I Love the Smell of the Strip in the Evening

Thursday night. Last day of the Crystal Diamond Reward Trip. We put a wrap on this shindig by reserving a fleet of seven helicopters to fly our group up and down the strip.

Movie fans might have favorite movies with helicopters in them: Die Hard; Blue Thunder; Black Hawk Down.

Mine is Apocalypse Now. (Movie geeks will recognize my allusion to the movie in this post's title.) Big ol' Hueys flying in formation over the Mikong Delta, giant speakers strapped to them blasting out Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries," Robert Duvall gone mad. It's a heckuva scene. It's always made me want to ride in a chopper and see if it really makes you feel like an avenging angel thumping through the air.

Answer: it does.

Riding in a helicopter made me want to quit my job and immediately go to flight school so I could fly choppers all day.

What a rush. And based on the reactions of the distributors in my group, they thought so, too. Over the headset, I could hear them exclaim as we banked, "This is awesome!" (Someone else said "This is scary," but by scary, I think they meant awesome.)

Seeing the bright lights of Vegas from above was serene: we hovered away from the chaos and noise that fills the space below. All we had was the heartbeat thump of the rotors and the eye-popping neon before us.

We journeyed to the end of the strip, banked, and flew back on the other side. The glass panels of the chopper's sides and nose afforded fantastic views for all, and I was sad that the journey was coming to an end, but extremely grateful to have had such a wonderful experience.

I suppose that sentiment sums up my experience here at the Crystal Diamond Retreat. I hope to attend more in the future and bring it to life for you via blog.

Or, better yet, after you set some serious sales records this year, you will qualify for the next trip so you can experience all this firsthand rather than reading my postings about it. I look forward to meeting you at our next Reward Trip.

Thanks for joining me on this whirlwind tour. I'll be signing out now, but I'll be adding more photos next week from the helicopter trip and some miscellanous shots that I haven't posted yet. So, check back a few more times if you have the time.

Until then, adieu, adieu, to you and you and you...

Chris

Another Round of Wax Museum Pix

More Wax Museum Pix

Kissing Marilyn Monroe, Marrying George Clooney, and Hopping into Bed with Hugh Hefner...All in One Night

On a personal note, I just want to say that I ate lunch at Olives restaurant here in the hotel, and it was one of the best meals of my life. It was a salmon dish that gives me hope that if the human race can concoct such an exquisite tasting meal, then perhaps there is hope for us crazy apes after all.

OK, moving on.

Wednesday night was spent at Madam Tussaud's wax museum, which is cool at first, but then gets creepy if you're in there by yourself.

Example: I went to the venue early with the Events team, and as we strolled through the mostly empty building filled with posed, life-size, life-like figures of famous people, I would occasionally pass one of the catering staff who was standing still among the statues. As I hurried through rooms, of course, the living person would blend with the statues. And as I passed, the caterer would move, which I would see in my peripheral vision, causing me to jump, swear under my breath, and move along.

Again, I've seen too many horror movies like this.

Distributors had a blast, though, and the occasional scare (yes, it happened to them, too) only heightened the pleasure of the night.

We found one distributor making out with Marilyn Monroe. In another alcove, the ladies could put on wedding dresses and pose with a tuxedo-clad George Clooney for a wedding photo. And in another corner, the several ladies enjoyed hopping into bed with Hugh Hefner, while their hubbies posed with adjacent playmates. Others played actual percussion with Blue Man Group, and some shot putts as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus watched on.

Kazuo Yamaguchi of Japan was one of those lucky ladies who married George Clooney. I asked her how it felt to be newly married to such a handsome man. "I just got married! I'm giddy!"

Shinya Akimoto of Japan said, "Thank you so much for tonight! It's been very fun. Thank you."

Neways reserved the entire museum just for our Crystal Diamonds, and each room of the museum had a catering stop to load up on drinks and goodies.

I have been unable to confirm that the statues come to life after the museum closes for the evening, and frankly, I was unwilling to spend the night to find out.

