Working
for an Association means working with lean budgets, especially in the wake of
economic downturn. My employer graciously sends me to the PCMA Annual Meeting
each year, but there is not money in the budget to attend additional
conferences. The recipient of both PCMA and NYPCMA scholarships allowed me to
attend, for the first time ever, the Education Conference.
If
you haven't attended the Education Conference, take my advice and GO. It is
arguably one of the best conferences I have ever attended, offering superior
education and networking opportunities. The smaller attendance (around 400)
really allows you to be an active participant in all meeting sessions. I
returned to New York feeling more passionate about my career and industry than
I have felt in quite some time.
The
Education Conference enforced my knowledge of social media technology and
reminded me that I want (and need) to do whatever I can to further the Meeting
Planning profession - it is indeed time to move the way meeting planners are perceived beyond logistics and into strategic meeting management
practices.
PCMA
used powerhouse speakers to keep the audience engaged and energized. With the
exception of Jeff Corwin, I did not recognize the names of the other speakers
and therefore did not expect much. Libby Gill is a very motivating speaker
whose objective was to inspire excellence in the work place; she playfully
reminded listeners to "Clarify the Vision, Simplify the Path, and Execute the
Plan." She also reminded the leaders of our industry that "If you're leading
and no one is following, maybe you're just taking a walk." (Ancient Proverb)
Jamie Clark inspired attendees with a message to never stop or quit your
pursuits of happiness and I was reminded that more often than not, "failures"
in my life are simply learning opportunities. Scott Klososky, a powerful,
engaging speaker with a grasp of technology and social media beyond my
comprehension, had the room erupting in laughter, but also posed a call to
action as most people realized that they have to be doing more with technology
and social media just to keep pace with industry trends. Finally, Jeff Corwin
flew to Montréal straight from the front lines of the oil spill crisis in the
Gulf where he passionately told of his struggles to make the planet a better
place for all living creatures, especially his daughter.
Montréal
was the perfect location and proved to be a gracious wonderful host city. Aside
from providing worthy learning and networking opportunities, participants were
treated to a truly stunning Welcome Reception that featured sensuous acrobatics
to tunes from Portishead, where more than one attendee breathed, "Oh là là!"
The final evening party and dinner featured stunning lighting and a fun,
interactive skit with the chef.
Next
year's Education Conference is scheduled to be in Baltimore. I suggest that you
try to convince your powers-that-be that is a worthy conference to attend and
to budget accordingly. I hope to see you there!
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