when it has to be right - Meeting Professionals International Chicago ...

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2008 in 

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· Nine break out rooms that can accommodate groups from 8 to 50. 

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INDOOR RACING

CONTENTS 

4 

A message from 

Joyce Paschall, 

CMP,CAE 

MPI-CAC Board 

President 

15 

Summer Fun 

Your Best Bets for 

Fun and Entertainment 

This Summer! 

19 

Annual Golf Classic 

Offers New Ways to 

Have Fun 

5 

News 

& Views 

Chair Beth Ciampi 

Salutes Chicago 

16 

MPI Leads the 

Way 

in Support of 

Corporate Social 

Responsibility 

20 

Hot or Not? Check 

out what’s hot and 

what’s not in the 

meeting industry 

6 

Congratulations 

to 

the February 2008 

CMP Class 

8 

Clicks 

of the Trade 

Alisa Peters shows 

you how to click to 

escape 

10 

Chicago Chatter 

Sally Magallanes 

keeps you up to date 

on what’s happening 

with your colleagues 

Enjoying Green Meetings. 

From left to right; Jon Hixon, Sonal Sullivan, Ron Springer, Judy Anderson 

14 Chicago 

A City Rich in 

Architectural 

Treasures 

18 

Chapter Awards 

GALAhambra Promises 

Succulent Mediterranean 

Cuisine 

24 

Green Meetings 

Interest High at March 

Green Meetings Event 

29 

Industry Calendar 

of important 

upcoming events 

Highland Park Golf Clinic 

Photo courtesy of Elan Photography, Inc 

30 

Sponsorship Heroes 

highlights the people 

and organizations 

that support the 

MPI Chicago Area 

Chapter 

www.mpicac.org news & views | may-june 2008 

3

A 

Joyce Paschall, CAE, CMP 

Joyce Paschall, CAE, CMP 

The Center for 

Association Growth 

From the President 

Sweet Home Chicago 

August 1969. 

The Eve of Woodstock. 

(Cue the just-released song Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival). 

A seven-year-old girl and her mother, a high school home economics teacher in their 

very small town, take an Amtrak train three hours north to Chicago. Union Station. 

The noise, the constant flow of people, the street traffic, all amaze her. They hail a 

taxi--the girl’s first cab ride and she sits in the jump seat!--to the Palmer House hotel. 

There she sees her first doorman, takes her first escalator ride up to the lobby and 

WOW. This is surely the fanciest place in the whole world. And she hasn’t even eaten 

at Trader Vic’s yet. 

Up the elevator they ride to a floor higher than she knew buildings could go. A woman 

getting on with them, for whom they hold the door, says “gracias” instead of “thank 

you,” and she has for the first time heard a word spoken by someone whose native 

language is not English. After the woman exits on another floor, her mother’s colleague 

says knowingly, “She must be French.” 

The girl sees yellow and black signs posted in small corridors off the main hallway 

and learns that they say “fallout shelter.” She wonders what that means. She realizes 

it would be quite a fall from this tall, tall building, but how can you provide shelter for 

someone who is falling out? 

Over the next few days they find time to see Buckingham Fountain, the tiny Chapel in 

the Sky atop the First United Methodist church, the breathtaking view from the newly-completed 

John Hancock Center, and Chinatown. Who knew that cookies came 

with messages inside? The menu from Pizzeria Uno, complete with sauce smudges 

and filed away with other cherished childhood memorabilia, lists a large cheese pizza 

for $3.75. In this city the sights, sounds and tastes are exotic beyond anything she 

could have imagined. Now her small, rural hometown will never be enough. 

But what equally captivates her is the meeting her mother has come to attend, the 

Illinois home economics teachers’ annual convention. 

On the first morning there is something called “continental breakfast.” It sounds 

so grown-up, so sophisticated, so fancy. The general session is in the Red Lacquer 

Room, surely the largest number of people she’s ever seen before in one place; the 

size and depth of texture in the red drapes, the vastness of the room, and oh, those 

chandeliers. People who must be very brave with important things to say take turns 

speaking from the stage that seems so far away. The amazing buzz in the movement 

of the crowd from room to room, session to session. And the exhibit hall, a loud, lively, 

wonderful place where people hand you small treasures for no reason at all! 

She is hooked. On meetings and on Chicago. 

And I still am. Aren’t we all? 

4 news & views | may-june 2008 www.mpicac.org

CFrom the Committee Chair 

Chicago... The Place to Be! 

Chicago has been my home since I was born (okay technically Des Plaines, but most 

suburbanites say Chicago because we hate having to explain where we live when it’s 

much easier to say Chicago), and most likely will be for the rest of my life. Other than 

not having the perfect weather, this amazing city has so much to offer and besides, 

seasons make life interesting. There are multiple theaters, museums galore, superb 

dining and culture for miles. I think we can all agree Chicago pretty much rocks. We 

here at News & Views couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up a great year other than 

highlighting our home – Chicago -- the theme of this issue. 

If you are looking for something new to experience in the city this summer, check out 

Sally Magallanes’ list of events and things to do such as the Bash on Wabash or the Old 

Town Art Fair. One of my favorite summer activities is seeing the fireworks at Navy 

Pier. And if you have the chance watch them from the lake on a boat, probably one of 

the most relaxing things in the world. Another fun activity is taking a tour of Chicago’s 

incredible architecture as Edina Lassack explains in her article about the Chicago Architecture 

Foundation. 

As we continue with the “Going Green” theme, Michele Snyder reports about our chapter’s 

efforts to keep Chicago green. Another exciting report is the list of Chicago’s newest 

Certified Meeting Professionals and information about the next study group. Congratulations! 

Katie Cavarretta reporting from the Student Affairs committee gives us 

three helpful networking tips presented at the first ever “Mocktails” reception, a free 

networking event to our students members. 

I also want to give you a quick reminder about all the must-attend events coming up in 

the next couple of months. MPI-CAC and the Greater Midwest Chapter of PCMA combining 

efforts once again to host the Joint Educational Program on May 13. The annual 

Awards Gala takes place on June 3. Also summer is the time to get those golf clubs out 

for the annual MPI-CAC Golf Classic on June 23rd. 

As always I encourage all of you to submit your articles, ideas, feedback to me at 

beth.ciampi@programcoord.com. 

Beth Ciampi 

Program Coordinators 

News & Views is the official publication of Meeting Professionals International, Chicago Area Chapter, a professional 

association of meeting planners and suppliers to the meetings industry. 

To reach MPI-CAC headquarters or for advertising rates, call (847) 457-2040 or e-mail info@mpicac.org. 

2007-2008 Board of Directors 

President 

Joyce Paschall, CMP, CAE . The Center for Association 

Growth 

President-Elect 

Laurel Rhoads McCarthy, CMP . Krisam Group 

Vice President-Communications 

Jane Matteson Mundell, CMP 

Vice President-Education 

Char Shada, CMP . Experient, Inc. 

Vice President-Finance 

Chrissy Ward, CAE . Society of Gynecologic Oncologists 

Vice President-Leadership Development 

Peggy Pissarreck, CMP . American Bar Association. 

Vice President-Membership 

Alisa Peters, CMP, CMM . Chicago Indoor Racing 

Immediate Past President 

Kevin Hinton . hinton+grusich 

Directors 

Kevin Boland . The Westin Michigan Avenue 

Jeff Gassaway . Tampa Bay & Co / Visit St. Pete/Clearwater 

Jon Hixon, CMP . Tourism Toronto 

Cherai Lewis . Projection Presentation Technology 

Frances Maxwell . BI, The Business Improvement Company 

Barb Quigley, CMP . The CVB Source, Inc. 

Jamie Shamhart . Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts 

Sonal Sullivan, CMP . HIMSS 

Tanya Tarnoff, CMP . Minding Your Business, Inc. 

