It is hard to believe that November is already here, and we've turned back the clocks once again. While we may not be thankful for the shorter days and the lack of sunshine, there is a lot to be thankful for as we approach Thanksgiving. MPIGNY is especially thankful for our members. Without you, we would not exist. Thank you for supporting our events, from valuable education to our full roster of networking opportunities; you make these events what they are: successful.
We are also thankful for the many of you who volunteer with MPIGNY, and there are a lot of you. So from time to time, starting this month, we'll be putting the spotlight on some of our members who volunteer. Our first "Why I Volunteer" piece is on Kim Lowe, National Sales Manager at The Woodlands Resort in Texas. Most of you don't know that she is the volunteer who tirelessly puts together the monthly 30/30 newsletter. So, let's thank Kim for her hard work and read why she volunteers for MPIGNY.
And don't forget about THE event of November ... our 30th Annual Auction and Mixology Madness event on Monday, November 9. You really do not want to miss out, so register today!
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30th Annual Auction & Mixology Madness | Monday, November 9, 2015
What do the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau, Langham Place New York, and Reyka Vodka all have in common? They're essential ingredients in the
recipe for our 30th Annual Auction and Mixology Madness taking place on Monday, November 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the newly renovated Langham Place New York.
Register today for an amazing night of creative cocktail masterpieces crafted by your industry peers, endless networking opportunities, and the chance to support MPIGNY by bidding on the fantastic items during the live and silent auctions.
Feeling generous? Find out about donating auction items here. Want to unleash your inner mixologist? Sponsor a mixology table here. Your support is appreciated
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We will be hosting a membership orientation prior to our 30th Annual Auction & Mixology Madness on Monday, November 9. Orientation will start promptly at 5:30 p.m. at the Langham Place New York in the Broadway East room. Please RSVP to Tom Andrika if you plan to attend. Space is limited.
Is your membership up for renewal in the near future? Renew by the end of November and you'll be included in a prize draw to win one of the following:
- Half-off registration to WEC 2016 (June 11-14) or EMEC 2016 in Copenhagen (February 7-9)
- MPI Store shopping Spree: Pick any five items in the MPI Store at no cost. CMP Study Guide excluded from offer.
- Complimentary CMP Study Kit (valued at $312)
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Save the Date of Tuesday, December 8 for our annual Industry Holiday Celebration. More details will be announced soon, but we can guarantee it will be an out of this world bash!!
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We're trying something new and offering two webinars for our December 3 education event. Topics will be Building Your Personal Brand and New Thinking in Content Delivery. Details to follow on timings and registration, so stay tuned!
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On October 22, more than 40 members and guests gathered at Club Bonafide for our October After Six Mix. This hidden jazz-club gem on 52nd Street, showcased both their bar and show room. Our hosts also enlisted the adjacent Hilton Garden Inn Midtown East to provide a lovely fall themed buffet – the butternut squash soup and tenderloin asiago sliders were big hits, to say the least. The club’s owner, Richard Bona who is a world class jazz bassist himself, swung through to make sure our guests were having a great time.
Owner Richard Bona, Event Director Stacy James & Club Bonafide’s Executive team taking a quick TapSnap during A6M.
Due to the holidays, After Six Mix will be on hiatus for the remainder of the year, but will make a 2016 debut on January 27 at a guaranteed new and exciting venue to be announced! In the meantime, keep an eye out for details on our annual Industry Holiday celebration on December 8!
Special thanks go out to all of our 2015 host venues Slate, Asellina, The Palm Tribeca, SPiN NYC and NYY Steak. And, of course, thank you to everyone who attends our After Six Mix networking events, making them so successful!
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Photo Credit: Happening Photos
On Monday, October 26, MPIGNY welcomed Michael Jakowsky of Jackson Lewis P.C. and a panel of event industry experts, including Robert Hulsmeyer of Empire Force Events, Jeff Guberman of Fourth Wall Events, and John Pasquale of Hard Rock Café at the beautiful 3 West Club.
With Michael as moderator, we learned about various legal roadblocks and potholes of event planning and how to avoid legal exposure in contracting vendors. Thank you to our panel of experts, and to the fantastic 3 West Club for the stunning venue and sumptuous catering.
