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The State of the Industry Panel discussion took place on Thursday November 11th at the Hyatt Crown Center. Our President, Missy Johnson, served as the Moderator filling in for a very ill D. Bradley Kent, Vice President, Business Development with Freeman. There were over 100 people in attendance with 30% of the audience being Kansas State students. The panelists were Jim Goodman, CMP from the American Dental Association, Jack Horne from Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Alex Kaptzan from Tampa Bay & Co. CVB and Michelle Russell from Convene, the magazine of PCMA. The current industry trends were discussed and it will be interesting to see how these trends fit into the various sessions at the Convening Leaders Annual Conference in Las Vegas in January:

Corporate Travel is rebounding 1.

There are great deals still available through 2013, 2. Don’t expect the same for 2014 and beyond. Resorts are where the best deals are at right now.

Short Term Business is overwhelming for the 3. hotels

Government business is going to be what? 4. Government Per Diems went down but hotel rates are now increasing. How much Government

travel will be taking place is also still an unanswered question.Technology and especially, social media is a hot 5. topic. If you are not embracing it or trying to understand it, it is time you do.

RELEVANCE for associations is a huge issue. This 6. includes meetings, attendance and membership.

Associations are at a crossroad with the leaders 7. not being representative of the new membership. Yet determining what they need to be and realizing they can’t be all things to all members.

Tradeshows for all types of associations are 8. experiencing lower numbers of exhibitors. The impact this will have on association is yet to be determined. Many organizations rely on the revenue generate through their annual convention to cover up to 50% of the associations operating expenses. The increase in convention space at venues throughout the country add uncertainty to the suppliers.

Again, 2011 will prove to be an interesting year for all of us!

State of the Industry Meeting November 11, 2010

Left to Right: Jim Goodman, CMP with ADA, Michelle Russell with PCMA's Convene, Alex Kaptzan with Tampa Bay & Company, Missy Johnson, CMP, moderator and Jack Horne with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts.

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2010 Heartland Chapter Board of DirectorsPRESIDENTMissy Johnson, CMPAmerican Academy of Family Physicians

PRESIDENT-ELECTRobin O’ConnorHelmsBriscoe

SECRETARYMike RowanExperient

TREASuRERMary RyanKansas City Convention & Visitors Association

IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENTTeresa HellmanExperient

DIRECTORS

Jenny Conrad, CMPGateway Center in Collinsville, IL

Vicki ComegysDes Moines Convention & Visitors Bureau

Marilyn KohlerLittle Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

Ronda Vaughn, CMPOptimist International

Sherie L. Howell, CMP, CMMA-S-K Associates, Inc.

Amy Harper, CMPNational Association of Insurance Commissioners

CHAPTER NATIONAL BOARD LIAISONJim GoodmanAmerican Dental Association

CHAPTER ADMINISTRATORNonie LowryLP etc

CONTACT INFORMATION heartland.chapter@pcma.org913.402.7102

A message from Missy...Happy Holidays!

As 2010 is coming to a close and we prepare for a new year both professionally and personally, I’m thinking of all we have accomplished this year in our “little chapter that could”. We are a chapter of about 150 active members (one of PCMA’s smallest chapters) and when I reflect on the past year, I note that we’ve made some important strides.

Our Program committee, headed by Jennifer George-Lion, successfully executed six educational or other programs including two in St. Louis and one full-day educational retreat in Des Moines. Our Sponsorship committee, led

by Teresa Hellman and Michelle Murdock, helped raise more than $16,000 in sponsorships for our programs, generated more than $9,000 in our annual silent auction with the help of our generous auction sponsors, as well as secure six venue locations for our educational events. Our Community Service committee, led by Stephanie Palmer-Deel, successfully arranged and executed three important community service events for our chapter members in 2010, which generated some much needed fun-on-the-farm, school supplies and money for the kids of Operation Breakthrough. Our Membership recruitment and retention numbers are on pace with our goals due to the efforts of Karin Robinson, Membership Chair. Our student membership numbers have grown by 50% due in large part to the efforts of Kristen Kimbrel, our Emerging Leaders Chair, who has worked closely this year with the students and professors in Kansas State’s hospitality degree program.

