I went to the shareholders meeting quite a few years ago and as it does lift your morale and make you think our company cares for us, coming back to reality once you go back to work is a let down . The associate that went this year posted so many pictures and said she never felt so valued. He came back to work today and tried his best to keep that positive attitude going , but as usual Sam’s club will make you want to run away fast . Why waste all that money on transporting associate to home office and spend all that money on what I thought was lousy entertainment when that money could be funneled back to the clubs .. maybe hire more people .
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Shareholders MAY be a hypnotic affair now...
Originally, it was a wonderful thing: event to emphasize appreciation of employees when employees were appreciated.
Appreciation part is gone now. NOW! Shareholders' meeting still plays the plot written by good 'ol Mr. Walton that Mr.Walton wouldn't see reflected in practices by his company.
the share holders meeting is a hypnotic affair aimed at brain washing you. I never made it there but I did have a fairly unique experience. I was selected to join the Walmart Choir and I went to Bentonville the last two years the National choir gathered together. 2013 and 14. Fist year we recorded a CD which sold nationally to support CMN. 2nd year we toured part of Arkansas and Missouri singing on behalf of CMN. It was fantastic!! 140 people from all around the country flown into home office. Housed in a nice hotel and fed all week on the company dime. And we were on the clock getting our full pay plus over time. Flown to Arkansas to sing !!!!!! It was wonderful. No let down back at the club either ! Why because the choir was not pumped up on WM p-o. We practiced and sang. We were required to spend one afternoon touring facilities around home office. I went to the eyeglasses making facility and the food taste testing facility where WM tests all the food they are considering selling. Oh and I visited Waltons Five and Dime. Anyway I formed friendships while there that are ongoing today. The Choir was so much better than the Shareholders meeting. Sure we did not get to hear Celebrities get up and lie about how great WM is but we did get to meet children who were alive directly from the efforts of CMN. I will be a lifelong supporter of CMN after what I witnessed through the choir. Oh and My face is on the cover of the Walmart CD ! I know some of you will laugh about the choir as though its no big deal. On the contrary. There were several people in it that were highly skilled musicians and some professional singers. Easier to be a mindless manager than a choir member. The national Choir has never reconvened. Executives have other priorities. Here's the big thing about Choir. People go to shareholders because they are usually a buddy of management or some other "special" person. They however are not chosen for any particular talent or skill they possess . They are essentially a place filler. Choir members on the other hand were flown to and fed by home office because of a talent the possessed ! They were chosen from many because of what they had to offer ! The Choir had meaning because of its promotion of CMN and its outreach to less fortunate children. Shareholders is an empty fleeting experience.
When I went the Sam's Club CEO was not there and only showed up long enough at the "meeting" to get that applause and pat on the back.
Dog and pony show.