MPIKC Times
MPI - Kansas City Chapter
Dear KCMPI members:
Happy New Year! I am truly excited about the journey that we are about to embark upon these next 12 months. We as industry professionals are starting to pick up the pieces from the fallout of our industry and re-building our lives and businesses.
As we emerge out of the "Meetings Industry in Crisis" mindset we must now shift our current way of doing business. MPI President and CEO Bruce MacMillan was recently quoted as saying that "one of the most overused terms in our industry in 2009 has been 'crisis'." What we are now entering into is a shift in the natural business life cycle. A shift in our industry could come in all sorts of shapes and/or sizes. For instance, one such example of shift is that we become focused on driving business performance. No longer focusing so much on the down side of the economy and business revenues, but aligning ourselves with learning professionals and communication designers. This will elevate our story – which in turn will help drive revenue and results.
Sustainability, technology and ROI/success measurement will all also be part of this shift – so stay tuned!
Our chapter is currently shifting the way that we do things as well! This year one of our goals is to embrace technology and all the tools that it has to offer. Social media or Web 2.0 has moved onto the forefront of our industry. You cannot read an industry publication with out hearing about this effort in some capacity. This year to help our chapter embrace this new technology we are incorporating it into the way we do business. We've added a new chair position this year that will focus on putting our organization out into the social media realm.
Social media is emerging in our industry as an excellent communication tool for events. In this issue of the KCMPI Times, you'll see a re-post of a blog from Mike McCurry, CMP, the 2009 PCMA President for the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. His blog is an excellent example of how social media can not only impact the attendees at your event, but how it draws in those other members that are sitting at home following it on Twitter or Facebook. I suggest that you go out on the Web and start researching some of the more popular forms of social media. KCMPI is already out there on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn just to name a few!
I am also pleased to introduce you to your 2009-2010 Board of Directors. Over the coming months, we'll provide opportunities for you to meet each member of the board. If you ever have any questions regarding the chapter, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Karen Hoch – President Elect
Vickie Brawley – Immediate Past President
Lorie Scott, CMP – VP Finance
Lori Turec – VP Communications
Andrea Cowsar – VP Membership
Dan Veglahn, CMP – VP Education
Danielle Jodts – Director Leadership Development
Janice McClain, CMP – Director Special Events
Kara Brady – Director Strategic Alliance
Phil Allemang – Director Marketing/PR
Andrea Brack – Director Member Care
Andrea Foulkes – Director Student/Satellite Membership
Tricia Clement, CMP – Director Monthly Programs
Shana Hoy – Director Special Education
Cheryle Grinter – Chapter Administrator
Finally in closing, I want to recruit you! Help our chapter shift the way we do things. Take your membership to the next level and serve on a committee or in a leadership role within the organization. Get involved today!
Warmest Regards,
Michelle Lizak, CMP
KCMPI extends a warm welcome to our newest members:
Bibs Fletcher
Sales Manager
Westin Crown Center
Susan Pallucca, CMP
Assistant Vice President, Special Projects & Events
Fiserv
We congratulate the following members for their dedication to MPI and KCMPI over the years!
JULY ANNIVERSARIES
17 years
Miya Macken, CMP
Program Manager
Bishop McCann
10 years
Marline Heathman
Manager, Finance and Administration
Utilities Service Alliance
8 years
Inge Hafkemeyer, CMM
Convention and Meeting Manager
IAAP
Barbara Harris, CMP
Conference Direct
5 years
Ben Carrick
President
Meeting Excellence, Inc .
4 years
Cheryle Grinter
Administrator
KCMPI
3 years
Beth Thomas Vann
Senior Event Planner
Plan It, LLC
Heather Tyler
National Sales Manager
TradeWinds Island Resorts
2 years
Brooke Frazier
Corporate Events Coordinator
Waddell & Reed
Gina Goldstein
Associate Vice-President
Waddell & Reed
Rebecca Hensel
Sales Account Executive
KCCVA
Marissa Schaffner, CMP
Director of Event and Meeting Operations
ASE Group, Inc.
1 year
Kathy Farina
Event Coordinator
McCormick & Schmick's
Amy Groom
Trade Show & Event Planner
Craneware, Inc.
Jill Kueser
Scientific Meeting Planner
Celgene Corporation
AUGUST ANNIVERSARIES
20 years
Bonnie Siegel, CMP
President
ASE Group / Access Kansas City
14 years
Jeanne Burris
Senior Sales Manager
Overland Park Convention and Visitors Bureau
10 years
Sharon Richards, CMP
Senior Conference Planning Manager
Westin Crown Center Hotel
9 years
Heidi Elser, CMP
Manager, Tournament and Meeting Planner
Golf Course Superintendents Association
8 years
Christy Cartwright
Sales Manager
Show Me Audio Visual
Mary Ann Vogt
Sales
Imagination Branding
6 years
Sue Heley, CMP
Conference Planner
A-S-K Associates, Inc.
5 years
Gretchen Miles, CMP
Meeting Planner
American College of Clinical Pharmacy
4 years
Ingrid Adel, CMP
Director, Sales and Marketing Support
Fairbanks Scales
Sue Parsons, CMP
Director of Sales
Embassy Suites Hotel – Overland Park
3 years
Andrea Cowsar
Convention Sales Manager
Kansas City Convention and Visitor Association
Debora Renken
Regional Manager
Helms Briscoe
2 years
Debra Sweeten
Kimberly Watson
Sr. National Program Specialist
Teva Neuroscience
1 year
Krystal Zeh
Student
Johnson County Community College
KCMPI thanks our generous sponsors for their continued support. Without their generosity we would not be able to provide high-quality educational and networking opportunities for our chapter members. Please remember to BUY KCMPI when seeking suppliers and meeting planning consultants! You can find a list of KCMPI members in your 2009-2010 Membership Directory!
