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I’ve always loved the energy of spring with flowers in bloom and warm sunny days, which tends to put an extra bounce in your step. This year that energy feels more palpable after months of virtual events and work-ing from home. We’re seeing shots in arms, guidelines opening up for events, expanded outdoor dining and fans in stands for sporting events. On a personal note, while Red Sox Opening Day looked very different with masks, social distancing and only 12% capacity, I couldn’t have been more thrilled to have baseball back and be at Fenway Park for it!

I’m also very excited to hopefully see many of you (not just from the shoulders up!) at Fenway for our June Annual Event, meeting safely in person! This is always a fun event celebrating the past year, honoring our annual award winners, and kicking off the new year with the induction of the 2021-2022 Board of Directors. Submissions for our Annual Awards are opening soon, so get ready to submit a self-nomination or nominate a peer!

In March, MPI New England offered a Lunch & Learn series with consultant David Salcfas and Visit Lauderdale’s Agnieszka (Agnes) Zaranski. One of the topics was “Mastering the Art of the Interview to get the job YOU deserve.” Can you name the five Ws of a job interview? Do you know what the STAR interview process is? Don’t miss out!

We had a great showing of members who gathered virtually, decked in their most festive green and ready for some friendly competition. After learning about our chapter's committees and volunteer opportunities, the group launched into a trivia extravaganza hosted by Feet First Eventertainment.  From a dance off, to "Name that Famous Movie Line," the competition was tough! But it was the Red Team that ended the evening victorious — congrats to Kate Sklarski, Aaron, Jessica, Jessica and Ellen.

You can still check out our website for committee descriptions and contacts, as well as this video from Feet First which gives a great overview of the Game Show Extravaganza that we experienced.

While the Office of the President isn’t technically a committee, a great deal is managed by the President, President-Elect and Immediate Past President. Here’s a quick overview of their key responsibilities.

• The President serves as chair of the Chapter Board of Directors and serves as an ex-officio member on all committees except the Board Slate Committee. The President also serves as a member of the International Council of Chapter Presidents.

• The President-Elect oversees the Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee, which is responsible for advocating for equity in our community and empowering members to take positive inclusive action.

• The Immediate Past President (IPP) oversees the Board Slate Committee, which interviews new applicants and returning board members to create the slate for the next year, with a goal of ensuring a strong year of leadership within our MPI community. The IPP also oversees the Annual Spring Awards Committee.

To learn more about serving on any of these committees, please contact president@mpine.org.

Johnice Veals, incoming Director, Institute

How and when did you get your start in the events industry?

What is your current position and how has your MPI membership helped you in your career path? 
I’m currently Meetings and Events Senior Manager at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. I’m responsible for the planning and execution of executive meetings, companywide events, and employee engagement initiatives. I think everyone knows MPI can help build your network, and I love that, but the biggest impact for me is the educational opportunities. They’ve helped me gain new skills and enrich my knowledge as a planner.