As we continue to cope with this new reality dictated by the COVID-19 pandemic, MPIGNY is committed to providing opportunities for our chapter to come together — while apart. With that in mind, at 5 p.m. today, we are conducting our first in a series of virtual Networking events. Registration is complimentary for all MPIGNY members.  The objective of this Zoom meeting will be to share insights, learn more about the current state of our industry and just have some fun. 

You will hear updates from fellow members including Matt Schechter, Danielle Cattani-Post, Laura Mulholland, Jennifer Rondinelli and Andrew Barnes. Following their perspectives, we will have an open dialogue with the rest of our members to ask questions and provide commentary.  If you have yet to register, please do so by 4 p.m. this afternoon.

I am delighted to report that MPI is offering a virtual Global Meetings Industry Day on Tuesday, April 14.  Registration for this nationwide event is also complimentary and will encompass 12 hours of content from industry leaders on a variety of pertinent subjects. To register, please click here. 

MPI Chief Operating Officer Darren Temple released a video message last week announcing that MPI Academy will be providing free online content to all, including non-members. Please click here for additional information. He also announced that MPI World Education Congress is currently moving forward in Grapevine, Texas, June 6-9. Aiming to jump-start the return of our industry, the updated theme for WEC is "Reunite for Recovery". I encourage you to consider attending as global headquarters is offering registration risk-free. 

MPI is also committed to assisting with membership renewals during this time of financial hardship. If anyone has questions about their membership, please feel free to send an email to help@mpi.org or call 972-702-3053.  

Best regards,

Patrick Colomer
President
MPI Greater New York Chapter

We hope you are all staying safe and healthy. As we settle into our new normal, MPIGNY is committed to help ease the stress and isolation that has come at the hands of the COVID-19 virus. To that end, we are pleased to announce a complimentary Virtual Networking Event TODAY at 5 p.m. via Zoom.

Some of your fellow MPIGNY members will be providing commentary on their respective areas of the industry; after which, the floor will open to everyone for questions, comments, recommendations for binge-worthy Netflix/Amazon Prime shows or cooking tips you have discovered with your newfound culinary skills — anything that you would like to share with the group.

The objective is to keep things light and provide an opportunity for our members to share insights, learn more about the current state of our industry and just have some fun. There is strength in numbers. We will get through this together, supporting one another, and emerge stronger on the other side.

Scheduled updates will be provided by:

• Matt Schechter - NYC & Company
• Danielle Cattani-Post - McKinsey & Company
• Laura Mulholland - Live Nation
• Jennifer Rondinelli - M·A·C Cosmetics
• Andrew Barnes - Accor Hotels

Grab your favorite cocktail and join us this evening. Following your registration, the confirmation email will provide a link to the Zoom meeting.  

REGISTER BY 4 P.M. TODAY

As our industry has drawn to dramatic halt, we would like to ask you to please consider using some of your newfound free time to offer help where it is so desperately needed. Through the direst of circumstances, New Yorkers have always stood by and supported one other, and God’s Love We Deliver has been a major component of that support, providing meals to the sick and homebound since the early days of the AIDS epidemic. 

To that end, God’s Love We Deliver has been deemed an “Essential Service provider” and is continuing to operate at a time when all nonessential businesses have been shuttered. Unfortunately, as the virus continues to spread across New York, the organization has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of volunteers willing and able to help and, as a result, may be unable to meet the demand of the many clients who rely on them for daily meals.

We at MPIGNY are committed to helping God’s Love maintain the high level of service its clients have come to expect. Now, more than ever, the most vulnerable among us need our help, and those of us who are healthy, willing and able have a duty to do whatever we can to serve our communities. 

Thank you in advance for your generous assistance. We New Yorkers are a resilient bunch, and we will get through this together.

JOIN US ON APRIL 9 FROM 4 P.M. - 6 P.M.

Venue details:
Group volunteering at God’s Love We Deliver: Without the help of our amazing volunteers — more than 10,000 strong every year — we simply would not be able to cook and deliver more than 7,000 delicious and nutritious meals each weekday to our neighbors in need. Outnumbering our staff by a ratio of more than 100 to 1, volunteers work in the kitchen, deliver and package meals and work in our office.

Learn more about God's Love We Deliver by viewing this video!

Globally, our industry is rapidly evolving. Join us Tuesday, April 14 to unite the events industry on Global Meetings Industry Day: Virtual. During this time of extreme change, it is the right time to stay connected.
 
