore to Spain” is the way Ascent Media Group’s locations were described to us! Our destination on September 5th, however, was their Burbank post-production facility, where 40 of our IFMA SFV Chapter colleagues prepared for their magical tour “behind the curtain” to see the wizardry that is Ascent Media.

We checked in for take off, received our security badges, left our business cards at Hospitality and proceeded to what was reminiscent of an airport transit lounge where we met our captain and crew, in the guise of Bernie Courville, Ascents’ Director of Facility Planning & Security, Nicky Kaplan of HOK and Mark Wright, Ascents’ Burbank Facilities Manager, who prepared us for our first class routing through the colorful and beautifully organized interior of Ascent Media. Nicky, who was the Project Designer for this post-production facility and one of the design world’s latest stars, told us that it was actually Ascent’s idea to have the employee area where we stood resemble an airport lounge. We thought that was a pretty good idea considering the Company’s name and its’ steady rise to the top of the entertainment industry!

We were especially impressed by the pure design of the open common areas and the use of color and form that delineated the task areas and departments, but it was also fun to move through what seemed a simply vast server room, amazing film vault, and the busy shipping area. The latest trend in Knoll workstations and offices brought about a sense of envy to some of us while the smooth and modern conference room divider had the rest of us looking to figure out how it glided along the serpentine ceiling track so gracefully.

The hospitality shown us on this evening by Bernie and Mark was unparalleled and it was a rare and much appreciated treat to have the actual project designer available to explain and share her design concepts. Thank you to HOK for sponsoring this perfect evening and thank you, also, Nicky Kaplan, Brian Courville and Mark Wright!

Thank you to our SFV Chapter Co-Vice Presidents, Sherri Cahill and Roger Beck, our Treasurer and  Immediate Past President, Edie Rossmeisl and our “Could-Not-Do-It Without-Him-Past President and Committee Chair”, Rodney Stone, for all being on hand to help out with the evening’s arrangements. A very Special Thank You goes out also to our Program Chair, Holly Rau-Bhattacharya and our Hospitality chair, Bonnie Summer for putting together another great evening!

It doesn’t happen very often here in California and it’s not too late, you know. Not too late to pack your bags and head down to San Diego and World Workplace 2006, that is! You can even register for just one day, two days, Guest Registration (includes just about everything but the Educational Sessions), the Expo only or even just one day of the Expo to check out all new products. Whatever you decide to do, we’d love to see you there!

At this time, we have at least twenty-one of our San Fernando Valley Chapter members attending. Many of our chapter attendees are attending for the first time, including our Winner of the World Workplace Registration, Sandy Palmer of Workplace Resource! Congratulations, Sandy!!

For “first timers” it may almost be like Tarzan when he discovers his own species! It’s a whole new world where you know you belong and where professionals just like you have the same hopes and challenges.

If this will be your first time attending, you and everyone from our Chapter attending will soon be receiving a list of your SFV Chapter colleagues who will also be there. We will be ready with tips and advice for you such as:

• Make sure you attend the “First Time Attendee Orientation” at 11:00 a.m. until noon on Sunday, October 8th. At each table will be a facilitator ready to answer questions and raise your level of comfort. Oftentimes the facilitator will be a staff member from IFMA Headquarters who, along with people at your table, you will see throughout the days of the Conference and with whom you will share a bond. Priceless!

• Remember to bring plenty of business cards to exchange with fellow professional and associate members. On the Expo floor, you will have your plastic EXPOCARD for scanning in card readers of exhibitors whose products you want to know more about later, but business cards; you will want to exchange with the many FM’s and associates with whom you will want to keep in touch.

• You will get a book bag or two; of that we are pretty certain, but you may want to pack an additional foldable bag in your suitcase for those bits of collectable promotional items/swag/tschotkes/doo-dads/dealie-bobs or whatever you want to call them!

• Look over the “Educational Sessions” in the “See What is Inside” brochure/book that you received from IFMA Headquarters some months ago. Read the descriptions in advance and sort out your first choice and second choice session of each day and time. Then, when you get your packet of information and bag at Registration, you can see where the sessions are held and you will be ahead of the game.

• On the Expo floor you will find “Online Alley” which usually has a big sign high above and fairly easily seen. At that area are many computers where you can check your e-mail, look at the JobNet, etc. As the days go by, though, there may be long lines at prime times.

• Lunch is included each day and is set up in the Expo area. This year we are told that they will have tables set aside for each geographic region.

• Bring your walking shoes, paper (you’ll certainly get a pen or two on the Expo floor, if you don’t bring one yourself) and even a camera to record those fun events!

After the World Workplace Official Welcome and Opening Keynote Address (you won’t want to miss Daniel Pink, a best selling author and his presentation of “A Whole New Mind.”), our chapter will be part of Chapter Pride as we walk in a fun ceremony to the Expo Grand Opening. Your SFV Chapter Executive Board and Committees have a surprise for you, in addition to our “blinking badges”, that we think you will enjoy wearing in the Chapter Pride “march!” Make sure we have your contact information so we can get your “surprise” to you in advance of the Keynote Address. We say a sincere Many Thanks to Edie Rossmeisl for her efforts especially with the surprise! We know you will love it!

That’s right, stay tuned for more information regarding our Golf Tournament updates, our upcoming November and December events (we just don’t stop, do we?) and the “download” from all of us attending World Workplace 2006 in San Diego who will be saying, “Wish You Were Here!”