I hope you’ll join me in congratulating these volunteers and all who serve on our board and committees that have made such a positive impact on our chapter this year. We are a “little” chapter but we are making a difference for our members and I hope you are impacted by the work we do for you each year.

I hope to see you at the PCMA Annual Meeting, January 9-12, 2011 in Las Vegas. Please join me and many other colleagues at the Heartland Chapter reception to be held on Sunday, January 9th from 5-6:30 at Rouge Lounge inside MGM Grand. It’s our opportunity to connect with each other before the meeting really gets underway!

I’ve had such pleasure serving as your President this year and thank you for allowing me that opportunity. Here’s to 2010 and to our great “little” chapter!

Missy Johnson, CMP2010 Heartland President

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Welcome to PCMA! Heartland’s newest members:

Meghan K. McCarthy StudentKansas State university

Colin B. Hargrove StudentKansas State university

Paul Danler StudentKansas State university

Brooklyn M. Keating StudentKansas State university

Angelia M. Kistaitis Mid-America Center

Daniel C. Roberson StudentKansas State university

Caitlin M. Burns StudentKansas State university

Sloane A. Stringer StudentKansas State university

Michael P. Sullivan StudentKansas State university

Krystal L. Golden StudentKansas State university

Kyle M. Ledford StudentKansas State university

Mallory A. Menard StudentKansas State university

Rhonda Cameron StudentKansas State university

Tara K. Farley StudentKansas State university

Alisha A. Lyon StudentKansas State university

Aesha Beattle Sales ManagerWestin Crown Center Hotel

Alexandria J. Ponchur StudentKansas State university

Amanda B. Hogue StudentKansas State university

Anne M. McAtee StudentKansas State university

Cameron Bishop CEOAscend Integrated Media

Caroline J. Morrand StudentKansas State university

Carolyn Sterbenz Regional Director of SalesPrestige Resorts & Destinations

Celia Fritz-Watson Director, Alumni AffairsNotre Dame de Sion School

Courtney L. Harken StudentKansas State university

Dale A. Kruger StudentKansas State university

Diane R. Flory StudentKansas State university

Emily Shelton Conference Services CoordinatorHotel Phillips

Erik Barstow Sales ManagerSheraton Overland Park Hotel

Jennifer Larsen StudentKansas State university

Jessica L. Alexander StudentKansas State university

Karen Elliot StudentKansas State university

Kayla Breann Dodson StudentKansas State university

Kristen E. Case StudentKansas State university

Lauren C. Horst StudentKansas State university

Marc Lassalle StudentNorthwood university

Matthew D. Mahoney StudentKansas State university

Megan M. Ferguson StudentKansas State university

Morgan L. Erickson StudentKansas State university

Nicole L. Jans StudentKansas State university

Pei Liu StudentKansas State university

Ray M. Rosetta CMPMeetings and Program Director Society of Teachers of Family Medicine

Robyn L. Creel StudentKansas State university

Rose Ellen Lenk CMPMeeting & Event ManagerExperient

Sarah J. Crotty StudentKansas State university

Sarah Jo Scott StudentKansas State university

Shelby N. Swartz StudentKansas State university

Sherry Scorby Convention/Events Sales DirectorFort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau

2010 Heartland Chapter Committee Chairs

ANNuAL MEETINGMissy Johnson, CMP

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPTyler AdkinsHotel Phillips

COMMuNICATIONS & NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Co-chair: Robin O’ConnorHelmsBriscoe

Co-chair: Christine Pennel-Jones, CASE

Experient, Inc.

