Happy Holidays to all.  I am excited about the ending of a wonderful year and the promises of an even more wonderful year to come. This time of year always brings joy and sadness, as well as some depression.  Remember to spend time with those most important to us, family, friends, co-workers, etc.  Let them know how much you appreciate them for even the smallest of things. There are a lot of things that can be redone, but spending time with and telling/showing those you care about most is something you sometimes don’t get the opportunity to redo.  Remember those less fortunate and appreciate all that our country affords us. 

We have some exciting events planned for 2012 and we look forward to seeing you. 

 Again Happy Holidays to ALL!

Tausha Freeman, CGMP

Business Management Specialist

General Services Administration (GSA)

The month of October marks the 30th Anniversary when a small group of government planners and industry partners established SGMP and it’s mission to improve the quality of, and promote the cost-effectiveness of government meetings.

In celebration of this milestone we invite you to experience the benefits of membership for one year at only $30.00. That is a very small investment for a BIG return on your professional development! (Offer is available to "new" government planner memberships and valid October 1— December 31, 2011)

Special $30 Membership Fee for New Government Planners!

SGMP Benefits: Meeting Planning Focus, Monthly Training Programs, Online Education, Certificate Programs, Quarterly Magazine, Earn the CGMP designation

Connect To...

New Planner Members

To qualify for this special offer you must plan meetings or events for your federal, state or municipal agency, be a "new" planner member or have not been a member in the last 12 months. For more information call 703-549-0892

Mike Downard—Membership Manager

Michael.Downard@sgmp.org

On December 16th the Heart of America SGMP Chapter volunteered our time at the Ronald McDonald House located on Cherry Street, it was a huge success. There were several in attendance as well as their children and even grand children to help assist with making chex mix, apple cider and goodie bags that were put together for the families. We also delivered all of the great toys that were donated as well as food, paper products and other items. We shared lots of holiday cheer and will look forward to volunteering once again in 2012.

Thank you to all that donated as well as volunteered for this very rewarding event!

Perspective By: Christina Smith

Name:  Sherie L. Howell, CMP, CMM, CGMP                            

Title:  Conference Manager

Current Employer:  A-S-K Associates, Inc.

How long have you been in the industry:  22 years

How long have you been in SGMP:  4 years

Most notable meeting/event moment: Producing a “Fun Run” in San Francisco across the Golden Gate bridge and having more runners than we ever had in any other city.  I had to quickly access the situation and fill the motor coach to the site full of attendees in the seats and the aisles and put the rest in cabs with company salespeople.  Once at the location, I had staff help me break down the “boxed” breakfasts so that the fruit, granola bars, yogurts and waters were all in a separate piles for the attendees to grab what they wanted after they crossed the finish line.  As I was completing the awards ceremony, the second motor coach that I called for that Sunday morning arrived.  It was truly a “sweet” victory.

Worst meeting/event mishap: Having to call the attendees leaving for a cruise in a couple of days and cancel their trip because the cruise ship had mechanical failure and couldn’t make the trip.

Hometown:  Born in Dallas, TX but have lived in Kansas since the 6^th grade.  

What is something unique that most members may not know about you: I am a teaching tennis pro.  I am an Advanced Scuba Diver and have Stress and Rescue certification.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now: Working for A-S-K Associates, Inc. by growing the business and adding additional services for clients and benefits for staff.

Name: Barbie Ehlers

Title: Sales Manager

Current Employer: Embassy Suites KCI/Homewood Suites KCI

How long have you been in the industry: 29 years

How long have you been in SGMP: I was part of the start up charter chapter back in the 1980’s and have been a member since then.

Most notable meeting/event moment: While working at the Embassy Suites on the Plaza in the late 80’s, my General Manager and I were selected to represent the Kansas City hotels at the Eastern Region NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament in East Rutherford, NJ. One of the highlights of this trip was meeting Bill Cosby, who was there for supporting Temple. Embassy Suites on the Plaza hosted the winning team, Duke for the Final 4. My kids couldn’t wait to meet Danny Ferry and the other players (I was still star-struck with Coach Krzyzeski). Unfortunately, my daughter came down with the mumps the day they arrived at our hotel so she never got to meet the team or go to the games! That year, KU won the Final 4 and Danny Manning of KS was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. After the upset, the team was remembered as “Danny and the Miracles.” To be so involved with this tournament from the start to finish was very exciting and memorable.

Worst meeting/event mishap: Our hotel (and other buildings in the area, including Urgent Care) lost power on an August Saturday afternoon, with a large wedding reception scheduled for that evening and a VIP group checking in for week-long meetings & events. Luckily, our Tiffany Greens Golf Course Clubhouse was available, so the wedding reception was moved over there. Almost all of our over-night guests were moved to other area hotels for the night.  The hotel returned to “business as usual” by early morning…the culprit of this 20 hour power outage was a snake in the transformer which short-circuited the grid, located up the street from the hotel.