Ladies and gentlemen, only one more activity to cover, and then I'm flying home where my family needs me to mow the lawn and change a few diapers (my baby's, not mine).

Next stop: Helicopter Flight Over the Las Vegas Strip

Either That's a Dead Squirrel on Gappmayer's Head or He's Wearing an Elvis Wig

John Gappmayer emceed the Wednesday morning General Session, and he arrived with the timeless flair of polyester and an Elvis wig. 

It's hard for me to convey the visceral reaction of the distributors who witnessed Gappy strutting to the stage in his white, synthetic jump suit with 70's-wide lapels and red fringes, with his wig looking a bit like a dead squirrel, or even a perturbed badger. Certainly, a wide swath cleared in the humanity before him as he advanced to the stage.

General Session

• ERIC LARSEN: "There's a saying that what happens here in Vegas stays in Vegas. I hope that what we're doing doesn't stay in Vegas. I hope that you go out and share this--that it makes you and your team even more successful in the coming year. We want more people to qualify for this reward trip next year. I want to make sure that you feel appreciated and that you know how much you mean to us. We know that you represent a group of people who are working with you, an army of Neways distributors. We appreciate all of your efforts, because working together, you're helping all of your dreams come true."
• BRIAN SLOBODOW: Brian provided details outlining goals for the Global Sponsoring and Seamless Commissions plan. He also related his experience in running the Jerusalem half-marathon, sponsored by Neways, and how 20 athletes who trained with Neways products were so impressed that they signed up to be distributors.
• SCOTT MOBERLY: Scott busted a move and showed everyone some Elvis dance moves. Then he announced that in response to distributor concerns, Neways would be reducing the amount of plastic used in the Hydracial packaging to reduce our eco-footprint and make it more in line with the Healthy Homes mission. He called the new packaging "extraordinary and beautiful" reflecting the high-scale product that this is." Scott then gave an advanced look at a product in development called BeautéNectar, to support the health of hair, skin, and nails. Everyone in attendance got to sample this product. Be sure to ask your upline leaders who attended for more details.
• DR. ANDREW BERMAN: Dr. Berman is a cosmetic surgeon in Beverly Hills with dozens of actors as clients, and his patients average 40 – 50 screen appearances a week. "I keep them looking good--looking younger longer, literally for decades." Dr. Berman announced that he enthusiastically endorses Neways skin care products. "I know there are companies out there who have products that don't do what they say they're going to do. Nor do they always use safe and effective ingredients. After extensive research, I've found that Neways does both." Dr. Berman loves Neways skin care products so much, his wife currently uses ClearScience, and he is recommending these products to several of his patients.
• JAMIE ANDERSON: Jamie talked about Neways' quest to develop an exciting new product. Want to know more? Your leaders who got this exclusive sneak peek will heave more in-depth information for you.
• ELVIS GAPPMAYER: "These are fantastic new products and programs that you're hearing here first. Make sure that you give your leaders the first opportunity to see these things. Please take it back to your markets. Get them excited!"

Distributor Reaction

"I'm looking forward to a seamless compensation plan," said Adele Brunier of Australia. "Money drives business. And of course, it confirms the credibility of our amazing skin care products to have Dr. Berman's endorsement."

"The look of the packaging is great, surpassing anything in the world," said Ken Ridley, also of Australia. "I'm excited that Neways is reducing the plastic in their packaging. It shows their commitment to listening to distributors. I look forward to the packaging's continued improvement, especially for international air travel."

"The [new product that Jamie Anderson introduced] is something that everyone has been waiting for!" said Ryohei and Matsumi Matsukubo of Japan.

"I loved the taste of BeautéNectar," said Emilia Millikan of Australia. "It has a very nice berry flavor. I really liked it."

"I love the skin care line and what they're doing with it," said Kyoko Nagano of Japan.

Next stop: Dinner at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

Just When You Thought There Were No More Pix from Awards and Karaoke Night...

And Yes, More Pix of the Awards Night and Karaoke

...

