--- title: "We Asked, You Answered: What’s Your Favorite Summer Tradition?" id: "52555" type: "post" slug: "we-asked-you-answered-whats-your-favorite-summer-tradition" published_at: "2021-06-04T21:38:36+00:00" modified_at: "2021-06-04T21:38:36+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2021/06/04/we-asked-you-answered-whats-your-favorite-summer-tradition/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2021/06/04/we-asked-you-answered-whats-your-favorite-summer-tradition.md" excerpt: "Memorial Day typically kicks off the summer season, and we wanted to know what favorite seasonal traditions association execs were looking forward to. Heading to the beach, watching some baseball, and gazing at fireflies were among the responses." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "evacuation" - "fall activities" - "Membership" - "Mid-Level Professional" - "Traditions" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » We Asked, You Answered: What’s Your Favorite Summer Tradition? With summer comes a slew of traditions for folks. And while the official start isn’t until the solstice on June 20, many started in on their favorite activities over the Memorial Day weekend. Association professionals who answered our question tended to enjoy the simple pleasures, from tailgating to fresh corn on the cob. Check out some of their responses below. ### Barbara Kachelski, CAE *Executive Director, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry* Tailgating at Milwaukee Brewers games with my family. ### Louise Ristau, CAE *Executive Director, Association Management Center* Typically, Memorial Day means it’s time to plant flowers. This year, it means a beach vacation! ### Theresa DeConinck *Director of Business Development, Kenes Group* As I was married Memorial Day weekend back in 2007, we always celebrate our wedding anniversary on the Saturday of Memorial Day, and not the real day of the anniversary. We always vowed to be out of town. Those trips have included Brisbane (two times), Hong Kong, London, Brussels, Berlin, Frankfurt, as well as Yellowstone, Reno, and even Blanchester, Ohio, a few times! Only twice out of the last 14 years did we miss traveling. Our favorite tradition is just being together in a far-off place. Where we will be this time: Lake Anna, which is outside of Washington, DC. ### Kristin Kelly *Assistant Director of Ethics, Policy, and Compliance, International Coaching Federation* Sitting on the porch at dusk watching the fireflies and just relaxing. ### Cindy Simpson, CAE *Administrative Assistant, Urgent Care Association* My favorite summer tradition was spending a week at the Outer Banks with my husband, two children, and our two dogs. My dad and sister would join us, and we had such a great time. Although my dad is no longer with us, I cherish the memories that I have of us going to the beach, visiting the various lighthouses, and putting together puzzles after dinner. ### Dave Bornmann *Chief Marketing Officer, Association Analytics* More than 25 years of summers at Rehoboth Beach—reading on the beach, swimming in the ocean, Funland, Double Dippers, pool parties with friends and family. It’s still hard to believe that our kids who started going to the beach as babies are now working summer jobs there. ### Mandy Sponholtz *Director of Operations, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators* Eating fresh corn on the cob and watermelon! (Preto_perola/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Rasheeda Childress](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Rasheeda Childress is a former senior editor at Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Tags: [#evacuation](https://associationsnow.com/tag/evacuation/) [#fall activities](https://associationsnow.com/tag/fall-activities/) [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/) [#Mid-Level Professional](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mid-level-professional/) [#Traditions](https://associationsnow.com/tag/traditions/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoThe Adaptive Leader: Integrating Values and Strategy to Thrive Under New LeadershipDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/the-adaptive-leader-integrating-values-and-strategy-to-thrive-under-new-leadership/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2021%2F06%2F04%2Fwe-asked-you-answered-whats-your-favorite-summer-tradition%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !