Meeting News - October 20, 2008 - (Page 18)

MN Exclusive Research Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun, In Team-Building or Parties Halloween brings out the spirit in meeting groups, but planners should save time for attendees to be with their kids By Gretchen Kelly alloween, also known as All Hallows Eve—or if you’re a neo-pagan, Samhain—has become increasingly popular among meeting and corporate event planners at companies that now view the once-traditional Christmas party as too controversial. With ofﬁce holiday parties moved up to the 31st of October, candy corn replaces candy canes, and everybody should be happy. Well, almost everybody. According to MeetingNews’ Exclusive Research, 51 percent of all responding planners believe that Halloween is a noncontroversial holiday and a good time to hold a party. Twelve percent, on the other hand, felt that the holiday was controversial enough to make attendees uncomfortable, and 5 percent thought the H-word spelled trouble, as in “all the crazies come out.”(Thirty-two percent did not categorize their perception of Halloween.) Marie Hunter, managing director, global head of corporate services at New York City-based Lehman Brothers, stated that Halloween “has become as wholesome as apple pie.”Added Laura Miller, registrar at Lawrence, KS-based Franklin County Historical Society:“My director is having a Halloween function this year at one of our historical sites, with H Association Planners Say What’s your perception of Halloween? Other 34.7% 51.6% Trouble - 7.3% all the 6.5% crazies come out Controversial makes some attendees uncomfortable Non-controversial holiday - we like to hold parties Source: 332 of MeetingNews survey respondents wine and appetizers. We’re hoping to bring in more members to our society, Controversial - makes more people to join the board, and to some attendees foster goodwill among those of us Non-controversial uncomfortable . 15.0% already involved.” Miller noted that holiday - we like to hold Halloween is less of a hot-button parties 50.5% issue than the December holidays, and “as for the ‘pagan’nature of the holiday, I don’t think that’s going to make much difference.” Trouble - all Tell that to the pagans, who the crazies come view Samhain as a sacred time. out . . . . . . . 2.8% Other . . . 31.8% Kate Burlett, a member of the Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary of Earth Religions in Artemis, PA, pointed out that Halloween was traditionally celebrated as a time when the veils between the worlds of the living and the Source: 332 of MeetingNews survey dead were thinnest. “Within the community, the respondents depiction of the witch as an old hag is troublesome, but we don’t let that guide us,” Burlett said. “It’s OK if you’re going trick or treating, but know the other side of it.” public relations manager at Boston-area Girl People today, Burlett said, are afraid of the idea Scouts of Swift Water Council, said, “I’ve worked of death and so have made a big, noisy holiday places where costumes are worn (and judged in a out of it with costumes and candy. That is the side contest) and you can choose to participate, or not.” taken by Joshua Czarda, creator of Ravenchase But Hunter added,“A Halloween theme can work Adventures, an international high-concept well for an employee group—but not for a client adventure live game and team-building compa- group. Frequently, client relationships are strong, ny:“Whether you’re running down a street being but not so strong as to allow people to step so far chased by brain-eating zombies; eluding lasers, out of their professional comfort zone to ‘wear a guards, and cameras to get to a safe; or rapelling costume’and really let their hair down in that way.” from a helicopter, high adventure yields real Many planners also said that Halloween is conteam-building.” The ﬁrm, which is known for its sidered a family event. Hettinger said,“Halloween sophisticated cipher-solving “chases” played out is also Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon for corporations in the U.S. and around the MN Low’s birthday, so many Girl Scouts celeworld, will be using ghouls and other pop-up Exclusive brate the date twice in different ways! But Research scares on a U.S. Army-commissioned course our national convention is over Halloween scheduled on Halloween. Said Czarda, “Every this year, and I know some mothers of young game we create, including the high-concept children who are choosing not to go because they efforts like Zombie Invasion or Illuminati (every don’t want to be away.” clue is invisible), wraps the same problem-solvThe Eventors’ Shari Westmoreland had a group ing and team-building skills we encounter in our last year that ended its conference on the morning business lives—within the fold of an entertain- of Oct. 31.“You really have to give people time to ment package.” get back to their homes in time for Halloween If there is a downside to planning a meeting or festivities,” she said. event around Halloween, it is that Halloween— To which Burlett agreed, “Before our own which encourages role-playing—might unsettle Samhain ritual, I’m taking my daughter trick or colleagues within groups. Mary Ellen Hettinger, treating.” r www.meetingnews.com Corporate Planners Say 18 MeetingNews October 20, 2008 http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/research/index.jsp http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - October 20, 2008

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