When it's time for their biannual powwow, the nation's manufacturing titans typically jet off to the sunny confines of resort towns like Boca Raton and Hot Springs. Not this year. The National Association of Manufacturers settled on the Hoosier capital of Indianapolis for its fall board meeting. And the city decided to treat its guests more like royalty or rock stars than factory owners. The idea, of course: to prove to 125 corporate decision makers that the buckle on the Rust Belt isn't so rusty after all, that it's a good place for a company to expand. On the receiving end of the message were officials from giants like Du Pont and Maytag, along with lesser knowns like Trojan Steel and the Valley Queen Cheese Factory. For starters, the executives joined Mayor William H. Hudnut III for an evening of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and a guest pianist-comedian Victor Borge. Champagne and dessert followed. The next morning, with a police escort, busloads of executives and their wives raced to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, unimpeded by traffic or red lights. The governor couldn't make it, so the lieutenant governor welcomed the special guests. A buffet breakfast was held in the museum, where food and drinks are banned to everyday visitors. Then, in the guests' honor, the speedway hauled out four drivers, crews and even the official Indianapolis 500 announcer for a 10-lap exhibition race. After the race, Fortune 500 executives drooled like schoolboys over the cars and drivers. No dummies, the drivers pointed out they still had space on their machines for another sponsor's name or two. Back downtown, the execs squeezed in a few meetings at the hotel before boarding the buses again. This time, it was for dinner and dancing -- a block away. Under the stars and moons of the renovated Indiana Roof ballroom, nine of the hottest chefs in town fed them Indiana duckling mousseline, lobster consomme, veal mignon and chocolate terrine with a raspberry sauce. Knowing a tasty -- and free -- meal when they eat one, the executives gave the chefs a standing ovation. More than a few CEOs say the red-carpet treatment tempts them to return to a heartland city for future meetings. But for now, they're looking forward to their winter meeting -- Boca in February. TEXT When it 's time for their biannual powwow , the nation 's manufacturing titans typically jet off to the sunny confines of resort towns like Boca Raton and Hot Springs . Not this year . The National Association of Manufacturers settled on the Hoosier capital of Indianapolis for its fall board meeting . And the city decided to treat its guests more like royalty or rock stars than factory owners . The idea , of course : to prove to 125 corporate decision makers that the buckle on the Rust Belt is n't so rusty after all , that it 's a good place for a company to expand . On the receiving end of the message were officials from giants like Du Pont and Maytag , along with lesser knowns like Trojan Steel and the Valley Queen Cheese Factory . For starters , the executives joined Mayor William H. Hudnut III for an evening of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and a guest pianist-comedian Victor Borge . Champagne and dessert followed . The next morning , with a police escort , busloads of executives and their wives raced to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway , unimpeded by traffic or red lights . The governor could n't make it , so the lieutenant governor welcomed the special guests . A buffet breakfast was held in the museum , where food and drinks are banned to everyday visitors . Then , in the guests ' honor , the speedway hauled out four drivers , crews and even the official Indianapolis 500 announcer for a 10-lap exhibition race . After the race , Fortune 500 executives drooled like schoolboys over the cars and drivers . No dummies , the drivers pointed out they still had space on their machines for another sponsor 