I hope that each of you had a great holiday season and your time with family and friends was enjoyable and memorable. Welcome to 2010 and another fresh start. 2009 was, to say the least, a very interesting year. Some of you may have had a good year, others may have had a bad year. Regardless, we are now into 2010, a new year and anew decade. Time to move forward and learn from the past. Learning is definitely what I am doing within our local MPI Chapter. I am not only learning each month at our chapter meetings, but I am learning as I read the monthly evaluations of each program. The December Holiday Party evaluations came back with fairly positive reviews, however there was a clear consensus that many felt it was too dark and too cold at the venue. I felt the same way you did. Some of you felt that the venue was not a good choice and the time of the event was not right. The downtown location was selected because past evaluations asked that we hold this event downtown because it is a central location. The time was changed because many of you commented that holding the holiday party over lunch was not a good choice because it was hard to go back to the office after the holiday luncheon. Please note, we will take these comments under consideration when planning again for next year’s event. Because some of you had to leave at the end of the event you did not bid on some of the items so that may have been a factor in not raising as much revenue as we anticipated. The chapter budgeted $17,000 in Auction Revenue and we unofficially raised just over $12,000. This could make a difference in the final revenue figures when it comes to year end and we will factor that in when planning for next year. Every venue that we have selected this year has been a new location or one that we have not been to in many years. We are very appreciative of all of our venue sponsors this year and I hope that you consider these locations when planning a future meeting and/or program. Our January program is titled Meeting at the Top. Join us for this one of a kind panel discussion with four prominent local industry Suppliers and Planners as they discuss what you need to do to have a voice at the table. The meeting will take place at the NEW Embassy Suites Brooklyn Center. The January Program was planned and developed by the Leaders Among Us (formerly Mentor Next Door) and our chapter Student Members. Thank you to the monthly education planning team for putting together an incredible panel for the day. January is also our annual half price guest month. Be sure to let your industry friends and colleagues know about this event and invite them to attend. This would be a GREAT program to invite your boss to attend. Thanks to each of you for a great first half of 2009-2010 program year. I look forward to the next six months. Always remember if you ever have a question or concern I am here to answer it to the best of my ability. Good luck in 2010! BE BOLD, BE BRAVE, BE BRILLIANT! As a friend of mine recently said, for those of you that had the best year and those of you that had the worst year congratulations on surviving! I am excited and look forward to the next six months of my role as your Chapter President.
It’s a new face! (Well, let’s be honest, maybe an older face....) 2010 will be my eighth year as a member of MPI MN, but I haven’t been the most active of members. In the past, my volunteer time has been devoted to another organization in town that shall remain nameless. As my six-year Board of Directors commitment winds down with them, I realized that although I have almost achieved tenure with our MPI chapter, I know too few of you! I am hoping that by stepping up and joining a committee that will change. That by getting actively engaged, I will build both a deeper understanding of our organization as a whole, as well as deeper relationships within the Meetings Community. While I know our VP of Communications, Stephanie Pfeilsticker, through the industry, I have not gotten to know her well, so I look forward to working under her leadership. As for our Dir. of Communications, John Cosgrove, there is nothing to say if you’ve met him yourself. It seemed to me the committee meetings would be fun…and possibly include a pint (or two.) As for our most recent Editor, Kathie Blumer, she has already proved my getting more involved a success. I didn’t know her before I started this handoff and now I know we will have many more glasses of wine together in the future. Kathie actually stepped up herself to take on the new challenge of Social Media Manager, to lead our journey across all platforms of Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. So, look for more exciting developments from the Communications Team soon!
When: 10:00-11:00 a.m, January 20, 2010 Emerging Leaders facilitated by Julie Ann Schmidt, CMP Are you new to the industry or do you know someone who is? This session is for you. Come meet a panel of senior industry members and hear their advice to new members of the industry. See what their career paths have been and ask them the questions you really want answers to. The session will be hosted by Julie Ann Schmidt, CMP. We will have three Senior Industry members from three different segments of the industry share their career path experiences and answer your questions. The three panelists are:
Please visit the Emerging Leaders Panel Discussion event page to read the Panelists’ bios and to register!
Leaders Among Us Announces Its Panelists for the January Meeting, Want to know what leadership skills both meeting planners and supplier managers need to develop to appeal to their key decision makers? Or how to best communicate with those that lead your organization? The Leaders Among Us Committee (formerly known as the Mentor Next Door program) is planning the January 2010 monthly meeting, Meeting at the Top. The following four prominent meeting planners and suppliers will discuss the importance of gaining leadership skills and knowledge to communicate and align with key decisions makers within any organization:
Join us for this lively panel discussion with time for questions and answers. You can also let us know your questions in advance by posting them in the Comments section at the bottom of the January Monthly Meeting page! Click here to read the Panelist’s bios and to register. Guests are half price this month, so bring your boss! The cost for this event is as follows: If registering before 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 15, 2010:
When: February 3, 2010 In The Spotlight Do you get frustrated filling out applications for scholarships? Are you overwhelmed trying to figure out what to submit for an EMPI award? In this interactive session, you will learn the tools you need to apply for a Chapter scholarship, an International scholarship and an EMPI award. You will also learn:
In The Spotlight is an opportunity for everyone to learn what MPI MN committees are striving to achieve and what committees can do to help them achieve their goals and objectives. The Chairs from predetermined committees will present at this All Team Committee Meeting. These meetings are open to all committee members and Board of Directors. Please visit the All Team Meeting Event Page for more information.
