News from Lynnwood Convention Center

3rd Quarter Newsletter

A Message from the General Manager

Kelvin So ... what did you do over the summer? Aside from working on budgets, business plans, quarterly reviews and other not-so-glamorous tasks, I spent a lot of time bragging about how dominant the Dallas Cowboys were going to be this year. I boasted about how great it was going to be for them to play in the Superbowl on their home field at the new Cowboys Stadium. That's not working out so well. I have canceled my Superbowl travel plans.

I also engaged in quite a bit of trash talk about how the Texas Longhorns were going to go undefeated and win the big BCS National Championship. All I have to say about that is, "Iowa State...? Really...?" I won't be traveling to Glendale, Arizona in January, either.

So to those of you who took me to task for my "Everything is Bigger in Texas" message in the last newsletter, I will humbly take my medicine and move on. I have little to brag about this time out.

Fortunately, some of our Lynnwood Convention Center team spent parts of their summer much more productively.

Erin Haldi, our Catering Manager, went sky diving. Yes folks, she jumped out of a perfectly good plane! If I didn't know better, I would swear she was a Texan! Along with her family, our Director of Finance, Tracey Morrison, visited the happiest place on earth ... Disneyland! Our Sales Manager, Erin Mitchell, participated in the "Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk" in San Francisco. Way to go Erin! Last, but certainly not least, Administrative & Marketing Coordinator, Erica Heininger, visited the city of lights, Paris. She returned with lots of photos, stories ... and an engagement ring! Congratulations Erica!

Group Photo

I would love to be able to share some photos of my wife and me posing in our new Cowboys or Longhorns gear, but I just can't bring myself to do it. So, as fall quickly turns to winter, I will just wish you all warm greetings.

On a serious note, I would like to extend our appreciation for the men and women who serve in our nation's armed forces and so bravely defend our freedoms. It is because of your service that I'm able to write silly messages bragging about Texas. It is because of your sacrifice that members of our team are able to have exciting summer adventures. So to those currently in service, to those who have previously served, and to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we say THANK YOU!

Happy Veterans Day!

3rd Quarter Event Highlight

Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet
August 14, 2010

More than 300 Disney fans attended the second annual Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet.

"We moved to a larger space in the convention center," Morin said. "There's a lot of different clubs and groups and fans in the area but they can't always get together," Morin said. "This is their opportunity to come together."

This event was comprised of Disney fans and Disney celebrities, speakers and vendors from the northwest and beyond.

Recipe by Chef Michael

Michael's Butternut Squash Hash

Butternut Squash, peeled and seeded, 1/4" diced, 2 lbs
Potatoes, 1/4" diced, 2 lb
Onions, white, diced, 1 lb
Olive Oil 4oz
Thyme, dried, 2 teaspoons
Basil, dried, 2 teaspoons Chef Michael

Marjoram, dried, 2 teaspoons
Garlic, minced, 1 tablespoon
Honey, 2 teaspoons
Brown Sugar, 1 teaspoon
Ginger, ground, 1/2 teaspoon
Cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon
Coriander, 1/2 teaspoon
Cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon
All Spice, 1/4 teaspoon
Kosher Salt, 1 tablespoon
White Pepper, 1 teaspoon
Bacon (optional), 1 lb

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix all of the herbs and spices together and divide in half. Divide the olive oil, onions and garlic in half as well. Toss the butternut squash with the first half of the herbs, spices, garlic, onion and olive oil and lay evenly on a sheet plan or cookie sheet. Bake for 7 minutes or until cooked through, but not mushy. Toss potatoes with the other half of the aromatics and bake on a separate sheet pan or cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes. Combine the two when cooked. This item goes well as a bed for pan roasted trout or chicken with gamier meats and birds such as venison or quail.

If using bacon, cook until crisp, reserve the fat and mix with the olive oil and use to cook potatoes and squash. Crumble bacon and mix in the hash.

Employee Spotlight

Debbie Matland 1

Debbie Matland, Accounting Assistant

What is your favorite movie?
The Notebook

Where were you born?
Edmonds, Washington

What's your favorite 80's band?
Metallica

What's your favorite holiday?
Christmas, I love to look at the pictures of my kids on Santa's lap every year.

Five Years of Art

Damon Conklin with Border

Since April 2005, the Lynnwood Convention Center and the City of Lynnwood Arts Commission has worked together to showcase over 60 Northwest artists, including many international renowned artists such as Alfredo Arreguin and John Hoover. "The Lynnwood Arts Commission really values this partnership with the Lynnwood Convention Center," said Fred Wong, City of Lynnwood Cultural Arts Supervisor. "Artists are presented with the opportunity to exhibit their work and our community has a wonderful place to experience art."

The current exhibit featuring d'Elaine Johnson, Suze Woolf, Robert Fairfax, Renato Sossi, and Janice Maple will be available for viewing at the Lynnwood Convention Center, during normal business hours free of charge.

Green Meeting Tips from our Director of Operations and Event Services

Will with border

In the Pacific Northwest, green meetings are far from a trend or fad. They are an expectation. Major Northwest companies such as Nike, The North Face and Microsoft have committed to environmentally responsible practices for their events and more and more organizations are following suit. This movement has opened up an incredible number of opportunities and services that were prohibitively expensive just a few years ago. Now every meeting planner has the ability to create eco-friendly meetings without major cost or time investment. Here are a few key tips to help your next event turn green.

Start Small

While committing to a carbon neutral event or paper free meeting might be a bit too daunting for some organizations, there are a lot of simple and cost effective efforts that can be easily implemented. Start off by identifying small but effective adjustments such as reusing name tag holders or offering online only registration. These types of small changes working together can substantially reduce the overall environmental impact of your event. One name badge reused is one less in a landfill.

Communicate Intentions

Be sure to communicate your efforts and intentions to attendees and vendors in pre-meeting announcements, updates and verbal reminders during the event. Set out clear goals for the event and ask participants for their help in achieving those goals. Also, don't be afraid to broadcast your efforts externally. Making eco-friendly decisions can provide some excellent PR and help set an example for others to follow.

Printed Materials

Whenever possible, use electronic program materials, registration forms and handouts. If physical documents are required, print materials double sided with soy ink on recycled content paper. Try to print only the amount needed to distribute and make sure presentation handouts are available on-line or send then electronically on request

Recycling and Composting

When searching for a venue to host your meeting, be sure to inquire about the building's recycling and composting programs. While many event facilities will have some sort of recycling and composting program, the commitment level and scope of these programs can vary significantly. A few detailed questions about the facility's recycling and compost policies can usually separate the pretenders from the real deal.

Transportation

Encourage attendees to carpool or use other alternative means of transportation to travel to and from the event. Incentives such free or reduced parking for carpoolers or complimentary mass transit vouchers can go a long way in motivating individuals to ditch their cars.

November 2010