Albert Einstein once said, "The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking."  This last week has been unlike anything many of us have ever seen in our lifetimes. Sadly, racial injustice has reared its ugly head once again culminating in social outrage and unrest. I am confident that each one of us shares in the indignation that we have seen sweeping our country.  Something about this just feels different. To me, this is an inflection point that provides humanity with an opportunity to truly create positive, long-lasting change. That change must begin with each one of us; not just in how we treat one another but, more importantly, what we think inside our own minds.

MPI Greater New York is committed to being a part of the solution.  Each one of us has a voice, but as a chapter, in unison, we are a formidable group that can make a positive impact in a multitude of ways. To that point, earlier this week, I had the pleasure of speaking with some of our fellow MPIGNY members of the African-American community. We discussed what initial steps we can take to effect change in a positive manner. With that in mind, I am pleased to announce the creation of the MPIGNY Diversity & Inclusion Committee. This committee will create opportunities for all of us to get more involved while also raising awareness of all pertinent issues that affect our community. This will not be a rubber-stamped committee.  We all live in, work in and love New York City. We, as a chapter, need to do better in reflecting the diversity that comes with calling the most diverse city in the world home. More details to follow in the coming weeks, but please start to give it some thought as we want all of your voices to be heard.   

As we look toward gradually reopening our city due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MPI Greater New York is staying committed to bringing our chapter together while we're apart. With that in mind, we have created three outstanding virtual events to close out the year in grand fashion. First, tomorrow, Thursday, June 4, we are presenting the second edition of MPIGNY 360 Destination Group Virtual Trivia. For those who joined us back in April, you know how much fun it was, and tomorrow's event looks to be even better than the last! Click here to register and plan to join your fellow industry professionals for a night of friendly competition.

The last two Education events of the 2019-2020 calendar year will be collaborations with other MPI chapters throughout the Northeast. On Tuesday, June 9, MPIGNY is partnering with MPI Connecticut River Valley, New Jersey and Westfield to present an exciting evening with industry icon Cindy Novotny. Cindy will provide a rapid, thought-provoking session on how our industry moves forward post-COVID-19. It promises to be an outstanding event, and I encourage you to invite your clients and colleagues to attend as well. At the time of registration, we are also asking for donations to the designated charity that all four chapters have chosen to support. No Kid Hungry is a nonprofit organization that aims to end child hunger in America. It is certainly a worthy cause especially in these times of uncertainty. So, if you're able to do so, please consider donating. 

The final event of the year will be another experience you will not want to miss. On Thursday, June 18, we will again join forces with the chapters noted above, as well as the Middle Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Potomac and Upstate New York chapters, to offer a "Big East" virtual education event featuring Associated Luxury Hotels International President and CEO Michael Dominguez. During his talk, Michael will discuss pertinent updates on what industry protocols will look like in the days ahead and enlighten us with his thoughts on the current state of the economy, while also providing expectations for the coming year.

Finally, I'd like to close with a message of sincere gratitude to the MPIGNY 2019-2020 Board of Directors. We started the year with a highly successful Annual Golf Outing last July, but none of us could have ever expected how this year would end. As the threat of COVID-19 grew, every member of this team jumped in to help as we pivoted with the intent of continuing to provide valuable opportunities for our members to come together. I am deeply grateful for all of their efforts throughout the past year but, especially, these last several months. While many of us are returning to the board for the 2020-2021 term, we do have a few board members that I'd especially like to recognize as their terms are concluding at the end of the month.  

Joanna Puchalski is completing her final year as our vice president of communications. She has been a vital part of our Marketing & Communications team for many years. Joanna has been instrumental in delivering our message and our vision to the masses. From managing all of our social media pages and chapter website to ensuring the MPIGNY Directory made it into each one of your hands every year, she has shown an enormous commitment to this chapter time and again. Joanna is also one of the nicest, most sincere people I have ever met, and I'm fortunate to have spent so much time with her accomplishing our goals for this chapter.

Valerie Hoffman has served in two vital roles including director of sponsorship and, most recently, as vice president of finance. Valerie has made a positive impact since the day she arrived, graciously taking on more duties and responsibilities than she had initially planned, and I will always value and appreciate her for doing so. Her commitment has significantly aided in the overall success of our chapter. Valerie has always been someone we could depend on, and I am eternally thankful for everything she has done for our chapter. 

Julie Green Davis has also been a huge part of our chapter leadership over the last several years. She has served as our vice president of membership for the last two years and consistently has shown a passion for our industry. Her personality is infectious, and she always brought positive energy to our board. While living in Philadelphia over the last several years, she stayed committed to our chapter, always making the time to come into the city for our board meetings and events. The VP of membership role is not an easy one to succeed in, yet she did so — with flying colors. Julie is a consummate professional, and I am grateful for her continued dedication to MPIGNY.  

These ladies poured countless hours into their respective volunteer positions to help each one of us obtain an enhanced MPI experience. I feel fortunate to call each one of them a friend and can't thank them enough for their efforts. They are leaving the MPIGNY Board of Directors in a better place than they found it, and our entire chapter is indebted to them for all that they have accomplished.

