Well, we are officially in the dead of winter. Personally, I am very much looking forward to warmer days on the golf course this spring. In the meantime, MPIGNY is focused on February and producing some outstanding programming that will be coming soon to a laptop near you. We have four events taking place in the span of two weeks during the shortest month of the calendar year, and we hope you will be able to join us for all of the festivities.

On Thursday, Feb. 11, we have our first networking event of the year with our friends at SongDivision to kick off Mardi Gras. If you joined us over the summer, you know how much fun it is to jam away with their team. This time around will be no different, but we are adding some Mardi Gras-themed trivia into the mix. I am pleased to report that our friends at PCMA New York, HSMAI New York and SITE Northeast will be participating in this industrywide event as well. You can see the full details of the program below, including the registration link.

Just a few short days later, we are rolling right into our second education event of the year. On Tuesday, Feb. 16, "Lift As I Climb, An Immigrant Girl's Journey Through Corporate America: A Conversation with Author Jackie Glenn" will be a thought-provoking program focused on diversity and inclusion. As you know, last year we created the MPIGNY Diversity & Inclusion Committee to enhance our members’ overall experience. This initiative is a long-term commitment that we have made to help promote diversity, equity and inclusion throughout every facet of our chapter. We are fortunate to have Jackie leading this program, and we hope each one of you will be able to join us. Also, as we will continue to do for the foreseeable future, we are offering both programs on a complimentary basis to all meeting and hospitality professionals. The full details are outlined below. 

Our third event of the month will be a familiar philanthropic endeavor with our friends at God's Love We Deliver. On Thursday, Feb. 18, some of us are heading down to SoHo to volunteer in their kitchen to help prepare meals for our community. We are currently at capacity for volunteers this month, but we do have one spot left for the Thursday, March 18 shift. If you are interested in joining, please register below. As we get more dates confirmed with God's Love, we will be sure to share those, too.  

We are closing out this busy month with the MPIGNY Town Hall on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. For those of you who have been a member for several years, you know that this has become an annual tradition for our chapter. However, due to the pandemic, this is the first time the Town Hall will be taking place virtually. This program is meant to provide our members with a snapshot of the intricacies involved within MPIGNY. In addition to providing a current “State of the Chapter,” we will also have breakout discussions dedicated to all areas of MPIGNY. Are you interested in learning more about what exactly the Golf Committee does? Have you ever wondered how we go about choosing topics for our educational programming? Do you have suggestions on how we can enhance our CSR impact on the community? Do you have an ambitious idea that you want to share with chapter leadership? If so, this event is for you. We want everyone's unabashed feedback as we continue to seek out more opportunities to enhance our strategies and make the greatest impact on our chapter and the industry as a whole. We are still finalizing the registration details and will be sure to share those with you in the coming days.

If you are not yet following us on our social media platforms, please do so here.

Facebook     Twitter     LinkedIn     Instagram

Best,

Patrick Colomer
MPIGNY President
patrick.colomer1@gmail.com

REGISTER HERE

Dancing in your seats, beads and masks ... what more do we need to have a blast? Get ready for another music-driven Virtual Happy Hour from MPIGNY and the global rock stars at SongDivision — this time with a Mardi Gras twist!

If you attended the first SongDivision event over the summer, you know it was a Rockin' Good Time! We’ll play musical games and enjoy Mardi Gras-themed trivia. So put on your dancing shoes, whip up your best Hurricane and King Cake and get ready to party — Thursday, Feb. 11 at 5 p.m.

SongDivision lives to unite teams around their purpose using music and has provided award-winning virtual and in-person musical experiences to leading companies worldwide since 2003. This is your chance to experience the interactive songwriting, performance and entertainment spectacle that has engaged virtual audiences the world over and been featured in Forbes. 

Join SongDivision's world-class musicians — who have performed with everyone from David Bowie to Prince, Cher, Justin Timberlake and more — as they take you through a Mardi Gras-themed musical variety hour filled with trivia, entertainment and plenty of laughs. Throughout the session, you'll also collaborate with SongDivision and fellow attendees to create an original hit song (because that's what SongDivision does best!), which is later professionally recorded and sent to you to share with your fans!

All you’ll need is your computer, decent Wi-Fi and a positive attitude. No musical experience or ability is required!

Laissez les bons temps rouler ("Let the good times roll") with MPIGNY and SongDivision for a virtual event you won't want to miss! 

REGISTER HERE

 REGISTER HERE

There is much uncertainty about the future of the meeting industry these days. Many have been laid off; many faced with assuming new roles; others challenged to reinvent themselves; everyone in need of words of encouragement.