MPI-CAC Headquarters 

Mollie Mercado, CMP . Executive Director 

2007-08 News & Views Committee 

Chair: 

Beth Ciampi . Program Coordinators 

Board Liaison: 

Jeff Gassaway . Tampa Bay & Co / Visit St. Pete/Clearwater 

Managing Editor: 

Michele Snyder . Raceworks 

Portrait Photography: 

Edward Fox Photography 

Layout and Design: 

Misty Lichter . Chicago Indoor Racing 

Contributors: 

Sally Magallanes, CMP 


5

Congratulations to the 

February 2008 CMP Class! 

The Convention Industry Council announced that 393 meeting professionals 

passed the February 2, 2008 examination. Joining over 13,000 CMPs from 35 

countries and territories worldwide are Illinois’ newest CMPs! 

By 

Melissa M. 

Lipton, CMP 

Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa 

If you have been accepted to sit for the August 9, 2008 exam, then plan to join 

the next MPI-CAC CMP Study Group, June 27-29, 2008. The three day comprehensive 

review class covers all topic areas in the CMP Blueprint and provides 

future CMPs with invaluable content review, as well as test-taking and study 

tips from your peers. Complete registration details can be found on the chapter 

website. 

August 20, 2008 is the application deadline for the January 20, 2009 CMP 

exam. Complete application details, along with the current CMP Blueprint 

can be found on the Convention Industry Council’s website at 

www.conventionindustry.org. 

Congratulations to the new CMPs in our chapter and in Illinois: 

Marla Burton, BCD Meetings & Incentives 

Lesley Coussis, American Orthopaedic Association 

Lindsay Cox, Chicago Marriott Downtown 

John Doherty, American Express 

Charles Dreiske, Hotel Orrington 

Kathryn Finnegan, American Dental Association 

Gillian Gilbreth, The Gilbreth Group 

Susan Kalell, SPSS Inc. 

Michelle Kapusta, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association 

Martha Keller, Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers 

Megan Lanning, Experian 

Beth McCullough Adas, University of Chicago 

Maribeth Oberheide, Experient 

Carolyn Paradowski, CAN 

Michael Tarr, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority 

Lindsey Thul, Experient 

Kiersten Tilley, Marriott Lincolnshire 

Masami Tsuchida, Experient 

Jeffrey Urban, Eventcom International 

Beth Venecek, University of Chicago 

Karla Wheeler, ACGME 

Erin Wolkette, Life Services Network 

Marissa Zolna, Radiological Society of North America 


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Chicago Websites 

By Alisa 

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Chicago Indoor Racing 

CityofChicago.org - Try this for Unique Venues! 

Want to plan a really cool event and are stumped about a location? Try logging on to the 

CityofChicago.org and check out the Department of Cultural Affairs website. Hyperlinks 

to countless historical City of Chicago venues lies within this obvious but largely overlooked 

resource and it includes venue rental information on the same site! 

www.cityofchicago.org 

Give Attendees the Gift of the City- Try this for a Give Away! 

Want to plan a giveaway that won’t get left in your attendees trash can? Give them the 

gift of Chicago. This pass gets you access to all of the premier Chicago tourist destinations 

including Shedd Aquarium, Hancock Observatory, Adler Planetarium, Sears Tower, 

attractions at Navy Pier, and all the major museums… and countless other destinations. 

The Go Card is good from 9:00am to 5:30pm. You can choose from one, two, three, 

five or seven day cards… they range in price from $55 to $110 per card and save the user 

an average of $34 above and beyond free admission with special discounts! 

www.gochicagocard.com/chicago-attractions.html 

The Ultimate Wireless Internet Information Source! 

Have to work but want a change of scenery? Just grab your laptop and go. This website 

lists thousands and thousands of Chicago wireless hotspots and as their technology utilizes 

Google Maps, you can plot your course, brave adventurer, and go! The site lists if 

there is a charge for wireless, gives a rating for the venue, and allows users to post opinions! 

Now get out and enjoy that spring and summer weather! Traveling? Have no fear… 

it list more cities than Chicago! www.hotspotr.com/cities 

GrubHub.com- Want to Eat Without Dashing? 

Starving but don’t want to leave the comfort of your home or office? This site will tell you 

what local restaurants will deliver to your Chicago address. It includes minimum delivery 

charges, a virtual “drawer” to put menus in (how cool is that?), coupons, hours and 

reviews! www.grubhub.com 

Flavorpill Chicago – Take One and Call Me In the Morning! 

This sassy site lists ALL events going on in Chicago… from music, book clubs and reading… 

through to the arts, exhibits and gallery openings. A whole page is dedicated to free 

events for our beloved starving students! http://flavorpill.com/chicago 

The Chicago Reader - The Alternative News Source 

This alternative publication is chock full of news… all Chicago specific. Includes reviews 

from readers on new restaurants and facilities, coverage of smaller theatrical events, and 

items as basic as apartment and job postings. This online version of the print publication 

features Flickr pictures of the city caught by readers, editorial and cutting edge local 

stories that you won’t read about in the Tribune. www.chicagoreader.com 


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Here’s the latest changes and updates on people 

we know, or should get to know, in the meetings industry! 

By Sally 

Magallanes, CMP 

Is it really springtime? It’s a wonderful 

time for new beginnings 

and fresh starts of every kind. 

This issue of Chatter has news 

in a number of areas that mark 

change! Read on… 

People on the Move… 

Courtney M. Anderson, Co-Chair of 

MPI-CAC’s annual Educational Conference, 

is pleased to announce her 

new position! She is a new National 

Meeting Planner with Grant Thornton 

LLP. Courtney can be reached 

at (630) 873-2741, or send email to 

courtney.anderson@gt.com. Prior 

to joining Grant Thornton, Courtney 

was a Conference Planning Manager 

at the Q Center in St. Charles. She 

is also proud to have a BS in Hospitality 

Management from New York 

University. Best wishes to you! 

MPI-CAC is pleased to welcome back 

a member who had disappeared for a 

little while. Christopher Grace, CMP, 

has rejoined the MPI “family” in 

his new position as Conference 

Manager for the Urban & Regional 

Information Systems Association 

(URISA). Chris is joining URISA at a 

time of association growth and will 

be working to build its conferences 

to a new level. Chris can be reached 

at (847) 824-6300 or by email at 

cgrace@urisa.org. URISA’s offices 

are located at 1460 Renaissance 

Drive, Suite 305 in Park Ridge. Website 

is www.urisa.org. Please join us 

in welcoming Chris back! 

Karen Gravlin has joined 

hinton+grusich in the new position 

of Director of Industry Partner 

Sales, which will focus on growing 

h+g’s business portfolio of non-hotel 

industry suppliers. Karen was 

previously with Landmark Incentive 

Marketing and is the current chair 

of the Student Affairs Committee. 

She can be reached at (312) 346-5735 

and kgravlin@hintonandgrusich.com. 

Go to www.hintonandgrusich.com 

for more information. We know 

Karen will succeed in her new 

position! 

Greg Leeper 

Greg Leeper 

was recently 

named Regional 

Vice 

President of 

Sales for Prestige 

Resorts & 

Destinations, 

Ltd, which is 

based in Minnesota. 

Greg has opened the new 

Southern Region Office, and will 

be responsible for account management 

and developing a sales 

team in that region for Prestige’s 

luxury portfolio of worldwide resorts 

and DMCs. Greg can be 

reached at (312) 451-6707 or email 

gleeper@prestigeresorts.com; 

www.prestigeresorts.com he is now 

residing in the Orlando area. Greg 

was most recently Regional Director 

of Sales for Turtle Bay Resort 

on Oahu, part of Benchmark Hospitality, 

and has over 25 years in the 

hospitality industry as a sales professional. 

Congratulations on this 

wonderful opportunity—we know 

you enjoy returning to the south. 

We’ll miss you! 

Companies in Change... 

Hall & Associates, Ltd is pleased 

to unveil its newly designed website, 

www.hallandassociatesltd.com. 

