One + May 2011 - (Page 56)

“I think the best surprise is what a difference a convention can make to your community,” Bartlett said. “SkillsUSA has become part of the fabric of Kansas City, and I think both the convention and our community are better for it.” brings participants from around the country to execute the event. “As the conference grew, we looked for ways to make it more meaningful for the students as well,” she said. “We closed the streets around the convention center, which enhanced safety and also created more of a campus feel. It also allows many of the exhibitors to bring in large outdoor displays and lends an overall festival component to the weeklong conference with fun activities and vendors for the students.” Looking toward 2012, Kansas City was presented with the opportunity to play host to a signiﬁcant sporting event that would interfere with the dates of SkillsUSA’s conference. “The Major League Baseball All-Star Fan Fest wanted to come to town,” said Shelly L. Coates, associate director for conference management services and the ofﬁce of education, training and assessments with SkillsUSA. “Kansas City approached SkillsUSA with a request to change what have been historically set conference dates for our 2012 confer- ence. This request would enable Kansas City to host the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Fan Fest, followed by the renowned and respected All-Star Game. For a city to host something like this does many positive things for the reputation of the city and for the economy.” Because SkillsUSA considers Kansas City a friend, Coates says, the organization adjusted the conference dates for the ﬁrst time in SkilllsUSA’s 47-year history and did so with enthusiasm. “I think the best surprise is what a difference a convention can make to your community,” Bartlett said. “SkillsUSA has become part of the fabric of Kansas City, and I think both the convention and our community are better for it.” ILONA KAUREMSZKY is the former editor of Corporate Meetings & Events and is the co-producer of Mycompass.ca. Follow her @my compasstv on Twitter and YouTube. http://www.Mycompass.ca http://www.explorebransonmeetings.com http://www.explorebransonmeetings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of One + May 2011

One + May 2011
Contents
Energy of Many
Impressions
Meeting Design Goes Mobile
Picking Brains
Agenda
Ask the Experts
Thoughts+Leaders
Overheard
Art of Travel
Web Watch
Radical Co-creation
Engagement + Innovation = Wunderbar
Top Spots
Connections
Irrelevant
The Business of Being Social
Safety in Numbers
Ads, Sponsors and Patrons
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
It’s Getting Better All the Time
Blame It on Rio
Ride Free
Learning How the Brain Learns
Just Face It
Becoming Mindful with Your Meetings
Group Think
The Mesh Meeting
Your Community
Making a Difference
Until We Meet Again

One + May 2011