Aug. 13, 2009 - Membership Reception
Kauffman Stadium
Aramark - www.aramark.com
Sept. 17, 2009 - Conducting Business in Challenging Times
Town Pavilion - www.townpavilionoffice.com
KC J-Catering - www.kcjcatering.com
Overland Limousine Service - www.kclimo.com
Hotel Phillips - www.hotelphillips.com
There are many benefits to becoming a member of MPI in general and KCMPI specifically. One of which is access to the job bank. In these times, many of us need to use all the resources we can as the hospitality industry changes and jobs get moved around or are eliminated entirely. Networking, as always, is a great resource. However, as a member of KCMPI, you have additional resources in both the national MPI job bank and the local KCMPI bank. It's a great way to find opportunities around the world as well as close to home! These jobs include positions with suppliers like hotels, restaurants, DMC's, transportation companies, etc., and even open meeting planner positions within corporations and associations. Everything is consolidated in one convenient area to help save time in your search and provide you with opportunities that may not be posted anywhere else. It's just one more privilege that comes with your membership. So join KCMPI today — you never know where it will take you!
For any submissions to the Job bank, please contact Aesha Beattle, KCMPI Job Bank Chair at 913-344-8380 or e-mail abeattle@holtze.com
(Submitted by Jenny Forsythe, Regional Director of Sales, Prestige Resorts & Destinations, Ltd. Jenny can be reached at 816-885-6740 or through e-mail at jforsythe@prestigeresorts.com.)
Congratulations to Aesha Beattle on her new position as Director of Sales & Marketing at the Holtze Executive Village in Overland Park, KS. Aesha can be reached at 913-344-8380 or through e-mail at abeattle@holtze.com. Great Job Aesha!
Congratulations to Tricia Clement for earning her CMP Designation! Tricia is an
Event Manager for AGENDA: Kansas City, Inc. Your hard work has paid off!
KCMPI would like to thank the following members who recently volunteered to take on a leadership role during the 2009-2010 calendar year:
| Committee | Member, Chair or Lead | Member Name |
| Scholarship Committee | Chair | Sue Heley, CMP |
| Job Bank Committee | Chair | Aesha Beattle |
| Fundraising Committee | Chair | Lynne Fleenor |
| Fundraising Committee | Chair | Shari Hockenbery, CMP |
| Golf Committee Member | Member | Amy Groom |
| New Member Committee | Member | Cindy Laluk |
| MPI Liaison Committee | Chair | Melissa Lee, CMP |
| Program Committee | Lead - November | Bill Hartnett |
| Strategic Alliance | Chair | Bill Hartnett |
| Golf Committee | Member | Stacey Brandow |
| Finance/Audit Committee | Chair | Diane Wolfe, CMP |
| Finance/Audit Committee | Member | Jill Quinn |
| Finance/Audit Committee | Member | Jeanne Burris |
| Volunteer Recognition Committee | Chair | Andrayana Getchell |
| Membership Committee | Member | Cindy Laluk |
| Award & Recognition Committee | Member | Michael Garner |
| Award & Recognition Committee | Member | Vickie Brawley |
If you would like to learn more about available leadership positions and showcase your talents to our chapter, contact the Director of Leadership, Danielle Jodts, at djodts@hotmail.com.
Are you interested in sitting for the Jan. 9, 2010 exam?
Are you wondering if you have enough "points" to apply to take the exam?
What books do you need?
When will the Study Group meet?
How much do you have to read?
What are the registration steps and the deadlines?
Application deadline was Aug. 14, 2009. However, if you are interested in taking the exam next summer, download the CMP Application and Handbook from www.conventionindustry.org for free!!! Make a copy of your blank application and use this as a draft. Keep a list of questions that arise. KCMPI has seasoned veteran planners that will help you fill out this form. You will need to secure proof of memberships, CEU credit information, and copies of college diplomas or transcripts. DO NOT DELAY STARTING ON THIS PROCESS!
| Cost Estimate: | ||
| Application Submission Fee: | $225.00 | |
| Exam Registration Fee: | $450.00 | |
| The Convention Industry Council Manual, 8th Edition | $65.00 | |
| PCMA Professional Meeting Management Manual 5th edition | $79.95 | |
| The Convention Industry Council International Manual | $79.95 | |
| The APEX Glossary | $35.00 | |
| **plus cost of travel to/from test site** | ||
| Study group: | KCMPI member | $50.00 |
| Non member | $100.00 |
Questions: Contact
Dan Veglahn, CMP at dveglahn@sbcglobal.net or 913-710-6562 (Chair, CMP/CMM Committee)
Lorie Scott, CMP at lscott@helmsbriscoe.com or 913-324-4118
Janet Ranallo, CMP at jranallo@askusa.com or 785-841-8194
Diane Miller, CMP at dmiller@nazarene.org
**Please contact one of the individuals above if you wish to attend**
To meet the needs of our members in this challenging economy, we would like to inform our members about the KCMPI Scholarship Program. The two scholarships listed below are currently available; deadlines are fast approaching so please review the information and submit your application by visiting the www.kcmpi.org.
