Don’t miss joining MPI MN as we share best practices at the upcoming monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 16, beginning at 7:00 a.m. at Edinburgh USA.

Follow this link more information and to register.

Edinburgh USA’s elegant Scottish manor with stunning views of the beautiful championship golf course provide a variety of distinct meeting and event spaces. This extraordinary venue is a unique setting for corporate events or celebrations. Edinburgh USA also offers complete golf outings packages in addition to banquet and meeting space for corporate conferences, meetings, or social events. Selected by Golf Digest as one of the top public courses in America, Edinburgh USA is designed in the Scottish tradition by Robert Trent Jones II. Located in Brooklyn Park just 15 minutes from downtown Minneapolis, Edinburgh USA features 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, state-of-the-art technology, convenient location and free parking. Lancer Catering, the exclusive on-site caterer at Edinburgh, is one of the Twin Cities premier catering companies. Lancer has an outstanding reputation for fine catering, stunning presentations and superb service. Whether you are planning a lavish sit-down dinner, an elegant buffet, an hors d’oeuvres party or an informal business lunch, Lancer Catering has the expertise and resources necessary to ensure every detail of your event is executed flawlessly.

Edinburgh USA
Event and Conference Center
8700 Edinbrook Crossing
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55443

763-315-8503
Lancercatering.com

MPI MN All-Team Committee Meeting—Wednesday, May 7, 2008
 
Mark your calendar for the last All-Team Committee Meeting on May 7, 2008, from 3:00–6:00 p.m. at Dave & Buster’s in Maple Grove!

Dave & Buster’s
11780 Fountains Way
Maple Grove, MN 55369
www.daveandbusters.com

Have fun with your committee members while we re-cap the year, finalize goals and objectives, and recognize the MN chapter’s achievements.

Experience the Cosgrove Trivia Challenge! Fellow member John Cosgrove will show us this innovative and engaging way he brings people together.

We will be taking Committee Photos for the MPI May Gala and would like as many committee members at the meeting as possible. We will celebrate this last meeting with prizes – so be sure to attend!

MPI Photographs Needed for 30th Anniversary of Chapter

MPI MN is collecting photographs that involve MPI and MPI members over the years to use as part of next year’s 30th anniversary of the MN Chapter. Please contact Ann Young at ayoung@csmcorp.net if you have photographs to mail or email.

Community Outreach Updates—Ronald McDonald House

Cooks for Kids: We are still in need of a few food donations or grocery store gift cards to complete our April meals for the Ronald McDonald House. Please stop by the Community Outreach Table at the April 16 Chapter Meeting to check out what is still needed.

Pop Tabs: Help us reach our goal with the pop tab collections: please bring in your pop, soup and animal food tabs to the April meeting. This is your last chance to contribute!

Piggybank Collection Raffle: Make sure to purchase your raffle tickets at the Community Outreach table at the April 16 Meeting. The raffle winner will receive 2 Round Trip Airline tickets on Sun Country, what a great way to fly—FREE with all of the fuel surcharges. Only 100 tickets will be sold. Be a part of this exclusive prize. Steve DeVries of Showcore, Inc. will be matching funds earned from this raffle.

Power of Two Mentoring—MPI Mentoring Program

Have you ever wanted to ask someone for his or her advice at an MPI meeting, but you didn’t know how to approach that person? Mentors with The Power of Two Mentoring Program are seeking people like you to mentor. The Power of Two Mentoring Program will match you with a volunteer mentor. Mentoring is available to members at any stage in their career who are seeking to develop new skills or make progress toward a professional goal.

For more information about the Power of Two Mentoring Program, follow this link.

Take the first step to achieving your goal. Get a mentor!

Connect With Other Senior Level Meeting Planners
Next Meeting—Tuesday, May 13, 2008

As a senior level meeting planner do you ever wish you had the opportunity to talk with other senior level planners and find out how they manage meeting budgets, compare crisis management plans or discuss addendums and contracts? These are just a few of the topics that the Affinity Group for senior level planners discussed this past year. The group was started a year ago at the suggestion of a senior level planner in one of our chapter member surveys. The purpose was to provide a place to share best practices and to have a forum where questions could be asked on how other planners are handling the issues that arise in our profession day to day.

The discussions are informal and each person participates in the exchange of ideas. The group meets every other month for 90 minutes. The group is designed for senior level planners—corporate, association or independent planners. If you are interested in joining the group, please email Sue Daly at sue_daly@aon.com. If you have questions feel free to contact Sue at 763-913-1621.

Next Meeting:
Tuesday, May 13, 11:30 a.m.
Lunch at Bank Restaurant in the Westin Minneapolis
88 South 6th Street, Minneapolis
612-333-4006
Discussion Topic: Taking ownership of your career

MPI Highlights

MPI Launches New Student Community
MPI's student community now has a home online. The student portal contains industry news, MPI program information, and links to the community's Facebook and GroupSpace sites. Their unique website can be accessed at www.mpiweb.org/students.

MPI Career Connections Now Online
The MPI Job Bank has been reborn as the new MPI Career Connections. MPI Career Connections is simpler to use with free internship listings and easier resume creation. Click here to check it out.

Asian Meetings and Events Conference to Take Place in Singapore
MPI will host the first co-created Asian Meetings and Events Conference from October 24-26, 2008, in Singapore. For more information click here.

Mid-Year Community Update Released
The MPI Mid-Year Community Update has been released and sent via e-mail to all MPI members. The Mid-Year Community Update reports on MPI's progress to-date against our vision/mission and strategic imperatives. The Update can be found on MPIWeb online. Click here to view it.

The European Meetings & Events Conference 2008
The 2008 European Meetings & Events Conference is your connecting point to the meetings and events community throughout Europe and all around the globe. A worldwide intersection of new ideas, skills, knowledge and creativity! Join us in London, 18 - 20 April, 2008. For more detail visit us online.

Registration Now Open For WEC 2008
What if you could see into the future? This August 9-12 you can at MPI's World Education Congress (WEC) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Registration is now open for this career-changing event at www.mpiweb.org/wec. Register by June 23 and save up to 25 percent.