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Happy September Friends!
Our board has stacked this month up with some incredible events and experiences we hope to see you at! Expand your taste buds and join us at Leiper’s Fork Distillery on September 13th for an evening of networking and libations. If you are interested in visiting Knoxville or are local to the Knoxville area, join us for an adventure throughout the city at our MPI Tennessee Knoxville Membership Drive on September 19th. And last but certainly not least, DO NOT miss out on an educational immersive experience of a lifetime at the National Museum of African American Music on September 21st. Our team has worked extremely hard to put together a nontraditional MPI Tennessee luncheon, incorporating unique venues and some of our industry’s leading members. This event is limited in capacity and is almost SOLD OUT - so, make sure to register!
Also, I feel as though I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge some recent unfortunate events that have happened in Tennessee as of late including the passing of an industry leader, Jo Dermid. We have had some extremely heavy and scary happenings of which I know that our community has been personally impacted. My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone who knew Eliza Fletcher and anyone affected in the Memphis rampage. Please know that your MPI family is here for you, and you are not alone. I have listed some resources below should you feel as though you are struggling and want to talk. Mental Health awareness month is May but mental health is essential to our overall health and something we should be aware of and monitoring every single day.
“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.
Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable but they’re never weakness” – Brene Brown
Tennessee Statewide Crisis Line – 855-274-7471
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK(8255)
MPI Wellbeing Resources - Includes lists of top rated Mental Health Apps & Podcasts
Remember it’s ok to fall apart. Tacos fall apart and we still love them. <3
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MIX EVENT
Join us for an evening of drinking, delicious food, laughter, and networking. If you want a truly unique Tennessee experience, bring your industry friends and join the MPI TN chapter at the charming village of Leiper's Fork. We will take a tour, sample local spirits, and take in the beautiful Tennessee countryside. There will be fun giveaways for members and non-members, so you don't won't miss out on this! Don’t miss out on learning from a mixologist how to make the perfect whiskey cocktail.
Additionally, we will have a Membership 101 at 3:00 p.m., so whether you're a new member or a prospect looking to join our chapter, come check out what the excitement around MPI is all about.
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KNOXVILLE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE & NETWORKING
Are you in the events/hospitality industry and NOT a member of Meeting Professionals International? Then we want YOU.
Join us for an adventure in one of the most unique venues you will ever experience. MPI Tennessee and Ancient Lore Village bring you the Magic of Connection in Knoxville.
Already an MPI member? Then, please come and meet your neighbors who are interested in joining.
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EDUCATION LUNCHEON
Calling all logistics lovers! (We realize that “love” may be a strong word here!) Regardless of what type of event is being planned, logistics play a major role in its success. These intricate details are the glue that keep your event together. While it’s easy to stick to traditional meeting rooms, there is nothing wrong with stepping out of the box to wow your clients! Join us for this interactive educational experience that demonstrates the unique opportunity to host events anywhere! Taking place at the National Museum of African American Music, hear from industry experts who share their knowledge on creativity, logistics, and risk mitigation to curate unforgettable events. Immerse yourself in Nashville’s largest music scene that pays homage to African-American music. Experience how you can honor a venue’s culture and rich history by intertwining it like treasured gems in your next event! The best venue for your next event may surprise you!
Key learning objectives:
- How to overcome venue & budget restrictions by leveraging creativity and unique agendas
- How to use logistical skills to accomplish multiple goals while creating a successful event experience
- Identify key factors that planners and suppliers need to consider when planning events in unique venues? (I.e. load in dock, distance from load in to event space, additional budget requirements to cover labor, etc.)
- Instead of using spaces to only meet and/or eat, learn how to create events that allow attendees to explore the venue and capture a memorable experience
- How incorporating activations (such as scavenger hunts) can create a memorable networking experience for attendees
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The Center for Executive Education at Belmont University, in partnership with MPI Tennessee Chapter, offers a Meeting and Event Planning Certificate Program. The program is collaboratively taught by some of Meeting Professional International's most outstanding members, seasoned meeting and event professionals, each with his or her own area of expertise. If you are responsible for planning meetings for your business whether it be health care, non-profit, a governmental agency, public corporation, a privately held company, or your own business venture, this five session certificate program will give you new skills to work more effectively and more efficiently.
This Program Is Designed To:
- Expand your knowledge of event planning.
- Provide you with specific instruction about event planning and execution under the guidance of some of middle Tennessee's top professionals.
- Prepare you to be a more effective negotiator with meeting vendors.
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We are excited to announce our August Rock Star:
Riley Summers!
Riley regularly volunteers to be an event photography sponsor and in June she went above and beyond by providing additional video footage for our speaker - she is a selfless member that always shows up with a smile on her face! Thank you, Riley!
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HIGHLIGHTING OUR PARTICIPANTS
Courtney McGee and Caroline Cole were paired as mentor and mentee, respectively, in April 2021. Neither of them realized, at that time, that a great mentorship, partnership, and friendship would form. In fact, they had such a strong bond that they continued in the MPI Mentorship Program together for another year.