| KCMPI Membership Fee: | |
| Type of Award: | One $325 award for one person renewing the MPI membership before 5/30/09. |
| Who May Apply: | Any KCMPI member renewing their MPI membership. |
| Application Deadline: | Oct. 1, 2009 (with announcement in the October Newsletter and at the October Program Meeting) |
| Stipulation: | The recipient must present proof of membership renewal and must currently serve on a committee. |
| MeetDifferent Scholarship: Feb. 20-23, 2010 Moon Palace – Cancun, Mexico |
|
| Description: | Emphasizes the important contributions of professional meeting executives and managers to an organization's success on a National Level. |
| Type of Award: | $750 stipend to assist in the expenses of registration fee, airfare and lodging. |
| Who May Apply: | Any KCMPI member who plans on attending MPI's Meet Different Conference |
| Application Deadline: | Nov. 1, 2009 (with announcement at the December KCMPI Holiday Party) |
| Stipulation: | The recipient must take pictures at the event and make a five-minute presentation at the first KCMPI meeting after the conference OR will be required to submit an article within 30 days of the conference for the KCMPI Newsletter about their experiences. Must provide receipts within 30 days after event prior to receiving up to a maximum of $750. Must attend 100 percent of the general sessions, workshops, and special events. |
Please visit the KCMPI Web site (www.kcmpi.org) for applications and additional information. For questions about these and other scholarships available, please contact Andrea Brack, Director of Member Care, at andrea.brack@epic-kc.com. Stay tuned for additional scholarship opportunities and updated information!
(Please send any company updates to Maria Davis at mdavis@4seasonsresort.com and Lori Turec at LTurec@fivestarspeakers.com).
AGENDA: Kansas City Achieves Top Destination Management Company Accreditation
Mission, Kan. (June 24, 2009) – Local Destination Management Company (DMC) AGENDA: Kansas City has received the official Destination Management Company Accreditation. The accreditation was jointly announced by the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME) and the Destination Management Company Accreditation Commission.
ADME's accreditation program is designed to elevate professional standards and designate firms that demonstrate advanced knowledge and experience essential to the practice of destination management. AGENDA: Kansas City has met the standards and criteria that are indicative of the highest quality destination management service providers.
"We are delighted to have achieved this level of industry designation," said AGENDA: Kansas City's general manager Alton Hagen, CMP, DMCP. "We pride ourselves in the services we provide, and our goal each and every day is to meet — and exceed — our client's expectations. This has been our standard throughout our 20 years in business and we look forward to maintaining this criteria for at least the next 20 years."
AGENDA: Kansas City is a full service Destination Management Company that has provided event production, tour and ground transportation services to organizations in the Kansas City metro area since 1989. AGENDA: USA is the chauffeured transportation division of AGENDA: Kansas City. The company is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2009. More information about AGENDA: Kansas City and AGENDA: USA can be found at www.AGENDAKansasCity.com.
Overland Park Becomes Home to Kansas' First "Marriott International Greatroom"
Marriott Overland Park Completes Innovative Interior Renovation
Overland Park, Kan. (July 14, 2009) – Today, the Overland Park Marriott completed an interior renovation to transform the traditional hotel lobby space into a "Marriott International (M.I.) Greatroom," designed to meet the unique needs of business travelers and vacationers. It will be the first to exist in Kansas, and Overland Park will be among a small number of suburban hotels to introduce the concept. Nationally, there are currently 90 Marriott Hotels with "M.I. Greatroom" lobbies, a concept that was launched in 2006.
"Overland Park is a thriving community with significant growth potential. We saw this hotel renovation as the perfect opportunity to enhance our investment in the region," said Kenneth Fearn, managing partner of Integrated Capital LLC, the Los Angeles-based, minority-owned hotel group that owns the Marriott Overland Park. In the past two years, the owners have invested $20 million in renovations to modernize the hotel's exterior and guest environment.
The completed M.I. Greatroom consists of three sophisticated zones designed to best serve the wide-ranging needs of Marriott guests. The Social Business Zone provides a comfortable lounge area for groups of guests to meet and socialize. The Individual Zone offers a quiet alternative for guests to unwind and the At Your Service Zone serves as a central point for information so that guests can make the most of their time in Overland Park. All the zones are equipped with the latest technology, including complementary WiFi throughout the entire space.
In addition to the zones, the M.I. Greatroom will also feature enhanced food options. The 5-10-20 menu, served in the various zones, includes moderately priced dishes that can be prepared and served within five, 10 or 20 minutes. The completed renovation also marks the grand re-opening of Nikko, the hotel's popular Japanese Steakhouse, which will now include a sushi bar accessible to lobby visitors. In addition to Nikko, a brand new restaurant, Epicure, will open its doors, serving traditional American dishes with a healthy approach.
"We are thrilled to be the first Marriott in Kansas to be home to an M.I. Greatroom. We serve a wide range of customers, from business travelers to vacationers, and can now boast a lobby that better meets the individual needs of every guest," said Shawn Cummins, the hotel's general manager.
To celebrate the opening, an official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place this afternoon at the hotel. The ceremony is open to the media and will include participation from local community leaders including Tracey Osborne, CCE, President of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and City Council President Fred Spears.
For a sneak peak of the new M.I. Greatroom visit http://www.bookmarriott.com/731/index.html.
To make reservations or to inquire about an Overland Park hotel package, call 800-228-9290 or visit www.overlandparkmarriott.com.
