Florida Connects - Winter 2008 - (Page 26)

Chapter News North Florida By Carol Cullen President, North Florida Chapter IT HAS BEEN A VERY EXCITING AND rewarding ﬁrst six months of this new term. The vision to “build a rich global meetings community” by building human connections has had a positive effect all around. The Florida Chapters’ Southeast Education Conference will be hosted by the North Florida Chapter from Aug. 23 – 25, 2008. We have gathered an extremely talented and dedicated team. We were proud to name Sabrina Young, CMP, Maggianos Little Italy, as the SEC chairperson. She has collected some of the best people in the industry and formed the committees. We had contracted for the venue and successfully executed the “kick-off” luncheon in August, complete with our conference’s new logo. We will produce “Imagination and Innovation…Absolutely!” Producing the second annual all-Florida chapters’ MPI membership directory and the creation of Florida Connects, our new fourchapter magazine, puts all Florida members on the cutting edge of collaboration. This is our newest tool to grow membership and expand into other geographical markets. North Florida’s education schedule and programs have proven to be highly effective. In the ﬁrst half of this year, we have given our members a meeting from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, Jacksonville Airport, regarding updates on today’s travel. Attendees even took home the newly approved 4”x 5” Ziploc bag for carry-on amenities. At one meeting, we asked the question, “Is there a more productive way to do business in the meetings industry by partnering together?” Lynda Garvey from American Express Business Travel Advisory Services shared how effective consolidation for clear-cut savings affected the bottom line. Joining us was the First Coast Business Travel Association with its insight and experience on how this process affects their meetings and travel issues too. MPI’s own Brad Goldberg of CommGenix in Tampa Bay saved the day and brought us up-to-the-minute information on “Today’s Ethics for Meeting Professionals.” Most recently, a pair of chefs provided a “culinary showcase” in a joint meeting with industry partners NACE of the Northeast Florida market. Executive chef Roberto Mora and sous chef Hassan Naouli of Embassy Suites Baymeadows not only prepared and served our fabulous meal, but also provided live preparation and shared with us their expertise in food trends, meat science, international foods, sushi and desserts, and they wowed even the most seasoned guests. At 115 members strong, the North Florida Chapter has continually maintained a membership retention rate of more than 80 percent. Our desire and dedication to grow our chapter is strong, with a goal to increase membership to 150 meeting professionals by June 30. If you are reading this and have not found an MPI home, you are invited to try the North Florida chapter. It is a diverse and motivated chapter, and you would be an asset. There are numerous opportunities to work on committees and share your industry knowledge with fellow meeting professionals, and you deﬁnitely want to be a part of the development of ■ the Southeast Educational Conference! Our desire and dedication to grow our chapter is strong, with a goal to increase membership to 150 meeting professionals by June 30. 26 Florida CONNECTS Winter 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Florida Connects - Winter 2008

Florida Connects - Winter 2008 Contents Message from the Presidents Boards of Directors Chapter Calendars Member News Tampa Bay’s Convention Package Ready or Not Tampa North Florida Orlando South Florida Advertiser.com Index of Advertisers On the Radar

Florida Connects - Winter 2008

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