A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD
SHIFTING FOCUS IN 2021

August 2021 is winding down and the long, luxurious, lazy days of summer are coming to an end. Life will speed up and plans for the fall and winter come into play. Schools are opening and we all go back on a schedule. For our industry live meetings are finally starting to come back! Our events will look and feel different as we emerge from the pandemic, but the will to meet in person is strong and, as planners, we must rise to the challenge.  Along with the relief that we are up and running, I personally feel the normal stresses inherent in planning plus an added layer of anxiety about the safety and health of our meeting attendees and those who support the meetings.

Mari Ryan, our guest speaker at the CMP Recognition Event in April, reminded us to put on our oxygen masks first. In other words – pay attention to self-care and you will be better able to care for others. This is great advice that I have heeded almost never…  I don’t think I’m alone in that I am guilty of neglecting my needs and striving to care of everyone else particularly in a work setting. This neglect is a recipe for disaster and did not leave me feeling healthy.  The past year and a half was a wake-up call for me. As our world came to a sudden halt and we were forced to isolate from family, friends and colleagues I had the unexpected and unsolicited opportunity to look inward. With time on my hands I focused on self-care – for me this included diet and exercise – things I could control in my newly narrow existence – my “bubble.” I have the good fortune to live minutes from the ocean and logged lots of miles on the beach throughout the year.

In addition, I learned to connect with those outside my “bubble” through virtual meetings (many with MPI-NJ), happy hours and family reunions. At one point I had so many virtual meet-ups scheduled I proudly declared myself “pandemic popular!” I also attended countless industry webinars to enhance my skills and fill the time. My family and I made an extra effort to donate food and needed supplies to those struggling financially. All these actions nourished me through a difficult time and have given me a new perspective. It may be a stretch, but it’s possible my new perspective may have made me a better meeting planner. I am definitely calmer, less critical of myself and have less of a tendency to overreact to minor issues.  

Prioritizing our own wellness is something that can easily be set aside as meetings kick into high gear and we become overwhelmed with planning for others. Hopefully this will not be the case for our membership moving forward. MPI offers lots of resources to concentrate on wellness that can help all of us. I encourage you to visit MPI.org and navigate to the Resources tab for valuable information on:
·        Education
·        Career opportunities
·        The best apps to enhance your physical, mental and financial well-being
·        Self-care guidance
·        Health Tips from the World Health Organization
·        Contact information for crisis hotlines worldwide

MPI recognizes the importance of the individual and places great emphasis on wellness – it is gratifying to be a member of an organization that continues to consider our wellness a priority. I hope we all have the opportunity to benefit from the resources shared by MPI in the coming year.

TRISH RAFFERTY, CMP, HMCC
2021-2022 MPI New Jersey VP OF COMMUNICATIONS
UPCOMING EVENTS
TUNE IN TO TALK: EPISODE 7
A HEART TO HEART CONVERSATION ABOUT HEART HEALTH
We all know a career in the meeting and event industry is ranked high on the stress list, and we thrive on that stress! We are accustomed to forging ahead, even when we’re not operating at 100%! Most of the time, the stress works in our favor. Until it doesn’t.

Join us for what promises to be an authentic, candid conversation with two industry over-achievers who each experienced dire consequences with their heart health.
  • Patty had a heart attack and didn’t know for 3 days!
  • Jennifer had cardiac arrest at her daughter’s birthday party and her heart stopped!
Both were told by doctors they are lucky to be alive.

Their stories will help you to listen more closely to what your body is telling you (because it will), and be better prepared to recognize symptoms of heart issues. Learn how you can live a healthier lifestyle and adopt heart healthy habits.

Rebecca Wakefield will moderate the conversation, and we’ll touch upon
  • Contributing factors to heart disease: Symptoms that should not be ignored!
  • Did this even have to happen? Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference!
  • We love to eat! Rethink menu selections at events for attendees and guests

DATE: September 9, 2021
TIME: 10:00AM - 11:00AM
LOCATION: Virtual Program 
Join your MPI New Jersey Chapter on the second Monday of each month for our MEMBERS ONLY Membership Monday event!