About the Overland Park Marriott:
Situated in the heart of the Metcalf Corridor, The Overland Park Marriott features 398 guest rooms with Exclusive Marriott Revive® bedding and high-speed Internet access, making it an ideal destination for business travelers, while the Kansas City, Kan., hotel is also located just minutes from attractions such as the Kansas City Zoo and Arrowhead Stadium. Four restaurants, including the popular Overland Park, Kan., restaurant Nikko Japanese Steakhouse, as well as an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, whirlpool and business center are all available on-site. For a Kansas City wedding reception or meeting, 14,000 square feet of event space accommodates up to 1,200 guests. The Overland Park Marriott is just 35 minutes from the Kansas City International Airport. The Overland Park Marriott is owned by Integrated Capital, LLC. The Los Angeles-based, minority-owned hotel group is a shining example of Marriott's Diversity Ownership Initiative, which set a goal in 2005 to have 500 hotels owned, managed or in the pipeline by women and minorities by 2010. Today, Marriott is well on track to meet its goal. For more information on Marriott's Diversity Ownership Initiative, visit www.marriott.com/diversity.
Veteran and Rookie Reception at the K a Success!
By Andrea Brack
On Aug. 13, 2009, KCMPI held its Veteran and Rookie Reception at the K! This networking event celebrated America's favorite pastime with tours of the new stadium, a First KCMPI Pitch from our new president Michelle Lizak, and great prizes for a few lucky fans!
Ball caps and jerseys were encouraged ... All guests that wore their favorite baseball team's gear were entered for a chance to win raffle items such as a Great Wolf Lodge gift certificate, a soft shell jacket from Dri Duck, tickets to see the Royals in action and some great tailgate packages.
With more than 75 people in attendance, the event was considered a "Home Run" by the membership committee!
(Andrea Brack is a Senior Event Coordinator for EPIC Entertainment, Inc. She can be reached 816-997-1107 or e-mail at andrea.brack@kcstarlight.com).
By Shari Hockenbery, CMP
Happy New Year! It is officially the beginning of a new year for KCMPI educational programming. And have we got a dynamic, hit-'em-out-of-the-ballpark, firecracker of a program for you!
The global economic crisis is shaking the meetings industry. Conferences, incentive trips and travel are suddenly under scathing attack as examples of corporate excess. The federal government is legislating spending controls that discourage meetings, and the resulting confusion and fear is a sickness gripping the entire industry.
But KCMPI has the remedy for both planners and suppliers in these troubled times. Platinum Series speaker and hospitality industry attorney Joshua L. Grimes will deliver an interactive and focused discussion about the federal stimulus law and its affect on the meetings industry: The New Federal "Stimulus" Law and the Meetings Industry: Conducting Business in Challenging Times.
Attorney Grimes wowed KCMPI members before with Get Your SOX On! and he is back to recommend effective approaches to addressing stimulus legislation, discuss best strategies for groups to continue meeting, and help hotels and suppliers minimize cancellations and attract business by partnering with customers to comply with new spending guidelines.
Mark your calendars for Sept. 17, 2009, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the brilliantly innovative Conference Center at Town Pavilion. Town Pavilion is located at 1100 Walnut in the heart of downtown redevelopment on the corner of "new and exciting." A delicious hot breakfast buffet will be provided by KC J Catering at www.KCJCatering.com.
As always, KCMPI is grateful for the support of its generous sponsors. Many thanks to Town Pavilion, KC J Catering, Hotel Phillips and Overland Limousine for their service and friendship, which makes offering this outstanding program possible!
(Shari is a Meeting Planner for the Francis Family Foundation. She can be reached at 816-531-0077 or e-mail at Shari@francisfoundation.org.)
Calendar and programs subject to change.
Sept. 17, 2009, Thursday
Conducting Business in Challenging Times
Conference Center at Town Pavilion
Sept. 24, 2009, Thursday
Field 2 Table fundraiser
Wolfe Farm, Camden, Mo.
Oct. 22, 2009, Thursday
Social Media-Strategies and Tools
Lenexa Conference Center
Nov. 19, 2009, Thursday
KCMPI FIVE STAR SPEAKERS Showcase and Reception
Ritz Charles, Overland Park, Kan.
Don't Miss Out on Education and Fun -- Save the Date Now!
KCMPI Professional Education Conference
April 7-8, 2010 -- Westin Crown Center
If you would like to volunteer or assist in any aspect of this event or have any questions, please contact Shana Hoy, Meeting Planner, Conklin Company, Inc., at shana.hoy@conklin.com, or 952-496-4253.
Recently on Meetings in a Minute, a regular video series on www.meetingsfocus.com, Meetings Media touched base with MPI President and CEO Bruce MacMillan at MPI WEC in Salt Lake City. Citing fresh statistics hinting at a recovery in the meetings industry, MacMillan details some of the latest positive numbers from the American Express/MPI Foundation Business Barometer. Click here to view the video. Select the second video from the left in the video lineup.
By Quinn Norton
Ito came to fame as a venture activist and Internet visionary, with titles such as "CEO" and "chairman," but he likes to talk about his guild in this virtual world of elves and dragons more than most other topics.
What the game has in common with Ito's day job is the creation of mutual interest communities on the Internet.
Real Creative
In "real" life, Ito meets me at the headquarters of Creative Commons (CC), is a nonprofit that creates licenses that allow people to forgo some of their rights as content creators. It's also part of a greater copyright reform movement. In 2001, Stanford University law professor Lawrence Lessig started CC to provide a legal, technical and social framework for the sharing of copyrighted material. In the midst of debates about peer-to-peer file sharing and music industry lawsuits, CC looked to create a middle ground -- a body of work that creators could explicitly share and anyone could openly take.
