MPI Toronto Chapter Blog

Holiday Gala tickets now on sale and going fast!

20th Annual Holiday Gala
Thursday December 3rd
Conference Centre at the International Centre
6900 Airport Road, Mississauga

Cool is hot! And this year’s Holiday Gala promises to be one of the coolest (if not the hottest) event on the calendar.   This annual gala is one of our chapter’s most popular events.  It sells out, so buy your tickets or table today!  Register NOW.
  
With Winter Chic as the theme for this year’s event, be prepared to immerse yourself in a sleek and modern environment featuring tones of white, silver, ice blue and even a cool mist.

Plan on staying - Join us at the After Party Lounge with DJ music and plenty more opportunity to network!
         
Auctions
Join us as we showcase a wide array of tantalizing Silent and Live Auction items. Your thoughtful purchases will benefit two outstanding causes:  Breakfast with Santa Foundation and the Educational Reserve Fund (learn more about these great causes below).  It is not too late to donate to the Auctions.  Deadline extension:  November 30th, 2009 (note: your auction item will be included in our catalogue addendum if received by the new deadline).  Donation Form

Toy Drive
To further help Breakfast with Santa spread the season’s cheer, please bring a new unwrapped gift for a child. Any gift will be welcomed, but there’s a particular need for toys suitable for:
          •    10-15 year olds
          •    Newborn to 18 months
If you’re stuck for an idea, board games and gift cards (cinemas or book stores) are appropriate for a broad range of ages.
 
Accommodation
No need to rush home afterwards, as the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel and Conference Centre is delighted to offer a limited number of rooms at a special $109.00 holiday rate! To access this offer call 1-800-325-3535 and ask for the MPI Holiday Gala special rate.

Breakfast with Santa Foundation
A non-profit charitable organization of volunteers who donate their time to organize and execute an event of fun and excitement for deserving children. Families referred by local women’s shelters, breakfast clubs, and Food Path are hosted to a hot breakfast. Games, songs, and entertainment follow the meal until Santa makes his grand entrance to the joyful cheers of the children. Santa mingles with the children where hugs are the order of the day! Each child is called upon by Santa himself to receive a special gift. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA has helped bring Christmas to approximately 5,000 children over 18 years and thousands of nutritious meals. Thanks to MPI Toronto Chapter’s continuing support, the Breakfast with Santa Foundation initiated a Summer School Holiday Breakfast Program in 2003. This project feeds children a nutritious breakfast throughout the week. Our ongoing efforts will help keep both valuable programs running.
 
Educational Reserve Fund
The MPI Toronto Chapter Educational Reserve Fund (ERF) is used to enhance the quality of chapter educational programming at monthly meetings, professional development sessions and the Toronto Education Conference. The ERF also provides a number of scholarships to the regional and international MPI conferences for Toronto Chapter members.We are still accepting  silent auction donations  - visit www.mpitoronto.org for the donation form or call  905-567-9591 for more information.

MEETING goes digital!

We are delighted to announce the November/December 2009 issue of MEETING is now available online!

Designed to supplement the print publication, the digital edition comes complete with the same great editorial content and visual appeal; plus new, interactive tools only available online.

Feature articles from this issue include:

• Face-to-Face Meetings are Still the Best for Building Relationships
• The Importance of Communication in Mentoring
• The Body Language of Listening

Please remember to add noreply@naylorcampaign10.com to your safe-sender list to ensure you receive future e-mail notifications.

We hope you enjoy this exclusive benefit!

A big thank you to the following members of the Communications Committee who co-created this issue of MEETING: Geoff Mak (Chair), Heather Dahmer, Sarah Langley, Patty MacPherson, Angelis Neckles, Doug Wojick, Sharon Worsley, Nikki Wright and Vicki Zeppa. Are you interested in joining our committee or submitting an article? Email us at office@mpitoronto.org.

Free MPI Webinar Series on H1N1

Responding to the needs of our member community, MPI has launched a 3-part webinar series on H1N1 pandemic. This is free for all members; non-members can attend for $40 USD.

This comprehensive program provides vital information on the H1N1 pandemic specifically in the context of the meeting and events industry. It begins this Friday, November 6, 2009. Please see the schedule below. We encourage you to attend as many of the webinars as you can.

11/6/2009 11:00 a.m. CST	The H1N1 Flu Pandemic: What Meeting Professionals Need to Know	Dr. Jonathan Spero
11/10/2009 11:00 a.m. CST	Be Prepared, Not Panicked (Or Complacent):  A Swine Flu Update	Dennis Petroskey
11/17/2009 11:00 a.m. CST	Getting your H1N1 Preparedness Plan to the C-level	Julia Silvers

To register for the webinars, please click here.

For more information on the H1N1 virus and the meetings and events industry, please click here.