While the web address has not 

changed, the entire look and list of 

available resources is enhanced. 

Deborah Hall-Kayler, Founder and 

President of the executive search 

firm, has been conducting research 

into hospitality industry trends. Her 

findings and articles pertaining to 

this area are being posted on the 

site. If you have a need for hospitality 

recruitment, please contact 

dhall@hallandassociatesltd.com or 

call (312) 578-1650. 

Special Honors... 

Congratulations to the DuPage 

Convention & Visitors Bureau on 

a very special honor! The CVB, 

whose motto is “Discover DuPage: 

The Magnificent Miles West of Chicago 

TM ,” earned the Governor’s 

First Place Award for its Meeting 

Planners Guide in the category 

for media kits, meeting planning 

and group tour guides for organizations 

with an operating budget 

over $700,000. The award was presented 

at the annual Illinois Governor’s 

Conference on Tourism (held 

in Springfield). The award-winning 

piece was judged on several crite- 


ia, including meeting stated objectives, 

being appropriate for the 

intended audience, displaying a 

clear and well-organized message, 

exhibiting originality and creativity, 

and capturing the judges’ attention. 

Go to www.discoverdupage.com to 

learn more! 

Wedding Bells... 

Independent planner Polly Grieger, 

CMP, CMM, was married to Frank 

Rossi on February 14 (Valentine’s 

Day) in beautiful Costa Rica. Polly 

is founder of Meeting Achievements, 

Inc., 

a full-service 

meeting and 

travel management 

company. 

She can 

be reached 

Polly Grieger 

at (219) 

465-1115, or 

polly@meetingachievements.com. 

www.meetingachievements. 

com. She is now officially Polly 

Grieger-Rossi, CMP, CMM. We 

wish the couple much happiness! 

New Arrival... 

Jill Brown Smith recently gave 

birth to her second child. Jill and 

her husband, Dave, welcomed 

Hunter Heinrich Smith on 12/08/07 

at 8:27pm. Hunter arrived weighing 

7lbs 15oz and was 19.75 inches long. 

(Heinrich was the German given 

name of Jill’s grandpa “Hank.”) 

Congratulations to the entire family! 

Jill is an independent meeting 

professional. 

Look who’s in the news... 

A fellow MPI-CAC member saw this 

article and just had to let us know! 

MPI-CAC President Joyce Paschall, 

CMP, CMM loves her beagles! She 

was caught on camera at a recent 

beagle outing with her two beloved 

pets. Yes, Joyce is so passionate 

about these special canines that 

she founded a Palatine, IL beagle 

meet-up group, which has 80 

members from across the suburbs. 

Joyce states that beagles’ small 

size and friendliness makes them 

great family 

dogs. Members 

of this elite 

“Beagle Mania” 

group get 

together once 

Joyce Paschall a month so 

and her beagles 

Courtesy The Daily Herald their dogs can 

play, and to 

trade stories and tips. 

Keep the chatter coming! Send your 

news to semagallanes@hotmail.com 

or sallymagallanes@sbcglobal.net. 

Photos are always welcome in jpg 

or bmp format. Please try and submit 

150dpi or higher. The higher the 

resolution, the better you will look! 

Volunteers Make a Difference! 

MPI-CAC’s Board of Directors would like to acknowledge and thank the following volunteers for their outstanding work: 

This Program 

Sponsored by: 

LETTUCE PLANET 

Out-of-this-World Events 

February 

Aileen Laracuente 

Puerto Rico Convention Bureau 

Diversity and Leadership 

Development Committee 

February 

Marianne Dickens 

Dickens & Associates, Inc. 

Educational Conference 

Committee 

March 

Jason Aslanian 

Highland Park Country Club 

Golf Committee 

March 

Barb Thavis, CMP 

Select Meeting Sites 

Awards Recognition Gala Committee 


11

Committee Focus 

Peer-to-Peer Committee 

As we wrap up the programming year, we decided to spotlight a committee whose focus is helping to shape 

the future of our membership. Meet Caryn Granzow, co-chair of the Peer-to-Peer (formerly Mentoring) Committee. 

Caryn, an Illinois native, has been a member of MPI since January 2006 and is the director of sales & 

marketing at the Conrad Chicago. A 12-year industry veteran, Caryn started her career as an administrative 

assistant at Hyatt’s corporate headquarters, went on to open the Hyatt Regency at McCormick Place as a sales 

manager, then headed south to the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. Since returning to Chicago in early 2001, she has 

held sales positions at the Westin Chicago River North, Sheraton Chicago and as associate director of sales at 

Le Meridien prior to the hotel’s transition to the Conrad in November 2005. 

By 

Melissa M. 

Lipton, CMP 


N&V: Share one fact that most people do not know 

about you! 

Caryn: After graduating from Drake University with 

a degree in Political Science, I was a Deputy Assessor 

of Cook County located in Northfield Township. 

I assisted residents with understanding their property 

taxes. In my spare time, I ran state political 

campaigns. 

N&V: As this issue of News & Views is featuring 

Chicago, can you share with us your favorite places 

to go or things to see and do in the summer in our 

great region? 

Caryn: Playing beach volleyball at North Avenue 

Beach tops the list (followed by cold drinks at the 

“Boathouse”). Tennis at Waveland is also a favorite. 

I love sitting outside on the Terrace at Conrad, 

especially on Sundays and Mondays when we show 

movies. And just a simple walk along the lakefront 

whether up in Evanston or in the city is my way to 

relax. 

N&V: What or who inspires you? 

Caryn: My father was an amazing inspiration. As a 

child psychotherapist he was the most patient and 

calm person I have ever met. He also had the most 

amazing work ethic. He taught me the merits of 

hard work both professionally and personally. 

N&V: What would we find in your fridge right now? 

On your coffee table? 

Caryn: The side of my refrigerator is covered with 

wonderful photos of my friends’ children. My coffee 

table is covered with remote controls, thanks to my 

husband’s love of electronics. 

N&V: Seeing our theme this issue, it is practically 

required of us to ask: Cubs or Sox? What is your 

favorite Chicago pizza / place? And, have you ever 

put ketchup on a Chicago-style hot dog? 

Caryn: I’m a die hard Cubs fan!!!! For pizza, I have 

to go with Giordano’s - deep dish, of course. If I admit 

to putting ketchup on a Chicago-style hot dog, 

do I get disowned as a Chicagoan? 

N&V: What was the last book you read? Last mov- 

ie you saw? And a quick recommendation to our 

readers, of course! 

Caryn: I am currently reading A Year of Living Biblically, 

by A.J. Jacobs. In Bruges was the most recent 

movie I saw. I highly recommend Devil in the 

White City, by Erik Larson - it’s a fascinating Chicago 

read. 

N&V: Tell us a bit about the achievements of the 

Peer-to-Peer committee this year and your thoughts 

looking ahead to next year. 

Caryn: We have done an overhaul of the mentoring 

program this year. The mentoring applications 

are much more user friendly and with the help of 

the Student Affairs Committee, we have more questions 

that apply to our growing student membership. 

We had a fantastic event this spring that was part of 

our partnership with the Student Affairs Committee. 

Sue Tinnish led the Mocktail event at the Conrad 

Chicago on March 5th (see recap on page 21). It 

was very successful and informative to studenst and 

professionasl alike. We continue to work on the Subject 

Matter Expert (SME) program which we hope to 

roll out at the beginning of the 2008/2009 MPI year. 

N&V: Since it is finally summer, what is your favor- 

ite getaway or dream vacation and why. 

Caryn: Why would I ever leave Chicago in the summer??? 

However, I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity 

to visit my husband’s parents in England. 


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Chicago Architecture Foundation 

Our City’s Crown Jewel 

In 1871, Chicago experienced a disaster that led to 

it becoming a city rich in architectural treasures. I 

refer, of course, to the Great Chicago Fire, which 

burned from Sunday, October 8 to early Tuesday October 

10, killing hundreds and destroying almost every 

structure within four square miles. 