Courtney, a seasoned veteran of the event industry recalls, “Caroline was amazing to mentor. She was eager to learn about the meetings and hospitality business and begin her career in a segment of the industry. It was fun sharing my experiences to give her a broad base knowledge.” Caroline was a promising graduate in the Marketing and Creative Entertainment Industries at Belmont University, and she received real world experience through Courtney’s company, Event Logistics, Inc. She shadowed the ELI team during Nashville operational programs and experienced in person what the two discussed during their conversations. Courtney urged Caroline to use her exceptional communication skills to gain recognition. “Through our mentoring sessions, Caroline entered various industry recognition programs and received numerous awards and honors on both a national and international level,” said Courtney. Courtney is extremely proud of the new Belmont graduate and exited to see her continue to flourish in the meeting and events industry.
Caroline is just as complimentary of Courtney, relaying, “She was a phenomenal mentor and through my time in the program with her, I was able to see so much growth within myself. She continually challenged me from a thought leadership perspective, always pushing me to look at what could be done better and how there could be innovation. Courtney has had unwavering faith in me from the beginning of our time in the program, and I am so honored to have been partnered with her.” Caroline and Courtney continue to talk frequently, and they declare their friendship will be lifelong.
Their relationship is just one example of the success of the MPI TN Mentorship Program. Over 50 pairs of mentor/mentee have been matched in the program since December 2020. The four-month sessions are offered twice a year. February – May and August – November. Each session is limited to 20 participants to keep the group small and personal and includes virtual and in-person group gatherings. If you would like more information, please visit the website or contact Cindy Tipler, ctipler@cctenn.org or Beci Ruzek, sales@southerngiftingco.com.
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We want to know more about you! Our membership is diverse, and we have grown so much over the last few years. We want to recognize each of you and help all of us feel more connected by learning more about each other.
Click on the link below to fill out our Member Spotlight form. We will include your responses in newsletters, social media posts and other MPI Tennessee communications. Don't forget to include your picture!
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Support MPI with every eligible AmazonSmile purchase from your phone or web browser!
Just shop at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate to our organization, at no additional cost to you!
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If you already shop at Kroger, please consider registering your Kroger Card for the program and designating MPI Tennessee as your chosen organization. Then every time you shop, you’ll be supporting us!
How to participate:
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Go to Kroger Community Rewards.
- Log into your Kroger account to enroll (or create an account).
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Enter organization number GV197 or Meeting Professionals International - TN Chapter in the search field and click on the Search button.
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Select MPI Tennessee by clicking on the circle to the left of the name.
- Follow the prompts to complete enrollment.
- Be sure to select the Enroll button to complete the process.
- Register and send a screenshot of enrollment and you'll receive one $15 discount for an MPI event (excluding CONNECT and Gala)
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If your organization is looking for a new team member, click this link to fill out the online job submission form, and we will make sure to include it in our next MPI Tennessee Newsletter and on social media.
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We hope everyone in our MPI family is staying safe and healthy as we continue to battle COVID-19 and the affect it is having on our industry and our membership. Our board is here for you if you need anything. We hope the information below is helpful to you as we all navigate the near future. Please reach out to any of us directly if you are struggling, have questions or just need to chat. | |
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MPI Tennessee Registration Support – If you have lost your job or suffering financial hardship during this time and are unable to attend our events, please take a moment to fill out the Registration Support Form. We value you and would love to continue seeing you at our membership events! Click below to fill out a form!
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MPI Tennessee Private Facebook: Join our private Facebook page to learn more about these events and to connect with the fun and informative things going on with our MPI Family.
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MPI Member Resume Support – Did you know that MPI members have access to complimentary resume critique through our career center? Members will need their MPI username/password to access this service. Click on the following link and follow the path listed to have your resume critiqued: www.mpi.org > Resources > Career Center > Sign In > go to My Account (top left corner) > go to Resume > check mark “Send me my free professional resume critique from TopResume” > click on Upload Resume to, you guessed, upload your resume.
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MPI Global Member Assistance Program: We do not want to lose any of you as members. For those whose jobs have been affected by COVID-19, MPI Global has several options to help if you are up for renewal, and they will be reaching out to you. You can also contact MPI Global directly at feedback@mpi.org, call 972-702-3053, or fill out and follow the instructions in this form.
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Update Membership Profile: If you or someone you know has new contact information be sure to reach out to us at info@mpitn.org or 615-373-8002 so we can update that information with our chapter and MPI Global. Remember, your membership belongs to you and follows you even when your employer changes (unless you had a specific agreement with your employer where they keep the membership).
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Become an MPI Tennessee Chapter Sponsor and partner with the state's largest, most vibrant community of meeting and event professionals! | |
For more information, contact our Director of Strategic Alliances, James Gregg | | | | | |
