plenary Denver Earns ASTM Certification + ‘I Really Love Seeing Things Come Together’ The voluntary APEX/ASTM

standards, which were developed by the Convention Industry Council’s Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) initiative and submitted to ASTM International for independent review and approval, also address sustain- ability in Communication & Marketing Materials, Exhibits, Food & Beverage, On-Site Office, and Transportation. A ninth standard, for Accommodations, is still pending. The new certifications are a logical

culmination of Denver’s longstanding commitment to greening its meetings infrastructure — especially at the Colo- rado Convention Center, which in 2010 received LEED certification for Exist- ing Buildings. Three years before that, the center hired a full-time sustainable programs manager — the first in the industry, according to Hoambrecker. In addition to a variety of other environ- mentally friendly initiatives, the center features a solar-panel array that gener- ates upwards of 300 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, a donation program for leftover conference materials, and two of Denver’s Bike Share stations. “The Colorado Convention Center

pursued this [APEX/ASTM] certifica- tion because of a multitude of ben- efits,” said Lindsay Arell, the center’s

‘It’s not just Denver saying we’re a green city. We actually have a validation saying we’re third-party-certified.’

sustainable programs manager. “In addition to supporting our commit- ment to sustainable operations, we also feel that by becoming certified we are offering a unique opportunity and service to our clients to realize their sustainability goals.” And to realize just how sustainable the center and its city are. “Not every

decision is based on sustainability,” Hoambrecker said, “but the nice thing is, if two cities are pretty comparable right next to each other, but then Denver has this sustainability [certifica- tion], that could be a driving decision for our clients.” Over the next few years, Visit Denver

would like to see other members of its meetings and hospitality community become certified in their areas, Hoam- brecker said, “so collectively, as a whole, we can meet and touch on every aspect of these standards.”

. — Christopher Durso TIPSTER Line Item

Doodling is usually considered a sure indicator that someone is bored, distracted, or uninterested. But according to The Meetology Group, “In an experiment, psychologists noted a rise in the levels of recall from doodlers as opposed to those who didn’t, so if you find yourself doodling in a meeting,

don’t worry; and if you are presenting in a meeting and someone is doodling, don’t always assume that they aren’t listening — they may just remember more than anyone else!”

SOURCE: 20 Ways to Improve Your Meetings, The Meetology Group (meetology.com)

16 PCMA CONVENE MARCH 2013

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