On March 24, I became one of the millions of Americans that is fully vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus.  I know I still have a couple of weeks until it is completely effective, but the sense of relief that I felt as I drove out of the church parking lot in Lebanon was overwhelming.  A huge difference from a year ago when the world was this large question mark, and we were trying to figure out if we should try to move forward with events or if we should cancel.

Last month started out with Women in Leadership, thanks to a grant from MPI Global and American Airlines.  We were sold-out so we appreciate all who registered.

On March 11, we all got “lucky” with the incredible MIX event at Grand Hyatt Nashville.
Thank you to Evan Zimmer for hosting us at your stunning venue; it was wonderful seeing all who were able to attend!  I also want to give a shout out to Tyler Crowell of Corsair Distillery for their continued support of our in-person events.  Holly Carpenter, Trish Stallone and Heather Gibson deserve a huge round of applause for creating such a memorable night!

March 18 & 19 we partnered with the Heartland Chapter and Molly Johnson, CMP to offer the CMP Bootcamp program.  I’m always so impressed with anyone who works to get their certification, and remember, if you have any questions there are a lot of people in the chapter who are willing to help you attain this goal.  All you need to do is ask.

GMID is coming up on April 8.  The entire Global Meeting Industry Day will be done virtually so look for that link below.  There will be a ton of content from experts in the industry.

I’m also getting so excited for CONNECT on Friday, April 9 at Analog.  Tara Henderson has lined-up three top-shelf speakers, and we are thrilled to use this opportunity to help give back to the Second Avenue Strong fund and those affected by the bombing on Christmas Day.  Be sure to register now as space is limited.  There is also the option of getting a discount if you register for both CONNECT and the Gala, which is going to be held on May 20 at Saint Elle. The entire Gala committee has outdone themselves this year with all they have planned; you won’t want to miss it!

It is also that time of year where we ask people to get donations for the Silent Auction.  We will also be collecting bottles of wine or whiskey for a “wine and whiskey pull”.  ANYTHING you can give is so appreciated as all of the money raised goes towards our education and scholarship programs.

Finally, I want to let everyone know that we were finalists for a couple of the Global RISE awards this year. Congratulations to Shannon Jones for being a finalist for Member of the Year, and the entire chapter was one of the top three for our Hardship Assistance and Angel Donation programs. Even though we didn’t win, we are still very proud to be considered. 

Together, our chapter continues to expand our horizons and adapt to all the changes we continue to see, and I cannot thank you enough for your ability to be flexible while showing your endless support of our chapter.