In partnership with the Events Industry Council (EIC) and Meetings Mean Business (MMB), MPI will broadcast a day-long summit that will focus specifically on tools and skills relevant to moving forward during this unique global situation. We will connect with our industry leaders and peers from around the world in a live, 12-hour global broadcast and share learnings that are immediately actionable and relevant. 
 
Please join us for sessions on stress management, leading in a crisis, safeguarding your small business and staying agile. You will also hear from a panel of our industry leaders on how to navigate this fluid situation and move toward recovery. You will also hear inspiring stories of how our industry is coming together to support each other. The format and details will be refined over the coming weeks as we build out an agenda that is timely and applicable. Sessions are eligible for credit hours (CMP/CMM).

The event is FREE to all members and nonmembers. It will be broadcast live from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Post-event, content will be archived and accessible for on-demand viewing by registered attendees only.

At a time when so many of us need and count on community support, resources and reinforcement, we must continue to connect and begin laying the tracks to recovery, driving global stability and expansion. Because we know, when we meet, we can think in ways previously unthought. When we meet, we can change the world.

REGISTER HERE

Thank you to everyone who attended our MPIGNY March Education event — "My Advantage as a Woman in the CIA." Our team has put together a recap of the event as well as provided presentation slides from our speaker, Michele Rigby Assad, below. 

MPIGNY Education Takeaways - My Advantage as a Woman in the CIA

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has touched the lives and businesses of our friends and colleagues across the globe in the meetings and events industry. Our industry has been impacted by recent cancellations of conferences, sporting events and large gatherings. Our deepest sympathy goes out to those affected. 

As the global situation evolves daily, safety is our utmost concern for our community, industry and our MPI employees. MPI has long-established processes to ensure our daily membership and chapter operations will operate business as usual. We can assure our community that we will continue to provide high-quality resources and up-to-date information.

With so much information currently available publicly about coronavirus, it’s our responsibility to make certain our community remains adequately, properly and responsibly informed on coronavirus. With that in mind, we are keeping our community informed on coronavirus through MPI’s Coronavirus page. This online resource provides you with up-to-date industry news, research and information about ongoing resources being provided by MPI, such as our education series and newly launched podcast series.

MPI Novel Coronavirus Resource Page

Are you interested in getting more involved with MPIGNY? Volunteering with a committee is a great way to meet new clients and industry partners! Visit our website or click the link for more information on how to get involved: MPIGNY - Join a Committee

We added a new campaign this year called "People of MPIGNY" and want to learn more about our incredible members! If you are interested in being featured, click the links below to read about some of our members and to complete the handful of questions to be considered for our next issue!

People of MPIGNY
People of MPIGNY Application

A key focus for the board moving forward is going to be the engagement of the meeting planner professional. We consider sustained planner participation to be a vital part of this chapter’s success. So, with that in mind, we’re rolling out the red carpet this year with the objective of increasing our planner engagement at all of our events.

Many thanks to the London Convention Bureau for graciously sponsoring several one-year planner scholarship opportunities that will increase our planner base and enhance overall engagement. Interested planners can apply here: London Convention Bureau Planner Scholarship 

The Power of Two was created to provide a vehicle for enhanced chapter engagement with both new members (and/or new to industry members) as well as longtime members/industry veterans. MPIGNY is committed to supporting our members' career development and has designed this program to provide growth for experienced chapter members in the development of other members and vice versa. 

Happy to share that two of our mentors/mentees are seeing the value of this program!

"Lemi and I have been in touch and [met] at last week’s event in NY! We are continuing to stay in touch and are enjoying the program! Thanks!" - Susanna

"It has been a great experience, and we were able to meet in person at the last event. Susanna has been very generous in giving of her time and provides helpful insight. I am grateful to [be] part of this program and am looking forward to what the future of my career will hold." - Leametrice

Did you know that MPI can help you cover costs for a preferred MPI membership and help fund your MPI Academy courses (including CMM, HMCC, Experiential Event Series, Meetings Essentials, Basics Boot Camp and more)?

Yes, it’s possible. The MPI Foundation provides MPI members professional development and career opportunities through grants and scholarships. MPI Foundation scholarships are awarded on an ongoing basis. Applications received by the end of the month will receive notification by the end of the following month. Conference scholarships do not typically follow the normal application cycle but will be reviewed each month. 

More information can be found here: MPI Foundation Scholarships