Save the date for these exciting MPI Toronto chapter events:

August 14-15
Event: IncentiveWorks
Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre

September 20
Annual General Meeting and Volunteer Recognition

October 17
Just Networking

November 13
Professional Development Workshop

December 4
Holiday Gala & Fundraiser

June 27, 2018. Daunted by bad forecasts prior to the days leading up to it, we once again pulled a rabbit out of a hat and escaped the rain clouds and enjoyed a fabulous day on the golf course. All caliber of golfers, along with our peers and guests had a wonderful time. The overwhelming consensus was that they loved of our 12-hole concept, and why not as we were done in less than 3.5 hours with all new and seasoned golfers enjoying the experience. Tee off was at 2 p.m., and everyone was on their way home by 7:45 p.m., and yes, this included the banquet. Exciting prizes donated by our generous members, fabulous hole sponsors, along with our supporting members and guests made it all possible. Royal Woodbine Golf Club did a terrific job, and we thank them for being so hospitable yet again.

Please consider joining us next year as we offer great value, fantastic networking and a lot of fun. We welcome novice golfers as this is the place to come out and just have some fun and practice your game a bit.

Next year’s date will be announced shortly, so please mark it in your calendar as we hope to see you there!

Thank you to our sponsors:

AV-CANADA
BIZ BASH
D.E. SYSTEMS
HAND HEART AND SOLE WELLNESS
IGNITE
NIAGARA FALLS BUSINESS EVENTS
NIAGARA PARKS COMMISSION
PELLER ESTATES WINERY
RAVINE ESTATE VINEYARDS
STRONCO
THE IMAGE COMMISSION
WHITE OAKS CONFERENCE RESORT & SPA

July 12, 2018

Do you always come out of your negotiation with a win-win situation?

The Art of Negotiation Professional Development Session took place on July 18, and Kira Callahan from Conversation Gym rocked our summer PD session. We all know that meeting professionals are notoriously meticulous, and at times it can be hard to pull us back from our extensive conversations. Kira’s session on the art of negotiation did that and much more! She’s a dynamic speaker, and the working session was fun, engaging and highly targeted to our needs. We went through real-life situations, and everyone had an opportunity to put their negotiation skills to the test. One of the biggest take-aways was how one negotiates and maintains that valued relationship with the end result of a win-win for all. Having the opportunity to work in teams gave us an opportunity to learn from each other and hear other tactics that can be used during our conversations on future negotiations for our meetings/events.

This session ended with the fantastic FOUR led by our moderator Kathy Barthel from Take on Your World. Kathy tied in all the speakers' thoughts and onstage banter! Our panelists included Marc Dosman, founder of Strategic Site Selection; Arianna McLaughlin, manager, Events at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP; Erin Reid, sales manager, White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa; and Heather Reid, principal planner and owner, Innovative Conferences & Communications. This group of expert negotiators, hotel representatives and planners came to the table to share their insider tips on topics like force majeure, attrition, contract termination and how to maintain and strengthen relationships between suppliers and planners. I don’t think anyone wanted the panel discussion to end.

Thanks to all our sponsors for making this Professional Development session possible: Chelsea Hotel Toronto for hosting the PD session, Freeman Audio Visual Canada for the AV support, D.E. Systems for online registration, The Image Commission by Digital Pix Inc. for photography and BizBash and Ignite, media partners.

Keep your eyes open for our Professional Development session on Nov. 13 as it's going to be exciting!

Antonietta Tantalo
Chair of Professional Development
Manager, Events & Employee Engagement
TD Bank

Each year, a talented group of MPI Toronto volunteers collaborate to deliver one of the best CMP study groups that can be found! From our expert speakers, generous sponsors and dedicated committee, we are all committed to the success of our participants earning their certified meeting professional designation through the Events Industry Council (EIC).

Our primary focus is the Spring Study Group Series, which we recently concluded for 2018. The series runs from February to June and consists of two afternoon sessions, one Saturday session and one Sunday overnight session in Niagara Falls. If you’re interested in obtaining your CMP, the Spring Study Group Series is the perfect starting point. By the final session, participants will have been fully emerged in all CMP material, guided by CMP experts and ready to tackle the exam in August. We work very hard to ensure the current standards of EIC are upheld and make necessary modifications year over year to deliver the best program.

