Looking Forward to August

We have turned the page to August and are officially in the middle of summer. It is great to see New York City beginning to open back up as neighborhoods in all five boroughs are embracing the outdoor dining concept, and several industries are getting back on their feet. While we realize there is still a long way to go before the hospitality industry returns to pre-COVID levels, we are starting to head in the right direction. 

As the debate continues about whether or not schools should reopen in the fall, we are fortunate that the MPI Academy provides numerous online opportunities to further our professional development. I encourage everyone to take advantage of the Academy’s offerings and go “Back to School with MPI” during these waning days of summer and focus on how you can advance your professional career. Included in your membership, the MPI Academy offers a robust schedule of resources aimed at helping you grow as a hospitality professional. A plethora of free content is available including how to organize meetings and events post-COVID-19, resources for equality and justice and planner resources to help you successfully execute your next meeting or event. The MPI Academy also provides exclusive opportunities to further your education through virtual classes on Women in Leadership, Emergency Preparedness and Meeting Fundamentals.  

MPIGNY is remaining committed to providing opportunities for our members to continue to come together during this unprecedented time. This Thursday, Aug. 6, we are producing another complimentary event that will involve some summer sweat! Get a Move On with MPIGNY will be a virtual networking event in which you can select one of three fitness classes: chair yoga, HIIT workout or a Pilates class. We have three fantastic instructors who will be running the respective classes. So, grab your sports bottle and plan to join us on Thursday afternoon.  

MPIGNY strongly believes in the power of collaboration and “strength in numbers,” especially in times of crisis. With this in mind, I am pleased to announce that we are partnering with New York PCMA on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 5 p.m. for a joint networking event featuring the highly talented team at Song Division. If you are a fan of music, cocktails or networking (or all of the above), please save the date for what promises to be a fantastic event. We will share more details, including the registration link, in the coming days. 

Any plans for lunch next week? Would you like to join your fellow peers in a thought-provoking discussion on the challenges we are all facing in this current environment? If so, please register for one of the MPIGNY Grub Club Peer-to-Peer Discussion Groups. Each day will be dedicated to a specific group of members including: Unemployed or Furloughed Members (Monday), Employed Junior Planners (Tuesday), Employed Senior Planners (Wednesday), Small Business Owners/Third Parties (Thursday) and Employed Suppliers (Friday). These intimate discussions are intended to provide our members with a safe space to brainstorm ideas while sharing your own experiences navigating the waters in the world of COVID-19.

Our latest CSR event is also taking place next week. We are partnering with Give To Get in creating bracelets and gift cards that will be donated to hospital and front-line workers. This is a great opportunity to make a positive impact on the community from the comfort of your own home. MPIGNY has absorbed the majority of the costs in purchasing the kits in order to provide an economical way for our members to participate. There are only a couple of slots left, and the registration deadline is tomorrow at 5 p.m. After registering, please remember to mark your calendar for the Kick-off Happy Hour scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 13, at 5:30 p.m. A representative from Give To Get will join us to share the history of the organization and provide direction for creating the gift packages.

We have received an incredible response to the creation of the MPIGNY Diversity & Inclusion Committee, with an overwhelming number of members sharing a strong desire to create positive change within our chapter. With that in mind, I am pleased to announce that Josh Novick and Hallia Baker have been named co-chairs of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Josh is no stranger to chapter leadership, having served as president of MPIGNY during the 2017-2018 term. He not only understands the inner workings of MPI but is also heavily involved in D&I within his own organization, bringing a wealth of experience to the team. Hallia has been a member of our chapter for many years. She is passionate about this initiative and also serves on our Education Committee, where she will continue to impact the educational content we produce for our membership. The D&I Committee is in great hands with these two seasoned hospitality professionals, and I could not be more excited to see all the progress they make over the coming year. 

Finally, I would like to remind everyone of the MPIGNY Community Support Fund that we created in response to COVID-19. As we know far too well, this pandemic has had a devastating impact on our industry — especially in New York City. Our board of directors felt strongly that we needed to find a way to alleviate some of the financial strain that our members are feeling during this tumultuous time. This fund provides grants to any active member who needs assistance in covering housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries, etc. The application process is completely confidential; only Kathie Stapleton, who serves as our executive director, will have access to any applicant's personal information. If you need financial assistance, please fill out an application. We would like to do whatever we can to help ease the burden for so many who have been adversely affected this year.  

Enjoy the rest of your summer.  

Best,

Patrick Colomer
President
MPI Greater New York Chapter