Both LaVasha and I have only been members of the Minnesota Chapter of MPI for a little while, but in that short time we have learned about a “powerful” resource we have within this chapter – Mentoring: Power of 2. The Power of 2 mentoring program launched in the fall of 2007, under the Leadership Development Committee. Members looking for guidance or mentorship can simply complete a form, list three goals they’d like to take away from their partnership and they will be paired up with someone who fits those needs. Those who want to be mentors fill out a sheet listing their backgrounds, strengths and expertise. Tera Fox, CHSP of the St. Paul Hotel, heads up the Mentoring: Power of 2 sub-committee. Devie Hagen, of Elan Speakers Agency, reviews the applications and mentor profile forms and matches up two people that she thinks will benefit the most from each other. Each person who signs up to be a part of the program should be prepared to come with a specific goal in mind. What do they want to learn from their mentor? What is the next step in their career? How can participating in a mentoring program help get them to accomplish their goals? The first year the program had six pairings. Last year they had 13 pairings and the momentum continues to grow. This year the program has a goal of reaching even more pairings. In December 2009, Mentoring: Power of 2 received a peer nomination for the MPI RISE Award for Community Achievement in Knowledge and Ideas. This award recognizes chapters and other communities for demonstrated achievement in making human connections through knowledge and ideas. Displaying innovation and creativity in the development, planning and execution of ground-breaking initiatives are the desired criteria. We felt it important to educate our local chapter about this valuable resource. Nikki Huckstadt recently participated in a pairing this fall, and knew she had a great experience mentoring a recent college graduate, but we wanted to know what others felt about their experiences. We distributed a quick, eight-question survey to past Mentoring: Power of 2 participants to gather their feedback on the program. Overall the survey results were very positive, nearly everyone felt their experience was excellent and we were amazed at how many people were eager to share their opinions on the program. The main thing we wanted to distinguish was, “What was your biggest take-away from your mentoring partnership?” Here were some of the responses: “I thought I was just offering my wisdom, but I was pleasantly surprised at the amount that I learned from my mentee regarding the supplier side of the business,” said Daphne Meyers, CMM, Red Barn Group. “I’m confident that after our mentoring partnership is complete, we will definitely have an on-going business relationship.” Dianna Fuller, CMP, CMM, HelmsBriscoe, was surprised at how much she learned about herself through her mentoring experience. “It’s a rare opportunity to give a person a chance to learn more about themselves,” said Fuller. “I felt it was very self-fulfilling to help someone learn more about reaching their goals.” For mentor Tracey Smith, CMP, CMM, Garrett Speakers International, Inc., she was pleased that her mentee, Julie Ann Schmidt, CMP, Lithium Logistics Group sought her out specifically. “Julie Ann came to me with specific goals in mind and that was very helpful in helping me prepare for our pairing.” Mentee Julie Ann felt the same way. “It reinforced how mentoring is such a benefit to both the mentor and mentee. You always learn something regardless of your role in the pairing.” Overall, “I really enjoyed the interactions. I am proud to be a part of this mentoring program.” As you can see the program is a valuable resource and can benefit everyone regardless of where you are in your career. We encourage all of you to participate whether you’re interested in becoming a mentor or mentee. Please contact the Mentoring: Power of 2 Committee to sign up. Simply log onto the MPI MN Mentoring Power of 2 page or contact Devie at devieh@comcast.net.
1. When making arrangements for an international meeting, you should work with either a DMC or a PCO. PCO stands for:
2. If your company plans to exhibit at an international exhibition, how much additional staff and expenses should you anticipate?
SAVE THE DATE It is never too early to plan ahead for our year end banquet. Save the Date for the 2009-2010 Annual Awards Banquet where we will recognize Chapter Members for their achievements this past year with EMPI Awards Treasure Island has graciously offered to bus members from the Metro area to the resort for the evening program. They have also offered a $49 guestroom rate for anyone wishing to spend the night. Treasure Island has been a huge supporter of MPI over the years and they have graciously stepped up and requested to host our Banquet in their one of a kind Island Event Center. Stay tuned in the coming months with more detailed information. You won’t want to miss this year’s Banquet.
Have you done some outstanding events in 2009? Would you like to be able to get recognition for all of your hard work? The ISES Call for Entries is now available! The entry deadline is Thursday, January 14, 2010.
It’s easy… Pick up a supply of our Membership brochures to distribute to potential meeting industry peers. Refer interested prospects by filling out a new member referral form. For each form you fill out, you will be eligible to win monthly prizes and a Grand Prize drawing for a Weekend Concert/Entertainment Package from Treasure Island Resort and Casino! Referral Forms are available online at www.mnmpi.org. In addition, for each referral you submit that joins MPI as a full member, you will receive a $25.00 credit toward your own membership dues! Take advantage of this great savings. Details and brochures are also available from the Membership Team at our monthly meetings. 
Congratulations to the following members who have been recognized for their continued commitment to MPI MN and who celebrated their monumental anniversary. Thank you for your continued involvement and commitment within our chapter. 5 Years: 10 Years:
Meeting Professionals International is the association for the global meetings industry and is committed to delivering success for its 21,000 worldwide members by providing innovative professional development, generating industry awareness and creating business development opportunities. Founded in 1972, the Dallas-based organization delivers success through its 68 chapters and clubs in 20 countries around the world. For more information, visit www.mpiweb.org. Minnesota Chapter Office International Headquarters
Meeting of the Minds is the official publication of the Meeting Professionals International Minnesota chapter and is published 11 times yearly. Statements of fact and opinion within this newsletter are the responsibility of individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the officers or members of MPI. Articles submitted are subject to editorial revisions. Articles for Meeting of the Minds are always due on the fourth Wednesday of the month prior to distribution, and articles for News Notes are always due on the first Thursday of the distribution month. |
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
When: 11:00 – 1:30 p.m, January 20, 2010
Join the MPI MN Membership Referral Campaign and Win Prizes!