With many months, weeks and days involved planning the Upper Midwest Scuba and Adventure Travel Show we finally were ready to start the SHOW!!  On Friday at 7:00 PM is when it all started with the Friday night at the movies.  Please click on "2012 Project Reports" and "Photo page List" on the front page of this website to read and view more about the 2012 UMSAT Show!

 

We started with the famous and back by popular demand the Friday Night at the Movies (FNATM).  We had many presenters this year wanting to step up to the podium to give a presentation about their diving and travel experiences.  Including my favorite, the ice diving to recover vehicles that fell into the lake from the bad ice during the winter of 2011 - 2012.  The presentations went deep into 10: 30 - 11:00 PM.  The longest I remembered this ever happening in show history.  Thank you to all the presenters in showing their great diving experiences and previews of what might be presented in the future of the shows. 

 

As the show started the next day the people were starting to pile in and with about 500 plus people as a final head count, we had achieved a record attendance this year!  In a survey, we had a couple of exhibitors say it seemed that there were less people but on the contrary there were more than previous shows.

 

The biggest concern show attendees reported is that there were no books selling at the booths this year.  Those people were coming but had to cancel out at the last minute.

 

This year we also presented two threads of speakers which was reported by the survey that most liked the new venue because if they were not interested in the one topic, they could go to the other.  The only problem is if you liked both subjects you would have to ask yourself, "Man, what to do"?   We presented nine speakers total this year including the speaker for the 2nd Annual Awards Banquet Dinner at the end of our show.   All the speakers were great and had a really great story to tell about their chosen topics.  The two keynote speaker were in the afternoon which were presented separately so all could see their great featured presentations.  Dr Mark Ramsing, the founder of Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge Pirate ship off the east coast laid down quite a story about the process of finding a very old shipwreck and bring up the artifacts to preserve them by cleaning them up and facilitating a museum for the public the view.  Then there was the 3D presentation we worked so hard for because it was the very first ever  public showing in a show with this many in the audience.  What a great 3 D presentation of a Deep Sea Adventure all around the world, including some Isle Royale shipwreck 3D footage as well.

 

 

We had many sponsors this year and we did have lots of Raffle and Silent Auction items this year totaling well over $15000.00 in value.  Thank you to all that gave us those items to give away and buy at the Silent Auction, we really appreciate all your support! 

 

The exhibitors were in another separate room and most liked it.  However, it was small but very well laid out for show attendees to get around to see all the exhibitors.  The show venue had to change this year because the Hotel we used last year dollar-ed us to death and ended up with very little profit at the end.  They were also renovating the Hotel this year and the price was going up again.  so, we were not able to afford the venue anymore so that is why we moved to the Crown Plaza Hotel in Brooklyn Center.  We hope everyone liked it.  The survey said we achieved a 90% approval rate on the new venue.

 

 The end of the show was what we consider the best part of the show which is the Awards Banquet Dinner.  This is where we have fun and there is much happiness spread to present awards to the worthy recipients.  Congratulations to the 2011 Awards Winners.(Please click on Awards 2011 to read more about it). 

 

According to the survey from both the show attendees and exhibitors at the show, they gave the show a 90% approval rate on the show this year.  There are always things to improve on and we can't be all thing to all people but we try the best we can.  If people want to attempt to change the way the show is produced, then they need to step up and help us make a difference in the world.  That being said, we would like to invite everyone to make a comment about the show by taking this survey and by clicking on the link provided here.                                             

 

2012 UMSAT Show Attendee Survey

 

 

Thank you members and nonmembers for joining us at the UMSAT Show this year.  We certainly hope you were entertained and had some fun.

 

Thank you again for your support,

 

UMSAT Show Committee

GLSPS Board of Directors