Even More Pix from Awards and Karaoke Night

:)

More Pix from Awards and Karaoke Night

There's a Man Sleeping in My Bed! (And Other Stories from Tuesday Night's Award Dinner)

At last some time to catch up on my blog entries. True, it's nearly midnight, but I have an iPod playing Johnny Cash and a giant bottle of Mt. Dew, so I think I can kick it for a while.

As for the title of this entry, you'll just have to read on to see which distributor walked into her room and was surprised to discover a man sleeping in her bed. 

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

Tuesday night brought us many things, not the least of which was a stomach ache from gorging on nearly every dessert offered at the banquet's dessert table. Of course, when I says "us," I just mean me. I had chocolate mousse, chocolate fudge cake, a different kind of chocolate mousse, a fruit and custard cup, a coffee flavored chocolate thing that makes me feel nostalgic just typing about it, and yet another different type of chocolate mousse. When I had finished all that, it was time to stroll over to the two chocolate fountains which erupted a steady flow of molten chocolate, into which you could dip rice krispy treats, fruit, short cakes, and other delectables. 

Oh, yeah. I had dinner, too.

Distributors shared my enthusiasm for the food and desserts, and everyone was feeling quite full and happy when the awards of the evening were handed out.

And the Winners Are...

The top three teams in the Diamond Dash were:

3rd Place

Munenori Bundo

Minako Bundo

Toshiya Yanagihara

Mieko Yasui

2nd Place

Kai Lok

Cathy Lok

Joobee Ho

Yenmen Kong

1st Place

Michael D'Avolio

Lynn D'Avolio

Norma Johnson

Debra Camp

Winners walked away with pride and Neways goody bags. Congratulations to all our Diamond Dashers.

The Moberly Awards

Scott wandered the crowd with a bag full of prizes for the winners of The Moberly Awards. Here's who won:

Funniest Picture

Sayaka Shigematsu (daughter)

Masumi Shigematsu (mother)

Photo: Of them posing with a Chippendale's dancer.

Prize: Wallets

Happy Anniversary

Munenori and Minako Bundo

Prize: A Shoulder Bag and a Tie

For Bringing So Many People with Him

Roman Sobolevsky

Prize: Versace Ties

Extreme Patience

Kazuko Nukaya

Why: Found that her room was triple booked when she opened the door and surprised the people already in there.

Prize: Wallet and Purse

Most Patience

Toshiko Yamamoto

Why: Toshiko was surprised to walk into her room and find a man sleeping in her bed. No word yet on whether he became a distributor.

Prize: Wallet

Karaoke Night

Kelly Queensberry's band rocked the house for a seven song set before they turned the lead singer spotlight over to the audience. Scott Moberly, Eric Larsen, and Yoshi Komiya got things started by performing "La Bamba." Then, Shinya Akimoto got the crowd hopping with "Twist and Shout."

From there, distributor after distributor became the star of the show, fronting a live band for a moment of glitz and glory. 

Sadly, I got suckered into hopping onstage and inflicting my voice upon the masses, for which, I sincerely apologize. My singing voice can best be described as a cross between a rabid raccoon getting the Heimlich Maneuver and an elephant swallowing a set of bagpipes. I torpedoed whatever rock 'n roll mojo that Eric Nugent, Jina Shin, and Jamie Anderson brought to the stage. Thankfully, the distributors who took to the stage before and after us made my shockingly poor performance a short memory for all. One of our Ukrainian distributors, whose name this investigative journalist is still tracking down, is apparently a professional opera singer, and she wowed everyone with a beautiful aria. 

The night pulled distributors from their seats to the dance floor and stage, and in the end, everyone left the party abuzz and happy.

Distributor Reaction

Bev Irwin of Australia, made it a point to wander over to Koral Reid and tell her how successful the night came off. "We have people up and dancing and carrying on, and these are people who haven't done that in about 15 years," said Bev. "It's wonderful to see them carry on like that. I've never seen that. They're all bonding and having fun."

Bev went on to tell us how a member of her team had grown as a leader on this trip. "Adele [Brunier] sold our gondola boatsman on Neways while we were riding in the Venitian. She sounded more confident than ever before. Her approach has matured."