COMMuNITY SERVICE CHAIRStephanie Palmer Deel, CASE

San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter & Riverwalk

MEMBERSHIPKarin Robinson, CMP

American Academy of Family Physicians

NOMINATIONSTeresa Hellman,

Experient

PROGRAMS CHAIRJennifer Lion, CMP

Experient

Co-Chair: Sherie L. Howell, CMP, CMM

SPONSORSHIP CHAIRMichelle Murdock

Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa

Co-chair: Teresa Hellman, Experient

EMERGING LEADERSKristen Kimbrel, CMP

American Academy of Family Physicians

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November 1-5, 2010 was PCMA’s Service N Sync Week where all chapters perform individual acts of community service across the country during the same week. Our community service committee, headed by Stephanie Deel, chose to organize a chapter wide food-drive. On Thursday, November 5, 2010, six chapter members in Kansas City and seven chapter members in St. Louis spent an afternoon giving back to their communities by supporting our local Food Banks. More than 20,000 pounds of food was sorted, boxed and bagged by our members at Harvesters Food Bank and the St. Louis Food Bank! In addition, our Virtual food drive for Harvesters

Food Bank has netted more than $200 in donations, which equals 1000 meals for those in need. We would like to honor one of our members for his dedication to the Community Service efforts of our Chapter. Brian Arscott with NAIC, not only chairs the annual Deanna Rose Farmstead event which benefits the children of Operation Breakthrough, he was an enthusiastic participant in both our August Bowl-a-thon and our Service N Sync project this year. Brian is the only member who attended all three events. Congratulations & thank you Brian for your commitment to the community service events of our chapter!

Service-N-Sync WeekBy Stephanie Palmer-Deel

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Kansas City members Christine Becker, Travel Portland, Brian Arscott, NAIC, Julie Green, Hyatt Hotels, Roger Sherwood, STFM, Stephanie Deel, San Antonio Marriotts (not pictured), Amy Brewster, San Antonio JW Marriott Desert Ridge (not pictured)

St. Louis members Lori Lee- American Optometric

Association, Laura Teasdale- AOA, Shannon Lingren-AOA,

Fergal O’Sullivan, Marriott Global Sales, Dale Shuter-EASA,

Jenny Conrad-Gateway Convention Center and Stacey

Diliberto AOA

Need some resources and tips to help “green” your meetings.

Visithttp://www.pcma.org/Resources/MeetingManagement_Resources/Green_Meetings.htm

Need resources to “Green your Meeting”?

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Dave Fellers, speaker, Marilyn Koehler, Little Rock CVB,

Melissa Johnson, President of PCMA Heartland Chapter

and Randy Joslin, President of SLSAE.

PCMA/SLSAE Joint Meeting - Increasing Attendee Satisfaction and Exhibitor ROI at Your Meeting, Presented by Dave FellersBy Vicki Comegys and Dave Fellers

What a great meeting! In the current economy, it is critical that annual meetings and exhibitions. evaluate every alternative for reducing cost and increasing user-friendliness. “Measurement” is being demanded by leadership, attendees and exhibitors to show that steps have been taken to make the meeting as efficient as possible. If you weren’t able to attend, here are a couple of highlights that our members have provided:

Spacing out your exhibitors at a trade show. Mr. Fellers suggested that rather than letting all your big (well-recognized, popular) exhibitors be in the front row every year, that you convince them to rotate through the show floor year after year so there are some in the back and on the sides as well. This will help traffic flow tremendously, and keep your back row folks from complaining they aren’t getting enough traffic.

He also showed us video of some different tradeshow studies he’s done, and it was shocking to see how many exhibitors actually just occupy themselves in their booth and ignore potential customers coming in and out. He stressed the importance of training your tradeshow booth staffers so they know what is expected of them, and how to interact with trade show attendees.

He recommended that the aisle carpet color be the same as the booth for your next show. Dave has provided us with some topics when you evaluate your tradeshow or hire a company to do so:

ONSITE EVALuATION:

