Getting involved can make you a stronger, smarter individual

Event and meeting professionals love bringing people together – obviously, it’s our job!

We plan meetings and events for a lot of reasons: likeminded professionals who want to network, a company retreat for employees to learn or people with a similar hobby or interest who just want to have a good time. But at the center of any event is the desire to be together and to learn from one another.

Because we’re so involved in the planning of these gatherings, I often wonder if we lose sight of how we ourselves can connect.

In this issue of CMP Today, we talked to three recipients of the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) RISE Awards. All CMPs, they are highly involved in not only MPI, but organisations such as the Events Industry Council. From their perspectives, being engaged in these types of peer networks and communities has helped them advance their professional careers.

So you might be asking yourself: How do I get involved? At Events Industry Council, there are opportunities throughout the year to volunteer. Each year, we open applications to serve on our CMP Governance Commission, which is comprised of representatives from all sectors of the meeting industry. I currently serve as the chair of that commission and can vouch for its amazing teamwork and vision. While applications are closed for this year, I encourage you to keep this on your list as you think about ways to get involved.

There are plenty of other ways to contribute your expertise to the CMP programme. From creating questions for the CMP exam to voting on our standards, being involved on a big or small scale can give you insights into the industry from a new perspective.

Also—if you consider yourself a thought leader on a certain topic—don’t be afraid to submit content for this newsletter! We are always interested in hearing the stories and points of views from CMPs all across the globe. If you’re interested, reach out to insights@eventscouncil.org.

Choosing to participate in commissions and councils can be a great way to get involved. So jump in—you might learn something and meet a new friend.

Aleka Garcia, CMP-HC