Grab your lunch and spend some quality time over Zoom with your colleagues. This hour will provide you with an opportunity to connect in breakout rooms to discuss what is on your mind and how your MPI New Jersey network can help.

This is designed as an interactive session, so we will ask you to have cameras on and be ready to participate. 
(Make-up NOT required!)

We look forward to chatting, connecting & collaborating with you!

DATES: September 13, 2021, October 11, 2021, November 8, 2021, December 13, 2021
(Register for one or more events!)
TIME: 12:00PM - 1:00PM
LOCATION: Virtual Program 
WHO: MPI Members Only
Join us as we Pioneer Beyond the Pandemic and return to in person events for the first time in 19 months. 
Dress is casual!

Registration fee includes reception food and a drink ticket.

We look forward to being together once again!

DATE: September 21, 2021
TIME: 5:30PM - 7:00PM
FEES: $15.00
LOCATION: Bridgewater Marriott
Do you feel uncomfortable talking to vendors or even your own IT team about event Wi-Fi? Do you feel like contract language for Wi-Fi takes too long to negotiate? Are you worried about putting your company and attendee’s data at risk? Have you ever abandoned the idea of using a cool online tool because you did not trust the Wi-Fi?

Join us for an easy to understand journey focusing on practical takeaways that will immediately boost your ability to use the online engagement tools you want by getting the Wi-Fi you need.     

Learning Objectives:       
  • Talk to any venue about Wi-Fi needs
  • Write good contract language around Wi-Fi
  • Understand how much effort to put into cyber security
  • Gear up for the digital future

DATE: Thursday, September 23, 2021
TIME: 12:30pm - 1:30pm 
FEES: $21.00
LOCATION: Virtual Program
SPEAKER: Alex Wedesky
MPI New Jersey is a CMP Preferred Provider and works with the EIC to have all our education programs approved for credit.
This program is approved for 1 CE: Domain G Meeting & Event Design
Thank you to our Sponsor:

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR ADDITIONAL CHAPTER EVENTS

Education Programs:
October 21, 2021: Location to be determined
March 24, 2022: MPI NJ MEETS Conference

Membership Mondays:
Register for any of the following dates now!
September 13, 2021
October 11, 2021
November 8, 2021
December 13, 2021

Annual Golf Event:
June 2022 @ Crystal Springs Resort
Official registration partner of MPI New Jersey
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
(Almost) Business as Usual




Written by: Madeleine Maccar
It Starts with a Conversation...




Written by: Michael Pinchera
How to Mitigate Covid-19 Risks at Meetings




Written by: Loren Edelstein
SPONSOR
GET INVOLVED
MEMBER MILESTONES
Congrats to the following Members celebrating anniversaries with MPI this month:
Patricia Jones: Jm Creative Enterprises - 27 Years
Michael Shannon, CMP, HMCC: Etherio Group - 27 Years
Pamela Wynne, CMP, CMM: Ashfield Event Experiences - 20 Years
Pamela Kenworthy, CMP: National Exchange Carrier Association - 17 Years
Anna Link, CMP, CMM: Radisson Hotel Group - 14 Years
Tina Natal, CMP: BASF - 13 Years
Alyssa Lippincott, CHSP: Wind Creek Bethlehem - 9 Years
Melissa Clayton: Helsinn - 6 Years
Lauren Kutch: KMK Meetings - 3 Years
Heather Eick, CMP: Allergan - 3 Years
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
What is your favorite thing about our industry?
All the relationships I have made and the great places I got to see that I probably wouldn’t have seen in a different industry.

If you were not in this industry, what would you be doing right now?
Probably an interior decorator. All of my friends ask me to help them decorate their houses! It's fun for me.

MASTERING YOUR MEMBERSHIP
MPI'S CAREER CENTER
Connecting you with career opportunities:
Post a job or search available listings at MPI's Career Center

AFFINITY MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM
As a member of MPI, you have access to a number of exclusive savings on a variety of services ranging from travel to business, technology and more! Below is a small sample of the many brand and product savings available to meet your personal and professional needs and priorities.
To access your savings simply click here for more information.

MPI RESOURCES 
MPI is here to bring you the information and resources you need to be succeed in
today's world. Check out the links below for information you want to know.
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MPI NEW JERSEY SPONSORS