Rebuilding began almost immediately with the first 

load of lumber delivered the day the last burning 

building was extinguished. The city welcomed, with 

open arms, architects from all over the country to help 

in this gargantuan task. Chicago became the training 

ground for a number of these leading architects 

including Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham, Dankmar 

Adler, William Le Baron Jenney, Martin Roche and 

William Holabird. Chicago became the fastest growing 

city in the 19th century, and just 22 years after 

the fire, hosted more than 21 million 

visitors during the World’s Columbian 

Exposition. That mindset of building 

and embracing architectural achievements 

is still with us today and has 

resulted in marvelous examples of a 

wide variety of architectural styles. 

The formation of a remarkable organization, 

the Chicago Architecture 

Foundation (CAF) enabled residents 

and visitors to learn and experience 

these architectural achievements. 

CAF presents a comprehensive program 

of more than 70 tours as well 

as exhibitions, lectures and adult and 

youth activities all designed to enhance 

the public’s awareness and appreciation 

of Chicago’s outstanding 

architectural legacy, 

By Edina 

Lessack, CMP 

Meeting Consulting and 

Talent Representation 

CAF boasts over 500 volunteer docents 

who go through rigorous training 

and examinations for each tour prior to leading 

it. Visitors and Chicagoans alike frequently comment 

on the knowledge and presentation skills of these talented 

guides. 

One or more CAF tours are often the highlight of a 

visit to Chicago. The choices are many and appeal 

to a variety of interests. My favorite tour is the River 

Cruise (one of those led by my husband, Alan), which 

covers buildings along the north and south branches 

of the Chicago River. In rebuilding the city, the river 

served as a transportation hub which resulted in the 

design and building of many structures on the water. 

They are fascinating to see and learn about from that 

vantage point. Also popular are the tours to various 

neighborhoods; the docents usually have intriguing 

continued on page 26 

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Host an event by July 31, 2008 valued at $10,000 at 

either property and receive one hour 

complimentary welcome reception or an event 

valued over $20,000 and receive a welcome 

reception plus complimentary HSI for your general 

session room. 

847-678-4000 

847-292-9100 

North River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018 

www.oharechicagohotels.com 

HHonors membership, earning of Points and Miles and redemption of Points are subject to HHonors Terms and Conditions. 

©2007 Hilton Hospitality, Inc. 


OSummertime in Chicago! 

Oh, where to begin, what to include, where to end? 

Below is a highlight of a few annual events, and special, 

one-time offerings. 

The Gospel Music Festival is in its 44th year! Be 

inspired on May 30 - June 1 at Millennium Park; 

www.chicagogospelfest.com 

Baroque Band is performing for its second year! It 

is the only Chicago-based period-music ensemble. 

For dates and venues, go to www.baroqueband.org. 

British period violinist, Garry Clarke, is conductor 

and founder. 


By Sally 

Magallanes, CMP 

Martin’s International Culture Inc. presents the 

African/Caribbean Int’l Festival of Life, July 3-6, 

10am–10pm; Washington Park, 55th St. & Cottage 

Grove; (312) 427-0266 

Back at the Field Museum, go discover George 

Washington Carver, on display through July 6. 

www.fieldmuseum.org. 

Shoot for the Moon is a fascinating new permanent 

exhibition at the Adler Planetarium. Experience 

the Journey with Jim Lovell and see the restored 

Gemini 12 spacecraft. Interactive exhibit. 

www.adlerplanetarium.org. 

Chicago’s Blues Festival is back for 

its 25th year! Great performers on 

stages in Grant Park, June 5-8; 

(312) 744-3315; chicagobluesfestival.org. 

Shedd Aquarium’s “Lizards and the Komodo 

King” exhibit has been extended through the entire 

summer of 2008. Come see Faust, the eight-foot 

lizard, wall-walking geckos and other interesting 

crawling creatures. 9am-5pm in Special Exhibit 

Gallery. www.sheddaquarium.org 

Back to the art world, the annual Old 

Town Art Fair is June 14-15, 10am- 

6pm, in the area of Menomonee, 

Lincoln Park West, Wisconsin Orleans. 

This is an event not to miss! 

Call (312) 337-1938 and check out 

www.oldtownartfair.com. 

Travels of the Crow Exhibit is at the Field Museum 

through June 13. Learn more about Native American 

history. www.fieldmuseum.org. 

If you like smooth jazz, enjoy the Close Up 2 Smooth 

Jazz Festival, June 20-22, 12noon-10:00pm, at Pritzker 

Park, State and Van Buren. Chill out and relax! 

(312) 493-1952; www.closeup2jazz.com. 

Traveling to Chicago approximately every other summer, 

you don’t want to miss Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza, 

June 26-August 24, at United Center, Parking Lot K, 

1901 Madison Avenue. www.cirquedusoleil.com. 

The 29th Annual Chinatown Summer Fair is July 20, 

10am-8pm; Wentworth from Cermak to 24th Street. 

This neighborhood festival features a Lion Dance 

procession and other Asian cultural entertainment 

and live music; www.chicagochinatown.org. 

Also on July 20 is the Special Olympics Chicago 40th 

Anniversary Celebration. Soldier Field and immediate 

surrounding area. Special Olympics Chicago is 

one of 17 areas of Special Olympics Illinois offering 

training and competition in 22 sports training and 

events. www.sochicago.org 

The Inaugural Chicago Criterium 

Cycling Event will bring cycling’s 

elite to Grant Park (Columbus and 

Balbo) lakefront on July 27; Racing 

begins at 8:00am. Criterium is a 

closed-circuit loop of approximately 

1.3 miles. www.bikechicago.us 

Chicago’s annual Air & Water 

Show, August 16-17; North Avenue Beach. 

Chicago Jazz Festival is August 29-31 in Grant 

Park. Chicago’s longest-running music fest. Don’t 

miss it! www.chicago.metromix.com 

Bash on Wabash will close out August on 30-31, 

12noon-11pm. Wabash between 13th St. & 14th 

Place. Call (773) 868-3010 for more details. 

Finally, Fireworks off of Navy Pier will go off every 

Wednesday and Saturday evenings through September 

8. www.navypier.com. 


15


Chicago and MPI Follow the Path 

of Corporate Social Responsibility 

By Michele 

Snyder 

Raceworks, Ltd. 

MPI President Bruce MacMillan, CA, recently proclaimed 

that MPI is taking a global role in promoting 

the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). 

CSR is the recognition that an organization is inextricably 

intertwined with society and the earth, and 

must take responsibility for actions in regards to the 

“triple bottom line” of people, planet and profit. According 

to MPI, not only do responsible approaches 

help build brand and reputation, they help strengthen 

the community and therefore the marketplace. 

MPI is a global community of nearly 23,000 members 

and as an industry leader, we recognize a huge opportunity 

and responsibility to help communities 

throughout the world understand and implement CSR 

practices. 

MPI identified four major pathways to align our mission 

and strategic imperatives with regards to this 

concept: 

• Evolve our communities into aware and active 

CSR practitioners 

• Re-imagine the way MPI currently produces 

meetings and events 

• Elevate both the conversation we have with our 

stakeholders and their resulting experience with 

CSR initiatives 

• Build a green organization that meets its objectives 

in terms of people, planet and profit 

“Collectively it is our 

responsibility to do 

our part to support 

this CSR initiative.” 

As MPI’s largest chapter with over 1,300 members, 

we are uniquely positioned to influence change in 

Chicago. You can feel the winds shifting both in our 

chapter and in Chicago as well. On March 29th, 

Chicago residents joined millions of people around 

the world to “turn off the lights” for an hour from 

8:00pm – 9:00pm to make a statement about climate 

change. Thousands participated in the initiative, 

resulting in media coverage and awareness 

throughout the city. 

What is our chapter doing to support the CSR initiative? 

