CONGRATULATIONS to the Second Quarter Winners of the 5 Star Volunteer Program

5 STAR PROGRAM- Toronto Chapter’s Volunteer Appreciation Program

Each day our members put on one of their many hats and tirelessly volunteer their time towards leading our chapter. Our volunteers exemplify the strong support and participation needed to help the chapter and industry grow and succeed.

The 5 Star Program is based on the 5 points of a star. Volunteer recognition points are as follows:

Commitment/Dedication – a reliable, self-motivated person who contributes to the committee through feedback and taking on tasks
Team Player – a person who respects others and their opinions, someone who asks questions and is a good listener
Passionate – a positive, passionate person who is enthusiastic about MPI
Accountability – a prepared person who keeps the lines of communication open at all times and does what they say they will do
Time Availability/Attendance – a dependable person who is committed to MPI’s values and the association by attending/contributing to committee meetings and MPI activities.

Volunteers will be nominated once per quarter and recognized through a variety of media: biographies and pictures in the monthly newsletter, their name on the big screen at meetings and a 5 Star Program nominee sticker on their name badge at monthly meetings. At the end of the year, all nominees will be entered into a final draw for fabulous prizes.

The program is now in effect, find out more about our volunteer winners from the second quarter. Keep an eye out for those volunteers who you feel is going beyond and above and should be recognized – even if this volunteer is you!

5 STAR PROGRAM WINNER PROFILES:

Tammy Carey, CMP, Special Education Projects, Second Quarter 2010–11 Winner
Tammy graduated Ryerson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Theatre Production. Immediately after she graduated, she started working at Christie Lites, selling lighting equipment to various theatres across Canada. She decided that she did not like sales and quickly moved into freelancing for the film and television industry as a special effect prop and model maker. Although this unique job allowed her to make 500 fake cranberries for a Cranberry Welch’s commercial, edible paint for Molly Shannon for the movie Superstar and a scale model of the Whitehouse for the movie Dick, Tammy felt she was too focused on one area.

In 1999, Tammy joined AVW-TELAV as a technician. Finally, she found her love in audio, video, staging, and lighting. After a couple years, the management convinced her to try sales. This time she excelled, as Tammy began to see herself as less of a sales person but more as a consultant. Because of this, she joined MPI in 2005 and obtained her CMP in 2007 to help her better understand the world of event planning.

In January of 2010, Tammy decided that she needed to see how other organizations work, and moved to Frischkorn Audio Visual.

"Volunteering allows me to not only gain more experience but also give back to an association that has given me so much. Since becoming a volunteer several years ago, I have been able to learn many new things and meet many people. By taking on tasks that are outside of my comfort zone such as marketing sub-committees and writing articles for MEETING magazine, I have learned many new skills. As I took on more responsibilities within the committees, I felt a great sense of contribution and success.

"Volunteering has given me the opportunity to really get to know several MPI colleagues that I may not have had the opportunity to do so by just attending MPI meetings. Over the last couple of years, I have been trying to share my expertise and experience with both the new members and volunteers. I hope that I can have the same emotional and professional effect on them, just as my MPI mentors had on me."

Pat Cluett, Communications - Second Quarter 2010–11 Winner
Getting my start in Customer Service early, I worked in my mother’s variety store and restaurant, and from a young age I watched my mother build relationships that last a lifetime; I am fortunate to have learned from the best. Studying Tourism and Travel at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario introduced to me to the hospitality industry with two paid co-operative education terms, first at the Worldwide Reservations Centre for Holiday Inns Inc. in downtown Toronto, and then as a Sales and Catering Coordinator at the Holiday in Woodland Hills, California.
Since then, I have worked in almost every department in a hotel, from guest services to accounting, but have definitely found something that I love to do in the Sales Department. I have also had the priviledge to diversify in the last 22 years by operating my own consulting firm for 3 years specializing in tourism/hospitality sales and marketing representation, and then, later, as an Account Manager for the third largest corporate travel management company in North America.

Volunteering with MPI is so rewarding, and has helped me gain confidence and improve my skill set. The MPI Toronto Chapter is fortunate to have leaders that openly share information and are willing to help others achieve their goals, making us all successful. Thank you to all of the volunteers out there for leading by example, and sharing this experience with me. Together, we can climb any mountain!

Jhannell Edwards, Special Events Committee - Second Quarter 2010–11 Winner
Jhannell is an undergraduate student at Ryerson University’s Hospitality and Tourism Program. Currently in her third year, Jhannell is an active student member of MPI and sits as a special events committee member. With an event management certification earned through Algonquin College, her passion lies within the events and meeting industry. Jhannell currently works as a food and beverage supervisor at the Air Canada Centre and as a wedding coordinator during the summer months. Her relentless drive and passion has led her to become the 2011–2012 President of MPI Toronto Chapter’s Student Club and Vice President of Events for Ryerson University’s West Indian Student Association. Jhannell looks forward to gaining more valuable skills and knowledge through MPI initiatives and furthering her event planning career.

"Volunteering to me means exercising my talents, developing my skills and gaining knowledge in a nonthreatening atmosphere. The benefits gained from offering my time are immense. It has matured me as a business professional and has allowed me to connect with many great people spanning various backgrounds. I thrive off of giving back to my community and to others therefore it is embedded in my character. MPI has provided me a wealth of opportunity and I will be forever grateful for the experiences and lessons learned."

Kim Gervais, CMP, Member Care Committee - Second Quarter 2010–11 Winner
I have found in my various roles within MPI, as a committee chair and a volunteer, working with your peers is a very rewarding experience. MPI has allowed me to meet many wonderful people in the meetings industry and develop long-lasting relationships that have benefited me not only from a business perspective but also on a personal level. Being an independent planner, it is important to make contacts with both planners and suppliers as my clients come from both sides of the business. I have always had volunteer positions during my career – everything from parent teacher committees to industry associations to charitable organizations. It gives me the opportunity to give back in a small way.

Mary Beth Holmes, CMP, Education Committee - Second Quarter 2010–11 Winner
Mary Beth has over 17 years of experience as a meeting planner. She started her career as an independent planner, researching, executing and analyzing events for not for profit organizations and corporations. She then became the in house planner for a Canadian corporation, developing a team in the planning, execution and evaluation of Canadian events. She recently joined the ConferenceDirect team in Canada helping organizations find the perfect hotel and venue for their meetings. She is an active member of MPI serving on two different committees. She also serves on the Board of Directors of a not-for-profit organization in Oakville. A hockey mom, she resides in Oakville with her husband and two children.

"Volunteering has always been part of who I am. I have served on many boards and volunteer committees.

"I always take away so much more than I ever expect. Volunteering has opened many doors for me, in fact, I fell in love with meeting planning as a result of volunteering to organize an event for a local charity. I have continued to volunteer as an excellent way to gain experience in the industry that I love and to meet colleagues and friends. When I first joined MPI I wanted to get involved right away, it made it easier to go to industry functions knowing that I would know someone there. I have enjoyed meeting and working with everyone that I have met in MPI and look forward to continuing to volunteer. I would recommend getting involved to any member of MPI whether you have been in the industry or the association for a long time or a only a brief time. The people here are great, you will love it too!"

Congratulations to our second quarter winners. For more information about the 5 Star Program, visit here.

6519B Mississauga Rd
Mississauga, Ontario
L5N 1A6
T: (905) 567-9591
F: (866) 768-8168