Bev concluded her conversation with Koral by again expressing her extreme gratitude to Neways for planning such an event to recognize the company's top performers, and how this positive energy will effect the entire company. "A little recognition is so important," she said. "And we appreciate all this. Everybody needs a little recognition, including the leaders. We saw so much today. More than we ever would have seen otherwise. Thank you, thank you for such a wonderful time."

Peter Anton of Australia agreed. "I enjoyed the singing and it's beautiful to be a part of this with my friends from around the world. And that's what Neways is all about: have a lot of fun; help people make a lot of money."

"Thank you for a wonderful evening!" said Lana Samarski of Australia.

Ginny and Linton Parker of Australia, who have been married for 22 years (and who sang a duet of "I've Got You Babe") said "We had a blast!"

Next stop: General Session, Wednesday Morning

Even More Pix from the Diamond Dash

More photos for your enjoyment.

More Pix from the Diamond Dash

Since this blog page will only allow me to upload five photos per blog entry, I will add occasional photo-only entries. Above are more images from the Diamond Dash.

Explaining to My Wife Why There's a Photo of Me with Two Showgirls

I called my wife on my first day in the Bellagio and told her that outside my window, I could see a billboard filled with half-naked people. "Oh, really?" she said in her wifely way, which implied "Keep your eyes to yourself." Then, I revealed that the billboard is advertising the Chippendale's Dancers--my view is of a bunch of topless dudes. She laughed a lot. I just rolled my eyes, closed my blinds, and watched the tube.

Today, though, I was cavorting with showgirls, and I have the picture to prove it. Perhaps, dear friends and readers, we ought to keep this tidbit to ourselves. Just between us. I think it would be better that way.

Of course, I wasn't the only cavorter with the showgirls. They were just one stop on day-long Diamond Dash contest that our distributors participated in.

The Diamond Dash

The Diamond Dash is based on the TV reality show, "The Great Race." We divided our distributors into teams of four, and gave them a clue to locate their first checkpoint station. Once they had arrived at their first checkpoint, they would receive a clue to their next checkpoint, and so on, up and down the Las Vegas strip, in and out of some of its most famous casinos and landmarks.

Here's how it went:

• STATION 1--THE CHOCOLATE RIVER: Located in the Bellagio, this is a flume of liquid chocolates that pour from ceiling level down a series of falls to floor-level. Here, a Liberace impersonator greeted teams and gave them next clue.
• STATION 2--THE FALL OF ATLANTIS SHOW: In to Caesar's Palace teams ventured next, where a man in full Roman Centurion garb handed out clues in front of the Fall of Atlantis Show, where an animatronic prince and princess battle to rule the fabled city. With fire. And a giant pterodactyl-looking thing. 
• STATION 3--PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESTAURANT: Also located in Caesar's Palace, teams who checked in here got a pleasant surprise: food. Mmmmm. Neways reserved the entire second floor of the restaurant, and distributors got to take a 15-minute break to refuel. Fresh veggies, cheese and crackers, a spinach dip with chips, meatballs in smoky barbeque sauce, and batter-dipped chicken strips helped everyone prep for the next leg of the journey. (I must note that Planet Hollywood, which is filled with Hollywood memorabilia, had hung a life-sized, crouched, naked  Sylvester Stallone statue from the ceiling right next to the buffet. I'm not sure which movie that scene is from, but it didn't do much for my appetite. I did, however, notice that the ladies were snapping several pictures with Sly and giggling a lot.)
• STATION 4--SECRET GARDEN AND DOLPHIN HABITAT: At the Mirage, Sigfried and Roy have put together a lovely tiger and dolphin exhibit. Tigers and dolphins in the same cage, you ask? That's a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, Sigfried and Roy know how to do things right. (Well, except for that nasty mishap a while back with Roy and the bitey tiger.) Dolphins swam in a tank, which you could view from above or in observatories beneath. Trainers brought the dolphins close. Distributors and I were standing three feet from one who squeaked and clicked. I don't speak dolphin, but roughly translated, I believe the creature said: "Pardon me, sir, but do you have a spare sardine?" Also on display were several white tigers, leopards, black panthers, and seven tiger cubs. We got to see two of the fully grown tigers growl at each other in a standoff. Incidentally, an Elvis impersonator handed out clues and tickets at this station; sadly, no one got into a standoff with him.
• STATION 5--GONDOLA RIDE: The Venetian Hotel, much like the city of Venice that it is patterned after, has a canal that flows through it. And by this canal stood a marble statue of a Renaissance-era Venetian man. Distributors who approached this statue soon discovered that it blinks. And moves. And hands out clues and tickets. Ignoring the fact that I've seen several horror movies with statues like this, it was kind of cool. Teams arriving at this checkpoint got to ride a gondola through the canal, while the gondolianer (oarsman) sang operatic tunes. 
• STATION 6--EIFFEL TOWER: The finish line for this epic, five-to-six-hour Distributor Dash was in the Paris Hotel, where teams met two Vegas showgirls at their last checkpoint. The showgirls were dressed in sleek, silver dresses, while their white, feather headpieces filled the air above them like a canopy. The girls smiled for about three straight hours as group after group of distributors arrived and had their pictures taken with them. I smiled for about three straight hours after I had my picture taken with them. I'm just goofy that way. After a brief photo-op with the showgirls, teams got to ride the elevator to the observation deck on top of the half-scale Eiffel Tower that sprouts up from the hotel. The views of Vegas were spectacular and it was a perfect way to end the Dash.

