Convention

You never know the impact of a smile, a friendly comment, a moment of interaction with a stranger.

     In a few days 400 or more people will descend on Toronto for MEDA’s annual convention. Without even thinking about it, they will be more than visitors, patrons and hotel guests. They will be informal emissaries for MEDA’s vision of faith, business and development.

     Ann-Michelle Ewert, who helps plan MEDA’s conventions, says she is always struck by the comments she hears from staff working in the hotels.

     “Servers in our general sessions often ask me if they are allowed to listen in on the speakers,” she says. “Doormen and housekeeping staff will comment on how friendly and warm our attendees are, and overall I hear genuinely positive comments about MEDA members staying in the hotel. Our convention obviously impacts our members each year, but often we reach those whom we weren’t aware of, who are listening and taking to heart our message of compassion and hope.

     “On the Saturday morning of convention each year, I encourage any hotel staff that I have connected with to stay in the room for our AGM video presentation. Numerous times I have passed out additional information about MEDA to hotel staff who, after having us in the hotel, want to know more about the work we do and who we are. I wonder if our members realize the impact they are having on those around them when they participate at convention each year.”

     If you’re coming to the Toronto convention (by the way, there’s still time to register), think of yourself as an ambassador for the multitudes of poor people MEDA helps every year. Think of yourself as a quiet witness, a mustard seed.

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