By John E Weare, Keep Alliance Beautiful
ALLIANCE, Neb. - Flying has been my favorite mode of long-distance travel since I can remember. Last month, for the first time in 16 years, I flew solo – representing our affiliate at the Keep America Beautiful Summit in New Orleans. I had attended previous national conferences with Kathy Worley, and on a couple occasions my wife and/or family.
On January 1 the board of directors promoted me to executive director as Kathy moved to semi-retirement. She still helps at the recycling center a few days a week including driving the senior curbside route as well as painting windows. Kathy was a great role model as I learned about our non-profit from the recycling center perspective. As I continue to transition, the recent Summit provided encouragement. Information that did not directly apply to a recycling coordinator on previous trips proved more pertinent.
Timing is everything, the saying goes, from now supervising staff that started within the past eight months to how my schedule played out in New Orleans. I arrived at the airport, constructed in 2019 across from the taxiways where the former terminals still stood, on February 25, just over a week since Mardi Gras. Shops along Canal Street still had the purple, gold and green outfits and myriad masks prominently displayed in storefronts. Look up and beads dangled from tree branches. I took the opportunity to walk from my hotel to the Marriot for early bird registration then explore a bit before settling in.
Comparing to conventions in Memphis, Washington, D.C. and San Diego a noticeable difference was the crowd rubbing shoulders in New Orleans. KAB CEO and President Jenny Lawson later announced this had been a record event, attracting more than 500 people. Unfortunately, being an introvert presents a challenge for me when pondering how to network. Our contingent from Nebraska was a blessing. We had around 10 people there, see each other in sessions, at meals and even downtime in the French Quarter. Danny and Katie from Chadron sat up a couple rows on the flight from Denver. I did have a neat conversation, however, with Dawn from Atlanta during the Louisiana Loves You reception at the Louisiana State Museum/Cabildo as the rest of her group had their palms read.
The Summit was well-planned and executed. Breakout sessions, exhibitors, forums and breaks balanced plenary (attended by all participants at a conference or assembly, who otherwise meet in smaller groups – Oxford dictionary) keynotes and presentations in the Acadia ballroom. I am still going through pages of notes concerning what will be useful information in the months to come. I will delve into some sessions in this space that readers may find useful orentertaining. Data discussed on the 2025-26 Litter Study, for example, remains embargoed.
Here are my broadbrush highlights:
-New Executive Director Training and Refresher. Regional directors brought us up to speed in a larger than anticipated room so I didn't have to worry about missing preregistration.
-Small and Rural Cohort Group. Building off the initial in person meeting a year before, it was great to see how we could collaborate as affiliates split into smaller groups to discuss America's 250th birthday events.
-Mardi Gras "Indians" set the tone at the opening luncheon with a celebration of the Louisiana affiliates
-Creating Beauty in Unexpected Places. Though information on Keeping Route 66 Beautiful was interesting, the evolution of murals (from 25 in 1997 to about 600 today) in Winnipeg captured the room's imagination - including mine given the awakening of the art form in Alliance.
-Luncheon: Inspiring Action, Celebrating Impact on purpose-driven leadership and creating impact at scale.
The Summit concluded as a half-dozen presenters detailed successful projects and initiatives in the Proven Practices session. Yet, the two plenaries prior (each featuring famous authors) stoked my imagination. Edward Humes explored “the hidden systems behind waste, responsibility, and the choices that shape our communities.” Anne Lamott explored “themes of hope, grace, perseverance, and what it means to keep showing up for the work – even when it’s messy or hard.”