THE NEXT PCMA MASTERS SERIES: Register to be part of the dynamic discussion—“The Bold New World ofConvention Exhibits and Trade Shows”—to be held at theWalter E.Washington (D.C.) Convention Center on Oct. 20, atwww.pcma.org/mastersseries.
MEMBERSHIP, REDEFINED
In the past,PCMA has emphasized a benefits-only approach when it comes to encouraging new members to join and existing members to renew. But, as they say, that’s not all: Last month, PCMA launched a new member- ship campaign, PCMA Defines Me, which embraces the meetings industry’s many human traits with a sense of humor about both the association and its passionate members. PCMA understands that the primary driver for joining the association is the desire that people have to participate in a community of like-minded professionals, and to have access to superior educational offerings. So, in the coming months, keep an eye out for the new membership campaign—and maybe pass it along to a colleague! For more information on how to join PCMA, visitwww.pcma.org/membership.
Mark Your Calendar
PCMA Masters Series Washington, D.C. Oct. 20
Convene Forum Cancun Nov. 13–16
PCMA Executive Edge Chicago Nov. 15
PCMA 2012 Convening Leaders San Diego Jan. 8–11
See You at These Industry Events
IMEX America Las Vegas Oct. 11–13
ICCA Congress Leipzig, Germany Oct. 22–26
EIBTM
Barcelona Nov. 29–Dec. 1
MAKE YOUR CASE: PCMA’s recently updated Certified Association Sales Executive (CASE) Online Course for 2011 is up and running. The 10-module course is designed to build participants’ knowledge of association management, enhance business acumen, and more. For more information, visit www.pcma.org/case.
AND THE NOMINEES ARE ....
The proposed slate of PCMA board officers and direc- tors for next year—chosen by the PCMA Nominating Committee, led by Immediate Past Chair Kati S. Quigley, CMP—has been announced. Nominees include Johnnie White, CMP, executive director of meetings and educa- tional services for the Cardiovascular Research Founda- tion, as chair-elect; and ChristopherWehking, CMP, director of meetings and exhibits for the American Soci- ety of Anesthesiologists, as secretary-treasurer. To review the full list of nominees, visit http://bit.ly/qbGUZu. If no other nominations are received between now and Nov. 1, the nominated officers and directors will be deemed elected, and will take office in January at Convening Leaders 2012 in San Diego.
BRIDGING THE GULF BETWEEN PEOPLE
On Aug. 23, more than 35 members of PCMA’s Gulf States Chapter got together in Richardson, Texas, at associa- tion- and corporate-meetings production company AVMG headquarters, for an educational program. Past Chapter President Barbara Fett introduced AVMG President Jim Holt, followed by the main speaker, ThomSinger (pictured below), who gave an invigorating talk on the power of networking. One takeaway, said Chapter Administrator Lisa Brannum, CMP, CSEP, CMM, was that planners should “crush confer- ence cliques”—and then ask clique members, usually organization vets, to be ambassadors to the newcomers.
VERY IMPORTANT DATE:
Registration for PCMA 2012 Convening Leaders— meeting in San Diego on Jan. 8–11—is now open. Visit www.ConveningLeaders.org to register—and don’t forget that the cutoff for an early-registration discount is Nov. 10.