My Favorite Job at HMA National Seminar

Every year, as the HMA National Seminar approaches, I feel much anticipation. There are performances to experience, engaging sessions to attend, and friends to reconnect with—but what I look forward to most as an HMA staff member is the time I experience working at the HMA booth in Handbell Commons. That space is more than just a table with signage and handouts. It is a gathering point, a welcome center, and, in many ways, the “family room” of our handbell community.

Serving at the booth gives me a unique vantage point. Throughout the days of the event, attendees flow past—some arriving with detailed questions, others simply stopping by to say hello. Longtime members return year after year, greeting HMA staff and Seminar volunteers like old friends. First-time attendees sometimes approach with curiosity and a bit of nervous excitement. I enjoy being there to meet them all.

There is something energizing about those face-to-face interactions. In an era when so much communication happens through email and social media, the HMA booth at Seminar offers real one-on-one conversation. I get to hear about someone’s ensemble back home, the challenges they are navigating, the successes they are celebrating, or the reasons they decided to attend maybe even for the first time this year. I hear stories of growth, of creative steps taken, and new ideas discovered. Those conversations remind me why the work we do in HMA matters.

Working the booth also allows me to help people find their way at the event. Maybe someone is looking for a specific resource, maybe they are curious about leadership opportunities, or ways to become more involved. Sometimes they simply need reassurance that they belong here. Being able to listen, guide, and encourage is one of the most meaningful parts of the event for me.

I especially enjoy noticing the smaller details that help start conversations. A familiar name on a badge or the many selected name-badge ribbons that signal an attendee’s particular role within HMA or their own organizations. Those details give me insight into their interests and experiences, but they are just the beginning. What matters most is the dialogue that follows—the chance to ask questions, to learn about their journies, and to share in their enthusiasm about the event and their own experiences at home.

At the same time, the HMA booth becomes a listening post. I hear what is working well and where people feel stretched. I hear creative ideas for the future and honest feedback about current programs. Those conversations are invaluable. They shape how we grow, how we serve, and how we strengthen the experience for everyone involved.

By the end of the conference, my feet may be tired and my voice a little hoarse, but my spirit is renewed. Each conversation adds another layer to my understanding of our community. Each handshake, smile, and shared story reinforces why this annual event is so important.

National Seminar is filled with memorable performances and inspiring sessions, but for me, the heart of it all happens at the HMA booth in Handbell Commons. It is where connections are formed, questions are answered, ideas are shared, and relationships are strengthened. Year after year, I return grateful—not just for the event itself, but for the people who stop by, introduce themselves, and remind me that our organization is, above all, about community.

Every year, as the HMA National Seminar approaches, I feel much anticipation. There are performances to experience, engaging sessions to attend, and friends to reconnect with—but what I look forward to most as an HMA staff member is the time I experience working at the HMA booth in Handbell Commons. That space is more than just a table with signage and handouts. It is a gathering point, a welcome center, and, in many ways, the “family room” of our handbell community.

Serving at the booth gives me a unique vantage point. Throughout the days of the event, attendees flow past—some arriving with detailed questions, others simply stopping by to say hello. Longtime members return year after year, greeting HMA staff and Seminar volunteers like old friends. First-time attendees sometimes approach with curiosity and a bit of nervous excitement. I enjoy being there to meet them all.

There is something energizing about those face-to-face interactions. In an era when so much communication happens through email and social media, the HMA booth at Seminar offers real one-on-one conversation. I get to hear about someone’s ensemble back home, the challenges they are navigating, the successes they are celebrating, or the reasons they decided to attend maybe even for the first time this year. I hear stories of growth, of creative steps taken, and new ideas discovered. Those conversations remind me why the work we do in HMA matters.

Working the booth also allows me to help people find their way at the event. Maybe someone is looking for a specific resource, maybe they are curious about leadership opportunities, or ways to become more involved. Sometimes they simply need reassurance that they belong here. Being able to listen, guide, and encourage is one of the most meaningful parts of the event for me.

I especially enjoy noticing the smaller details that help start conversations. A familiar name on a badge or the many selected name-badge ribbons that signal an attendee’s particular role within HMA or their own organizations. Those details give me insight into their interests and experiences, but they are just the beginning. What matters most is the dialogue that follows—the chance to ask questions, to learn about their journies, and to share in their enthusiasm about the event and their own experiences at home.

At the same time, the HMA booth becomes a listening post. I hear what is working well and where people feel stretched. I hear creative ideas for the future and honest feedback about current programs. Those conversations are invaluable. They shape how we grow, how we serve, and how we strengthen the experience for everyone involved.

By the end of the conference, my feet may be tired and my voice a little hoarse, but my spirit is renewed. Each conversation adds another layer to my understanding of our community. Each handshake, smile, and shared story reinforces why this annual event is so important.

National Seminar is filled with memorable performances and inspiring sessions, but for me, the heart of it all happens at the HMA booth in Handbell Commons. It is where connections are formed, questions are answered, ideas are shared, and relationships are strengthened. Year after year, I return grateful—not just for the event itself, but for the people who stop by, introduce themselves, and remind me that our organization is, above all, about community.

J.R. Smith
Publications Director

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