In the spirit of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice,” join us as Jackie Glenn lifts words off the pages of her book sharing her story of rising from humble beginnings to becoming an executive champion of diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Jackie has developed a powerful currency in a set of 10 self-defined “gems” — foundations of character for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of qualities that never go out of style: authenticity, self-awareness, boldness, responsibility, faith, empathy, flexibility, integrity, resilience and trustworthiness. Applicable to all stages of personal and professional journeys, Lift As I Climb will give you an engaging compass to chart your future and take pride in your progress. Reiterated from the foreword of her book, “If it reinforces life principles that you have already begun to practice, you will be shifted to an even higher level of thinking.” 

After this educational experience you should be motivated to:

• Identify which gems you need to focus on in your personal and professional life.
• Conduct an inventory checklist of those you have lifted and those you are continuing to lift. And if your list is short, be inspired to start adding to that list.
• Learn about the life journey of an immigrant and how no matter where you fall on the immigrant spectrum, you can reach for the stars and NEVER give up!

This education session is the first in a soon-to-be-launched series entitled, "The Cultural Collective Experience," where we anthologize a virtual library of multi-culturally diverse literature, including works from both well-known and up-and-coming young voices. The library will be "housed" on the MPIGNY website and open to all, with links to purchase the selected works. 

A collaboration between the MPIGNY CSR, D&I, and Education committees, the evening will feature a "sneak peek" of what you can expect as we roll out this exciting program. In recognition of Black History Month, the inaugural collection will include numerous works, both fiction and non-fiction, by the likes of Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama, and Sidney Poitier. The presentation will be followed by an engaging conversation with our featured author, Jackie Glenn. Stay tuned for more information on the Collective coming soon!

CEU Credits: Domaine E: Human Resources 

Registration for this event is complimentary to all meeting and hospitality professionals.

 REGISTER HERE

Meet Our Speaker

Jackie Glenn is the founder and CEO of Glenn Diversity Inclusion & HR Solutions. In 2000, she joined the human resources department of EMC Corp., a Fortune 500 company in the technology sector. Working in HR proved to be Jackie's "aha" moment, and she immediately saw that her life’s journey as a Jamaican immigrant in America could help EMC and others to create corporate environments that reflect the diverse world they are aiming to serve.

Her distinctive take on navigating the working world uniquely qualified Jackie to lead EMC’s efforts of building a diverse workforce. She quickly progressed to global chief diversity officer, overseeing 60,000 employees worldwide. Within this role, she created programs in organizational development, leadership consulting and employee training. Jackie lifted EMC’s entire corporate culture to international recognition and acclaim by pioneering many of the best practices in the diversity and inclusion space.

Jackie holds a Master of Science degree in human resources management from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a bachelor’s degree from Emmanuel College in Boston. Her love for civic advocacy includes service on the board of the Children’s Services of Roxbury (MA), the board of the Museum of African American History (Boston) and the board of overseers of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital.

Lift As I Climb: An Immigrant Girl’s Journey Through Corporate America is Jackie's instructional biography on how she employed her 10 self-created "gems" to guide her journey from nanny to CEO.

MPIGNY is starting the new year off right with another volunteer session at God's Love We Deliver, once again providing help in the kitchen.

Thursday, February 18, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

*Please note:* Due to scheduling changes at GLWD, the session is extended by one hour, and volunteer shifts are now limited to six people. Gloves and masks will be provided to all volunteers.

This session is currently full, however, often volunteers may have to cancel at the last minute. If you are interested in volunteering, please continue to check the registration link below for updated information should any slots open up.

REGISTER HERE

If this session time is not convenient for you, check out the God's Love volunteer calendar for more volunteer opportunities. With numerous sessions scheduled each day, you are bound to find one or two that fit your schedule!

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 is a perfect activity to help pass the time in quarantine!

In addition, God’s Love has two additional 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.

Join the MPIGNY board of directors for a candid conversation about the state of the chapter and moving forward into 2021. The Virtual Town Hall will also include breakout sessions with each of the board committees, where we welcome your feedback and suggestions for future programming. 

Registration for this event will open soon and is complimentary to all meeting and hospitality professionals.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Ready to start bidding??? We still need more items to launch our online auction. Can you help?

Please donate if you can; we would love your donations of hotel stays, dining certificates, airline tickets, spa & salon certificates, future show tickets, gift baskets and give-aways of any kind. We are trying to launch the online auction the first week of March, but we need your help!

Please make your auction item donation today! Click here

P.S. We are still looking for a physical venue! If you are interested in hosting, please email:

Michelle Marie Adams, CMP
VP, Finance
madams@ovationtravel.com

#liveevents #eventsNYC #MPIGNY

A key focus for the board moving forward is 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.

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. 

