MPI Potomac FYI
December 2021
 
Upcoming Events
 
 
#CripCamp is a story of how teens with disabilities became revolutionary activists and shaped a culture of love, pride and self-acceptance. Join Leila Beltramo, MPI Potomac Chapter board director of leadership & DE&I; Joan Aiken, MPI Potomac Chapter DE&I co-chair; Jenny Ng, MPI Minnesota Chapter DE&I chair; and Amanda Sullivan, MPI Minnesota Chapter DE&I co-chair, for a discussion on the impact of these young people and how we, as allies and industry, can do more.
 
When will it be held? Friday, December 10 at Noon EST – Human Rights Day
 
Human Rights Day is the day, in 1948, that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being — regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. The 2021 theme is EQUALITY — reducing inequalities, advancing human rights.
 
Register and join the conversation in a safe space.
 
 


 
GOALCHELLA: A Great Gathering of Goal Setting


January 6, 2022

The Westin Washington DC City Center or Virtual

4 PM - 7:30 PM


 
Let's make 2022 your team's year to set and achieve your goals. We all know how to approach the plan; now we need the kick-start to put it into action. Who better to help you and your team than award-winning keynote speaker, Rachel Sheerin. 
 

 
 
MPI planner members receive complimentary registration thanks to our continuing education partner, Visit Detroit!

 

 
 

Skate for a Cause with MPI Potomac

 

December 15

Pentagon Row Outdoor Skating Rink

4 PM - 6 PM

 
MPI Potomac is going ON ICE for our winter fundraiser. Join us at the Pentagon Row Outdoor Skating Rink on Wednesday, December 15 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. as we support two meaningful nonprofits. All ticket proceeds will go to the MPI Foundation, and we’ll be collecting new, unwrapped toys for The National Center for Children and Families.
 
And thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the chapter’s donation to the Foundation will be matched up to $250!
 
Not ready to lace up? No worries! You can still join us at the rink to mix and mingle with the other attendees and watch the skaters show off their skills.
 
Register today, pick up an extra toy for NCCF and start sharpening your skates. We’ll see you at the rink!

 
MEET Chicago Northwest
Visit Colorado Springs
News & Announcements
 

Road to ReConEx

ReConEx, the MPI Potomac Chapter Regional Conference in April, is in the process of being built by our committee members who are working hard to plan the conference and streamline the educational content. Our call for presentations ended November 15, and we are now mapping out the program with engaging sessions and intriguing keynote speakers; we strived to find the right voice to help us craft our message and infuse our audience with enthusiasm and excitement.
 
To that effect, we are excited to announce extraordinaire Rachel Sheerin is back. Rachel will be the ReConEx 2022 master of ceremony. Rachel lives in Charlotte and is an affiliate member of MPI Potomac.
 
In receipt of this fabulous news, Visit Charlotte has extended its support for its almost-native, talented professional to work alongside Rachel sharing videos of the Road to ReConEx. Starting at the January Educational Experience and the months leading to the conference the two will share videos of their Road to ReConEx.
 
 
Watch out for Rachel’s videos on all of our electronic communications to keep you up to date with our plans as we pave the way to ReConEx. We look forward to your “likes” and comments and hope that you’ll grace us with your presence on April 26, 2022!
 
Cristina Charron, CMP
Board Director, ReConEx
 
 
 
Thanks to MPI, we have a wonderful gift for you to help with your renewal. You can save 25%
on your membership fees if you renew before December 31. Just go into your member
profile on mpi.org and add in the promo code GIFT21.

This is not just for December due dates. If your membership is up before February 2022, you
can take advantage of this extraordinary deal now. Just renew by December 31, 2021! Log into
your account at MPI, click the renew button at the top right and apply the code. If you don’t see
the button or need any assistance, please contact MPI at feedback@mpi.org or 972-702-3053.
Visit Alexandria®
Regional Meetings Close to Home
As meetings trend to regional, planners see the value in choosing smaller destinations, close to home. Why not consider the #3 Top Best Small City in the U.S. (Condé Nast Travelers 2019) right in your backyard?  Easily drivable for staff and attendees, Alexandria and our hospitality partners are ready to welcome you back with the Alexandria Promise and much more.
See why Alexandria is now, more than ever, the perfect destination.
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Are you a music savant? Do you sing every song that comes through your playlist or on the radio?
 
Show off your skills by joining us for a fun-filled evening full of music trivia, food and drinks.
 
There are plenty of ways to participate!
  • Register as an individual and be placed on a team.
  • Register as a team.
  • Register to come. 
 
Spotlight
 

Community Outreach Community Spotlight

Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP)

 
December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, and the Community Outreach Committee would like to spotlight the nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) — and their free SoberRide® initiative that all local meeting professionals should know about — for their work in helping to prevent drunk driving in the Washington-metropolitan region.
 
Celebrating their 40th year in 2022, WRAP’s education and advocacy programs have helped to keep alcohol-related traffic deaths in the DC region historically lower than the national average. Most notably, WRAP’s SoberRide® program provides area residents a safe ride home for would-be drunk drivers.
 
Since the SoberRide® program began in 1991, WRAP has provided over 80,000 safe rides to local residents. As the holiday party season begins, starting on December 17 and operating nightly (10 p.m. - 4 a.m.) through January 1, 2022, individuals out late — including those attending our events — can take advantage of the SoberRide® program to stay safe with a Lyft ride home. Use the codes made available and released on 12/17, 12/24 and 12/31 at SoberRide.com when using Lyft, and the ride will be covered up to $15. Please note that the program is available only to attendees 21 years of age and older, and the rider is responsible for any charges over $15.
 

 
For more information on WRAP and the SoberRide® program, visit their website at www.wrap.org.
 
Written by: Renee Stake, CMP, Community Outreach Committee Member
Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau
Greensboro Area CVB