1. Exhibit Floor (Design, Layout, Service areas, observations on traffic, interviews)

2. Booth Design Comments (Observations on exhibit layout, interviews, staff effectiveness)

3. Exhibitor Lounge (Location, usage, appreciation by exhibitors)

4. Member Lounge or Sitting areas (Effectiveness, usage, design, opportunities for “community” activities)

5. Food Service/Restaurants (usage, layout, interviews, types of food)

6. Transportation/Shuttles (Effectiveness and efficiency)

7. Information Desks (Location, staff effectiveness, identification of major areas of interest)

8. Membership Booth/Book Store: (Design, location, staff effectiveness)

9. Registration (Layout, signage, staffing, process)

10. International (Specific services, areas for international attendees, travel assistance)

11. Posters (If applicable, location, usage, opportunities for improvement)

12. Internet Area: (location, layout, usage, sponsorship effectiveness)

13. Post Office (Shipping facility, if applicable)

14. Special Pavilions (Layout, traffic effectiveness, interviews)

15. Education Session Facilities (Layout, efficiency)

16. Convention Center (Staffing, labor, efficiency)

17. Sponsorship Opportunities (Compare to what other organizations offer)

18. Branding Effectiveness (Meeting signage, membership booth, publications)

19. Other areas Identified by the Show Organizer

An onsite evaluation can be completed in one day, on the first or second day of the meeting. Certain improvements can be implemented immediately. Following the meeting, a report and recommendations should be prepared outlining ways to improve processes, increasing user-friendliness, observations on exhibit design and effectiveness, and guidance from interviews with exhibitors, staff and attendees.

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The Emerging Leaders Committee in conjunction with Kansas State university Professor, Dr. Betsy Barrett, developed a mentor program for her Convention Services and Event Management class this semester. 36 students were matched up with 20 industry professionals. The goal for this program is to introduce the students to professionals in the industry and complete an interview with their mentor. The interview consisted of approximately 10 questions and the students then used that information to write a paper. Although the outcome is a written paper, the ultimate goal is for the student and mentor to continue communication throughout the year and in the future; this can include resume building, networking, advice, etc. “The opportunity to network with professionals is great! Students get to be encouraged and motivated by the constant change and advancement of our industry” - Breana Hennes PCMA Student Chapter President. Each year we continue to grow this program

and hope to continue to bring students and industry professionals together with this great opportunity. Thank you to all the mentors who volunteered their time and efforts to assist the K-State students!

Students are our future! PCMA is instrumental in providing future meeting professional and hospitality professionals a realistic view of what they can expect in their careers. The Heartland Chapter has taken an aggressive approach to engaging the students at Kansas State through the leadership of Kristen Kimbrel, CMP, Senior Meeting Planner for the American Academy of Family Physicians. There have been 36 new student members join PCMA since your last newsletter! Wow, way to go Kristen! Now we need to get the rest of the colleges within the region involved.

Heartland Chapter Mentor Program

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“This year was my second time attending this year’s state of the industry event. It is an invaluable experience for us, as students entering the industry. We get the opportunity to seek answers to the changing and developing industry. This year the students seemed to be of great value to the industry with our advance knowledge of the technology and its trends”

- Breana Hennes, PCMA Student Chapter President

“I enjoyed speaking with the panel about our intentions for being apart of this industry. We are students who enjoy working with people, serving people. I hope this industry continues to value this even in the midst of change in trends like webcasts, social media, and more.”

- Breana Hennes, PCMA Student Chapter President

STuDENT REMARKS IN REGARDS TO THE STATE OF THE INDuSTRY HELD AT THE HYATT REGENCY CROWN CENTER, NOVEMBER 11, 2010

PCMA Convening Leaders 2011

According to our colleagues’ evaluations of 2010 Convening Leaders:

• 99% would recommend future PCMA annual conferences to their peers

• 95% thought the meeting contributed to the value they provide to their organization

• 95% were satisfied with the opportunities to build/nurture business relationships

• 90% of meeting professionals rate this meeting as a key source of education

Top Reasons to Attend:• 60+ education sessions on topics designed for the meetings industry professional

• Develop your own playbook and four-week action plan for going virtual with Virtual Edge Summit 2011, co-located with Convening Leaders.

• Discuss hot topics with colleagues

• Discover solutions that can make you invaluable to clients, customers and your organization

• Identify the latest trends and technology to work more effectively

• Leave with ideas that you can share with your organization to drive revenue

Have you registered? As of November 11th there were 67 members of the Heartland Chapter registered. It is going to be a great event and with rooms at $79 a night, what an incredible value for education and networking! I’ll be there meeting with clients and becoming an industry leader for the community! Will you? It’s a great opportunity to meet with providers and learn the latest in the industry to remain a vital leader. This year our chapter reception

will take place on Sunday, January 9th from 5-6:30pm at the Rouge Lounge in the MGM Grand Hotel where all of the activities will take place. Attendance is currently at an all time high so you know there will be more networking than ever before. Register now or learn more by visiting www.pcma2011.org

Convening Leaders has long been considered the most important event of the year among meetings industry leaders. More than 3,000 meetings professionals are expected in Las Vegas for four days of networking, education and the latest innovations. This conference is designed to help attendees build strong relationships with other meetings, convention, and exhibition

professionals, while enhancing their knowledge of the latest trends. More than 60 sessions will address attendance-building, technology, revenue streams, legal issues, professional development and more.