With each passing day, MPI-CAC becomes more 

aware of the importance of this initiative: 

Hosting Educational Events 

On March 11, the chapter hosted an educational 

event - “Green Meetings: What you Need to Know” 

at the Peninsula Chicago. The discussion centered 

on the newest and most innovative information on 

making meetings green from Amy Spatrisano, CMP, 

president of the Green Meeting Industry Council and 

co-principle of Meeting Strategies Worldwide. 

Supporting Green Vendors 

Whenever possible, the chapter chooses to work with 

vendors that support green initiatives. 

Going Paperless 

The chapter chooses to go paperless whenever the opportunity 

allows. A majority of our communications 

are through e-mail or e-news, eliminating the need for 

paper waste. Registration for events is through cvent, 

an online service, and Skyline, our twice monthly 

newsletter, is delivered electronically. 

Raising Awareness 

In the last few issues of News & Views, there have been 

several articles on green meetings and what you can 

do to help. These articles have been both general and 

specific in information, enabling our members to take 

specific action steps towards this initiative. 

Collectively it is our responsibility to do our part to 

support this CSR initiative. By being knowledgeable 

and ahead of the curve on this topic, we will ultimately 

be raising our value with clients as our world continues 

to shift toward this green way of doing business. 

For more information on MPI’s CSR initiative, visit 

www.mpiweb.org. 


DO SOMETHING 

FOR 35 YEARS 

5 

Better yet, start out good at what you do, and let 35 years turn you into one of the largest, most 

and You Get Pretty Good At It. 

respected firms in your industry. Three and a half decades ago our company was founded on 

a single commitment: to advance the objectives of our clients by matching their defined goals 

with an appropriate speaker. By listening intently to your needs – and by drawing on a depth 

of knowledge and experience that our competitors only dream of – we make recommendations 

based solely on the success of your organization’s event. Since 1972, thousands of clients have 

leveraged our longevity and resourcefulness to enhance their event with the perfect speaker. So 

give us a call as you begin thinking about your next event. We’d love an opportunity to help 

you find the right speaker. We’ve been doing that for 35 years now. We’re pretty good at it. 

Celebrating 35 Years 

National Speakers Bureau 

Brian Palmer, President 

2003 MPI International Supplier of the Year 

www.NationalSpeakers.com 

1.800.323.9442

Enjoy Food Fit for a Palace 

Annual Awards Gala on June 3rd 

By Sue 

Tinnish 

Seal, Inc. 

Chicago is a city rich in culture. That richness is expressed 

in the variety of people who call Chicago 

home. Anyone, from conventioneers to tourists to 

locals, can enjoy the variety of Chicago through its 

neighborhoods, museums and, of course, restaurants. 

On June 3, MPI members will have an opportunity to 

enjoy the bold flavors and sensuous tastes of Mediterranean 

cuisine at Alhambra Palace, the site of the 

Annual Awards Gala. 

The Mediterranean countries offer one of the most 

colorful and vibrant collections of cuisines in the 

world. Although people might think of Mediterranean 

cuisines as including Italy and Greece, the region 

is much more extensive. The Mediterranean 

waters wash along the shores of the three continents 

of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The 28,000 mile Mediterranean 

Sea borders 20 countries including Spain, Morocco, 

Egypt, France, Turkey and Yemen. The food 

varies across each of these different countries and 

sometimes even varies across different regions within 

each country. Yet they all have common characteristics 

that make the food popular worldwide. 

One thing consistent about the different Mediterranean 

cuisines is that they all share boldness of taste, 

the purity of ingredients and the simplicity of conception. 

In other words, they take the best ingredients 

possible and do very little to them. The cuisine is 

healthy and tasty. 

Passed Appetizers: 

-Spices Pita Chips with Hummus and Baba Ghanoush 

Baby Artichoke Confit, Crispy Potato Skins with 

Sliced Filet 

Mini Empanadas 

Curried Chicken Skewers 

Table Hors D’ Oeuvres 

Falafel 

Baba Ghanoush 

Dolmeh 

Fattoush Salad 

Hummus Chicken Wings 

Buffet 

Cumin Crusted Salmon Kabobs 

Grilled Chicken Kabobs 

Grilled Vegetable Kabobs 

Alhambra Rice 

Assorted miniature desserts 

Beverages 

Open bar featuring beer (Lebanese, American, and 

other imports), wine and a specialty cocktail. Coffee 

and other beverages will complete the evening. 

Please note that the bar will be closed during the 

awards presentation. 

Although varied, there are some common ingredients 

enjoyed throughout the region, including olive oil, and 

an emphasis on fresh vegetables and seafood. Common 

ingredients in Mediterranean cuisine include 

fresh vegetables, olives, yogurt, capers, chickpeas, 

lamb, prosciutto, rice and couscous, cheese, honey, 

pita bread and herbs and spices. 

During Galahambra, MPI-CAC’s Annual Award Gala, 

guests will enjoy eye-catching Mediterranean foods 

rich in flavor, smell and taste that are only matched 

by the exquisite surroundings. Alhambra Palace’s 

menu is called Mediterranean East West with an emphasis 

on Morocco, the Middle East and Spain. Our 

delectable menu will consist of: 


Chapter Golf Outing and 

Reception set for June 23rd 

MPI-CAC’s Annual Golf Outing and Evening Reception 

is the chapter’s premier event annually. From 

the stellar golf course, to the Las Vegas-style evening 

reception, the day is filled with fun excitement and 

wonderful networking. 

This year’s outing is being held on June 23rd, at the 

Highland Park Country Club in Highland Park. For 

most of its 40 years, the club operated as an exclusive 

private country club. Several years ago, Highland 

Park Country Club became a public 18-hole 

course. In 1997, world-renowned architect Dick 

Nugent re-designed the course adding subtle challenges 

to this pristine old-style, country club layout. 

This immaculately maintained 18-hole public golf 

course offers an unforgettable challenge for players 

of all skill levels. With over 1,700 trees lining the fairways 

and large undulating greens, Highland Park’s 

scenic beauty and world-class amenities make it the 

perfect locale for this year’s golf outing and evening 

reception. Throughout the day, 

take a moment, to meet and talk 

with our sponsors. Without them, 

this magnificent event would not 

be possible. 

After golf, our evening reception 

kicks in Vegas style. Gaming and 

amazing food accompanied with 

a raffle and silent auction. One of 

the best parts of our evening event 

is you don’t have to be a golfer to 

attend the reception. You can register 

online to attend and enjoy this 

energetic and exciting event. 

for years to come! This will be an interactive and 

informative session, so join Paul and other planners. 

Register to attend the Casino Reception and you’re 

fee for the Golf Event Management Education seminar 

is complimentary. The seminar will be held from 

2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Highland Park Country Club. 

Another feature added this year is our planners’ 

golf list. If you are a planner and want to be hosted 

to participate June 23rd on a complimentary basis, 

forward your request to Andrea Mott, Her email is 

andrea_mott@hilton.com. Space is limited so contact 

Andrea immediately. 

We are still accepting prize donations for our 

auction and raffle. For more information visit 

www.mpicac.org, click on Professional Development 

and Events, go to calendar and click on MPI 

Golf Classic. We look forward to seeing you on Monday, 

June 23rd. Thank you for all your support! 

Two great properties, one great location 

Doubletree O’Hare - Rosemont 

and Embassy Suites have it all. 

Over 28,000 square feet of flexible meeting 

space minutes from O’Hare and Downtown 

Chicago. The location you need and all the 

amenities your attendees are looking for. 

Ask about our promotional VALUE DATES 20-25% 

off our Best Guestroom Rate and DOUBLE Hilton 

HHonors ® Event Planner Bonus Points 

Subject to availability, restrictions may apply. 