Being able to express this desire to share technically and legally has, perhaps counter-intuitively, impacted much of technology and the Internet itself. Computers are by their nature copying machines -- everything you look at on a computer has to be copied repeatedly to be seen. To look at something on your screen from a Web site is to make a copy of it, to download it is to make another copy after that. The law has no way to acknowledge this strange way of dealing with copyrighted material -- which accounts for most content. Our copyright laws are designed to deal with the kind of copying that was possible from 1790 to the 1980s, which was slow and expensive by comparison.
Controversial services such as file sharing are an outgrowth of this technological architecture. Computers created a structural conflict between law and physics.
Lessig wanted CC to be a way to let people out of this conflict without waiting for a legislative remedy. CC allows you to communicate, through a legal license, permitting others to use a work freely with some conditions. As a consumer of copyrighted material, CC allows reuse with at a minimum attribution, and works carry their authorship and these rights as they move from computer to computer.
On April 1, 2008, Ito took over the leadership of the nonprofit after two years on its board. He represented a new and needed direction for the organization. Lessig had birthed an idea, and created passion for it, but that was a long way from running a successful organization, and CC was feeling it.
"The whole history of CC is a big learning curve," says Mike Linksvayer, vice president of CC, referring to the conflicts and confusions that arose in those first few years.
Employee turnover was high, and most of the board members were academics -- brilliant people, but not used to running corporations.
"CC was moving from a legal idea to something that was slightly more entrepreneurial, more technical, and the board was mostly law school professors. I fit the role of the person we were looking for," Ito says. "It was the organization that needed me the most."
Ito spends most of his time managing the board or acting as staff liaison to the board, according to Linksvayer. He leaves daily operations to management in San Francisco. The other part of Ito's job is getting the message of CC out without interfering with those operations.
"Joi's really good at telling the CC story rather than telling the Joi Ito story," Linksvayer says. "It's a cliche to say he has a finger on the pulse ... but he knows enough about the relevant technical and social dimensions that you can have an informed conversation."
Ito was born in Japan, but by the time he went to school he and his sister, Mimi, were growing up as the only Japanese kids in a Detroit neighborhood.
"I always had this kind of insecurity, chip on my shoulder thing," Ito says. "Part of it was that I was really looking for a group to identify with. I didn't have a community in elementary school."
The Ito children dealt with being unlike their peers in different ways. Mimi became a bookworm; Joi sought out constant company to defeat the isolation. He learned by talking to others, and his own alienation meant everyone was equally fair game -- strangers, grownups, whoever had anything interesting to talk about. And he tried to draw his sister out her shell.
"He was always the one who wanted to play games 'let's play, stop reading!' " she says.
They returned to Japan as teenagers, and Ito found kids like himself, ending the isolation. But his character had formed. Outgoing, lonely and curious, he learned from conversation, not books, and never excelled in school. Traveling between Japan and the United States he became an accidental cultural bridge between nations, understanding both, but not being entirely of either. He found the Internet, and fell in love with the placeless place that was nothing but people with whom to communicate.
At age 23, Ito found himself in Chicago, a physics student dropout, turning to the thing that had been more interesting than school -- nightclub life. He became a DJ and occasional bartender. For the young and hyper-social Ito, the nightclub was a rich and real community, his college life barren by comparison.
Here, he realized there was a kind of smart beyond just the academic and business worlds in which he'd been raised.
"These kids weren't smart, but they were so much more socially smart than the kids I was going to school with," he says.
People responded to him with warmth as well.
"During his nightclub phase there was a 'touch Joi' club," says Mimi, laughing. "He has tended to have fans."
Eventually, Ito's mother told him it was time to get a real job, and Ito returned to Tokyo and complied, but the lessons stayed with him and have formed him ever since. Ito pauses and looks into the middle distance.
"I would be just as happy being a DJ, or being a bartender, and that's a totally respectable thing," he says.
The first thing Ito did when he got back to Japan was start a nightclub called XY Relax. At the same time, Ito was helping introducing the Internet to Japan, he also brought rave culture and the clubbing scene that he had loved so much in Chicago to Tokyo.
One night he met counterculture icon and former Harvard lecturer Dr. Timothy Leary over dinner in Tokyo, and the two hit it off. Ito took Leary on a whirlwind tour of Japanese nightlife. There's no record of their conversation, but it was transformative. They talked late into the night, moving from club to club, about Japanese youth, ravers and cyberpunks, having a kind of neoteny (the retention of child-like attributes in adulthood). Japanese youth culture excited Leary, and he deemed its members "the new breed." The conversation continued for years and left its mark on both men. Leary started a book and TV show called "The New Breed," and Ito's venture capital firm is called Neoteny. The special connection between the two men remained until Leary's death in 1996, with Ito at his bedside the day before he died.
As the Internet gained popularity in Japan, Ito became the man that said what other people were thinking.
"Most Japanese can't say what's on their minds because they're in companies, so even though I wasn't the world's expert or even the expert in Japan, I would talk about cybercash, or security, anything I wanted. I was a really easy interview, because I would say what was on my mind," he says.
His strength as a communicator made him useful to journalists, who called him more and more, his prominence feeding on itself.
"I became, in Japan at least, relatively visible in the media," he says.
The fame led inevitably to attacks, and even stalking, which shocked Ito into retreat for a while.
"They called me the prince of the Internet, said all these nice things about me when I was young, like 18 or 19 years old," Ito says. "Then you get big headed, then you get all these people writing terrible things about you, and it's a roller coaster."
He developed a kind of social Aikido in response -- no one would expose the life of Joi Ito more than Joi Ito.
"I realized the best way to manage your privacy was to control your identity by disclosing everything to a certain extent. I had done a lot of embarrassing things. I had enough to make a good story but not so much that I was really that worried about it, so I thought it would be easier just to say everything," he says. "I'm pretty comfortable being open to most people about just about everything."