Along the way, I spoke to our distributors to discover what they thought of the day:

"We're enjoying the journey," said Chele and Godfrey Tindall of Australia. "We loved the dolphins and tigers. It's been fantastic. This whole thing really is a great way to see Vegas. We were planning to do this anyway, but Neways had it taken care of, and we saw so much more than we might have otherwise."

Tadahiro Sudou of Japan said, "This is so much fun. I've enjoyed everything, and this has been the best way to experience Las Vegas."

Emilia Millikan of Australia, but who grew up her first 10 years in Italy, liked Caesar's Palace. "The Roman architectural details reminded me of home," she said.

So, that's my report for the first half of the day. But there is much more to come. In my next post, you'll discover who won the Diamond Dash, which distributor found a strange man sleeping in her bed, and who rocked the stage at karaoke night. Until then, ciao.

Next stop: Recap of Tuesday Night's Banquet and Karaoke

Nobody Leaves This Building Until We Sing

That's right. You heard me. "Nobody leaves this building until we sing." So said Scott Moberly, Vice President of Sales and Marketing this morning at the General Session Meeting, in which Scott revealed two new products currently in development.

But more on these new products later. Right now, you probably want to know why Scott is holding our top Diamonds hostage for a ransom of song.

Scott was announcing tomorrow night's karaoke-fest, in which distributors will be performing their favorite songs backed by a live band (helmed by Kelly Queensberry of Product Marketing). I will report on that tomorrow, although I'm certain that my powers of description will be insufficient in capturing the raw emotion and unbridled spectacle of karaoke-fest.

Now, a quick re-cap of our General Session Meeting:

• ERIC LARSEN: Eric recognized distributor Roman Sobolevsky who is here from the Ukraine, for being the number-one distributor in the Owner's Club qualification this year. Eric then told the story of Pauline Rowley of Australia. Pauline, also in the audience, was on dialysis for 18 years, but still built her business successfully from her hospital bed. She received a new kidney two years ago, and she keeps amazing people with her drive and positive energy. "If Pauline can build her business from her hospital bed, all of us can do what we need to on a daily basis," Eric said. "More than anything, I want you to come out of here more confident in our mission to change people's lives."
• JINA SHIN-ANSON: Product line manager Jina recapped results from studies on our ClearScience Complexion Balancing System. Sales for ClearScience have exceeded forecasts, and distributors are excited about this recently launched product line.
• SCOTT "WAYNE NEWTON" MOBERLY: You can thank emcee John Gappmayer for Scott's new middle names, "Wayne" and "Newton"; certainly we at corporate can have Scott's business cards amended to reflect this change. Scott--er, Wayne--after pitching the karaoke night, introduced distributors to two new products that will be rolled out in the Japanese market: (1) a water filtration system for tasty, filtered drinking water, and (2) Roil Platinum, for enhanced engine performance and lower emissions. "You are the first people in the entire company to find out anything about these products," Scott said. The Diamond who attended this morning's session will be disseminating more details on these products to you through their organizations, and more details will hit the wires from Neways in coming months as we develop these products. We encourage you to set a goal now to qualify for next year's Diamond Reward Trip so that you, too, can be a part of the leadership group that gets informed about coming attractions and programs first. 

