Ministerial Services team members Jim Franks, Dave Register and Doug Horchak, along with Charles Melear (Festival planner) conducted the meetings that covered everything from annual reports from each Feast site, future site development and needs, housing negotiations and member registration, to the varied policies that affect our meeting preparations, speaking schedules and activity planning. Like last year these meetings were held Dallas due to both costs and weather conditions. Both last year and this year severe winter weather turned up in the Midwest that would have hampered travel to and from the meetings. Jim Franks, Ministerial Services operation manager, opened by explaining that the overall purpose of these meetings was for this group to compare notes, discuss policies and grow as a team to produce the best possible experience at the Feast for God's people. Also discussed was the importance of working together as a team. Unity of approach, message and oversight is a key factor in providing the kind of atmosphere that the Feast should provide, given we are striving to give everyone a millennial foretaste of the world tomorrow. Following these opening comments, discussions began on the many details involved in planning and organizing a Feast site. A main topic of discussion was the preparation that goes into the actual services that are held at each site daily during the Feast, as the sermons and sermonettes, coupled with special music, are the centerpiece of the spiritual component at our Feast sites. Issues of Festival registration, housing and site selection and the varied activities we offer at our sites were discussed, as well. Along with the Festival Youth Instruction and the teen and young adult Bible studies, the additional seminars offered at some Feast sites were also reviewed. Dave Register covered the survey responses to the varied seminars offered at the sites, which will enable us to see how effective these educational opportunities are and how we can improve. Additional discussions centered on reports from this year's Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA) conference, facility contracts and industry trends. A new UCG members Web page dedicated to all of our U.S Festival sites (feast.ucg.org) was also presented. This new Web site will offer up-to-date information about UCG Festival planning, plus more detailed information on each one of our U.S. Feast sites. A new site (replacing Lancaster, Pennsylvania) for 2008 will be in the Poconos of eastern Pennsylvania, coupled with resuming our Festival site in Maui, Hawaii. View details of the sites around the world and Festival registration information. UN