Another Ed Said

It's just like national politics. While lame duck outgoing president Ed Scanlon packs his bags and begins booking tee times, president-elect Ed Follis is jet-setting around the globe laying the ground work for future festival success. He reports on a recent junket:

Back in September I was honored to represent the Kansas City Irish Fest on a Mission Trip to Ireland sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. The trip was part of the Chamber’s GLOBE Course (Global Leadership Opportunities for Business Executive Program) which is held on an annual basis and includes a Mission Trip to a different country every year. Since this year’s GLOBE class was going to Ireland, the Chamber asked the Irish Fest Board if we wanted to send a participant on their trip which was intended to help strengthen business ties between Kansas City and Ireland. I am extremely grateful to my fellow board members for selecting me to represent the festival on this trip. The trip provided access to many government and business leaders that you normally wouldn’t have an opportunity to meet. It also provided an opportunity to network in Ireland with many of the Irish based organizations that would have a benefit for establishing ties with the Kansas City Irish Fest. As you visit the Irish Fest in 2009, there will be several components of the festival that will be enhanced as a result of information learned and the relationships established during the Mission Trip. While our delegation did have a packed schedule during the day, we did get a chance to enjoy both Dublin and Cork at night. We also were given a much appreciated V.I.P. tour of the Guinness Brewery. On a personal note, I was able to extend my stay to spend time with family from both sides of my family tree. One of the highlights was spending time with my mom’s 98 year old aunt who lives in Galway. I would especially like to thank Pete Levi and Mary Pyle of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce for allowing the Irish Fest to be a part of this unique opportunity. To all of those who participated in the Mission Trip as part of their GLOBE Course I would like to say congratulations! On Wednesday night, all of those participating in the course were recognized at a GLOBE Course graduation celebration sponsored by the Chamber. Congratulations to all and thank you to the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.Ed Follis
President-Elect
Kansas City Irish Fest

Thanks to Ed for representing us all so well!