Friday, October 16, 2015

Founder's Circle 2015 Retreat Highlights

It's been almost a month since I returned home from Utah, where I gathered with other Top 100 Demonstrators from the United  States and Top 15 in Canada for the very last Founder's Circle Retreat. Some of you have asked why this is the last one. Stampin' Up! recently changed the compensation plan for demonstrators and this is one of the programs that is changing.

When I think back to the retreat and what I will miss most. It is undoubtedly the time I get to spend with my demonstrator friends. It is such a recharge to be able to talk and network with my peers who are dealing with the same struggles and growing pains that I experience in my own business. So for one last time, I took advantage of every minute with these incredible ladies.


I went a couple days early -- straight from my trip to New York. In addition to working on my swaps, I went shopping, hiking at Zion National Park, and saw Sister Act at Tuachan Amphitheatre. (It drizzled the entire second act!)
 Zion National Park

Sister Act at Tuachan
  


Welcome Dinner by the pool
We were spoiled with different treats in the Gathering Place every day! And of course, we got to "Toss for Prize" each day too!

I love the chance to break out of my comfort zone and do something I don't get to do at home. This year, I went zip-lining! It was a short excursion with three friends, but so much fun! Check out this video to see our thrilling adventure!

One of the highlights of these trips is always a chance to visit Kanab, Utah -- the "birthplace" of Stampin' Up! It's at least a 90 minute bus ride each way from St. George, but worth the drive! The Events staff  has a huge basket of snacks for us and we play Bingo to win prizes from the catalog!
Stampin' Up! Manufacturing Plant in Kanab, Utah
"helping" to make stamps! I used the die-cutting machine.
During our tour of the manufacturing plant, we got to see how rubber stamps and photopolymer stamps are made. See more pictures from last year's tour here.
Of course, we got to take home lots of goodies! A free stamp set, a package of cardstock, and an ink pad!
Stampin' Up! Watercolor Words Make & Take at Founder's Circle Retreat #stampinup www.juliedavison.com
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In addition to touring the private apartment, we got to make a card and enjoyed lunch with the employees. I love the attention to every little detail! The Stampin' Up! Events staff is amazing!

After lunch, we stop at the community park in Kanab, where scraps of rubber cover the ground around the playground.
Visiting the "rubber park" in Kanab
How can I forget about all the pillow gifts?! It was so fun to come back to my room each night to find a surprise on the bed. The first night was brand new product from the upcoming Occasions Catalog. Check it out here.

The new product was for our make and take projects in the Gathering Place. I skipped the stamping and just visited with friends and played cards. But there was plenty of finished projects around us to inspire us.


Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle Retreat Display
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 Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle Retreat Display

The week went fast, as it always does. Our final event was a dinner and an encore performance by the St. George Musical Theater of one of my favorite musicals ever: West Side Story. The performance was incredible! Thinking about it again as I type this, I still wish I could go back and see it again! The theater was set up "in the round" so it was very intimate. It was the perfect way to end the retreat.


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2 comments:

Doris D. said...

Way to go. Zip lining looks like fun. What a wonderful week.

Susan K said...

Congrats again for earning the Founder's Circle this year. Looks like great fun!