Be sure to mark your calendars for our December 3 education event, which will be a webinar format. Stay tuned for more details.
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Social Tables, Meetings Mean Business and the Convention Industry Council recently released the new report, called ‘The 9 Ways Meetings Will Impact Hotels in 2016,″ that will help you stay a step ahead of the competition. (Social Tables)
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Newsflash! Baby boomers and millennials want different things. Laptop-toting millennials want to travel for work at rates nearly double those of baby boomers (45 percent versus 26 percent, respectively), according to the Global Business Travel Association. (USA Today Travel)
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'Tis the season for meeting and event professionals to begin planning holiday parties. Chicago-based Paramount Events has therefore published its top 10 tips for creating festive holiday parties this year. (Successful Meetings)
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Training to run a marathon is a tremendous undertaking. The commitment and time it takes to train and prepare for the race, takes effort and passion. The process is not so different from your career in the events industry. (Event Manager Blog)
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November 9, 2015 – 30th Annual Auction & Mixology Madness – Langham Place New York, 400 5th Ave.
December 3, 2015 – Educational Webinar Series – Two offerings: Building Your Personal Brand and/or New Thinking in Content Delivery – More details to follow
December 8, 2015 – Holiday Celebration – Location TBA
January 27, 2016 – After Six Mix – Location TBA
February 9, 2016 – Winter Networking Mixer – Location TBA
March 23, 2016 – After Six Mix – Location TBA
April 27, 2016 – After Six Mix – Location TBA
May 25, 2016 – Summer Kick-Off Mixer – Location TBA
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 Please meet Kim Lowe, National Sales Manager for The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center in Texas, and a long-time MPIGNY volunteer. Kim is the one who tirelessly and thoughtfully composes the MPIGNY 30/30 each month. Here's a little about her and why she volunteers.
What committee do you volunteer for? Marketing & Communications.
What inspired you to volunteer for MPIGNY? I was at an MPIGNY event and was introduced to Suzanne Medcalf [MPIGNY President-Elect] who asked if I wanted to volunteer. I didn’t think it was possible since my office is in The Woodlands (Greater Houston), Texas; but she was so supportive and made it sound like so much fun that she inspired me to give it a try. I am so glad I did it!
How long have you volunteered? I have volunteered eight months for the 30/30. Prior to that, I did some volunteering for the website and prior to that, for different meeting organizations.
Why do you volunteer? To meet others in the Greater New York area, who share my same interest in hospitality. Also, to keep my finger on the pulse of the event industry there since I have many clients in the area, but work onsite at The Woodlands. Volunteering is good for you! Notice how great you feel when you help a group achieve a common goal? You can stay involved in that fun and influential way if you just raise your hand the next time someone asks for volunteers (or send an email). Plus, you learn a lot! Even at (ahem) 19 years in the industry, volunteering can help us keep up with our professional development.
I prefer to grow in a team environment, and we all need to continue learning and networking. Volunteering takes care of all of those needs. It is also a fun way to step out of your comfort zone. If you can volunteer for something you have never done before, you are also adding a new experience to your professional and personal progress. When you put yourself out there to try something new, others on your committee (team) will want you to be successful – the help is abundant. With much help comes success and with success comes a great self-esteem booster! The meetings industry has been a huge blessing in my life and MPI has directly affected my career. Giving back just makes good sense. Give back to something or someone who has given much to you; it will help you both!
All that to say, volunteering really helps you achieve two goals (among others) at once: giving back and networking.
What is your favorite MPIGNY event? Mixology was the first MPIGNY event I ever attended. It was my first experience with the chapter. I thought, how much fun is this? And the people are so nice! That event is still my fav!
So, thanks to Kim Lowe, one of our many rock star volunteers. When Kim is not volunteering for MPIGNY, she represents The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center in Texas. She enjoys her work with meeting planners, primarily in the Northeast, and helping them execute successful meetings. Kim is as passionate about her day job, too, telling us: "It seems as though no two days are alike and I am absolutely passionate about what I do. It gives me much pleasure to bring people and successful meetings together."
The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center is owned and managed by The Howard Hughes Corporation and is the founding member of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC).
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