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A Message from the GM
To Our
Meeting & Event Organizing Partners:
One thing
is clear. The current global recession is real. It is deep. And it is affecting
companies and individuals all over the world. The meetings and events industry is
no different.
Like other meeting
and event facilities, we have experienced our share of cancellations and
lowered attendance here at the Lynnwood
Convention Center. And although
our proactive planning and ability to react in a flexible manner have minimized
the effect of the recession on our operation, many in our industry have not
been as fortunate. This is especially true for our meeting and event organizing
partners.
Nationally,
some organizers have canceled events as a result of financial constraints.
Others have had to cancel events as a result of legitimate public scrutiny
resulting from lavish meetings conducted by recipients of TARP funding. And still
others have chosen to cancel legitimate meetings, not for financial reasons,
but for fear of being criticized for having meetings at all.
To be
clear, meetings and events are smart, cost effective ways to retain and develop
employee talent, build engagement, generate ideas and share knowledge that
drives business growth. When companies cancel legitimate and productive
meetings and events, simply to avoid misdirected criticism, there are no
winners.
To address
these issues, members of the global meetings industry have developed guidelines
and best practices aimed at assisting meeting planners and event organizers in
better understanding the landscape and ensuring that they have the tools they
need to move forward in planning meetings and events in a responsible manner.
Meeting Industry Crisis Center Model Board Policy
Meeting Industry Crisis Center Legitimate Meetings
Those
guidelines and best practices, while aimed at larger companies that conduct travel
related meetings, are fundamentally sound and can be adopted by any company
that regularly produces meetings as a part of its normal business.
For smaller
companies closer to home that may have different, but no less real, recession
related challenges, those guidelines may not provide the tools you need. We
understand. And we want to help.
We
understand that smaller companies are being hit hardest by the recession,
resulting in decisions to discontinue meetings and event programs. We also recognize
how contributive meetings can be to the ability of smaller companies to grow.
For those reasons, I have given our sales and event staff wide ranging flexibility
to work with struggling companies and event organizers.
Over the
next several weeks, we will roll out new programs and packages that will make
it easier for you to continue conducting your vital meetings and event
programs. Until then, if you want to continue to produce your meetings and
events, but feel that you may not be able to do so ... for whatever reasons ...
give us a call. If there is a way to make it happen, we will make it happen.
We are all
in this together. And working together, we will make it through this recession
stronger than before.
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The New Kids on the Block...
 Naomi Carrier, Catering Operations Manager
Born in sunny Kauai,
Hawaii, Naomi is fun, down-to-earth
and eclectic at heart. During her down time you may catch Naomi listening to one of her
favorite 80's bands Guns 'n' Roses, Cyndi Lauper or Madonna. Her favorite part
of her new job is the opportunity to be creative and think outside of the box,
and find new and fun ways to deliver that "Wow!"
 Sharon Ramento, Sales ManagerMrs. Ramento, a self-proclaimed scarf person, originally hales from beautiful Subic Bay, Philippines. Once a member of her award-winning high school dance team, she has honed her competitive skills and makes a great addition to the Sales Team.  Danielle Selvidge, Event ManagerDanielle, a.k.a. Leelee Sobieski, is our new volleyball-playing Event Manager. She is proud to say that she loves to decorate her office during the holidays and that her favorite 80's band is The Eagles. When she's not helping our clients with their events, you may find her at her favorite vacation spot, Kona, Hawaii. |
Recipe by Chef Michael
 Nothing says spring time in the northwest like the arrival
of asparagus. The following recipe is one of my favorites and is very simple to
execute. Try and find standard or consumer grade asparagus. These will have the
circumference of a sharpie marker. The asparagus can be served warm, room
temperature or chilled.
Oven Roasted
Asparagus with Citrus Aioli
One Bunch Asparagus
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Trim the asparagus by cutting off the woody bottoms. Toss
lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Lay asparagus out on a
cookie sheet and roast in a 325 degree oven for 7-10 minutes. The asparagus are
done when they turn a bright green. There should still be a crunch in the
texture.
Citrus Aioli
1 clove garlic, minced
1 egg yolk
1 t Dijon
mustard
½ cup pomace olive oil
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ orange, juiced
½ lemon, juiced
Salt and pepper to taste
Lightly cook garlic in 1 Tablespoon of the pomace oil and
let cool. Whisk together the egg yolk and mustard. Slowly start adding the
olive oil in a drizzle. After half the oil is added and the mixture starts to
emulsify, you can add the rest of he oil in a quicker stream. Add the garlic
and then the juices to taste. Season with salt and pepper.
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Naomi's Tips for a Fun and Festive Spring
Warmer weather and
the sounds of nature are all inklings that spring is coming. Easter to me has always been a time for
family and friends to get together and celebrate. Whether it's a brunch, lunch or dinner that
you're hosting; embrace the season by incorporating some beautiful pastel
colors. Here are some helpful tips for
table settings and how to handle those tricky eggs.
Table settings:
White dishes are
always your best choice. A white
background allows for colors to really stand out, whether it's the food on the
plates or the accessorizing of your table.
When decorating
your table, try to incorporate easy and practical items to tie in your theme. Place a colored egg in an egg cup or a
demitasse spoon in the center of your plate under a napkin the same color as
the egg. Wrap a little bow around the
egg for the finishing touch.
For centerpieces
you can never really go wrong with flowers.
Tulips, daisies or peonies in bunches of one color offer a "wow" to your
guests with shear volume of a single color.
For an alternate
choice to flowers think food;
Using a tall glass vase filled with
oranges, limes or lemons adds a different feel while still delivering "spring"
freshness.
Take a few bunches of thin asparagus
and cut the ends down so they measure 5".
Lay the asparagus down and run a skewer through a few to equal the
length of one side of a 6" vase, continue until you have 4 sides. Line a row against each side of the
vase, then fill with your favorite flowers.
Cut the stems off a few baby artichokes
and stick a skewer or floral stake into the ends. Add them to your bouquet for a fresh
look.
Coloring eggs:
Use sharpies in a
range of color to add a fun designs and color variety to your dyed eggs, rather
than a wax crayon.
Wrap your egg with
a thick rubber band or a narrow piece of tape, to block out bright white areas
before dyeing. Simply remove after the
egg is dry.
Aluminum foil is a
different way to add texture to your egg.
Crumple then uncrumple a square piece of foil. Coat the inside of the foil with acrylic
paint then place your egg inside and loosely wrap it. Gently press the foil against the egg, then
remove and let dry.
Use a perforated
serving spoon to dip your egg into your dye.
This will give your egg more stability than a small teaspoon would, and
also allows the color to drain easily.
Then place your egg on bubble packaging or an empty egg carton to dry.
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Upcoming Events
Sample
South County
March 26th, 2009
5:00pm-8:00pm
SSCCC Website
The South Snohomish County Chamber
is happy to announce the first annual trade show event featuring a selection of
food, wine, beer and more from top vendors in Snohomish County. The community is invited to sample the finest
selections of food and spirits from more than 15 local restaurants, while
networking with other local businesses.
Kenmore Camera
April 11, 2009
10:00am-6:00pm
Kenmore Website
An exclusive event featuring and demonstrating the latest features that Canon has to offer.
Includes a special multi-media presentation featuring guest speaker, Art Wolfe.
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It's Good to be Green
The Lynnwood Convention Center has an extensive recycling program. In addition to
recycling cardboard, paper, plastic and metal, The Convention Center
has introduced several other programs. These programs include light bulb, toner, and
battery recycling. Employees are even
encouraged to bring in old batteries in from home.
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