Being able to speak clearly to two cultures paid off in a series of successful companies he founded in the 1990s in Japan and the U.S., leading to political and social work around the idea of the Internet and new media. Neoteny invested in well-known Internet companies such as Flickr and Twitter.
Ito began to divert more of his attention away from businesses and into giving back to the Internet community that had made him. He started joining boards and advising various nonprofits that addressed problems around the Internet, or that used the Internet to address the world's problems.
In addition to devoting time to CC, he served as part of the Internet governing board ICANN (Internet Corp. for Assigned Names and Numbers) and joined boards for the Mozilla Foundation, WITNESS.org and recently Global Voices, which promotes journalistic blogging by writers in the developing world. CC is the only place outside of founding his own companies where he's taken a "real job."
"CC is one of the core issues for people that take the Internet seriously," says Global Voices Founder Ethan Zuckerman.
When Ito joined the board of Global Voices he knew few of the other people involved with it beyond Zuckerman. In 2008, Ito arrived at his first Global Voices meeting in Budapest, late. He could only catch the last two days of the event.
"A lot of people in that circumstance would sit back quietly or try to assert their importance," Zuckerman says. "He did something different. He took photographs."
Ito took dozens of high-quality photos of the editors, bloggers and staff. He recruited Zuckerman to help him caption them for upload on Flickr. In the course of going over the photos, Zuckerman found himself naming everyone and explaining who they were, telling stories that Ito eventually used to strike up conversations in the new group.
"It was a lovely solution to the problem," Zuckerman says. "How do you get people to care about something they don't care about? Joi calls this 'The caring problem.' You solve it by making personal relationships."
At the beginning of this year, Ito uprooted himself from his Tokyo life and moved to Dubai, in part because the Middle East is the next big outreach for CC. The CC message had little traction in much of the Middle East, but Ito also based his decision to move on the fact that he had no traction there either. At the same time that the famous and respected man was beginning to feel like every day was the same as the last in his usual haunts, his trips to the Middle East were jarring. He found himself an outsider there.
"When I visited the Middle East a couple of times I realized how stupid I was, how much of an idiot I was about all this stuff, how much was unknown, unpredictable," he says. "I forgot what it was like for people to just come up and say 'What do you do? What's Creative Commons?' When it's the Middle East it's even more like that: 'What's the Internet?' and to have to answer is to be bumped into being irrelevant."
The harder it was, the more he wanted to be there.
"You become lazy and complacent if you sit in the same situation all the time ... It's really important to go somewhere where they don't respect you at all," he says. "Then being able to become happy there."
"Most people would say, 'I should travel there more.' Joi buys a house," Zuckerman says. "He's the anthropologist that moves in with the tribe."
Ito's cultural omnipresence follows me on the plane home. I find him on the in-flight entertainment system on BoingBoing TV getting a tour of Akihabara in Tokyo (the otaku anime home base) from a man with a British accent dressed as a Star Wars stormtrooper. They tour electronics shops and see people dressed in outfits from anime and Web sites. It is Internet culture spilling back into the physical world, put back on the Internet and downloaded by Virgin to amuse passengers. The video is, of course, CC licensed. One+
QUINN NORTON is a journalist best known for her work covering intellectual property, science and technology. She is currently a columnist for Maximum PC.
(CC)
For instance, this article is licensed by non-commercial-share-alike. You can do things with it you've never had the right to do with another article in One+. You are welcome to re-write parts, include it on your personal blog, anthologize it or make an audio version without asking -- but you're not allowed to sell it, must give the author and One+ credit for the original and have to let other people do the same things to your version.
Blog by Michael M. McCurry, CMP
I am not participating in the conference Face2Face, or virtually, as my budget did not allow it. However, I have been monitoring the twitter feed for the conference as identified by hashtag "#wec09." There were approximately 75 people posting tweets during the 90 minute session. (myself included) From the information and insight shared during that twitter exchange, spawns this article. To get us started watch this impressive video which kicked off the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8sTvXFawjQ&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emichaelmccurry%2Enet%2F2009%2F07%2F14%2Fmpis%2Dwec%2Dthe%2Dopening%2Dact%2F&feature=player_embedded
• Mr. Ben Stein – Writer, Actor and TV Personality
• Mr. Gary Loveman — President & CEO, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
• Ms. Betsy Myers — COO, Obama Inauguration
Rather than regurgitate the comments provided by these excellent presenters I synthesized their individual thoughts into three collective Lessons:
Lesson #1 - Meetings Do Indeed Mean "Business"
Ann Godi offered the following opening insights:
"As an industry we can't afford to be a best kept secret ... Nothing compares to the energy of many"
"Effective meetings deliver organizational success ... Meetings breathe oxygen into the organs of the economy!" Ben added (and perhaps sadly) at another point, "Business meetings did not cause this recession, unless they're the meetings of The Federal Reserve. Why is the government attacking them?"
A humorous quip offered by Ben, "if business meetings are a bad idea let's ban Congress and turn the Capitol into condos."
Gary Loveman felt Event Professionals need to justify meetings as more than a discretionary expense.
"Meeting for success is still the right medicine ... Even in times when companies scale back they need to remember high performers still need to be enticed and supported to remain strong."
Betsy Myers offered perhaps the best of example of the effectiveness of meetings, pointing out Meetings and Events Elected President Obama ...
"I need to whisper in the President's ear because meetings and events elected him." Betsy added "meetings tap into the fundamental human need for connection."