We also run a half-day Fall Bootcamp, geared toward candidates writing their exam in November. Bootcamp topics are determined by the participant’s needs. Whether or not you attended the Spring Series; if you’re writing in November you definitely need to attend.

Our goal is to reduce the stress and guesswork for you when obtaining your CMP. The affordability of the MPI Toronto CMP Study Group, combined with the expertly delivered sessions, makes joining the study group a wise decision for all CMP candidates! If you’re ready to start your journey to obtaining your CMP, we can help.

If you have any questions about the MPI Toronto CMP Study Group, how to obtain your CMP designation, or want to contribute as a future speaker or venue sponsor, please contact Jen at jmoir@meetingencore.com or anyone else on our committee.

Here’s what a few of our recent participants are saying about their experience:

"As an event planner for over 7 years, I was confident about working toward my CMP designation until my first study group session. I realized this would be more challenging than just studying a couple of textbooks. The knowledge and work that the committee and speakers put into guiding you through your CMP journey is incredible. Not only do you get the benefits of hearing from experts and practicing your knowledge, but you also get to connect with peers. You’ll build relationships that will stay with you moving forward on this new path in your career. Lastly, the study group keeps you accountable. You’ll walk into your exam more confident than ever!" ~ Jennifer Pelletier

"The CMP Study Group is an invaluable experience for anyone wanting to write their CMP! The resources they provide are more useful than any you could find on your own, and the advice from past CMP candidates will help you learn what is important to focus on!" ~ Jennifer Yung

Jennifer Moir, CMP
Regional Director
Meeting Encore

Happy summer, all! We hope you are enjoying some much-needed and well-deserved time off with family and friends.

As we head into another year for the MPI Toronto Chapter, the Membership Committee wants to remind you of some amazing membership benefits you can take advantage of.

IncentiveWorks Promo 2018/2019:

Attending IncentiveWorks 2018 happening Aug. 14-15 at the MTCC in Toronto? Stop by the MPI Toronto trade show booth to obtain the code to receive $50 off your renewal or $100 off a new membership! This offer is only valid for IncentiveWorks attendees who visit the MPI Toronto booth and only available from Aug. 14 to Sept. 30. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to save some dollars! Find out more about the show here: https://www.incentiveworksshow.com/.

2018/2019 Scholarship Opportunities:

Did you know that the MPI Foundation offers a number of scholarships throughout the year available to all active members? There are many opportunities to explore just waiting for you to apply!

Want to attend a PD Session this year and need some financial assistance? What about WEC coming to Toronto for 2019? Get all the info regarding some amazing benefits available here: https://www.mpiweb.org/foundation/scholarships . Make sure to check back regularly as new opportunities often become available through the year.

Volunteer and Really Get Connected:

Want to REALLY make the most of your membership? Volunteering is the way to go! Not only will you receive the satisfaction of giving back to your community, you will also have a chance to really connect one-on-one with members and like-minded individuals! MPI has a number of volunteer opportunities available to enhance your current skill set or build some new ones. Check out the various committees here http://www.mpitoronto.org/en/Volunteering and send in your application today!

Is Your Information Up to Date?

Have you updated your membership profile lately with the most accurate info? If not, make sure to do so by logging into your profile at http://www.mpiweb.org/. You don’t want to miss out on exciting promotions and industry news; update your info today!

We hope you all have an amazing summer and look forward to seeing you at the next event!

Cheers,

Membership Committee, MPI Toronto Chapter 2018-2019

Did you know MPI Toronto has a new Leadership Team?
As we say goodbye to a successful 2017/2018 fiscal year at MPI Toronto, we say 'See you soon!' to some Leadership Team members and 'Hello!' to others.

We are pleased to announce the 2018/2019 MPI Toronto Chapter Leadership Team

Thinking about acquiring your CMP designation? This past Spring CMP Study Group had the opportunity to get excited and inspired by many of our experienced volunteer speakers. Check out Amy Duffy’s blog for more information: Click here.

Keep posted for the Fall CMP Bootcamp and next year’s CMP Introduction Session and Spring Study Group!

Save the date! Choose your own EVENTure. Chapter 2 will take #eventprofs to the newly renovated Bonaventure Hotel on April 4-6, 2019.

Check out highlights from The Event 2018 in Ottawa: Click here. 

Twitter Accounts: 

• @MPI_MTLQC
• @mpiottawa 
• @MPIToronto