Public Relations - External
This committee is for the people-person interested in extending their network within MPI by contacting and building relationships with media to bring exposure to MPI. This is a fun and very interesting committee that is very flexible and will offer you the opportunity to learn more about the media within our industry.
Time commitment: 2-3 hours per month

Public Relations - Internal
The PR Internal Committee provides the opportunity for MPI MN involvement with Meetings of the Minds monthly newsletter, NewsNotes and other chapter publications. No prior experience needed&emdash;everyone is welcome! Skills acquired through committee participation: writing copy, editing, proofing and bringing creativity to the mix!
Time commitment: 2-3 hours per month

Website
This committee updates and maintains the MPI MN Web site; monitors reaction to the chapter’s new Web site; provides enhanced services through the site; develops guidelines for submission and placement of materials on the site; works with the Communications Team to improve awareness and usage of the MPI MN Web site.
Time commitment: 3-5 hours per month

Participates in volunteer activities to enhance chapter and community awareness; raises money for and makes contributions to a specific charitable organization; volunteers to be a project “lead” or “co-lead” for a specific monthly project or drive.
Time commitment: 2-3 hours per month

The Vice President and Director are responsible for planning and implementing ten monthly programs, providing innovative and quality education topics and opportunities for professional and personal growth for MPI MN members.
Time Commitment: 5-10 hours per month

CMP Study Group
Conducting twice yearly CMP boot camps.
Time commitment: 3 to 10 hours per session

Holiday Party and Gala Events
Recruiting and taking the lead in program planning, especially at the Holiday Party and the May Awards program.
Time commitment: 2 to 5 hours per month

Joint Education Event
Planning and implementation of a one-day event consisting of a full day of education as well as a supplier showcase for members in the MN and WI chapters. This team plans quality educational opportunities to meet supplier and planner needs. Responsible for speaker selection, implementation of the Supplier Showcase (tradeshow), marketing this event, and logistics.
Time commitment: 1 to 10 hrs per month (ramping up to 10 as event nears)

Senior Planner Circle of Excellence
Who is the Senior Planner Circle of Excellence group? Are you a senior meeting planner with at least 10 years of experience working for a corporation, association or yourself as an independent meeting planner? If so, you will be interested in joining this group to collaborate, benchmark and obtain education for career growth opportunities from a network of extensive expertise.

Is this a new group? The name Senior Planner Circle of Excellence (SPCOE) replaces our previous name, The Affinity Group, to simply clarify who we are.

When do we meet? Based on feedback and in order to be respectful of everyone’s time, meetings will be held monthly in conjunction with the Monthly Education Meetings—either prior to or immediately following for one hour.

How do I join? If you meet the senior planner criteria, send an e-mail to both chairs Julie Ann Schmidt, CMP or Kim Meck.

All Team Meetings

Mentor Next Door
Provides programming, mentoring and leadership opportunities for members within the chapter and for students within the hospitality industry.
Time commitment: 2 to 5 hours per month

Mentoring: Power of 2

Recognition
Sets criteria and administers the process for EMPI awards presented in May. Ongoing recognition of sponsors and various membership achievements. Writes the “Up Close” column for Meeting of the Minds newsletter.
Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month

Recruitment
Organizes and implements the annual membership campaign. Researches and confirms participation in effective promotional opportunities for MPI MN. Tracks prospects and leads. Follows through with supporting membership message and collateral.
Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month

Retention
Develops and implements membership campaigns to retain members; coordinates two new member appreciation luncheons. First contact with new members; monitors team approach to meeting reminder phone calls prior to monthly meetings.
Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month

Student
Identifies and initiates partnerships with accredited educational institutions offering programs relative to MPI mission. Encourages student membership/participation in MPI. Plan programs that provide MPI MN presence at educational institutional events.
Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month

The Strategic Alliances Committee seeks to forge partnerships between MPI and its partners to financially support and enhance the programs the chapter offers. The committee is responsible for designing partnership policies and guidelines, soliciting partnerships with our valued planners and suppliers and following up to ensure that the defined benefits of partnering with the chapter are met. The committee is responsible for overseeing special events and fundraising for our chapter.
Time commitment: 2-5 hours per week

June Event
A team of volunteers is put together within the committee to organize the June Event. This team of people will find the venue, organize, plan and manage the event and find sponsors. In past years the June event has been a golf tournament and more recently an “Amazing Race” style event called the Great Race. This event is one of the largest revenue contributors to the chapter and help is greatly appreciated! Your involvement can be as little or as big as you want it to be, as long as you are committed!

Silent Auction
A team of volunteers is put together within the committee to organize the Silent Auction at our December Holiday Event. The role of this team is to oversee the procurement of items before the event, oversee the actual auction on-site and the collection of payment for the items. This event requires some time investment from September up to the day of the event. This event is another one of the largest financial contributors to our chapter.

Sponsorship & Advertising
Develop and maintain relationship with MPI MN Sponsors. Negotiate with vendors and select monthly meeting venues. Sell advertising space for the MPI MN Web site; sell advertising space for the MPI MN newsletter; solicit, track and fulfill the MPI MN sponsorship program; conduct marketing campaigns for sales initiatives for all of the above. Skills Acquired through committee participation: sales and marketing.

Scholarships
Responsible for updating the website with scholarship information, marketing the scholarship, collecting the scholarship application forms, organizing the selection process and designing the award certificate to be awarded during the May Gala.

Community Outreach
This year, the Community Outreach Team’s goal is to bring recognition to World Vision. Piggybank donations collected during the monthly meetings will be given to the charity in May 2011. This team of volunteers also organizes the sale of mystery grab bags before each monthly meeting to raise funds for the charity. Throughout the year, the Community Outreach Team will also collect in-kind donations for and offer volunteer opportunities to our membership. The team participates in volunteer activities to enhance chapter and community awareness; raises money for and makes contributions to a specific charitable organization; volunteers to be a project “lead” or “co-lead” for a specific monthly project or drive.