Best regards,

Patrick Colomer
President
MPI Greater New York Chapter

Get ready to battle it out to crown a new Quarantine Team Trivia Champion! Due to popular demand, MPIGNY 360 Destination Group Trivia night is back with new challenges. 

REGISTER TO JOIN IN ON THE FUN

Join us for an engaging evening and joint collaboration with the MPI chapters of Connecticut River Valley, Greater New York, New Jersey and Westfield.

No longer is "pivoting" as relevant as adaptability! Everyone goes back to zero when the rules change, and three months ago the rules really changed. Is it going to be a virtual world forever with live-streamed events, or is everyone just waiting for someone else to make the first move? 

Cindy Novotny will lead us through a rapid, thought-provoking session that will deliver the spark we all need to move through the COVID-19 phases required by individual state and company policies. This session will offer ideas on how to get back to business and create energy and excitement around our industry. Cindy will share what she is seeing with her luxury clients and what she is learning from other event and wedding planners and travel advisers around the world.

REGISTER HERE

The experience of 2020 has been unexpected, uncertain and devastating in many ways. We now face a world, country, economy and industry traveling a road much less traveled as we begin to restart our global commerce engine and hospitality industry. The short-term post-COVID-19 environment will require our ability to work together, pivot often and learn as a community. This session will examine the anticipated experience and industry protocols that will be in place for the remainder of 2020.

MORE INFO AND REGISTER HERE

MPIGNY will provide help in the kitchen on Thursday, June 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Gloves and masks will be provided to all volunteers. If you are able to join us, please register here.

As we look forward to our city hopefully beginning to reopen soon, we are reminded again of the impact closing has had on organizations like God’s Love We Deliver that rely heavily on volunteer staff to fulfill their commitments. Due to social distancing guidelines, God’s Love has had to minimize the number of people in the building overall and in the kitchen area, especially. Yet, they are still committed to serving over 10,000 meals per day. 

Here's an article on how our support is needed and appreciated in our community: "Delivering tens of thousands of meals a day to sick and homebound people across our area"

GLWD is in desperate need of delivery drivers. If you have a car or van, they could really use some support with delivery services at this time. There are some walking delivery slots available as well. Please see the volunteer calendar for available times and to sign up.

If you are not able to volunteer, there are still several ways you can help!

The Cards of Caring campaign offers an opportunity to share a message of caring to brighten someone’s day. Many of GLWD’s clients are homebound senior citizens who, in this climate, are unable to have visitors of any kind. A cheerful note to let them know they are not forgotten can be a welcome reprieve from their solitude. The website provides guidelines on creating the cards, but feel free to be as creative as you would like. And if you have children at home, this might be a perfect activity to help pass the time in quarantine!

In addition, God’s Love has three distinct giving opportunities to donate much needed funds.

• COVID-19 Emergency Fund for clients of God’s Love: $54 funds a shelf-stable meal bag and $100 funds a week of meals for a client living with serious illness. Please give what you can. Any amount helps!
• Birthday Bake Sale: God’s Love bakes and personalizes birthday cakes for their clients living with serious illness. Your donation contributes toward the purchase of ingredients, baking, decorating and packaging of these special cakes.
• Who Are You Cooking For?: God’s Love’s newest campaign to help fund 100,000 meals during the coronavirus pandemic. Donate what you would have spent if you were cooking for friends. More details are on the website.

Last, during this time, we are all doing a lot more cooking at home, and after nearly two months, you may be in need of some fresh ideas to answer that age-old question, “What’s for dinner?” Help yourself and God’s Love with a purchase of The God’s Love Cookbook: Nourishing Stories and Recipes from Notable Friends. You can finally stop making pasta (for the 100th time) and feel good knowing that you are doing good for your fellow New Yorkers. 100% of the book’s proceeds directly support God’s Love.

Wow! Thank you to everyone who attended our virtual MPIGNY Education Event — "Mindfullness and Resilience During a Time of Uncertainty." We learned the science behind mindfulness and were virtually guided through a variety of mindfulness practices for reducing stress, improving productivity and emotional intelligence. If you missed it, here's a link to the virtual edication recording: May Virtual Education Recording

Our speaker's slides are also available here: May Virtual Education Presentation Slides

At MPIGNY, our members are family, and in challenging times, we believe in taking care of our own. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial hardships many are experiencing as a result, MPIGNY has set up a community support fund to provide monetary grants to our colleagues who need it most. If you are in need of assistance during this or any of life's more difficult moments, we may be able to help. 

There is no issue too large or too small. If you need help, please know we are standing by to assist you. Simply submit a confidential Request for Support for review of support in any personal crisis situation. We can offer assistance toward:

• Housing while in quarantine 
• Essential items like groceries, rent, utilities or essential worker child care
• Rebuilding after natural disasters 
• Escaping from domestic violence
• Recovering from a serious accident
• Other support following loss when not otherwise provided by insurance

Submit a confidential request with all supporting documentation to Kathie Stapleton. As this is confidential, please share as much information as you are comfortable sharing. All requests will be reviewed and considered to determine what, if anything, we can do to assist you in your situation.

Additionally, if you are in a position to donate to the fund, MPIGNY is gladly accepting donations at this time. Please contact Kathie Stapleton for more information. 

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 

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

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

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