to the point

Deborah Sexton President & CEO deborah.sexton@pcma.org

Forward-to-School Time Class is always in session at PCMA.

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At-Your- Door Education

Think of the maga- zine you’re holding

— or viewing online at pcma.org— as a monthly educa- tional opportunity, delivered right to your door and screen. This month, you’ll find a wealth of innovative ideas from our second annual Best in Show award winners (p. 42), along with a new way of looking at your meeting’s CSR efforts in our CMP Series (where you can earn CEUs), on p. 61. And learn what’s top of mind for four international medical meeting professionals who participated in PCMA’s inaugural Global Medical Meet- ings Summit last month in London (p. 71). That’s just a small part of all this issue has to offer. Dig in.

t’s August, and we’re all being bombarded by back-to-school ads. (Actually, I read recently that Walmart launched its online back-to-school promotion back in June, but that’s

another topic for another day.) Back-to- school fever — fueled by the multimedia retail advertising push for everything from clothes to backpacks to dorm-room supplies — is really in full swing. Students and faculty members who are reading this magazine get to experience the excitement of going back to school, not to mention those of you with school-aged kids of your own. There are new teachers and students to meet, new routines, new activities — and the anticipation of a year or semes- ter ahead filled with new things to learn. Here at PCMA, class is always in

session. We work hard to provide top- notch education opportunities for you all year long. In fact, summer is one of our busiest times for face-to-face edu- cation events, including our successful mid-year Education Conference, held this past June in Denver. Since there’s no pause in the opportunities we offer, there’s no natural momentum to build for exploring something new. I realize it might be challenging to take a step back and get excited about learning. But even if you’re not shopping for

a new backpack, fresh pencils, or a new pair of shoes, I urge you to take a few minutes to think about what gets you excited about learning. Do you like the smell of fresh paper

in a brand-new book, the crack of the not-yet-broken-in spine? Or do you prefer an online resource that you can tap into on your tablet, no matter what city you’re in or what time of day? Maybe you’re one of the many

people who get invigorated by attend- ing a face-to-face education event.

10 PCMA CONVENE AUGUST 2013 PCMA.ORG

Does your blood really start pumping when you can hash out challenges with your peers in small groups? Or do you prefer to sit alone at the side of the room, soaking in an expert’s insights and silently weighing your own experi- ences against their ideas? PCMA offers a wide variety of edu-

cation opportunities for every type of learner, whether in person or online. You can take advantage of face-to-face opportunities locally at the chapter level, nationally, or even globally. Online options include live virtual events and content you can access on your own time. Convene is an excellent source of monthly education, and our website offers a host of other resources 24/7. If you’re thinking these opportuni- ties sound good, if only you had the time, I encourage you to think again. The status quo — in your professional career or in your meetings — is not an option in today’s fast-paced, ever- changing industry. PCMA education can help you take advantage of the most cutting-edge trends and help you keep your career and your meetings moving forward and thriving. Take a few minutes to think about

what gets you excited about learning, and visit pcma.org to review oppor- tunities to further your professional development.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL ABRAMSON