Dear IAEE DC Members and the DC area events industry, | |
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Welcome to the end of 2021 and what a year!
It has been an honor to serve the chapter in the Chair capacity this year. Our industry continues to make great strides forward, and as we see the light at the end of the tunnel, there is lots of positive news from our members and the industry to celebrate. Many event organizers successfully held in-person and/or hybrid events starting in the summer, and many extended their audience by offering virtual education and other digital programs.
Covid has transformed the events industry, driving event organizers and suppliers to innovate, implement new solutions, and extend their events to offer engagement and education year-round. Our industry is resilient and I’m excited to see what new ideas and strategies our industry continues to implement in the next year and beyond.
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As I reflect on my own journey this past year at APHSA, and how our association turned around our annual IT conference & expo from near cancellation to successfully producing a hybrid event with more than 725 people onsite, I'm reminded at just how transformational our industry really is. Although our event was 50% of our normal attendance, we had some of the highest ratings by members for the safety protocols put in place so we could have a safe in-person event. It is the innovation, creativity, adaptability, agility, and resiliency by which our industry will continue to successfully move forward.
Our last two in-person events will close out the year with a bang! Sherron Washington, our lunch and learn speaker in November, will inspire us to look at our roles as leaders and how we continue to unmask and manage bias in the workplace. I promise you that you will not be disappointed as she will fill the room with energy like no other speaker can! Finally, watch your email for the chapter reception invite, sponsored by Fern, at IAEE’s Expo! Expo! on December 7. I hope to see you there!
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EVENTS CALENDAR:
Make plans to attend the last two in-person events of the year to learn, network, and have fun with fellow members and industry colleagues:
Date: Friday, November 19, 2021
Time: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Hilton Alexandria Old Town
Speaker: Sherron Washington
This training is designed to help employees develop the necessary competencies that are required for effective interpersonal and small group interactions. Learn how to accurately respond to various situations to help build connectivity and maintain efficient communication, as well as various communication techniques for face-to face, online, and written exchanges for more positive outcomes within the workplace.
Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Philadelphia Marriott Downtown – Franklin 2
Attend the first 2022 lunch & learn session with your entire team and start the New Year off right through better connections:
Date: Friday, January 14, 2022
Time: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Speaker: Ginger Johnson
Get a sneak peak of this session now.
Attendees will leave with:
- A newfound ability to examine how your personal values and growth connect to the organization’s vision
- A sense of renewed purpose and self-commitment to bring your whole and best selves to work
- A proven playbook of effective practices and the mindset to keep going and growing through connection
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brought to you by mdg, A Freeman Company | |
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Restoring Confidence in Events Through Data
If you feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you, you’re not alone. When in-person events started to roll out this summer after months of virtual experiences, things started to look almost — dare we say — normal. Then came the delta variant. As news of escalating infection rates from the COVID-19 variant hit, attendees, exhibitors and other show stakeholders understandably started to get spooked.
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Chapter and Industry News | |
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Industry Expert Spotlight
50 Event Management Experts + Influencers Every Industry Pro Follows
In events and hospitality, knowledge is power. The best way to learn the ropes or sharpen your skillset? Learn from the experts that have been there before. Check out these 50 event management and hospitality experts and influencers list from Social Tables. Think of them as limitless resources that will help you succeed with your events. Start following the top 50 experts here.
| Industry News You Can Use | |
1) Using Influencers to Improve Attendance and Amplify Show Programming and Offerings
Read how Emerald selected a powerful group of smart home and integrated technology influencers to join their network and help spread the word about the great content, news and show insights at their event, CEDIA Expo 2021. The expanded CEDIA Expo influencer network was designed to bring enthusiastic and impactful industry experts to the forefront of the show experience and leverage their expertise to expand its audience and amplify show programming and CEDIA offerings on social media and in the community at large, not only at for the expo but year-round. Read the full TSNN article here.
2) Innovations on the Horizon for the Entire Events Industry
Check out Exhibit Concepts’ 2021 Tradeshow Trends on the Horizon – some innovative ideas to incorporate into your events. Read the full article here.
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Career Center
OPTICA, the society advancing optics and photonic worldwide, is hiring for several positions, including Director of Marketing. Check out all of their openings here.
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Our chapter’s tradition continues to support those in need in our local community. United Community has two important drives that need your support!
Here is how you can help:
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Holiday Coat Giveaway:
Please consider helping local individuals and families to stay warm this winter by donating new coats to United Community.
Coats, scarves, and other items donated must be NEW or you can donate a gift card to a retailer so United Community can purchase the coats.
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Purchase new coats from sizes youth small to adult 2x
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Or, purchase gift cards to Walmart, Target, Amazon, or other retailers so coats can be purchased by United Community for their participants
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Bring new coats and gift cards to our November 19th lunch & learn at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town and we will deliver them to United Community.
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Or, drop off new coats or gift cards by December 17th at one of the community centers below:
- Creekside Community Center, 7941 Janna Lee Avenue, Alexandria
- Sacramento Neighborhood Center, 8792 #E Sacramento Dr., Alexandria
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The Giving Tree Holiday Drive:
You or your company can adopt a family to help United Community provide a special Christmas to youth in our community.
United Community will be providing Christmas gifts to children that are actively involved in academic enrichment and/or after school programs. The program staff will be reaching out to the children and their parents to support them with creating a wish list with 3-5 items on each list. Each family will have a small biography so donors can learn more about the child/children and their family. We would like each child to receive at least 2 gifts ($50 total value). It is preferred that the gifts be purchased as the parent may not have transportation to purchase items.
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Adopt a family and purchase at least two gifts from the child's wish list (total value of $50)
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Or, purchase a $50 gift card(s) (Visa, Walmart, etc.) so United Community can purchase the gifts for the child
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Bring the gift cards to our November 19th lunch & learn at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town and we will deliver them to United Community.
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Or, deliver the gifts purchased from your adoptive child's wish list or $50 gift card(s) to one of the community centers (see above) between December 15 and 17 so the gifts can be distributed to the family or United Community can purchase the gifts.
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Questions or want to learn more about how you can help families in need? Contact Tamara Cobbs, Director of Community Empowerment, at 703-510-4176 or [email protected].
You can also donate when you register for the November event to our national charity, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's, and local charity United Community, an organization that empowers our neighbors in need to transform their lives through programs and services that support children, youth, and families in southeastern Fairfax County.
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Thank you to our Sponsors | |
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November Monthly and Expo! Expo! Reception Sponsor
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Virtual Event Technology and A/V | |
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Event Visual Communications | |
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New DC Chapter Sponsorship Opportunities for 2022!
Contact Phil Saims at [email protected] to learn more about how your company can reach thousands of event organizers cost-effectively.
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Connect with our chapter! | | | | |