Lesson #2 - There is a New Normal!
Ann Godi says the world has changed ... Shift Happens ...
"The only reason to hold a meeting is to change the world ... don't stop believing. When we meet we change the world."
Ben Stein believes government does not understand what occurs at business meetings.
"I see America falling apart in so many ways ... but fixing it is our work ... Business meetings are about making things happen."
Gary Loveman thinks innovation is the key to success in the "new economy." Harrah's built a Paula Deen Buffet cheaper than a traditional Vegas counterpart.
"We need to stop apologizing for having meetings and get to the right answer, not the wrong answer with the right intentions"
Betsy Myers cited "learning." as one of the (7) seven principles for success.
"Always seek out people who know more than you. Be willing to give up a little control. Open your mind." She adds "We come to meetings to learn. Sometimes people who know more than you are 23 years old. Welcome to the new world."
Lesson #3 - It's About Customer Service
Ann Godi feels what we do as Event Professionals matters and we need to "own it."
"Know your own business ... Learn what is important in every aspect of your niche"
Ben Stein offered an analogy with a patriotic twist, comparing the U.S. military with movie celebrities.
"Movie stars are not the real stars, our real stars have on uniforms and are fighting and battling with IED's and more."
How true is that? Ben Stein you are a real American.
Gary Loveman asserts we need to understand what our clients need and develop new ways of delivering more value to them. Harrah's will be offering a customized gaming experience.
"Find a way to do something that resonates with people ... The edge is all in having the best customer service ... regardless of the business you're in"
Betsy Myers believes relationship building is key, and listening to your customers' opinions.
"When people feel understood and listened to they become passionately engaged."
(Follow Michael McCurry on http://www.twitter.com/michaelmccurry.)
By Jason Dorsey, The Gen Y Guy
Generation Y, aka Millennials, were born between 1977 and 1995. Almost 80 million strong, they are the fastest growing demographic in the workforce and at professional meetings. Along with their ever-present cell phone and new definition of "business casual," Gen Y brings a new attitude to work and meetings. Jason Ryan Dorsey, The Gen Y Guy®, is an expert on Gen Y who teaches business leaders how to best employ Gen Y while maximizing the value of all four generations in their workplace. A bestselling author of four books, Jason has been featured on national TV shows such as "60 Minutes" and delivered more than 1,800 keynotes around the world. Jason is also a proud member of Gen Y who texts his mom every day.
Q. Does generation Y value meetings differently than previous generations? If so, how?
Yes. I've found that Gen Y has two big priorities when it comes to meetings: tangible outcomes and social interaction. If we are going to a meeting we either want the program to cut to the chase (i.e. bullet points rather than PowerPoints) or create a reason for us to meet interesting people.
Q. Given the perception of Gen Y reliance on technology for communication, how can smart planners leverage technology in a way that increases the chances of Gen Y prospective attendees registering for the meeting?
This is a great question, because some of the perception about Gen Y and technology is inaccurate. The perception among older generations is that Gen Y is tech savvy. My research shows this is 100 percent incorrect. Gen Y is not tech savvy; we are tech dependent. We don't know how technology works. We just know we can't live without it. For meeting planners, this means technology should be incorporated but only in ways that are easy to use, tie in with either the meeting experience or desired outcomes, and fit Gen Y's learning preferences. When it comes to registering for a meeting, we should be able to do so online and -- ideally -- on our cell phone. I suggest all meeting planners review their registration form on their cell phone for ease of use. If you can't offer registration by phone, at least provide a number we can text that auto-replies with a link to your online registration page. Once on your meeting's Web site, your registration page should load quickly (more than three seconds and we're frustrated) as well as offer the option to connect us with other registrants via social networks. If you really want to put it over the top, have a short video on your registration page that talks about all the benefits of registering -- professionally and lifestyle-driven (i.e. fun).
Q. Do you feel that Gen Y audiences are more inclined to want to use webinars, teleseminars and other virtual media versus a face-to-face meeting? If yes, what are the implications for planners?
No. Most Gen Yers I interview don't like webinars. They remind us of online defensive driving courses. Gen Y wants interactivity, camaraderie and tangible outcomes. Too many webinars come across as spill-n-drill, which is our least preferred instructional technique. However, if you must use webinars, break up the one-way commentary every five minutes by asking questions, showing a twitter feed, or using some other media (like homemade YouTube videos) to keep it interesting.
Q. Once you have a Gen Y presence at your event, what can you do to better engage them so that they want to come to future meetings and bring others?
Three things: 1) Create a reason for them to meet more experienced members. You can do this by splitting up the VIPs at different tables during meals rather than having them sit in the front of the room and Gen Y in the back. 2) Ask a Gen Yer or two to serve on your planning committee. We want to be heard, give us a chance. 3) If you want us to invite our friends, then make your online meeting information Gen Y friendly. You can do this by shooting homemade videos during the meeting that you later post online (you can even have a contest: Tell me in 30 seconds or less why your friends should attend next year); taking spontaneous pictures of meeting attendees having fun and upload these photos to your Web site during the meeting, and showcasing all the lifestyle attractions around the meeting location (i.e. 10 things to do within 10 minutes of the meeting for under $10).
Q. What are some of the generational differences that might exist for meeting attendees and how can planners anticipate these and plan for them?
Here are a few big ones: Matures (born Pre-1946) view age as seniority. Gen Y does not. Boomers (born 1946-1964) like policies and procedures. Gen Y likes to color on the policies and procedure manual. Gen X (born 1965 - 1976) is skeptical and wants to know the "why" behind your thinking and actions. Gen Y just wants to give you the answer to the math problem and not show our work. The good news: With a few simple strategies and actions you can bridge all four generation in a meeting without spending more money or giving the perception that you're catering to one generation over the others.
