During the opening general session of the 2013 CMP Conclave, moderated by Voices in Advocacy Founder Roger Rickard, the topic of advocacy in the meetings and events industry took center stage. Using current events and examples from other industries, Rickard stressed to CMPs that it was important to not only understand the value of what they do, but to also advocate for themselves and the industry by effectively communicating that worth to their employers.
CMPs in the audience weighed in on some of the obstacles they face and their thoughts on the best way to promote the value of what CMPs do versus, perhaps, promoting themselves. During the subsequent panel discussion, CIC CEO Karen Kotowski announced the launch of CIC's Advocacy Hub, designed to help address and assist with these very concerns. Open to all meetings and events professionals, the Hub will be a super-sized database of meetings industry supporters. Professionals, representing the large cross section of the industry, can show their support by registering online as advocates. Designed as an online, on-call resource, the Hub will present supporters with calls-to-action on advocacy issues as they rise, providing CIC the ability to engage advocates with information on a regular basis that will further educate the resulting coalition on issues, alerts, positions and messaging on the meetings industry.
Also announced at AIBTM in Chicago, the Hub encourages meetings professionals to come together to collectively speak out about the value of live face-to-face meetings. To "join the effort," visit http://cic.advocacyhub.info/ and sign up.
Events Industry Council