Looking back at the year, I was energized at Meet Different in Atlanta. An article in the Wall Street Journal indicated they were canceling all meetings for 2009. Atlanta just had a large city wide cancel and everyone was reeling from the shock. That was when things really started to take off. As meeting planners and suppliers, we decided that enough was enough. We took a stand starting that week and said Meetings Mean Business. Meeting planning is no longer a hidden profession. We made our voice heard and meetings will be forever changed. Historically and economically, 2009 has been a year like no other, but I think we all learned from it. All we can do now is look forward and continue to support each other and remember we are Meeting On Purpose. With that said, I have a brief update on the Joint Midwest Regional Conference and what a success it was. This was definitely the perfect time to start a new collaboration. Over 220 people attended and the WI Chapter welcomed us with open arms. New friendships were made, new business opportunities were had and there is already excitement stirring for the 2010 conference. Suppliers and sponsors are already coming forward. Plan to attend the 2010 conference, which will take place in the Twin Cities in November. Does it seem like the holidays are coming faster and faster each year? This is my favorite time of year: my birthday, the songs, the food (cookies), holiday lights, shopping, gifts and family make this the best time to reflect and enjoy all that we have. The Holiday Party will be held at the EPIC Event Center. If you have not been to EPIC, it is a must see. This facility is a perfect place for our holiday gathering. There is plenty of room to move around, mingle and bid to your heart’s content. As per your comments, we decided to move the start time to mid-afternoon. Many preferred something other than a lunch. Come hungry as there will be plenty of incredible food. I want to thank our Education and Sponsorship Team for securing a full sponsorship from the EPIC Event Center for our Holiday Party and Silent Auction. Special thanks to Erin Feeney in her efforts as the Holiday Party Chairperson for all the hard work she and her team did. I also want to thank the Finance Team for their dilligent efforts in securing the Silent and Live Auction items for the day. Once again, we have some amazing packages up for bid. The list of items should be up on the MPI website soon. Please remember that the dollars raised go towards scholarships and educational speakers for next year. Thank you to all MPI family, friends and guests who plan on joining us at this most festive event. I look forward to seeing you on December 16th. All the best to you and yours this holiday season and have a most wonderful New Year. Here’s to 2010! BE BOLD! BE BRAVE! BE BRILLIANT!
Speaking of which, don’t forget that MN MPI’s “Celebrate & Reflect” Holiday Party is coming up on December 16th. Scroll down for additional details on this fun chapter annual tradition. Also, check out the reviews on the 1st Annual MPI Midwest Regional Conference. By all accounts, the variety of sessions and quality of speakers were deemed outstanding and made for a great MN/WI conference experience. I can’t wait for next year! Kicking of the new year will be the January monthly meeting sponsored by the Leader Among Us Committee (formerly the Mentor Next Door program) on January 20th. This panel discussion will provide a valuable look on leadership skills. Details are provided below as well as on the MN MPI website. I came across some concrete ideas on goal setting that I thought would be of interest this time of year as we all think ahead to what to aspire to both personally and professionally in 2010. Here are a few excerpts as food for thought: All successful people are goal oriented. They know exactly what they want and they are continually working toward the achievement of their goals every single day. They tend to accomplish far more than the average person in all aspects of life. How do we actually work with goals?
Bottom Line Happy Holidays and many wishes for a Happy New Year!
The opening session kicked off with speaker Carl Winston, who serves on the MPI International Board of Directors. He spoke about the shift we are seeing globally in the meetings and events industry. We’re all aware of the issues we face, including the current state of the economy and shift in business and social values around meetings and events. The real takeaway is that slowly things are improving. What I found most interesting in this session is that MPI is developing a Global Training Program, which just emphasizes that our industry is a force to be reckoned with. The morning session was “How to Incorporate Community Outreach as Part of Your Meetings and Events.” The speaker was Alan Ranzer, Co-Founder of Impact for Good, which specializes in team building activities. The theme was Corporate Social Responsibility as all of their events give back to the community. This session was extremely beneficial to attend and had a lot of takeaways. Alan spoke on several unique events Impact 4 Good successfully executed:
The afternoon session I choose was “Creating Meetings that Excite the Brain for Optimal Learning.” Dr. Lawana Gladney explained how colors influence meetings and events. All of the tables in the room were topped with different colored linens. I learned all colors create different psychological and physiological effects on people. She offered in-depth descriptions for each color. Here’s a quick snapshot:
