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The 2012 NSCAA Convention could once again be called: The busiest week of my life. Here’s the play-by-play, through the camera on my iPhone. I’ve posted the photos in chronological order, enjoy!

Tuesday, January 10

Arrived in Kansas City and made my way over to the Kansas City Convention Center to check things out. The NSCAA National Office did such a great job with the set-up!

Wednesday, January 11

Woke up to a beautiful Kansas City sunrise and started my day with the NSCAA Board of Directors meeting. After four years, this would be my last meeting as the Women’s Committee representative to the Board of Directors, since I would become Secretary on Friday.

The cold weather couldn’t keep me away from the MLS Digital Social at Cashew Restaurant. What a great opportunity to meet people from around the league that I work with daily but rarely get to see face-to-face! In the photo above, Jarrod Morgenstern and Shawn Francis.

Thursday, January 12

The Red Aprons, honored and distinguished members of the NSCAA, led an early-morning training session with the Convention Registration volunteer staff.

The MLS team got together hours before the SuperDraft to ensure everything was organized and ready to rock. Judy Concha and I snapped a quick one with the MLS Digital sign.

If you watched the MLS SuperDraft, you may have noticed that when a team selected a player, a runner brought the card to the front of the room behind a black curtain… that’s where I was sitting. I Skyped the pick to the editorial team, and then readied the Official Tweet.

The Exhibit Hall Grand Opening, which happens every year on Thursday at 7pm, had a super-cool Coaches Lounge presented by MLS. We even had a Foursquare check-in special.

I snapped a pic when current President Paul Payne, incoming President Ralph Polson, Director of Education Administration Allison Pronske, College Services Manager Pat Madden, and College Women Representative to the Board of Directors John Daly, were chatting at the NSCAA booth.

The Social for Coaches of Female Athletes presented by the NSCAA Women’s Committee and Sponsored by Women’s Professional Soccer, offered a great opportunity for coaches to meet, mingle and network in a relaxed environment. It was also the perfect place for WPS CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan to address a room full of women’s soccer advocates.

Friday, January 13

What NSCAA Convention would be complete without the stress of an early-morning presentation? Ryan Knapp and I presented, “Five Secrets of Successful Soccer Websites.” And before you ask, yes, we’ll post the slides soon :-)

MLS Digital Day brought together digital, communications and marketing folks from the League and Clubs to talk about 2012 platforms and plans. I’m so excited for things to come!

After the NSCAA Annual Business meeting (where I was elected Secretary of the NSCAA!), I hustled over to the WPS Draft to catch my friends and former WPS co-workers at the tail end of their event. Above, Melanie Fitzgerald, Lisa Cole and myself.

If you’re part of the NSCAA community, the Annual Awards Banquet is a must-attend every year. Here’s our valiant CEO, Joe Cummings, at the podium.

Saturday, January 14

The NSCAA Women’s Committee hosted the Women’s Soccer Breakfast on Saturday morning with Australia Women’s National Team Coach Tom Sermanni as our Featured Speaker. Above, Lisa Cole and I with Sue Ryan, who was presented the Women’s Committee Award of Excellence sponsored by WAGS.

The Women’s Committee Open Meeting was an opportunity for coaches, administrators and managers in the women’s game to get involved in the Association.

The NSCAA VIP reception offered a thoughtful yet light-hearted goodbye to long-time Convention manager Robby Robinson and Awards Manager Jeff Farnsworth. Yes, that’s a real Kansas City barbershop quartet.

Sunday, January 15

My first official NSCAA Board of Directors meeting as Secretary of the Association resulted in absolutely no photos all day Sunday… My fingers were exhausted from all the typing. Okay, I did manage to catch this final shot of my direct flight back to SFO.

See you next year in Indianapolis!

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