Putting together an NMA reunion

NMA Executive Vice-President Bob Leketa's efforts are visible at every reunion; he's been organizing them since the last century.

Over breakfast Bob told me what goes into selecting the hotel for an NMA reunion.

Once the board of directors has settled on a geographic region for a coming reunion, Bob goes to work. He contacts prospective hotels and examines their informational packages. He weeds out the "impossibles" and creates the shortlist.

As the process narrows down, the negotiations begin. Bob gained his expertise by OJT--on the job training--and has learned to spot the b.s.

"I'll tell them, 'I'm not a rookie,'" he says. "'Just give me the bottom line.'"

Bob's double-secret weapon: nightly NMA jam sessions in the hotel lounge.

Management often balks at the unique requirement that the NMA take over the lounge for the duration of the reunion. But Bob knows how to overcome this resistance. "I tell them they'll break records on bar sales. That's all they need to hear."

This all happens months and years in advance. The board has made its decision on the region for the 2010 reunion, and Bob will soon go to work.

And that reunion will be held in . . . well, I'm not at liberty to say. The region will be officially announced on Saturday at the business meeting. As soon as that happens, you'll read it here.

Along with the regular b.s.