Convening Leaders will be held at the MGM Grand Hotel and Conference Center, Las Vegas.

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Member NewsMICHELLE STOEPPLER is now Director of Sales & Marketing at the Holiday Inn Select Convention Center in St. Louis. Her new e-mail is mstoeppler@histlouis.com

JENNY CONRAD is going to have a busy spring besides being on the Heartland Chapter Board, as she getting married on April 2, 2011.

JESSICA DOTSON Joins AGENDA: Kansas City joins as Sales and Marketing Manager. Jess will be representing AGENDA: Kansas City and AGENDA: uSA in the local hospitality community.” Further information about the company can be found on its website, www.AGENDAKansasCity.com.

PCMA Heartland Chapter creates relationships on and off the job!

Three PCMA Heartland Chapter Members, Julie Green, Alton Hagen,

and Belinda Waldo, with family and friends enjoyed a trip to Napa

Valley in August.

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OKLAHOMA CITY uPDATESThe Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City was selected “Best Hotel” and “Best party or wedding venue” in the state by the readers of Oklahoma magazine in their annual Best of the Best voting. The hotel was also recognized as “Best Hotel” in The Oklahoman’s Readers Choice Award.

The Skirvin Hilton Hotel announced the appointment of Lauren Stephenson as Sales Manager.

DES MOINES uPDATESDes Moines – Keeping the old and making it new! A great way to be “Green” Des Moines’ downtown renaissance continues as two major projects reuse current buildings for the convention industry!

Veterans Memorial Auditorium is in the midst of a $32 million make over. The facility was one of the largest in the country when it was built in the 1950’s. It is being transformed from an arena? to a meeting venue that offers 22 break out rooms in 50,000 square feet and a ballroom of nearly 30,000 square feet. The facility is now part of the attached Iowa Events Center Hy-Vee Hall. Once the renovation is completed in January 2012, there will be 150,000 square feet of exhibit space plus a 30,000 square foot ball room and 32 break out rooms.

Hyatt Place is set to open in Downtown Des Moines by January 1, 2011. This will create the first condotel in Iowa where a building is

part hotel-part condominiums. The new 93 room hotel is Hyatts debut into the downtown Des Moines market and a first for Hyatt Place in Iowa. The hotel will feature a separate entrance from the current resident’s entrance and a first floor lobby with small bar and food area. The hotel will provide additional rooms for hundreds of conventions held in Downtown Des Moines.

LITTLE ROCK uPDATES The conversion of The Clinton Presidential Park Bridge, which spans the Arkansas River from the Clinton Presidential Center to North Little Rock, to a pedestrian walkway is expected to be complete by July 28, 2011. The Clinton Foundation is spending $10.5 million to rebuild the over 100-year-old bridge -- formerly known as the Rock Island Railroad Bridge -- which is in excellent structural condition. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to cross the bridge from the eastern link of the 15-mile Arkansas River Trail via a concrete walkway that will rise and fall to cross the lift span in the middle. The “silver ribbon,” as its builders call it, will be 12 feet wide at the ends of the bridge, widening to 18 feet over the lift span, and will have lighting along its handrails at night.

Little Rock National Airport Kicks off $53M Redevelopment Project. Airport officials were joined in November by city and state leaders for a ceremonial groundbreaking on the $53-million redevelopment. The project will begin in early 2011, and it’s expected to take two years to complete. Improvements include a new inline baggage system, upgraded ticketing lobby and energy upgrades that will save the airport more than $650,000 a year. Airport officials say the features improve both energy efficiency and ease of travel for passengers. There are 124 arrivals and departures daily via six major airlines

HEARTLAND HAPPENINGS