New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Opens Full-Service UPS Store

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has cut the ribbon on a full-service UPS Store, making its debut in time for the 2,500-attendee International Association for Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) convention, which began yesterday.

The UPS Store will provide show management, attendees and exhibitors a full range of services under a nationally recognized brand that will be seamlessly integrated with the other services offered by the Convention Center.

Bob Johnson, president/general manager of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center welcomed IAEE President Stephen Hacker and UPS/Mail Boxes Etc.’s Ted Price, director of special venue development, Randy Davis, manager area operations and Garland Tinson, area sales representative at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“Our goal is to be the best Convention Center in the nation and by attracting an iconic brand like UPS we are providing the best business center services in the industry. In that we are the franchisee, all these services will be integrated with other services offered to our clients and guests,” said Johnson.

The UPS Store at the Convention Center will also offer services to neighboring residents and businesses with an exterior entrance, 24/7 lobby and pull-up parking.

In addition to domestic and international shipping, The UPS Store offers color and black-and-white duplications, document finishing (binding, laminating, etc.), printing services (business cards, letterhead, rubber stamps, etc.), full-service packaging, freight crating and shipping, mailbox and postal services, office and packaging supplies and more.

Sweet Tastes of Torah I

It's only fitting that my first post is about a program I helped to organize and promote—Sweet Tastes of Torah, sponsored by the North Jersey Board of Rabbis (NJBR). This has been an exciting adventure for the NJBR, which I've been privileged to be part of.

When the rabbis first approached me to coordinate their first Sweet Tastes of Torah project, this past February 6, they had modest expectations for this community-wide night of learning, education, schmoozing, music, and fun. It was the first time they had banded together as a group to produce such an event. When I asked how they would define success, they answered they'd be happy with 100 attendees. Twenty-four rabbis volunteered their time to teach, learn, share, laugh, and learn. Topics ranged from the serious (Practical Lessons in Rabbinical Jurisprudence) to the more entertaining (Bubbe Meises), and everything in between.

The UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey quickly came on as one of our partnering sponsors, providing a website, publicity help, online registration, and moral support to me. We were also lucky to be hosted by Temple Emeth in Teaneck, who provided prayer and classroom space in a beautiful facility. Dessert and a goody bag (more about that another time) were provided by kosher.com. Music was provided by Migdal Oz, a Jewish blues, rhythm, jazz band headed by a rabbi!

With help from my hubby (who distributed posters around the county, schlepped endless boxes, and helped with the evening's logistics), my daughter (who directed traffic to classrooms), a slew of friends and volunteers (who manned registration tables and kept me sane), the evening was a tremendous success. More than 300 people participated, and the feedback was tremendous.

But...how to repeat the success?