I had the chance to talk to a few distributors about their reactions to their sneak peek at these products-in-development.

"I am excited about these products!" exclaimed Takako Hibaru of Japan. "It's a great opportunity for us to live healthier and to share exciting new products with more people."

"I feel good that these products are being developed to support our health and support the environment," Tomoe Kinoshita said.

Kyoko Nagano added, "I am happy about the water filter. I am concerned about what we put into our bodies, and I want to live my life the safest way possible. Neways helps me to do that."

Afterwards...

After the General Session, distributors departed for a day of free time, choosing to hit their own shows, tours, shops, or naps. 

"We love Las Vegas," Peter Anton of Australia said.

"And I love the shopping," Marie-France Garon, also of Australia, quickly chimed in.

To wrap up, I was talking to Yoshinori Minami of Japan at breakfast about his plans for the day when Eric Larsen walked by. He shook Yoshinori's hand and the two spoke. Yoshinori said, "This trip is a really great opportunity that you've given us. Thank you."

And so it is.

Next stop: Neways Diamond Dash

It's Late. My Computer Doesn't Work. But the Welcome Reception Was AWESOME!

I finally made it to the Bellagio today. Sure the airline overbooked my flight and I was lucky to get aboard, and now I'm dealing with a computer that won't work, so I have to borrow a co-worker's who is seven floors above me, but I'm alive and typing and hoping to sleep soon.

Diamonds from around the world who qualified for this reward trip began arriving here yesterday and continued arriving throughout the day today. It's been brilliant to see the camaraderie, enthusiasm, and smiles.

The Welcome Reception began with Neways executives, including CEO Eric Larsen, greeting guests in a reception line. Distributors were then free to roam the elegant dining room, visiting the catering station of their choice, where chefs had a variety of cuisine: pasta, seafood, and Mexican. Rich ice cream and sherbet with Willy Wonka-ish array of toppings sweetened the evening all the more.

I spoke with several distributors about what they liked most at the Welcome Reception: 

Mami Kusumoto from Japan said, "I love Neways! This is a great opportunity for us to speak to Toda-san [Managing Director of Japan]."

"It is a perfect time for us to talk to Eric Larsen and other executives," said Sonoko Michizuki of Japan. "We get an unprecedented chance to get our questions answered and share our views." 

Oleg Samarksi of Australia agrees, and adds, "I love being here and seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I'm very happy with Neways' choice for this trip! This is my first time in Vegas!"

Distributors spent the evening enjoying the lavish spread and party atmosphere, and everyone seems pretty jazzed about the coming attractions. It's going to be a good week.

Next stop : General Session and Random Sightseeing Reports

Behold, a Blog

Hello, and welcome to the Vegas Blog, where I—Chris Yates , writer in Creative Services—will be reporting from the field, capturing the fun and adventure that our Diamonds will be having on this incredible reward trip. So, contrary to popular belief, what happens in Vegas actually stays on my blog.

Forever.

That means that if you're a Diamond on this trip and you wake up one morning unable to remember many details of the night before, but you have a vague recollection of marrying either Sigfried or Roy in a ceremony conducted by Elvis, rest assured that you can log on here to find out exactly what you did.

Next stop: the Welcome Reception at the Bellagio.