By Sean 

Lynch 

NHS 

Another exciting feature added 

to this year’s event is the Golf 

Event Management Education 

seminar. Paul Campbell of The 

Golf Event Company will conduct 

the seminar, which will focus 

on pre-event planning requirements, 

tournament day activities, 

and ideas to make your next 

golf event one they’ll remember 

Chicago - O’Hare/Rosemont 

847-292-9100 847-678-4000 

North River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018 

www.oharechicagohotels.com 

HHonors membership, earning of Points and Miles and redemption of Points are subject to HHonors 

Terms and Conditions. ©2008 Hilton Hospitality, Inc. 


19

what’s hot what’s not 

Here Today...and Gone Tomorrow... 

A Guide to Good Supplier Etiquette 

By Alisa 

Peters, CMP, CMM 


Go to events looking to make friends and relation- 

Waiting to be asked to become active. Our recent 

ships, not to book immediate business. Walking into 

member survey is just in from Dallas and most of 

an event with the expectation of three contracts on 

you didn’t think there were enough opportunities to 

your desk the next day is unrealistic. 

volunteer. Are you kidding??? 

People can sense it the minute “that person” walks over. Ok, consider this begging. Our chapter, especially committees 

that do not put on events (Membership, Peer to Peer/ 

Maybe it is the way they approach with a big unfocused smile, 

an outstretched hand and a 5 minute elevator speech before Mentoring, Student Affairs) are always in need of volunteers 

you have a chance to get half way through your first name. and each has a very large long term impact on our members. 

Understand that while MPI can net wonderful pieces of business, 

it won’t until people get to know you. Trust will play tee of TWO for Peer to Peer/Mentoring, a committee with 

We have a committee of 42 members for Golf and a commit- 

the largest part in securing business. Give people a chance the potential to make asignificant impact on the chapter. To 

to get to know you and who you are and the business will those 315 members who said we didn’t have enough opportunities 

for volunteering, I am on my hands and knees. Please 

come, regardless of what property or product you represent. 

People buy people, not product. join us! 

Don’t just look at your membership as something that 

can net you business, but also consider it can save you 

money! Buy MPI. 

Understand that there are many benefits that come with your 

membership, and they aren’t hinging solely on relationships 

with planners. You actually have a far larger opportunity for 

referrals from your fellow suppliers, as they can have literally 

hundreds of active planners that they already are working on 

programs for. You, in turn, can become a valuable asset to 

your planner clients when you have a list of trusted supplier 

partners that you can refer them to without making them 

work for it. Your referrals will come back as business down 

the road. Guaranteed. 

Make a point to attend National and International 

Conferences. Apply for a grant if you have to. This 

is where the value increases at an accelerated rate. 

Want to really activate your membership? Make it to the 

national events. Do whatever it takes to get approval to go… it 

is a huge investment in you and in your profession. It will allow 

you to bring current trends back to your company. It will allow 

you to gain a global perspective on your day to day toiling… My 

friend Stacy likened them to “Vacation Bible Camps” for the 

industry. Every six months they are a source of renewal and 

re-invention. Fun without the guilt… Ok, fun… 

Membership because someone said so… Your boss 

may write the check but you reap the benefits. 

Maximize them. 

On the Member Needs Assessment, a few of you (not likely 

reading this, but oh, well… a girl can try) indicated you were 

a member because your boss told you that you had to. Understand 

that this is an amazing profession and MPI is the 

largest association in the world servicing it! It is here to serve 

YOU, not your boss (although through continuing education, 

relationships and active volunteerism you cannot help to become 

better at your day job). Take advantage of the wonderful 

opportunities that come with being a member. We have 

one of the top 50 Hot Jobs according to new graduates! 

Not giving feedback. Fill out those surveys busy 

ones! It is the only way we know what you want, and 

the only way we can respond to your needs quickly. 

I know they seem to never end… but understand that they are 

usually short and they really help our Chapter drive programming 

and content that you want to see. It is your chance to 

voice what you love and hate. Our chapter in the upcoming 

year will be “graded” by MPI International on your responses… 

love us and we get rewarded with great speakers and 

other member benefits as a chapter. Lukewarm on us, and we 

continue to go back to the drawing board to make you love us. 

Best thing you can do? Make your voice heard! 


Students Learn Networking Tips 

at Mocktails Reception 

The Student Affairs Committee and the Peer-to- 

Peer Committee hosted the first MPI-CAC “Mocktails: 

How to Market Yourself.” This free event gave 

students an opportunity to network with industry 

professionals, while practicing proper networking 

etiquette. The event was facilitated by Sue Tinnish, 

former MPI-CAC President and Principal of SEAL Inc. 

Over 40 students and industry professionals attended 

the event and learned many 

networking “do’s and don’ts” 

from each other. Tinnish offered 

these great tips, which will help 

both the seasoned professional 

and the college students. 

First, go to each networking 

event with a plan in mind. For example, 

“I want to meet three new 

members and reconnect with 

four people I already know.” With 

clear goals in mind, it is easier to 

stick to your plan and meet more 

people. Be sure to do your homework 

when making these goals. 

Know who the organization’s 

leaders are so you can seek them 

out to introduce yourself. 

Second, Tinnish recommends 

having a few interesting small talk 

facts in the back of your mind. For 

example, did you know that the 

MPI-CAC Student Chapter started 

with only seven students and 

they now have 51! 

By Katie 

Cavarretta 

Roosevelt University 

Finally, have a few rapport building 

questions. People have been 

asked the same 20 questions 

the whole night, so try and keep 

yours memorable to find a common 

ground with someone. Networking 

is about adding value to 

the relationship of the person you 

are meeting, so don’t go in expecting 

to take something from 

the relationship. It’s a “give and 

take” relationship. Don’t fire repeated 

questions to find out what you can “get” from 

that individual. It’s poor etiquette! 

Mocktails was a great success for all that attended. 

The student attendees are now better prepared to attend 

the next MPI-CAC networking reception and put 

these skills to work! Thank you to our event sponsor, 

the Conrad Chicago. 


21

Diversity Diversions Corner 

By Catherine 

Ryan, CMP 

HIMSS 

• 

i v 

d 

Supporting Women in Chicago …The Chicago Foundation for Women 

Chicago is one of the most diverse and economically prosperous places in the world, 

yet just 20 years ago only 3% of philanthropic dollars were going to support the 

needs and programs of women. 

So in 1984, the Chicago Foundation for Women was started by four local community 

leaders. The foundation supports the achievement of social justice through grant 

making and advocacy so that all women and girls in Chicago have the opportunity 

to achieve their full potential and live in safe and healthy communities. 

d 

e 

i v 

r 

e 

s 

i 

s 

r 

t 

o n 

i 

y 

• 

s 

The Foundation’s core values include gender-specific funding, diversity, accessibility and choice with 

their focus on three principles of women’s human rights: 

Economic Security 

Freedom from Violence 

Health 

Through advocacy, events, grant funding, leadership councils and coalitions the foundation has influenced 

social justice throughout the Chicagoland area. Chicago Foundation for Women has awarded more than 

2500 grants totaling $15 million that increase the quality of life for thousands of local women and girls. 

This is just one example of the many ways to get involved and support women, family and our Chicago 

community. Support Chicago and get involved! 

For more information visit www.cfw.org 

For a memorable event, change course. 

• CORPORATE EVENTS 

• PRIVATE PARTIES & CEREMONIES 

• CELEBRATIONS 

847-358-1330 

WWW.CRUISECHICAGO.COM 

DEPARTING FROM NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE AND WACKER DRIVE AT RIVERSIDE GARDENS, JUST THREE BLOCKS NORTH OF MILLENNIUM PARK. 


VIP Status is 

All in the Cards 

EVERY GAMING PROPERTY 

YOU’RE CONSIDERING HAS A 

VIP CARD FOR HIGH ROLLERS. 

SO DO WE. ONLY FOR US, 

YOU’RE THE HIGH ROLLER. 