's name or two . Back downtown , the execs squeezed in a few meetings at the hotel before boarding the buses again . This time , it was for dinner and dancing -- a block away . Under the stars and moons of the renovated Indiana Roof ballroom , nine of the hottest chefs in town fed them Indiana duckling mousseline , lobster consomme , veal mignon and chocolate terrine with a raspberry sauce . Knowing a tasty -- and free -- meal when they eat one , the executives gave the chefs a standing ovation . More than a few CEOs say the red-carpet treatment tempts them to return to a heartland city for future meetings . But for now , they 're looking forward to their winter meeting -- Boca in February . 12 12~14~16 20~22~24~26~28 22 38~40~42~44~46~48~50~52~54~56~58~60 46~48 52~54 58~60 67~69 74~76~78~80~82 88~90~92~94~96 96 100 100~102~104~106 102 113~115 123 123~125 131 135~137 141~143 148~150 166~168~170~172 176~178 182~184~186 204 208~210~212 216~218 229~231~233~235~237~239 237~239 243 247~249~251~253~255~257 251~253 257 265~267~269~271~273~275~277~279~281~283~285 271~273 277~279~281~283~285 302~304~306~308~310 314~316~318~320~322~324~326~328~330~332~334~336~338 320~322~324~326 330~332~334~336~338 343 347 354~356~358 364~366~368 372~374~376~378~380~382 376 380 380~382 388~390~392~394 402 406~408 413~415 429~431~433 437~439~441 446~448~450 458~460 464 466 470 478~480 491~493~495~497 493 503 509~511 515 521~523~525~527~529 533~535~537~539 546~548 552~554 552~554~556 562 566~568 572 583~585 591 597 601 601~603 607~609~611~613~615~617 624 628~630 636~638~640 644~646 652~654 673 677 681~683 692~694~696~698~700~702~704~706~708~710 702~704~706~708~710 706~708 714~716~718~720~722~724~726 732~734~736 732~734~736~738~740~742~744~746~748~750~752~754~756~758~760~762 740~742 746~748 752~754~756~758~760~762 769~771~773~775~777~779~781 785 799~801 803~805~807 812~814~816~818~820 820 824~826~828 832 840~842~844 848~850 863 873 873~875~877 881 885 their biannual powwow|1678 The National Association of Manufacturers|1677,1679,1686,1689 the nation|1680 the sunny confines of resort towns like Boca Raton and Hot Springs|1681 resort towns|1682 Boca Raton|1683,1787 Hot Springs|1684 this year|1685 the Hoosier capital of Indianapolis|1687,1692,1693 Indianapolis|1688 its fall board meeting|1690 fall|1691 executives|1694,1697,1699,1723,1724,1731,1739,1758,1775,1779,1784,1785 royalty|1695 rock stars|1696 The idea|1698 the buckle|1700 the Rust Belt|1701,1702,1703 a company|1704 the receiving end of the message|1705 the message|1706 officials|1707 giants like Du Pont and Maytag|1708 Du Pont|1709 Maytag|1710 lesser knowns like Trojan Steel and the Valley Queen Cheese Factory|1711 Trojan Steel|1712 the Valley Queen Cheese Factory|1713 Mayor William H. Hudnut III|1714 an evening of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and a guest pianist-comedian Victor Borge|1715 the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra|1716 a guest pianist-comedian Victor Borge|1717 Champagne|1718 dessert|1719 The next morning|1720 a police escort|1721 busloads of executives and their wives|1722 their wives|1725 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway|1726,1740 traffic|1727 red lights|1728 The governor|1729 the lieutenant governor|1730 A buffet breakfast|1732 the museum|1733,1734 food|1735 drinks|1736 everyday visitors|1737 the guests' honor|1738 four drivers|1741,1750,1751,1752,1754 crews|1742 the official Indianapolis 500 announcer|1743 a 10-lap exhibition race|1744,1745 Fortune 500|1746 Fortune 500 executives|1747 schoolboys|1748 the cars|1749 space|1753 their machines|1755 another sponsor's name or two|1756 downtown|1757 a few meetings|1759 the hotel|1760 the buses|1761 dinner|1762 dancing|1763 a block|1764 the stars and moons of the renovated Indiana Roof ballroom|1765 the renovated Indiana Roof ballroom|1766 Indiana Roof|1767 nine of the hottest chefs in town|1768,1776 Indiana duckling mousseline|1769 a tasty -- and free -- meal|1770,1774 lobster