MPI Toronto Chapter Blog

A Community Celebrates

On March 5, MPI Toronto recognized some of the outstanding contributors to the meetings industry. It is from the support of our industry's community that individual success and achievement becomes possible. In turn the individual nourishes the community with their contributions of leadership, passion, commitment, dedication and innovation.

Congratulations to all the nominees and award recipients.

Norm Neill Student of the Year Award Nominees:
Danyelle MacCulloch, George Brown College
Rebecca Meikle, Ryerson University
Sandy Yong, Ryerson University
Norm Neil Student of the Year Award Recipient - Danyelle MacCulloch, George Brown College

Recruiter of the Year Award Recipient
Robbie Bishop, Le Royal Meridien King Edward Hotel

New Member of the Year Award Award Nominees:
Paul Alves, Caesars Windsor
Danyelle MacCulloch, George Brown College
Michael Marmur, Special Event Photography
Nikki Sayers, Ontario Bar Association
New Member of the Year Award Award Recipients - Paul Alves, Caesars Windsor and Nikki Sayers, Ontario Bar Association

Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award Nominees:
Lindsey Bryce, Deloitte
Dianna Di Manno, CMP Toronto Congress Centre
Andrew Horberry, CMP, Imagination
Andrew Walker, York University
Andrea Wallace, Meetings & Incentive Travel
Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award Award Recipients - Dianna Di Manno, CMP Toronto Congress Centre and Andrew Walker, York University

Supplier of the Year Nominees:
David Dugas, DE Systems
Robert Giorgini, London Convention Centre
Kelly Shannon, Peller Estates Winery & Hillebrand Winery
Supplier of the Year Award Recipient - Robert Giorgini, London Convention Centre

Planner of the Year Award Nominees:
Brenda Carter, CMP, KPMG MSLP
Leanne Hay, CMP, Amex Canada Inc.
Patty MacPherson, CMP, JPDL Toronto
Planner of the Year Award Recipient - Brenda Carter, CMP, KPMG MSLP

President’s Award Recipient
Doug Bolger, L(earn)2

MPI Toronto thanks each of you for your contributions to the industry and to MPI.

Nikki Wright

Community

Last night at MPI Toronto Chapter's 30th Anniversary Celebration we were reminded of the community to which we belong. Throughout the evening, the presentations were peppered with references to our MPI community and the power of human connections.

As meeting professionals we are community builders - we lay the foundation stones at meetings for community members to come together, to dialogue and generate future outlooks within our respective industries, corporations, associations or social causes. We seek ways for individuals to interact and generate new ideas, to network and strengthen connections, to contribute to build better organizations.

For those of you also attended WEC in Las Vegas, the power of community building was demonstrated during The Drum Café at the Opening Session. The power of the drum… drawing us back to the power of tribal rhythm. We all have a role to play - we give and receive from each other in the moment. We are linked and in coming together, we are able to create great things.

Our MPI community is one in which we all have a part to play. Each individual's role is as great or as small as one may choose - but none is less or more important than the other. At the beginning of last night's event, the past and the future of MPI Toronto met on stage - past presidents and new members. Flash Back, Flash Forward and I am reminded of the importance of the present moment. The present where we experience the 'aha'. The present where we see ourselves linked to the past and to the future. The present in which we are active participants in our community. Each of us has a role to play.

Our Chapter President Suzanne Forster encouraged us to get engaged in our community. In fact, engagement is her theme for the year. For each of us the way we will be engaged is different, but we are all part of the community. Whether a village elder or someone who has just joined, each of us has a role to play.

I look forward to your comments and ideas.

Nikki

 

What Clique Do you Click With?

Recently the Chapter conducted a member survey and on the feedback, one of the items commented on is that the Chapter is cliquey. I think we can all relate to this comment. Do you remember the first MPI Toronto Chapter meeting you attended only to find yourself faced with a room of 150-200 people already formed into small groups chatting, laughing and networking while you stood and watched? This is reminiscent of those first days of high school or summer camp when we were teenagers feeling vulnerable. Nobody likes to feel like an outsider and we have all at one time or another experienced that.

By definition a clique is a close group of friends or coworkers with similar interests and goals, whom outsiders regard as excluding them.  (http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861597874)

I would argue that while cliques have a negative connotation, they are in fact impossible to prevent. As humans we are social beings, and we will naturally gravitate towards those with similar interests, who share our ideas and who we simply click with. I can tell you from experience that the cliques within our Chapter are not secret groups plotting about how they are going to keep you on the outside. They are in fact simply meetings industry members who have gotten to know one another through committee work, being on the Board, participating in an international conference or just over time through networking.

At the Chapter Management Form (CMF) on Saturday August 9 in Las Vegas at the WEC I heard an interesting idea. One of the other MPI Chapter’s is putting a positive spin on cliques – recognizing that this social phenomenon is impossible to stop so why not embrace it. Their philosophy is if you feel like an outsider, than you need to become part of the organization and become part of the clique – join MPI, join a committee, join the Board, get involved, there are many ways to do this. I would encourage you to get involved and soon you will find the clique that you click with.

(If you want to join one of our cliques visit www.mpitoronto.org for information on membership and volunteering.)