Hometown: Freeport, IL

What is something unique that most members may not know about you: I was a flight attendant with Braniff. During my tenure, I had 3 emergency landings, several heart attack victims requiring CPR and an attempted hijacking. I was chosen to work the Kansas City Chiefs Charter flights to their out of town games, took President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalyn to Hawaii after leaving the White House, and had many sporting, TV & Movie stars on my flights.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now: Being able to spend more time with kids/grandkids, boyfriend and more time at my lake home in the Ozarks. Continue traveling, gardening, gym workouts, church & community involvement and relaxing or running with friends. LAUGH ALOT and LOVE OFTEN…RETIRE!

Ingredients:                                                          Yield: 15-8oz portions

Heavy Cream                                                       2 quarts     

Sugar                                                                    1 1/3 cup

Egg Yolks                                                             18 ea.

Pumpkin Pie Filling                                            ½ c.

Vanilla bean                                                         2ea.

Procedure:

1. Cream the yolks, sugar and vanilla together.
2. Heat the cream and pumpkin in a saucepot over medium heat.
3. Temper the yolk mixture with the cream. Mix well to combine and strain through fine sieve.
4. Pour into individual dishes.
5. Put rack in bottom of the pans you are cooking in for a water bath while baking.
6. Place cups in a water bath with enough water to cover to the same level as the mixture in the cups.
7. Cover each pan with parchment paper first and then tightly cover with foil.
8. Bake at 275 for 1 hour and then additional 15-minute increments as needed.     
9.  Cool completely, garnish with berries and a mint leaf and serve.

Balance as of November 30, 2011:

Checking:   $5175.50

Savings:   $126.25

The Membership Committee plays a vital role of member retention and recruitment as well as increasing our planner to supplier membership ratio.

With a 60/40 ratio requirement, the Membership Committee looks to our members to assist in new member recruitment efforts.  This committee also works with planner and supplier members to encourage members to bring guests to monthly meetings.  This committee strives to achieve maximum exposure to planners and suppliers for an increased membership base.

• Marketing through city and regional media
• New member orientation and introductions
• Planner and supplier buddy system

 Planner Members   13

Supplier Members  23

 Ratio Members   36

 Planner Ratio   36.1%

 Others Members 2

Total Members  38

The Hospitality Committee is continually communicating with chapter members to keep the level of involvement at its maximum.

• Print, house and distribute members’ nametags
• Member and guest greeting
• Distribution of meeting materials 
• Management of attendee drawings
• Personal calls to members who have missed the last two meetings

Our Program Committee focuses on continued education, personal growth, and networking amongst our members.  This committee focuses on program topics, speakers, additional materials for reading, and program locations.

• Member surveys VIA www.surveymonkey.com
• At least 10 chapter meetings annually (2 or less focused on personal development & 8 or more focused on professional development or meeting education)
• Meet the needs of member education
• Follow guidelines of national education requirements
• Sam Gilmer CEU Credit’s Program
• Evaluations and speaker’s certificates

In honor of SGMP's 30th anniversary a cookbook is being born. Cheryl Wierenga is our cookbook liason and will be working with us to showcase our chapter. Below is the link to the Survey Monkey that is set up for members to enter their favorite recipes and SGMP stories.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SGMP30thAnniversaryCookbook 

If you have any questions please contact Cheryl at 503-331-4972 or cwierenga@portlanddoubletree.com.

November 16, 2011

Host Hotel:  Embassy Suites KCI

Program: “What you Need vs. What you Want"

October 19, 2011 

Host Hotel:  Crowne Plaza Kansas City Downtown

Program: “30th Anniversary of SGMP"

September 21, 2011

Host Hotel:  Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza

Program: “How to Work with CVB and CVA’s.  A Planner and Suppliers Perspective."

December 14 - Event is from 4:00-6:00

Parking - Union Hill Residence Inn Hotel

Host:  Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City

January 18 - Registration & Breakfast begins at 8:00am and the meeting begins at 8:30am

Host Hotel:  Union Hill Residence Inn Hotel

Program: "Government Contracts & How to do Business with the Military"

Speaker: Lea Burns with the US Army Recruiting Office

2012 National Education Conference in New Orleans, LA

The 2012 SGMP NEC will be held in New Orleans, LA, on May 16- 19, 2012. This will be our 30th annual NEC - the biggest annual event in the government meetings industry - is where government professionals from across the country come together for one-stop and non-stop education, resources and networking.