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

Announcing the 2021-2022 MPIGNY Board of Directors

The MPI Greater New York Nominating Committee has proposed the following individuals, whom we believe have the skills, dedication and integrity to provide outstanding leadership to our chapter, to be elected to office for the 2021-22 term.

OFFICERS: 
President: Laura Mulholland, CMP
President-Elect: Andrew Barnes
Immediate Past President: Patrick Colomer
Vice President, Marketing & Communications: Jennifer Rondinelli, CMP
Vice President Education: Hallia Baker, CMP
Vice President Membership: Geri Richlin
Vice President Special Events: Annie Kojundzija
 
DIRECTORS (Board Members):

The following slate of board members are nominated for a two-year term from July 2021 to June 2023.
Director, Communications: Colleen Jasinski
Director, Corporate Social Responsibility: Marisa Wilkes, CMP
Director, Fundraising: Michelle Marie Adams, CMP
Director, Golf: Mel Carter
Director, Leadership Development: Elaine Morena
Director, Networking: Devin Fassberg

The following directors will be serving the second year of their two-year term.
Director, Education: Lauren Gilbert
Director, Finance & Sponsorship: John Sklencar
Director, Marketing: David Hughes
Director, Membership Engagement: John Bock
Director, Membership Recognition: Sarah Galli Thomas

 
This slate is deemed elected by unanimous vote unless challenged as outlined in the chapter bylaws. In accordance with MPIGNY’s chapter bylaws, additional nominees for any of these seats may be presented to the MPIGNY membership via a petition signed by 10 percent (10%) of the chapter’s members. Any such petition(s) should be forwarded to the chair of the Nominating Committee, Carly Roncaglio-Marotta (c/o 7 Fox Run Road, Briarcliff Manor, New York 10510) or via email to info@mpigny.org.
 
Petitions must be accompanied by a completed Candidate Interest form of a member in good standing and a signed petition by 10% of the chapter’s members as of Dec. 31, 2020 (449 members). Electronic signatures are acceptable. If there are multiple seats that a member wishes to contest, MPIGNY must receive a valid petition for each seat being contested.
 
If a valid petition is received by March 3, a multiple-candidate ballot will be presented to the MPIGNY membership for a general election. If no petitions are received by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, the final and binding list of elected chapter officers will be sent to MPI headquarters by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, and the candidates listed above will assume the positions for which they have been slated on July 1, 2021.

The Membership and Chapter Satisfaction Survey is one of the most important tools we have for capturing the thoughts of members. Don’t miss the chance to help shape the future of our association. Upon completion of the survey you can enter for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. And if you participate and opt-in for our future Meetings Outlook industry research questions, you’ll be entered for the chance to win a registration to WEC Vegas in June 2021! Look for an email from MPI on Feb. 23 to take the survey.

Spring is right around the corner, and that means rebirth, rejuvenation and, most importantly, growth. With the meeting and event industry poised for a substantial recovery in 2021, career growth is more essential than ever! Grow with MPI today. mpi.org/join

Our chapter has a bright future ahead, and we want you to be a part of it. If you are interested in growing your own career and maximizing your return on investment within MPI, please consider joining our mentorship program, either as a mentor or mentee. In this initiative, we will pair up a select few of our newer members of the industry (10 years or less) with some of our veteran chapter members for mutual growth and career development. 

The Power of Two: MPIGNY Mentorship Program is a yearlong endeavor that, in its inaugural year, was highly rewarding to those who participated, and we are happy to announce that the application process for our second mentorship cohort is now open! This is a minimal time commitment and something you’ll truly feel proud of! 

"Overall I thought the mentorship program was a great experience and a good use of my time. I knew my mentee prior to starting the program so we already had somewhat of a rapport. We usually planned to speak once a week or every other week, and I enjoyed getting to know her and her business a bit more. We even ended up partnering on a project that she needed some help with, which was nice. We ... are still in touch and chat occasionally when we can." - Colleen Jasinski (Mentor, 2019-2020)

Please apply for the Power of Two: MPIGNY Mentorship Program here:

Mentee Application | Mentor Application

Free live webinars are available to all members on the MPI Academy web page. New webinars are being added on a regular basis, so please keep checking this link for more information and to register: MPI Academy Live Webinars

Upcoming webinars this month include:

February 5 – The Importance of Data to Demonstrate the Value of Meetings

February 9 – A.I. Interpretation: Breaking Language Barriers In Your Meetings

February 11 – WEC Grapevine: How We Did It - Pandemic Meetings Duty of Care

February 12 – Med Up-Meet Up | Medical Meeting Series

The MPI Foundation is focused on helping as many current members as possible retain their professional affiliation and the opportunity to continue to have access to all our resources. For more information, please contact help@mpi.org.