Thank you to the generous MPI Foundation grants, significant sponsorships, marketplace participants and hard work of many individuals. The 1st Annual MPI Midwest Regional Conference was a resounding success. On November 11th and 12th, the Wisconsin and Minnesota chapters joined forces to deliver “Be There or Be Round – Inside the Circle of Excellence.” The Minnesota chapter offered sponsorships to its membership to help defer the costs of attending this event. This report is submitted jointly by the three scholarship recipients: Maria Davis, meeting professional; Daphne Meyers, Red Barn Group; and Lisa Anne Venne, Carlson Wagonlit Travel. By all accounts, this joint meeting was a resounding success. MN Chapter President Jaime Mattes said the event, “Was a smashing success. [We had] 225 attendees, 60 vendors and requests from exhibitors and sponsors to do this again next year in the Twin Cities.” For a group of MN chapter members, the event started with a bus ride to Madison from Minneapolis. Lisa Anne said, “Those of us that loaded the bus had a great few hours of networking, It was great learning more about fellow MPI member’s careers as suppliers and planners.” The welcome reception kicked off the conference at the beautiful downtown Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor’s Club. A highlight of the evening was a quick fundraiser by the MPI Foundation. Envelopes were passed around and attendees were asked to put their contribution and a business card in the envelope. A weekend giveaway was drawn from the envelopes submitted. This was a nice way to give back to the foundation since the joint event was a direct result of grants given to both chapters. The next morning began with breakfast and registration. Maria says, “It was exciting to walk into the Monona Terrace on Thursday morning and immediately run into familiar faces from both Wisconsin and Minnesota. I was thrilled to learn that Minnesota and Wisconsin were going to do a joint meeting in November. I was even more excited to learn it was going to take place in Madison. I am a native of Madison, attended the University of WI and spent six years of my meeting planning career there.” The morning sessions began with opening comments by both chapter presidents. There was a good-natured thank you gift of a Brett Favre Vikings jersey from the Minnesota chapter to our Wisconsin host. The main general session, “Shift to Business Performance Not Hospitality Focus,” was hosted by Carl Winston, MPI Board Member and Director of the San Diego School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Carl gave his insight on the state of the industry. The session highlighted the current “shift” in our industry. He showed the highlights of Ben Stein’s presentation at the recent WEC. Maria was also excited to learn more about MPI’s Global Training programs. She said, “2009 has been a transitional year in my career and I have been investigating opportunities to enhance the skills that I have and will research some of the Global Training programs in more detail.” Carl also touched on key industry drivers including the effect of social media and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). There was a choice between three morning break-out sessions:
Daphne attended the TARP/SOX session hosted by Joshua Grimes. This session contained a wealth of information on how these two pieces of regulation are impacting the industry and the day-to-day work of meeting and event planners. Joshua also talked about specific clauses to include in contracts to make sure planners work with those that are compliant. Daphne said, “This session made it clear that even if an organization is not a TARP recipient and they do not have to be SOX compliant, these regulations contain many sound business practices and many organizations are adopting them. Planners and suppliers should be aware of the impact of the adoption of these best practices. Maria and Lisa Anne both attended the Etiquette session hosted by Colleen Rickenbacher. Maria said, “I would recommend this session to anyone of any age in any industry. It was fun as the day progressed to ‘practice’ what we had learned. Primarily, when giving out your business card you should hold it by the top two corners and present it face up with a slight bow. It came in very handy at the Exhibitor Showcase following the morning session.” Lisa Anne said, “Everyone needs a reminder on etiquette and Colleen Rickenbacher is the women that can help you with it. From shaking hands, giving out business cards, eating tips, body language vs. tone, thank you notes, making sure you dress for business, and many more things to think about.” We are also happy to report that our president, Jaimie Mattes, was given the etiquette test and he passed with flying colors. The exhibitor showcase and lunch followed the morning sessions. Daphne said, “With over 60 exhibitors participating, it was an excellent forum to meet new suppliers from both regions and renew relationships with those we knew.” There have already been requests to participate in next year’s event! Daphne also said, “The food was tremendous. The croissant sandwich in a bag was worth the drive to Madison!!” The afternoon reconvened with another round of concurrent sessions:
Daphne attended the Contingency Planning session presented by Brad Goldberg. As a former military planner, Brad shared many stories of how things can go wrong and how to handle them. He said there are basically four areas a planner should think about creating a contingency plan for: natural (weather), accidental (medical), technology (power, computers) and human frailty (crime, strikes, rude speaker). Daphne said, “I liked the way Brad put it into four categories. That seems a lot easier to plan and prepare for than ‘anything that can go wrong.’” Both Lisa Anne and Maria attended the Excite the Brain session with Dr. Gladney. The session provided the following tips:
Maria reports, “This session really opened up the idea of planning meeting content with components attendees will find interesting and relevant.” The conference ended with a general session delivered by Geoffrey Freeman, the senior vice president of public affairs for the US Travel Association. He spoke at length about all the organization does to promote and lobby for our industry. Much of this research has resulted in the Meetings Mean Business campaign. He stressed on the importance of being politically active in our line of business and becoming part of the grass roots movement. Daphne said, “This was a perfect exclamation point on a great conference. Geoffrey took the foundation set by Carl Winston and built on what we can do to change the perception of our industry and our profession.” On behalf of all in attendance, thank you to sponsors, exhibitors and all those involved in the planning!!