Virtually all casino resorts have a VIP 

program that grants various perks 

and privileges for high-rolling casino 

players. At Las Vegas Meetings by 

Harrah’s Entertainment, you’re our high 

roller. And we think that you deserve 

the same exclusive benefits and rewards 

as our top casino players. That’s why 

Diamond-level benefits of our 

Total Rewards ® card are now 

available to you, whether you’re 

booking your first meeting with us 

or your hundredth. 

It’s something you simply can’t get 

anywhere else. And it’s our way of 

showing you how much we value your 

business and how committed we are 

to your success. We look forward to 

helping you plan and execute your 

best meeting ever! 

READY FOR VIP STATUS? 

Call 877-MEET-702 

Email lvmeetings@harrahs.com 

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LAS VEGAS PROPERTIES 

★ Priority hotel check-in 

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★ Guaranteed priority service at restaurants, clubs, 

business centers and more 

★ Guaranteed priority valet parking service 

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★ Discounts at participating retail outlets 

★ Complimentary priority access to VooDoo ® Lounge at Rio, 

Carnaval Court at Harrah’s and other popular venues 

★ The best service in the business! 

Meeting Diamond status is conferred for a group’s primary Organizer and, if applicable, a selection of additional designees at Organizer’s and/or 

Management’s discretion. Card is valid specifically for in-house groups for the duration of the program, and will expire upon cardholder’s departure. 

Certain restrictions apply. Benefits subject to change without prior notice. Management reserves all rights. 

Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start. ® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2008, Harrah’s License Company, LLC.

Green Meetings Interest Increases 

By Kori 

Gassaway 

Visit Pittsburgh 

Green…has a color ever meant so much 

to our lives? Green has become a trendy 

aspect of our lifestyles (and truly necessary 

to sustain our precious natural resources) 

and a best practice that leading 

Fortune 500 businesses are incorporating 

into their company values and operations 

globally. 

It was so exciting to learn that our meeting 

on March 11 featuring Green Meetings 

was sold out! Just a couple years ago 

when Green Meetings was the featured 

topic the interest was not nearly as high. 

Green Meetings have been featured on 

the cover of every magazine in our industry 

and here are a few other facts that 

demonstrate that hospitality has continued 

to become more green! GMIC (Green 

Meeting Industry Council) was invited to 

be a member of the Convention Industry 

Council, APEX is currently establishing 

“green” best practices and the EPA now 

has a green planning guide. 

Green Meetings have been a personal 

passion since I started representing Pittsburgh 

five years ago. I saw the opportunity 

for us as a destination (going from a steel 

mill town when I was growing up there to a 

thriving city of innovation and technology) 

and for planners and our clients. 

I have attended the Green Meeting Industry 

Council’s annual conference the last 

two years where I have seen many people 

speak on the topic and Amy Spatrisano, 

CMP, of Meeting Strategies Worldwide, is 

definitely one of the leading Green Meetings 

experts in the world and she shared 

many helpful tips when she presented to 

us at the Peninsula in March. 

Why should you care about making your 

next meeting green? It will save you 

money and anything that will save your 

company or client money will give you a 

competitive advantage and increase your 

personal value! 

A ton of resources and tools exist online... 

I would be glad to email you a list 

of them if you contact me at 

kori.gassaway@visitpittsburgh.com. 

Complimentary reception is free for first hour of event only. Available to group bookings contracted by 6/30/08 to be consumed before 12/31/09. Winner must be present 

at time of the prize presentation. All prizes may be exchanged for cash equivalent as outlined by resort. Prizes are not transferable. Resort reserves the right to award a 

prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize is unavailable. Unclaimed prizes will not be awarded. All taxes and other expenses related to any prize are the 

responsibility of the prize winners. Amount of room revenue produced by group determines prize awarded. Prizes to be awarded at the conclusion of the event and only 

after final billing has been paid. Actual prizes may differ from the items shown. Other restrictions may apply. Available for group bookings only. Not available to previously 

contracted groups. Cannot be combined with other offers. 

With the Caribbean’s largest oceanfront conference center, 600 spacious guest rooms, 

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rewards. Rio Mar Beach Resort. Be Inspired. Be Accomplished. Be Well. 

Visit www.wyndhamriomar.com/grandprize for more information. 


MPI-CAC GMC PCMA 

Joint Educational Program 

By Merle 

Hedland 

GMC-PCMA 

You hear about Facebook and blogs and podcasting and all this stuff people call “social media,” but what 

does that have to do with you as a meeting planner or supplier? You’re a busy professional without enough 

time in your day already, and isn’t this all just kid’s stuff? More and more professional organizations are using 

social media tools internally for improved collaboration and workflow, and externally for everything from 

improved networking to lead generation to advanced marketing to providing educational content. 

Come learn from social media business strategy expert Chris 

Brogan, Vice President of Strategy & Technology at CrossTech 

Media, a professional events and education organization. Brogen 

turned his 16 years of enterprise technology and telecommunications 

experience upside down to build a personal brand, 

develop strategies, and now teach everyone from the novice to 

the seasoned organizational veteran how to get the most out 

of tools like blogs, social networks, wikis, podcasts, video, and 

a whole lot more. Chris is co-founder of the PodCamp unconference 

series, and writes regularly on social media strategy at 

www.chrisbrogan.com. 

You will leave this experience understanding these new types of 

media and knowing how to better use them to your advantage. 

Meet outside the box. 

New ideas flourish in new surroundings. Book your 

next event at The Westin Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort, 

where transformation is always on the agenda. 

Opening fall 2008. 

• Bury your toes into the white sand of Punta Cana 

• Navigate each hole on our magnificent Nick 

Faldo-designed course 

• Relax in our exclusive Jungle Luxe® guestrooms 

For more information or to make a reservation, 

please call 800.723.5680 or visit westin.com/rocoki. 

©2008 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 

08WRO070-MPI_CHICAGO.indd 1 


25 

1/22/08 8:46:57 AM

Architecture... continued from page 14 

stories to relate about the people who lived there. This 

also holds true for the Graceland Cemetery (that’s 

right!) tour. Many famous Chicago families are buried 

in Graceland, and those who take this tour are sure to 

hear many interesting tidbits about love lives, financial 

dealings and family relationships. 

Choices of transportation are many. There are walking 

tours as well as tours by bike, bus and, as previously 

mentioned the boat tour. There is even a Lakefront 

Segway tour available in conjunction with Segway 

Experience of Chicago. If time is an issue, there are 

lunch and happy hour tours. For our international visitors, 

some of the tours are offered in several languages. 

The CAF has thought of everything. 

Visit the CAF web site – www.architecture.org – to learn 

more about their programs and tours. Exhibitions and 

the fabulous ArchiCenter gift shop are located in the 

Sante Fe Building at 224. S. Michigan Avenue. 


OChapter Exchange 

Program 

On a cold blustery day in March, the MPI 

Sunbelt Chapter blew into Chicago bringing 

sunshine and great ideas to share with the 

MPI Chicago Chapter. During a full day of 

idea exchange, Sunbelt Chapter representatives 

met at the office of the Krisam Group, 

with various board members from the Chicago 

Chapter to create strategic goals for 

the 2008 – 2009 year 

What is the Chapter Exchange Program? 

The Chapter Exchange Program was conceived 

in order to assist chapters through 

learning successful practices from their 

peers. It has developed to allow chapters 

to collaborate on new solutions for a new 

chapter business model. The inherent concepts 

include: 

• Evolution and expansion are created 

from experimentation 

• Re-imagination of the community of 

learning 

• Building a community of peers 

• Elevating the conversation through 

diversity 

By Jane 

Matteson Mundell, CMP 

Our chapter was matched with the Sunbelt 

Chapter by the relevance of our strengths 

and opportunities for learning. The exchange 

is one of equals where both parties 

are encouraged to contribute to the community 

of learning and building a community 

of peers. 

. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MPI-CAC and the Sunbelt Chapter share ideas 

during the Chapter Exchange Program 

 

 

 


Industry Calendar 

MAY JUNE 

JULY 

May 13, 2008 

MPI-CAC / GMC PCMA Joint 

Educational Program 

Location: Holiday Inn Mart Plaza 

Chicago, IL 

Contact: MPI-CAC 

(847) 457-2040 

www.mpicac.org 

June 11-14, 2008 

Society of Government Meeting 

Professionals Annual Conference 

Location: Hilton Anatole Dallas 

Dallas, TX 

Contact: SGMP 

(703) 549-0892 

www.sgmp.org 

July 15-18, 2008 

Council of Engineering and 

Scientific Society Executives 

2008 Annual Meeting 

Location: Detroit Marriott at the 

Renaissance Center 

Detroit, MI 

Contact: Cesse, (952) 838-3268 

www.cesse.org 

May 18-20, 2008 

Global Education Conference 

with Corporate Travel World 

Location: The Grand Hyatt Hotel 

Washington, DC 

Contact: BTN 

(646) 654-4461 

www.btnonline.com 

June 23, 2008 

MPI-CAC Golf Classic 

Location: Highland Park Country Club 

Highland Park, IL 


(847) 457-2040 


July 21, 2008 

Membership Town Hall 

Location: Kendall College 



(847) 457-2040 


May 21, 2008 

MPI-CAC 

All Committee Luncheon 

Location: Hyatt Regency, 



(847) 457-2040 


JUNE 

June 3, 2008 

Awards Recognition Gala 

Location: Alhambra Palace 

Restaurant 



(847) 457-2040 


June 24, 2008 

Greater Midwest Chapter PCMA 

Quarterly Meeting 

Location: Muvico Theater 

Rosemont, IL 

Contact: GMC-PCMA 

(630) 323-7413 

www.gmcpcma.org 

June 27-29, 2008 

MPI-CAC CMP Exam Study 

Review Weekend 

Location: The Affinia Chicago 



(847) 457-2040 


July 25-28, 2008 

International Association of Assembly 

Managers Annual Conference 

Location: Anaheim Convention Center 

Anaheim, CA 

Contact: IAAM 

(972) 906-7441 

www.iaam.org 

July 27-30, 2008 

Destination Marketing Association 

International Annual Conference 

Location: Caesar’s Palace 

Las Vegas, NV 

Contact: DMAI 

(202) 296-7888 

www.destinationmarketing.org 


29

SPONSORSHIP HEROES 

From hosting a chapter board meeting to discounting ng food and 

beverage or décor at events, the numerous 

ways that MPI-CAC’s sponsors provide their support is vast but the 

results are the same – being a vital 

component of MPI-CAC’s success. Success as a financially stable organization that provides timely, cost-effective 

professional development, educational and networking programs. 

Thank you to the following companies that supported chapter programs and activities held during 

late February 2008, March 2008 and early April 2008. Remember – BUY MPI! Thank you to… 

Platinum Partner 

($15,000-$19,999) 

Swank Audio Visual 

Bill Kubiak . (530) 296-8435 

bkubiak@swankav.com 

www.swankav.com 

Gold Partner 

($5,000-$9,999) 

Drake Hotel 

Anna Surber . (312) 932-4305 

anna.surber@hilton.com 

Second City Communications 

Steve Johnston . (312) 337-3992 

sjohnston@secondcity.com 

Silver Partners 

($2,500-$4,999) 

Greg Christain Catering & Events 

Gabi Dorsch . (312) 666-4466 

gabi@gregchristian.com 

The Peninsula Chicago 

Rebecca Conklin . (312) 573-6605 

rebeccaconklin@peninsula.com 

Warner AV 

Tom Murray . (815) 469-1422 

tmurray@warnerav.com 

Bronze Partner 

($1,000-$2,499) 

Chicago Printing Arts/The Digital Hub 

Peter Langkamp . (773) 251-4929 

langkamp9450@comcast.net 

DoubleTree Hotel O’Hare 

Renee Alberson . (847) 292-3266 

renee.alberson@hilton.com 

Esprit Productions 

Ron Springer . (847) 549-6200 

rons@espritproductions.com 

PRA Destination Management, Inc. 

Margie McCartney . (773) 368-8618 

mmccartney@pra.com 

University Center 

Mark Calderone, CMP . (312) 924-8092 

mcalderone@universitycenter.com 

Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel 

Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Hotel 

Westin Michigan Avenue Hotel 

Ted Miller, CHME, CHSE, CHSP 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts 

(312) 970-29112 

ted.miller@starwoodhotels.com 

Friends of the Chapter 

(Under $1,000) 

All Events Photography 

Jeff Brown . (312) 543-2100 

jeff@alleventsphotos.com 

Amalfi Hotel Chicago 

Jose Angula . (312) 395-9097 

jangulo@amalfihotelchicago.com 

Conrad Hotel 

Caryn Granzow . (312) 896-7466 

caryn.granzow@conradchicago.com 

Edward Fox Photography 

Ken Nopar . (773) 756-0200 

knopar@edwardfox.com 

Executive Chauffeuring 

Kevin Foss . (84) 537-7988 

kevin@executivecars.us 

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago 

Hans Willimann . (312) 280-8800 

cristina.ostrowski@gfourseasons.com 

McCormick Tribune Freedom 

Museum 

Lorelei Camp . (312) 222-7871 

lcamp@freedommuseum.us 

Proactive, Inc. 

DG Garrity . (312) 284-1133 

dgarrity@proactiveinc.com 

Travel Portland 

Maureen Clampitt 

(630) 469-3797 

maureen@travelportland.com 

Visit Pittsburgh 

Kori Gassaway . (312) 421-6659 

kori.gassaway@visitpittsburgh.com 

Westin Michigan Avenue 

Courtney Daum . (312) 649-6443 

courtney.daum@westin.com 

Thank you to the following 

companies that have shown their 

support of the chapter’s Student 

Affairs activities by donating 

giveaway items for student care 

bags distributed to student 

registrants at February’s Annual 

Educational Conference: 

Meeting of the Minds. 


Alisa Peters, CMP, CMM 

(847) 941-9412 

apeters@chicagoindoorracing.com 

Chicago’s North Shore Convention 

& Visitors Bureau 

Kimberly Wright . (847) 763-011 x23 

kwright@cnscvb.com 

Corporate Imaging Concepts 

Nancy Reuscher . (847) 487-2703 

nancyg@corp-imaging.com 

Four Seasons Hotel Chicago 

Jamie Shamhart . (312) 944-4949 

jamie.shamhart@fourseasons.com 

Gene Siskel Film Center 

Jean de St. Aubin . (312) 846-2076 

jdestaubin@saic.edu 

Hawaii Visitor & Convention 

Bureau 

Kathy Dever . (312) 229-1406 

kdever@hvcb.org 

Mexico Tourism Board 

Teresa Matamoros, CMP 

(312) 228-0517 x20 

tmatamoros@visitmexico.com 

Shoreline Charters & Events 

Kathe Elwell . (312) 373-7255 

ke@shorlinesightseeing.com 

The Glen Club 

Larissa Magajne . (847) 832-6441 

larissa@theglenclub.com 

The Hard Rock Café 

Tara Hippensteel . (312) 943-5572 

chicago_sales@hardrock.com 

The Park View Hotel 

Melinda Stell . (312) 640-5585 

mstell@parkviewhotelchicago.com 

Total Event Resources 

Kathy Miller . (847) 397-2200 

kmiller@total-event.com 

Wright Leadership Institute 

Jullian Eichel . (312) 645-8300 

jillian@wrightlearning.com 


Melissa Lipton . (773) 334-0343 

mlipton@wyndham.com 

Want to see your name on this list? Consider the Partnership Development Opportunities that the chapter offers to 

connect with professionals from the Chicago-area meetings and hospitality industry. To learn more, visit the 

Sponsorship section at www.mpicac.org or contact the headquarters office at info@mpicac.org or (847) 457-2040. 


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when it has to be right - Meeting Professionals International Chicago ...

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