consomme|1771 veal mignon|1772 chocolate terrine with a raspberry sauce|1773 a standing ovation|1777 More than a few CEOs|1778,1781 the red-carpet treatment|1780 a heartland city|1782 future meetings|1783 their winter meeting|1786 February|1788 1677|NUC:DIST:12 1678|MOD:DIST:12|MOD:DIST:14|NUC:DESC:16 1679|MOD:DIST:20|MOD:DIST:22~24|MOD:DIST:26|NUC:DESC:28 1680|NUC:DIST:22 1681|MOD:DIST:38|MOD:DESC:40|NUC:DESC:42|MOD:DIST:44~46~48~50~52~54~56~58~60 1682|MOD:DIST:46|NUC:DIST:48 1683|NUC:DIST:52~54 1684|NUC:DIST:58~60 1685|MOD:DIST:67|NUC:DIST:69 1686|MOD:DIST:74|NUC:DIST:76~78~80~82 1687|MOD:DESC:88~90~92~94|NUC:DIST:96 1688|NUC:DIST:96 1689|NUC:DIST:100 1690|MOD:DIST:100|MOD:DIST:102|MOD:DIST:104|NUC:DIST:106 1691|NUC:DIST:102 1692|MOD:DIST:113|NUC:DIST:115 1693|NUC:DIST:123 1694|MOD:DIST:123|NUC:DESC:125 1695|NUC:DIST:131 1696|MOD:DIST:135|NUC:DIST:137 1697|MOD:DIST:141|NUC:DIST:143 1698|MOD:DIST:148|NUC:DIST:150 1699|MOD:DIST:166|MOD:DIST:168|NUC:DIST:170~172 1700|MOD:DIST:176|NUC:DESC:178 1701|MOD:DIST:182|NUC:DESC:184~186 1702|NUC:DIST:204 1703|MOD:DIST:208|MOD:DESC:210|NUC:DIST:212 1704|MOD:DIST:216|NUC:DIST:218 1705|MOD:DIST:229|MOD:DIST:231|NUC:DIST:233|MOD:DIST:235~237~239 1706|MOD:DIST:237|NUC:DIST:239 1707|NUC:DIST:243 1708|NUC:DESC:247|MOD:DIST:249~251~253~255~257 1709|NUC:DIST:251~253 1710|NUC:DIST:257 1711|MOD:DIST:265|NUC:DIST:267|MOD:DIST:269~271~273~275~277~279~281~283~285 1712|NUC:DIST:271~273 1713|MOD:DIST:277|NUC:DIST:279~281~283~285 1714|MOD:DIST:302|NUC:DIST:304~306~308~310 1715|MOD:DIST:314|NUC:DESC:316|MOD:DIST:318~320~322~324~326~328~330~332~334~336~338 1716|MOD:DIST:320|NUC:DIST:322~324~326 1717|MOD:DIST:330|MOD:DIST:332|MOD:DIST:334|NUC:DIST:336~338 1718|NUC:DIST:343 1719|NUC:DIST:347 1720|MOD:DIST:354|MOD:DIST:356|NUC:DIST:358 1721|MOD:DIST:364|MOD:DIST:366|NUC:DIST:368 1722|MOD:DESC:372~374|NUC:DIST:376~378~380~382 1723|NUC:DIST:376 1724|NUC:DIST:380 1725|MOD:DIST:380|NUC:DIST:382 1726|MOD:DIST:388|NUC:DIST:390~392~394 1727|NUC:DIST:402 1728|MOD:DIST:406|NUC:DIST:408 1729|MOD:DIST:413|NUC:DIST:415 1730|MOD:DIST:429|MOD:DIST:431|NUC:DIST:433 1731|MOD:DIST:437|MOD:DESC:439|NUC:DESC:441 1732|MOD:DIST:446|MOD:DESC:448|NUC:DIST:450 1733|MOD:DIST:458|NUC:DIST:460 1734|NUC:DIST:464 1735|NUC:DIST:466 1736|NUC:DIST:470 1737|MOD:DESC:478|NUC:DIST:480 1738|MOD:DIST:491|MOD:DIST:493~495|NUC:DIST:497 1739|NUC:DESC:493 1740|NUC:DIST:503 1741|MOD:DIST:509|NUC:DIST:511 1742|NUC:DIST:515 1743|MOD:DIST:521|MOD:DIST:523|MOD:DIST:525~527|NUC:DIST:529 1744|MOD:DIST:533|MOD:DIST:535|MOD:DIST:537|NUC:DIST:539 1745|MOD:DIST:546|NUC:DIST:548 1746|NUC:DIST:552~554 1747|MOD:DESC:552~554|NUC:DIST:556 1748|NUC:DESC:562 1749|MOD:DIST:566|NUC:DIST:568 1750|NUC:DIST:572 1751|MOD:DIST:583|NUC:DIST:585 1752|NUC:DIST:591 1753|NUC:DIST:597 1754|NUC:DIST:601 1755|MOD:DIST:601|NUC:DESC:603 1756|MOD:DIST:607|MOD:DIST:609~611|NUC:DIST:613~615~617 1757|NUC:DIST:624 1758|MOD:DIST:628|NUC:DIST:630 1759|MOD:DIST:636~638|NUC:DIST:640 1760|MOD:DIST:644|NUC:DIST:646 1761|MOD:DIST:652|NUC:DIST:654 1762|NUC:DIST:673 1763|NUC:DIST:677 1764|MOD:DIST:681|NUC:DIST:683 1765|MOD:DIST:692|NUC:DIST:694~696~698|MOD:DIST:700~702~704~706~708~710 1766|MOD:DIST:702|MOD:DESC:704|MOD:DIST:706~708|NUC:DIST:710 1767|NUC:DIST:706~708 1768|MOD:DIST:714|MOD:DIST:716~718~720|NUC:DIST:722|MOD:DIST:724~726 1769|MOD:DESC:732~734|NUC:DIST:736 1770|NUC:DIST:732~734~736~738~740~742~744~746~748~750~752~754~756~758~760~762 1771|MOD:DESC:740|NUC:DIST:742 1772|NUC:DIST:746|MOD:DESC:748 1773|MOD:DESC:752|NUC:DIST:754|MOD:DESC:756~758~760~762 1774|MOD:DIST:769|MOD:DESC:771,775~777|NUC:DIST:781 1775|NUC:DIST:785 1776|MOD:DIST:799|NUC:DIST:801 1777|MOD:DIST:803|NUC:DIST:805~807 1778|MOD:DIST:812~814~816~818|NUC:DIST:820 1779|NUC:DIST:820 1780|MOD:DIST:824|MOD:DESC:826|NUC:DIST:828 1781|NUC:DIST:832 1782|MOD:DIST:840|MOD:DESC:842|NUC:DIST:844 1783|MOD:DIST:848|NUC:DIST:850 1784|NUC:DIST:863 1785|NUC:DIST:873 1786|MOD:DIST:873|MOD:DIST:875|NUC:DIST:877 1787|NUC:DIST:881 1788|NUC:DIST:885