Come celebrate and reflect on 2009 at the Annual MPI Holiday Party from 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm on Wednesday, December 16th at the EPIC Event Center in Downtown Minneapolis! Invitations have been mailed out with additional information on registration, the event agenda and parking details. The Finance Committee has collected chapter member donations for the Silent and Live Auction at this annual event. The proceeds benefit our Minnesota chapter by allowing our members an opportunity to increase their education by attending the Meet Different Conference, World Education Conference or assistance with earning the CMP or CMM certifications through scholarship opportunities. All MPI members will have the opportunity to bid on planner and supplier contributions while attending the Holiday Party. The top prizes donated will be offered for bidding in the live auction at 4:30 pm on the day of the party. Thanks in advance for your partnership with us on this annual event. Hope to see you there!
Emerging Leader Panel Discussion Are you new to the meetings and events industry? Want to discover how you can become a leader in the field and advance your career? MPI members and non-members alike are invited to attend this special panel discussion featuring senior members. Come learn from experienced professionals and get your questions answered. Click here for event details, registration and a special discount on the regular January monthly meeting for attendees. More information to come. Stay tuned!
Leadership keynote speaker, Ed Robinson, makes a strong point about tapping into the strengths of those around you. What happens when you do this is astounding! I have seen near-miracles occur when the right people are in the right place and time. There used to be a nice gentleman who worked in the shipping department when I ran our company’s user conferences. Don made a point of speaking to me whenever I wandered into his “house.” His friendliness gave me the opening to ask him for help when I had extraordinary shipments. He would go the extra mile to find out what would make us successful, and then do it. A few years later, Don was moved into accounts payable as a clerk. I was a much more frequent guest of that department, often with something outside of the ordinary process. Don was there for me then as well. His strength in customer service and can-do attitude made my job so much easier. I did try to reciprocate, but mostly just gave the department acknowledgement (or cookies), letting my boss and others know how that department had been a team player. When you find people like Don, let them do what they do best to help your project. Their light will shine brightly on you! “Lessons in Leadership” is provided by the chapter’s Leadership Development Committee, which works to improve members’ leadership skills and to develop future chapter leaders. For more information, check out the Leadership Development tabs on the chapter’s website.
The Leaders Among Us Committee (formerly known as the Mentor Next Door program) is planning the January 2010 monthly meeting, Meeting at the Top, which will be held January 20, 2010, from 11:00 – 1:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites-Brooklyn Center. Four prominent meeting planners and suppliers will discuss the importance of gaining leadership skills and knowledge to communicate and align with key decisions makers in any organization. Want to know what leadership skills both meeting planners and supplier managers need to develop to appeal to their key decision makers? Or what must be done to ensure all meeting objectives are understood up front between meeting planners and key decision makers? Join us for this lively panel discussion with time for questions and answers as well. 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: If registering after 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 15, 2010: Program Committee:
Good mentoring relationships can be richly rewarding, not only for the person being mentored, but for the mentor as well. To get the best results for both you and your mentee, you have to know how to be a good mentor. Below are five helpful tips on developing a successful relationship:
February 3, 2010 All Team meetings are open to all active committee members and Board of Directors. This is a benefit for continued education extended to you, our valuable volunteer! 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:
Millennium Hotel Minneapolis Click here to register or go to www.mpimn.org. CEUs will be given to everyone who attends the speaker presentation. 
1. The ADA requires the aisles of a classroom set-up to be ___ to allow two wheelchairs to pass.
2. Auditorium and theatre set-ups are:
Congratulations to the following members who have been recognized for their continued commitment to MPI Minnesota and who celebrated their monumental anniversary. Thank you for your continued involvement and commitment within our chapter. 5 Years: 10 Years: 15 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 third 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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What a year! According to Ann Margaret Young in the December 2008 President’s Letter, “2009 looks like an adventure.” That it was.
Welcome to the December 2009 edition of the MN MPI Meeting of the Minds newsletter. It’s hard to believe 2009 is almost coming to a close. Many the memories of 2009 will include experiences of challenge, resiliency and perseverance as well as achievement, ingenuity and connecting/networking with other MPI professionals. More than ever as a means of commaraderie, support and exchange of great ideas in this economic climate. Word is spreading that the Spring 2010 will bring an upswing - that would be something to celebrate!
The Mentor Next Door has changed its name to “Leaders Among Us.” With a strong mentoring program already in place within the Power of Two Committee, the Mentor Next Door Committee has decided to shift its focus to events addressing leadership development rather than on mentoring. With past programming for the Mentor Next Door being strong, it has been requested this committee focus on January 2010’s monthly program, rather than a program in June when MPI members are less likely to attend. Look for details about January’s meeting on leadership development also in this Meeting of the Minds!
