4 July 2016 | Binfield, UK [Karen Holford] Karen Holford finds herself impressed by how Newbold College ‘knocked the socks off’ other conference venues she has attended. She recommends it as a warm, efficient and friendly environment to host a variety of other conferences and events from across the TED.
From the moment we arrived at the gates of Newbold College for the 2016 British Union Conference Session we experienced the gifts of warm and thoughtful hospitality. Car parks were signposted, the registration was efficient, the staff members were friendly, and we never had to wait more than a few minutes for a meal or a drink. There were plenty of seats, the sound system worked, and the menu was completely vegetarian, with delicious options for a range of special diets.
Those might sound like simple things but I have been to many church and non-church conferences at universities and hotels were there weren’t enough parking spaces, where the vegan option included prawns (“well, they’re non-dairy, aren’t they?”), where the registration was chaotic, where I had no idea where I was going, where the toilet supplies ran out, and where the staff were grumpy and unhelpful.
This is the very first time that Newbold College has ever hosted a British Union Conference Session, or any event of this size, with more than 300 delegates, plus support staff and guests. So I was curious, how had they managed the logistical challenge of coordinating hundreds of local hotel rooms, providing lunches and dinners for more than 400 people, upgrading their infrastructure, creating extra parking spaces, hosting an exhibition centre, and running parallel training seminars?
Even the gardens were immaculate, delegates framing the buildings with neatly trimmed lawns, and cheerful flower beds. Wherever I went I could always see one of the Newbold staff members in a bright red T-shirt. They were happy to serve, quick to answer questions or point me in the right direction, and they always had a kind word and a smile, no matter how tired they were.
Something as smooth-running as this doesn’t just happen. It takes months of careful planning and thinking. It takes an eye for detail. It takes collaboration. And it requires a dedicated team who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
The process started over a year ago when Dr John Baildam, Newbold College Principal, saw the quote given by a local hotel for hosting the BUC Session. He began to explore the alternative of whether Newbold College could host the entire 2016 British Union Conference Session. This way the Session costs would both help to support one of our own institutions, and give delegates a first-hand taste of what the College can provide. If successful, it might even encourage local churches or other groups to hold their own conferences and retreats at the College.
The planning committee was chaired by Dr Baildam, together with Brian Davison, a member of the BUC Executive Committee, who served as secretary. They quickly created individual committees to manage the catering, the accommodation, the grounds and building preparations, the IT support, the exhibition space, and the Centre for Christian Leadership. As the Session approached, the committees met together more frequently, checking that everything was perfectly in its place.
I’ve never been a student at Newbold College. But, when I walked across the sunlit campus, I felt much more relaxed and at home than I would ever have felt in a hotel conference centre or a university. I also felt totally proud of our College, and its ability to host this large event with such apparent ease, warmth, joy and professionalism. All the delegates I spoke to were full of praise for the staff. I never heard one word of criticism.
What was the secret of their success? I believe it was their ability to pray together, to keep their eye on the bigger picture, to work together as a team, to serve cheerfully and humbly, and to be channels of God’s love and peace to everyone they met… A shining example for every successful ministry, church, Conference or Union.
A big thank you to Dr John Baildam, to Brian Davison and to the highly committed Newbold College staff team from every guest and delegate of the 2016 British Union Conference Session. Maybe we’ll see you all again in 2021! [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, director; Esti Pujic, editor
119 St Peter’s Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ted.adventist.org
tedNEWS is an information bulletin issued by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division.
You are free to re-print any portion of the bulletin without need for special permission. However, we kindly request that you identify tedNEWS whenever you publish these materials.
