MEMORIES OF OGLEBAY
Who Stole the Bell? By Dr. Don Hancock
I have many fond memories of annual trips to the Venue Management School at Oglebay. As an IAAM (now IAVM) employee, I had varied roles. For several years, I taught a class on technology, and each year, from approximately 1993 to the late 2000s, assisted with administra- tive tasks such as admissions, scholarships, monograph gathering and preparation, exam preparation, testing and grading, videotaping, and numerous other gofer tasks.
Some random memories: – I often would share a rental car and drive down from Pittsburgh
- nic time of year in the Ohio Val- ley and on the Oglebay grounds. Speaking of the Ohio River, I re- trip to the Wheeling Civic Cen- ter. Our gracious Wheeling host, Denny Magruder, pointed out in the parking lot where he and crew had stacked hundreds of sandbags - dy Ohio from entering the arena, seeping through, I assume, the el- – Many years I roomed with several others in various cottages
“The school, I think, gains tremendously
from this annual infusion of “new blood” in leadership positions. This also is a strength of IAVM as a professional association, as IRS and other federal regulations.”
“down the hill.” Top dog faculty were assigned the more convenient The Waddington. Though the walk up the hill in the morning could be strenuous, the grounds were always immaculate and beautiful, with - where and everyone with those insect carcasses and screeching. I really preferred a room in the Byrd Wing but sometimes envied those booked in Chalets 1, 2, or 3.
18 Facility Manager Magazine Fac li y a iilityManag na er MagaM g ingaziine a er
events during the week. Of course, the student skits and closing par- ties, sports day, the opening reception, and various lunch programs the most popular and pricey during my time being the Thursday eve- F&B expert Chris Bigelow. For those not in the VIP crowd, Ernie’s in Wheeling was a very 60s-ish nightclub-style high-end Italian restau- rant, with numerous dining and bar areas, much maroon vinyl, an also had an opening dinner each year in the private dining area behind the Glassworks, usually with a surf and turf menu. Bob Hunter often provided a heartfelt motivational speech at that event, and sometimes even laconic Scott Williams would - ette’s bidding. And who can forget - feld, as well as all the other Oglebay – During the workdays, we al-
ways had vibrant classrooms, with engaged learners and outstanding instructors. The Board of Regents
had adopted various expectations of “political correctness,” and I often took on the job of monitoring classrooms where various unin- hibited instructors might get out of line. I always found instructors to be perfect ladies and gentlemen when in front of classes, even those usual suspects such as the wonderful Russ Simons. VMS instructors are generally very competitive, Type A personalities, and everyone works hard to win the best student ratings. The best of the best might be invited to junket down under to the Aussie VMA school. Often topics. Some that come to mind are Denny Magruder’s accounting -
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