PlanIt Tennessee

 President's Message   

 

Hello August!!

I hope everyone is having a great summer and surviving the heat and humidity!  I mentioned in my President's speech at the Gala that I am all about change, and the long term goal is to keep the momentum of our chapter's success going.  Well here is the first one, if you haven't heard Jamie Hulet birthed a baby!!  Yes, that's right we have a new website!!!  We started the process over a year ago knowing it was going to be a long, painstaking journey but a much needed one.  We, the Board of Directors, are very excited about the look and ease of our new site and hope you will be as well.  We have to give a huge shout out to our VP of Communications, Jamie Hulet on all the blood, sweat and tears that she shed to get the new site launched!  THANK YOU!!!!   We will be having a quick overview on the new site at the beginning of the Central Region August luncheon so be sure to arrive on time.

We had a great start to the year with our West and Central luncheons.  Looking forward to the August luncheons in the Central and East Regions.  BTW, Central Region, our August meeting was the East Region's 2014-2015 Meeting of the Year.  You won't want to miss it!

Also, the membership campaign of Grow More Earn More is still going on so recruit, recruit, recruit new members. Keep in mind for any new member you recruit you receive a $25 credit on your membership renewal.

If you haven't joined a committee get your butt on one and get engaged in the chapter. I promise you won't regret it!!!


In This Issue
Our Sponsors
Platinum Partners


 




Gold Partners

The Peabody Memphis

 

Silver Partners
Chef's Market
Country Music Hall of Fame ® and Museum
DG International
Drury Plaza Franklin
Embassy Suites Nashville South/Cool Springs
Gary Musick Production
Hard Rock Café/Nashville
Hilton Garden Inn Nashville
Holiday Inn/Fogelman Executive Conference Center
Knoxville Airport Hilton
Knoxville Convention Center
Liberty Party Rental
ONstage
Park Vista a DoubleTree by Hilton Gatlinburg
Schenk Photography
Schermerhorn Center
Embassy Suites Knoxville West
Holiday Inn Knoxville West at Cedar Bluff
Titanic Pigeon Forge

Do you want to become an MPI:TN sponsor and partner with the state's largest and most vibrant community of meeting and event professionals?

For more information, contact Colleen Cussick, Director of Strategic Alliances for MPI:TN!

August Educational Message - Central
The Why and How of Event Measurement
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University 
 
You're under increasing pressure to justify the expense of your meetings, but how do you gain credibility for the cause and support from disparate stakeholders?

How do you convey that measurement will help create better outcomes that align with meeting and organizational goals? 

CMP-IS Domain A: Strategic Planning, 1 CE
 
  
Listen to Robyn Bass, owner of her own company Maple Ridge Events,  as she provides the answers in this interactive "how to" session. Find best practices and practical tools for overcoming barriers, establishing relevant meeting objectives and showing the value of a measurement program.

Objectives will include understanding how meetings create business value, learning how to set meeting objectives that align with organizational strategy and identifying/overcoming barriers to implementing business value of meetings program.  
August Educational Message - East
Communications for Success
Tuesday, August 18,  2015  11:00 am to 1:00 pm 
Knoxville Convention Center

What is your communication style?
Join us during this interactive session as we explore the DISC personality profile test.  Learn your unique personality traits and how to use this knowledge to begin communicating successfully with your team, clients, sponsors and vendors. 

Save Money. Buy Meeting Vouchers!
MPI:TN is offering prepaid vouchers for our monthly educational luncheon meetings.  This program allows you to pre-pay for six future registrations for monthly meetings and save money at the same time.  The cost is $175 for 6 meetings or buy five get one free.   Vouchers are good for meetings from July 2015 through June 2016 and are valid in all three regions.  Vouchers are not redeemable for the Gala, Connect, or any After Hours/ MIX Events.  Vouchers expire June 30 2016 and are valid for MPI:TN Members Only.  For more information or to purchase vouchers, please contact  the chapter at info@tnmpi.org or 615-373-8002.
MPI:TN Needs You!
It's not too late to join a committee. Fill out the Volunteer Interest Form in order to get involved. 

Questions?  Contact Holly Stevenson, CMP, your new Director of Leadership & Professional Development.

New Member Recruitment
We are excited to kick off the 2015 Grow More, Earn More campaign. As a reminder the goal is the same, grow your chapter and earn more incentives, but the campaign is slightly different. This year your chapter's benchmark will be the number of members the chapter had at the end of June 2015. The campaign will run through December 31, 2015. At that point we will calculate each chapter's net growth and MPI Global will pay out $75 for each member your chapter has grown by.

This year the benchmark number for the Tennessee Chapter is 304. There is no minimum growth goal for this campaign. So if the chapter grows by 1 you will earn $75, if the
chapter grows by 10 that is $750!

Also, don't forget about MPI's Member Referral Rewards Programs - this gives existing members a $25 credit toward their next renewal dues for EACH new member they recruit.


New Member Spotlight - Megan Romeiser
Name: Megan Romeiser  

Current Position: Meetings and Member Services Manager at Parthenon Management Group

How long have you been in the industry? Over 10 years

Why did you join MPI? For education opportunities. I would like to get my CMP.

What would you like to gain from MPI membership? A good network of meeting planners and more knowledge of current trends in the industry.

What would you like the chapter to know about you? I am looking forward to being an active member of MPI. I hope to volunteer and help our as much as I can.
Member News  
Congratulations, Tammy Gilbert Cardona, on being named Chair of MPI's new International Chapter Leadership Advisory Council. She will serve as committee chair for the 2015-2016 year.  Way to go, Tammy!
Good news and bad news.  First the good.  It's official.  Kristen Richardson is engaged!  Will, her fiancé', surprised her and popped the question on the beach.  The bad news is Kristen has accepted a position in Jacksonville, Florida, where she and Will are going to make their home.  Congratulations, Kristen.  We will miss you.


Reminder...MPI Membership Rate Increase Effective July 1 
Membership rates for new members will increase $4.00, $349 for planners and $469 for suppliers, effective July 1 .   The increase will take affect for renewals September 2015.