To make sure you receive future emails, please add info@mpicac.org to your address book or safe list.
If you are having trouble viewing this email, click here.


Subscribe

Forward

Join MPI

Events

Contact Us

banner image

In This Issue: March 27, 2013
  • Why Would Meeting Professionals Blog?
  • 6 Reasons Why Blogging Can Help You Build Your Business!
  • The Biggest Mistake in Business Blogging and How to Avoid it
  • Blogging is a Great Way to Stand Out in the Meetings and Events Industry
  • 10 Ways to Brainstorm Blogging Topics
  • The "It's Not About You" Theory
  • 3 Ways to Improve Your Webcast by Thinking Like a Broadcaster
  • 6 Online Solutions to be in the Know About
  • Recapping MPI-CAC's Education Program on Merging Events
  • Chapter News
Voice from the Board
Why Would Meeting Professionals Blog?
By: Mark J. Carter - ONE80 LLC.

Mark-J-Carter-MPI-Headshot-Small
When it comes to business blogging and the meetings and events industry: How do you know if blogging should be added to your business development activities? Let’s explore this…

Read More
 Featured Articles - Why Blog?
6 Reasons Why Blogging Can Help You Build Your Business!
By: Judi Holler - St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission

blogging Cartoon
"Blogging is good for your career. A well-executed blog sets you apart as an expert in your field.”

Read More

The Biggest Mistake in Business Blogging and How to Avoid it
By: Mark J. Carter - ONE80 LLC. 
 
Oops-business-blogging-mistakes-120x160
There's a common mistake that most new business bloggers make. It damages your reputation and often creates negative results. You can avoid it with these simple strategies.

Read More

Blogging is a Great Way to Stand Out in the Meetings and Events Industry
By: Andrew Maxwell - www.plananevent.org 

blogging is a great way to stand out - photo by ww
Today it seems that just about everybody and their brother wants to be a "blogger". From a technical perspective it's actually quite easy. With plenty of free templates available you just answer a few key questions - your website is up and running in no time. Voila - you're a blogger! Right? Technically yes, anybody can start blogging with just a few clicks of the mouse. But before you do that I think it's important that you take the time to analyze why you want to blog.

Read More
More on Communicating
10 Ways to Brainstorm Blogging Topics
By: Katherine Leonard - HY Connect

blogging image
Writer’s block: it happens to the best of us. Next time you find yourself topic-less and frustrated, take a deep breath and go though these motions for blogging inspiration.

Read More

The "It's Not About You" Theory
By: Lynne A. Franklin - Lynne Franklin Wordsmith

Lynne Franklin
People can spend more time considering what they want to say about their topic than what those they're trying to reach want to know. This misplaced focus can make a communication dissuade rather than persuade the people who receive it.

Read More

3 Ways to Improve Your Webcast by Thinking Like a Broadcaster
By: Sean Murray - AnswersMedia 

Broadcast
Live webcasting has become an indispensible marketing and communication tool for organizations looking to extend the reach of live events to a broader audience of members, prospects and clients. In the past five years dozens of technology companies were launched to solve the then-critical webcasting challenges – ease of audience access and consistent webcast quality.

Read More
Chapter Events: Looking Ahead & Back
6 Online Solutions to be in the Know About
By: Dahlia El Gazzar, CMP - DAHLIA+

April Knowledge Share
You hear it every day, don’t you? Everybody in our industry wants to go paperless. They want to ditch their event binders. They want to use their iPads. And some just want to be more in the know about the apps out there that will make their sanity come back. We can all use some of that, especially since 2013 seems to be a year on steroids! Here are my 6 top favorite solutions that to check out.

Read More

Recapping MPI-CAC's Education Program on Merging Events
By: Ted Miller, CHME, CHSP, CGTP, CGMP - Starwood Hotels and Resorts

education_generic
This month's educational event at the Pritzker Military Library was a senior level education session. The discussions ranged from managing up with an association environment, growing an organization large enough to become self- sufficient to acquiring another firm and the process of merging cultures of two very different yet similar organizations.

Read More
Chapter News
Introducing the Completely Redesigned MPI-CAC Sponsorship Opportunities for 2013-14
Do you want to build brand awareness for your company? Would you like a marketing partner that can guarantee a full-year of exposure? Then search no further. The new MPI-CAC cash sponsorship program provides 20 organizations a marketing partnership opportunity. The generous benefits include Event Recognition, Event Registration, MPI Membership and Advertising throughout the 2013-14 program year. The benefits are offered on a first come, first served basis.

