Trivia Night

Monday, August 9

City Winery Chicago

Registration to come!

There are still some fabulous partnership packages available for Trivia! Click here to view packages now before they sell out!

Keep a look out for future Membership Days!

Board Spotlight

Want to get to know your board of directors a little better?

Meet Vice President of DEI Kara Ferguson!

1.  How long have you been with MPI-CAC?

I have been a member of MPI and with MPI-CAC since September 2010.

2.  What committees, if any, were you on before joining the board?

Prior to joining the board, I was on the Holiday Party Committee, Annual Awards Recognition Committee and Membership.

3.  What is your role on the board? As the VP of DEI?

My role is to serve as direct support to the newly established Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee as well as drive the mission and vison of DEI within the chapter and meetings community.

4.  Why was this position created? What is the significance of this committee to MPI? 

DEI is ultimately a collaborative effort. It is wonderful to have so many be a champion for change and believe in the need for DEI, but DEI is very complex and needs attention. Therefore, this position was created to ensure we have a specific focus on creating strategies, reviewing policies, inspecting procedures and much more. The significance of this committee to MPI is that this committee will aid in establishing a supportive and welcoming environment for all, but especially those in the meetings community. As a committee, we will work toward specific goals, be a resource and maintain accountability.

5.  What is one goal for MPI-CAC you have in your position this year?

One goal I have for the year is to collaborate with various chapter leaders to identify and implement DEI initiatives, which will hopefully strengthen our chapter’s commitment to DEI and create a way to track and report those actions/progress.

6.       What do you like to do when you’re not working?

When I am not working I like to spend time with my family and friends, run, read and travel.

Volunteer/Join a Committee

The best way to get the most out of your MPI-CAC membership is by joining a committee. It’s a great way to network, utilize your skills or challenge yourself to try something new! We know everyone has busy schedules, but many of our committees have a variety of tasks that can be done in just one hour a month!

Committees are always looking for members with leadership skills, creative mindsets and the drive to collaborate with fellow industry professionals. Click here to see the full list of committees and to fill out the committee interest form.

Committee Spotlight – Membership Committee

Who are your co-chairs? Loretta Yingling and Rick Hud

What is your committee responsible for?

Membership has the huge job of recruiting new members to our chapter, welcoming members who have just joined and keeping members engaged so that they renew their memberships. We host monthly Membership Days events virtually to encourage camaraderie and networking among members, and we plan several New Member Mixer events throughout the year to welcome our new members to the chapter.  

How often does your committee meet?

Our committee meets once a month at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday, currently via Zoom.

What are some tasks people do for your committee? 

Our committee members make prospecting calls, welcome nonmembers to MPI-CAC events and make sure new members have a “Member Buddy” to answer any questions they might have as they navigate MPI. We’re all-around ambassadors for MPI-CAC and are here to help both nonmembers and current members engage with the chapter.

What makes your committee fun or stand out?

The Membership Committee is the ultimate committee for outgoing people! We’re always front-and-center at events — going up to people we don’t know, facilitating connections and making everyone feel welcome. It’s a great committee for people who want to network because it gives you a great reason to start a conversation with someone at any event!

Are you interested in joining a rock-star committee where you can build your network and support MPI-CAC?

Fill out our committee interest form today!