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SSW Winter Newsletter


Tps for Planner: R i


s egistering Yur Internatio o


nal Conference with the Depart


ment of Sate t


Conferences with international attendees present unique logistical challenges for both planners and the attendees themselves. One challenge that attendees may encounter when making their travel arrangements is securing a visa. The Department of State offers the following information for planners on their website http://travel.state.gov/visa/ temp/types/types_2665.html#14 While registering your event may not help an attendee get a visa more quickly, it will help to prove the legitimacy of the meeting on the visa application.


From the Department of State website: I Am a Conference or Event Organizer. How Can I Submit My Event Information?


• If you are a conference organizer or sponsor of a conference or event located in the U.S. and the conference will be held in the U.S., please contact the email address: businessvisa@state.gov, sending the following information: • Date(s) when conference or event is to be held; • Title/name of conference or event; • Brief description of the conference, including purpose and sponsorship; • Location of the conference or event;


• Expected international attendance (100 visa applicants minimum to post an event), and the total number of ex- pected attendees;


• Point of contact (at conference/event organizer): Organization website (if available), contact name, title, address, telephone number and email address, in case the embassy has questions about your announcement. What Benefit Is There for My Conference to Be Listed?


Providing conference information and a participant list for large conferences does not waive or expedite any visa pro- cedures. It is simply an internal communications tool with our U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide to let them know we have been contacted by the U.S. company, notifying us the conference or event is taking place in the U.S.


Cr rate Sopo


ocial R


esponsibility is not ju


What is CSR? Corporate So- cial Responsibility has been flying around the meetings industry for some time now but the adoption of a fully- integrated policy and practi- cum is another challenge unto itself. A formal CSR program might include a reporting component which is either voluntary or manda- tory, or government regu- lated. The reporting can identify the sustainability


st for corporations! By Megan Higgins, CMP


management standards for your events. This may in- clude practices such as re- ducing water/energy/waste, incorporating recycling pro- cedures, renewable energy sources, public transport incentives, and flexible work programs for your employ- ees. But how do you deter- mine what aspects of CSR are right for your organiza- tion? Or alternatively, how do you ensure your non-


profit organization is meet- ing the expectations of your community members and supporters?


Win over your customers and attendees. Over the years, Site Solu- tions Worldwide has been involved with a variety of community projects and charities, including Spina Bifida Association, Albany Adaptive Sports and Global


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