Explore the Completely Redesigned Sponsorship Packages for 2013-14 Program Year

We also invite you to view these remaining sponsorship opportunities for the current 2012-13 program year.
 
MPI Membership Survey Madness
Thank you to everyone who completed the MPI Membership and Chapter Satisfaction Survey! The Chicago Area Chapter had 315 respondents for an overall response rate of 34%! The results are still being tabulated to determine our Final Four teams and award the prizes for our Survey Madness winners. More details coming soon!

Two winners were selected from our overall pool of respondents to receive the MPI-CAC All Access Pass. Congratulations to Mary Motyka with Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Carole Gebbia, ALA with Sidley Austin, LLP! Mary and Carole will receive a full year of registrations to the networking and educational events in 2013-2014 for FREE!
 
Time to Update Your Member Profile
In just a few short months, the chapter will be compiling the content for our annual printed membership directory. Take a few minutes now to ensure that your listing is complete and accurate in a few easy steps. As a reminder, you will need to update your profile with the MPI Chicago Area Chapter as well as with MPI International since the two directories are not connected. 

View Detailed Instructions for Updating Your Profile
 
MPI WEC Hosted Buyer Program
The official Hosted Buyer Program of the 2013 World Education Congress (WEC) will serve as your catalyst for conducting business at MPI’s WEC, putting you face-to-face with your choice of qualified industry professionals or leading companies in the meeting industry. Participating as a planner or a supplier in the hosted buyer program means you care about doing business smarter, faster and better. Suppliers will fill their pipeline with millions of dollars in potential business and planners will walk out the door with months of legwork accomplished in two days. 

Apply to Participate in the Hosted Buyer Program
 


MPI-CAC_13-14Sponsorships

MPI-CAC_2013MediaKit

 

 UPCOMING EVENTS
                                  
MPI-CAC Golf Clinic
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Top Golf - Wood Dale, IL
Register Now!

MPI-CAC Knowledge Share
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Morton's The Steakhouse -
Chicago & Rosemont, IL (2 Locations)
Register Now
!

GMIC 2013 Sustainable Meetings Conference
Sunday, April 7-Wednesday, April 10, 2013
McCormick Place West - Chicago, IL
Discounted rate for MPI members with promo code MPIEB13
Register Now!

MPI-CAC Trivia Night
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Spirit of Chicago - Chicago, IL 
Register Now!

MPI-CAC Education Program
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Pinstripes - Oakbrook, IL 
Save the Date - Registration Coming Soon!

MPI-CAC Annual Awards Recognition Gala
Monday, June 10, 2013
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile - Chicago, IL
Save the Date - Registration Coming Soon!

MPI-CAC Golf Classic & Summer Soiree
Monday, June 17, 2013
Mission Hills Country Club - Northbrook, IL
Save the Date - Registration Coming Soon!

View All Upcoming Events

 
 Update Your Profile
 
 HOT DATES

April 15, 2013
MPI-CAC Membership Grant Application Deadline 

Professional Education Grant Application Deadline

May 7, 2013
CMP Application Deadline

 
 MPI-CAC CAREER CENTER

The MPI-CAC Career Center is a free resource to help you grow your career and build your business by connecting industry job posters with job seekers. 

View Job PostingsView Resumes

MPI-CAC members can simply log in to the website to post jobs and/or resumes. Not a member of MPI-CAC? Create a free Registered User account to post. 

Post a JobPost a Resume

 
 ON THE MOVE?
TELL US ABOUT IT!


chicago_chatter_icon
 
 VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH
FEBRUARY 2013

Stephanie Bodanyi
Turnaround Management Association
Member, Technology Conference Committee

Andrea Mott
Choose Chicago
Co-Chair, Education Programs Committee

Aine O'Brien
Scoozi
Co-Chair, Leadership Develpment Committee

Jaime Paton
HIMSS
Member, Marketing & Communications Committee

              


 

 MPI MEMBER CARE

Renew Your Membership 
 

Member Referral Rewards Program
 
 
Unemployment Assistance Program 
 
Planner Quarterly Installment Form 
 
Supplier Quarterly Installment Form
 

 
 MARKETING PARTNER
 HeresChicago.com logo


Cvent - Web-based Software Solutions