Gratitude in the Time of COVID

 As we turn the page on another election cycle and begin to look to the holidays, MPIGNY is focused on ending this tumultuous year with our eyes on the future. Yet, since we are just about three weeks from Thanksgiving, it is not lost on me how grateful I personally feel for all the blessings that I have in my life. I do realize that these are still very tough times for all of us; we see it, feel it and experience it, seemingly every single day. Though, I believe it is one’s perseverance through adversity that symbolizes one’s character, and our industry comprises some pretty tough characters. The future is still unquestionably bright, and I am thankful for everyday that I have on this earth. Life can change in an instant, and it is important to appreciate every moment of every day for the gift that it is. I hope that resonates with some of you and that you each find a way to celebrate with your friends and family this holiday season.

I typically like to look forward in my monthly message, but I would be remiss if I did not look back upon our most recent event that took place on Thursday, Oct. 22. The inaugural MPIGNY Education & Expo (EdX) and the Annual Genies Awards were rolled into one fabulous (virtual) day that simply would not have been possible without all the hard work from so many of our members. This was a labor of love for a lot of us, but I would especially like to recognize Travis Pham, Elaine Morena, Colleen Jasinski and Carly Roncaglio-Marotta for their unwavering commitment to executing this experience for our membership. They, along with several other vital members of our chapter, went above and beyond in helping to create all of the day's festivities. A huge thanks, as well, to all of our sponsors, speakers and attendees who each contributed to the overall success of one of the most ambitious programs our chapter has ever produced. 

So, what's next? For those of you who have not yet volunteered for our monthly shift at God's Love We Deliver, there is still time to do so before the end of the year. We currently have two days scheduled — Tuesday, Nov. 17 and Monday, Dec. 14. I encourage each of you to sign up for one of these shifts. With God’s Love having to reduce volunteer shifts due to COVID-19, our presence is very much appreciated by both the staff and the community they serve. The details for November's registration are outlined below, and you can also find December's event on our website. We may also be adding a second volunteer shift in December, so be on the lookout for that in the coming days.

Speaking of God's Love, we would like to invite you to join “Team MPIGNY” in support of GLWD’s annual "Race to Deliver." The race was scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 22, as a community event, but, like so many other events this year, it has been postponed to 2021. But that has not stopped our team from participating! We are planning to hold our own socially distanced walk as a group, likely in Central Park, that morning or early afternoon, and we would love to have more of our hospitality colleagues join us in supporting this important fundraising event. Please see the event details below and click the link to register. If you are unable to join the team, please consider donating to help us achieve our team goal. If you have any questions, please reach out to MPIGNY Director of Corporate Social Responsibility Jennifer Rondinelli at jerondin@maccosmetics.org.

Finally, I would like to mention our next education event that is taking place on Thursday, Nov. 19: The One Big Thing - Business on the Brink of a Breakthrough with Jamie Mason Cohen. Jamie led a wildly successful in-person event for our chapter back in January and has graciously agreed to return, virtually this time, for what is expected to be yet another outstanding program. This interactive virtual workshop is dedicated to small businesses and how they can adapt to unexpected and unforeseen challenges. You will leave with seven relevant insights to take back to your team while planning the ONE BIG THING to reset your professional goals in real time in the midst of massive change and disruption. Registration is complimentary and open to all hospitality professionals, so feel free to invite your colleagues and industry friends to join us as well. 

Please see all the event details outlined below for more information. And, if you are not yet following us on social media, please be sure to do so as our marketing and communications team is doing a fabulous job keeping our followers up to date on all things MPIGNY as well as a variety of important industry topics. 

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Best,

Patrick Colomer
MPIGNY President
patrick.colomer1@gmail.com