I always get that song in my head anytime I think about camp. My two boys are coming home from their summer camp experience this weekend and I remember when I dropped them off over two weeks ago I thought to myself, no way would I ever go to a camp like this! Rustic is the word that best describes Camp Sangamon (in beautiful southern Vermont). Call me a wimp, but I prefer things like screens in the windows and beds and indoor bathrooms.

But it reminds me that we will be hosting our own “Camp Captive” coming up next month. As most of you know, VCIA’s Annual Conference runs between August 12 and 14 in lovely Burlington, Vermont, and this year’s theme is “Major League Captive Education”, where we continue to feature the great educational sessions and networking with over 1100 of your closest friends.  Theresa Payton, cybersecurity and identity theft expert, and former White House Chief Information Officer, will be our Keynote Speaker at the opening session and our closing luncheon will spotlight Keynote Speaker Frank Deford, sportswriter and author.  For those of you who know Frank, he is a true original. I love his explanation on why Americans have taken so long to embrace soccer – we just don’t trust anything that doesn’t allow us to use our hands!  So if you haven’t already, time to sign up for camp at www.vcia.com.

Also, just announced is the VCIA Resource Center, a new, great source for captive educational materials not available anywhere else. VCIA’s webinars, seminars and road shows are known for top-notch content and the best speakers in the industry and are now available to order.  Materials are sold individually or in packages designed especially for captive board members, newly formed captives (or considering formation) and professionals new to the industry. Go to our website www.vcia.com for more information.

Have a great weekend and, as always, please let me know of any issues or news affecting our great industry, or any ideas you might have to better serve you. Thank you all very much and I look forward to hearing from you!

~Rich