By Steve Malone

I don't think anyone who has attended more than a few NSCAA Conventions remembers every one of them; however, I think everyone probably remembers the first Convention he or she attended. For me it was 1976 at the Ben Franklin Hotel in Philadelphia. The city was decked out in red, white and blue in anticipation of a year-long Bicentennial celebration.

In those days almost everyone stayed at the headquarters hotel and the hotel lobby was a meeting place for attendees. If you sat in the lobby long enough, you would eventually see anyone for whom you were looking. The exhibits were all on the mezzanine level overlooking the hotel lobby. I recall three soccer balls being exhibited--Brine, Peter Greene and Doss. Every ball was black and white. Just about the only females you saw were employees of the hotel. Things have certainly changed for the better in each of those areas.

I recall that during the Annual High School Meeting we started smelling smoke. We were assured that nothing was wrong. However, when our throats became so scratchy that we could barely talk, we decided to see what was happening. We learned that the mattress in a room was on fire, caused by a careless smoker. It was interesing to watch the firemen throw the mattress out the window, where it eas extinguished in the street. It was a bitterly cold night and many entertained themselves the rest of the evening by watching cars trying to navigate the icy street created by the aftermath of the fire hoses.

I haven't attended every Convention in the ensuing years. I've missed a couple, but not many and certainly none in more than 20 years. Needless to say, this upcoming Convention will be one that I'm sure that I won't forget. Our president in 1976 was a gentleman named Sam Porch of Glassboro State. I remember how excited I was when I was on the elevator with Mr. Porch. Had someone told me that 32 years later I would be in his position, I would have paid for them to have a psychiatric examination! Yet, here I am.

I don't think many attendees realize how many people work very hard to put on the Convention. I'm amazed that each year a handful of volunteers and members of the National Office staff join forces to stage the World's Largest Annual Gathering of Soccer Coaches. They remind me of the old story about a swan swimming on the lake. Watching from the shore, it glides effortlessly across the water, a thing of grace and beauty. But below the surface, the feet are churning to make that serene vision possible.

Most people know that Robby Robinson is the Convention Manager, with Steve Veal and Roy Gordon as his assistants, Jeff Farnsworth is the Awards Manager, John DeWitt is Meals and Hospitality Manager, Craig Bohnert is Communications Manager and Rudy Zimmermann is the Programs Manager, working in cooperation with the NSCAA's Director of Coaching Education and Development, Jeff Tipping. However, despite the yeoman-like work that these people do, I don't think that the Convention could happen without the people whose names you don't know.

There are a number of people who work behind the scenes and without them the Convention simple couldn't happen as we know it. I mention these people in no priority order because they are all important, none more important than another. Geoff VanDeusen is the Operations Manager. Geoff and his assistants Kiley Cirillo, Jeff Hansen and Chris Clements, perform a myriad of tasks. They not only work with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to get quality demonstration players and get them to the proper clinic sessions, they also coordinate with the LOC to get volunteers to help stuff the Convention packets that are available when you register. Those packets are all stuffed on site. This group also makes airport runs, helps coordinate the adidas 4-A-Side Tournament and does just about anything else they are asked to do.

Speaking of the LOC, Pete Caringi, the men's coach at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, will be taking the reins as chairman of the LOC for the fourth time, which may be an all-time NSCAA record. Others serving on the committee two or more times will be Sam DeBone, Anthony Adams, Mike Libber, Mike Tesla, Dave and Susan Lane and, I'm proud to say, my son, Mike Malone.

The contributions of the Red Aprons have been chronicled many times but are worth mentioning again. Terry Jackson, Walter Bahr, Joe Bean, Miller Bugliari, Whitey Burnham, Ray Cieplik, Mickey Cochrane, Bill Holleman, Bob Nye and Bill Shellenberger are the backbone of the NSCAA. They are Past Presidents, Honor Award recipients and Hall of Famers, yet you will see them every year working at registration. This year, stop by and say hello to them and thank them for their contributions to the NSCAA and the game for more years than we will ever know. These men work hand-in-hand with Sandy Williamson-Smith and her assistants, Diana Jackson-Myers, Kay Baker and Julie Jobe, to make sure that registration runs smoothly. Perry McIntyre, our photographer, makes sure we have lasting images of our award recipients and our Convention events.

Other assistants are John Mayer, Rick Mueller, Chris Farnsworth and David Bokhart with Awards; Jill McCartney and Krista Gray with Meals and Hospitality; Vicki Sanford and Tom Farr with Programs and Pat Madden in Communications. Chris Burt serves as Exhibits Floor Manager and Marianne Shultz coordinates the All-America Registration area. Each one does outstanding work in his or her area with little recognition.
 
I'm sure no one will be excited to be on an elevator with me. In fact, there are people who wil tell you to never get on an elevator with me. However, if you see any of the aforementioned people, please go out of your way to thank them for what they do to make the Convention a success.