Q. What else do you think planners should be thinking about regarding Gen Y at their events?
Don't start meetings so early, like 10 a.m. Just kidding. Kind of. I think meeting planners should consider viewing their meeting more as a spontaneous community with everyone trying to achieve an individual and group goal. Ask yourself this question: What can you do with your spontaneous community to make people feel more welcome, involved, and leave with tools they can use immediately? Gen Y wants immediate application. If you teach us something and we can use it before the meeting is over, we do more than tell a friend, we post it on our blog and Facebook.
(Jason Ryan Dorsey, The Gen Y Guy®, is an acclaimed keynote speaker who teaches business leaders how to maximize the value of the different generations in the workplace and marketplace. A bestselling author of four books, Jason has appeared as a generational expert on "60 Minutes," "20/20," "The Today Show," "The View" and in Fortune magazine. In recognition of his business achievements, Jason won the Austin Under 40 Entrepreneur of the Year Award at age 25 -- one of the youngest winners ever. For more information about Jason, including his free videos, visit www.JasonDorsey.com.)
Name, Title and Company:
Tricia Clement, CMP
Event Manager
AGENDA: Kansas City, Inc.
Job description: Agenda is a full-service destination management company with three divisions: Fleet, Events and Group Transportation. Tricia leads the Events division where she is responsible for all aspects of event management including entertainment; AV requirements; and overseeing all on-site and off-site details related to producing a successful event.
"I run the events division of AGENDA: Kansas City, a local Destination Management Company. We can assist with as little or as much as you would like ... themed events, décor, linens, centerpieces, entertainment, off-site dinner arrangements, transportation, tours, etc. We are here to be an outsource for you. We can take care of the details so that you can enjoy the event, knowing that it is in good hands."
Years involved in KCMPI: Active member since May 2007
KCMPI committees I have served on: Programs Chair -- 2008/2009, Programs Director -- 2009/2010
What I enjoy best about the hospitality industry: Taking all the details and pulling them together until a successful event comes to life!
Activities I enjoy outside of work: Active volunteer with her church and with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, traveling, Sudoku, movies, brewing her own beer and wine with her husband (and drinking it when not pregnant!)
Anything else you'd like to add: Spoken like the event detail person she is -- baby will be born at 8:30 a.m. on September 9th. (Right on schedule!)
Name, Title and Company:
Lynne Fleenor
Director of Sales and Marketing
Aloft Leawood
Job description: I am responsible for all sales and marketing efforts for the Aloft Leawood, the first hotel to come into the city of Leawood, Kan.
Years involved in KCMPI: Nine years
KCMPI committees I have served on: My involvement with KCMPI began in 2001 as a member of the program committee (thanks to Belinda Waldo for encouraging me). From there, I co-chaired the Program Committee, served as VP Education, chaired the Awards/Recognition Committee, and currently serve as co-chair of the Fundraising Committee.
What I enjoy best about the hospitality industry: Every day is different, from the business that is booked to the people we meet. No two days are ever alike. This industry attracts fun outgoing people and these are the people I enjoy working and doing business with. I hear very often that once you're in this industry, it's hard to get out. I honestly believe this!
Activities I enjoy outside of work: Spending time with my husband and two-year-old son, Garrett; dining with my dinner club friends, working out, entertaining, cooking/baking (trying new recipes on friends and family), scrapbooking and taking vacations to the beach.
Anything else you'd like to add: I truly love my job and enjoy being a part of KCMPI. I have learned a lot about the hospitality industry by being a member and have made wonderful friends and business acquaintances along the way. If you're not currently volunteering your time with KCMPI, take that leap. You'll be glad you did.
In this highly challenging time for our industry, effective professional networks are more important than ever before. Planners, as you experience budget challenges with events, reach out to the supplier members to learn how they can leverage their own connections for you. Suppliers, if you face tougher markets, your genuine and active participation in the chapter allows you the opportunity to build stronger relationships and avoid the dreaded "vendor" designation. The communications team for KCMPI is dedicated to helping all of you to get the most from your membership. Here's how:This newsletter is your forum to share ideas and best practices that can help all members survive and thrive! We welcome your voice -- please send your submissions to Maria Davis at mdavis@4seasonsresort.com. Don't worry about being a perfect writer! Send the ideas, and we'll take care of the rest.
Want to promote your products or services to fellow members? A great resource can be found with our chapter Marketing Director, Phil Allemang. Throughout the year, KCMPI offers multiple opportunities to reach the membership. To learn more, contact Phil at phila@cam-inc.com.
The chapter Web site is an easy-to-use resource for loads of information about events, career development and more -- your contact is Deb Arbo at darbo@thewellingtongroup.com.
For the first time, the chapter has designated a member of this committee for social media. Mandy Petzold has graciously agreed to lead this exciting endeavor. We will have information about how you can learn more soon. Mandy can be reached at MPetzold@CBIZ.com.
Of course, a huge note of gratitude is owed to Karen Hoch who continues to provide support to this committee as the former VP of communications. Her patience and eagle-eye for detail are much appreciated! (Karen, thank you in advance for all the hand holding I am sure you will be providing.)
Here's to a great 2009/2010 year. We look forward to seeing you (and hearing from you) soon!
Lori Turec
VP Communications
P.S. Next issue we have some very exciting changes in the newsletter content and format that we believe will be of great value for all readers. Stay tuned ...
