The 2013 CMP Conclave was held June 8-10, 2013 in beautiful Spokane, Wash. More than 250 CMPs gathered together for three days of cutting-edge education, next-level networking opportunities and social activities designed to highlight the city’s treasures. 

Registration opened on a balmy Saturday morning where a number of CMPs participated in exam development and later enjoyed a delicious lunch on the conference center’s Roof Deck, before taking the Mock Exam. Our international community was well represented at  Conclave with CMPs from Austria, Canada, China, Italy, Mexico, Taiwan and South Africa contributing global voices to the conversations, as well. 

Roger Rickard, founder of Voices in Advocacy, officially kicked off the conference with a powerful keynote address, where he posed the question, "What’s more important, the meetings industry or the meeting professional?" Addressing current events which affect the climate under which meeting professionals are working, Rickard was later joined on stage by CIC CEO Karen Kotowski and Dawn Rasmussen, Chief Resume Designer at Pathfinder Writing and Career Services, where he took audience questions and comments as they discussed possible barriers to CMPs advocating for the importance of the profession and necessity of their work. 

The Roaring 20's and 30's Welcome Reception at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox was certainly an event to remember. CMPs (some dressed in period garb) were serenaded by flapper girls on their way into the venue, as historical cars lined the street outside. Inside the beautiful theater, they snacked on light hors d'oeuvres and specialty cocktails and mingled while they were serenaded by a barbershop quartet. The mayor of Spokane even stopped by to greet the CMP Conclave attendees and welcome them to the city. 

On Sunday morning, Tim and Kris O’Shea wowed and delighted attendees with a memorable general session filled with laughter and clever takeaways. Attendees later enjoyed a variety of breakout sessions and 15-minute presentations given in the Solutions Lounge, where topics focused on areas of importance to CMPs including: technology, meeting design, marketing, leadership and professional development, sustainability and security. In between sessions and breaks, attendees made sure to take time out to play the ever-popular SCANvenger Hunt game. Susan Ershler gave an inspiring luncheon speech, recounting her voyage from working for corporations to climbing the seven summits -- the highest mountains on each of the seven continents -- with her husband and the parallel lessons she learned while on both journeys. 

Attendees were able to meet and mingle with our conference sponsors during a reception in the ballroom lobby, where they were treated to light snacks, wine and a rustic décor. Later on that evening, more than 100 CMPs gathered for the very popular Spokane "Wine Around," a casual walking tour of four local wineries, where they learned about the city, the history of its vineyards, met new people and tasted some of Spokane’s finest wines along the way. 

Monday morning, the last day of Conclave, looked towards the future, as Dave Radcliffe delved into meetings of the future and why those conversations are so critical to CMPs. Remaining CMPs attended the final sessions and left the convention center, and its beautiful grounds, ready to take on new professional challenges and take their careers to the next level. 

Check back with CMP Today in July for a complete wrap-up of Conclave. We will hear more about: 
• The winner(s) of the popular SCANvenger Hunt contest
• The service projects and scope of donations made to Transitions
• New advocacy opportunities for CMPs
• and much more!

CIC has been actively engaged, along with its members, to tamp down any fallout from the IRS meetings scandal, and recently urged Congress to have a measured response to the report. The strategy seemed to be effective and, at the hearings held as a result, the questioning centered on the unwise spending and not on whether the meeting should have been held in the first place. Following is the statement developed by the CIC Crisis Communications Management Team, which many CIC members used in their communications out to their members and in the press.

Government participation in business meetings is essential because it fosters effective regulation, contributes to innovation that drives economic growth, and provides unique learning and training opportunities.

While the meetings industry is disappointed by the IG report, it’s important that everyone view the report in the proper context and remember the vital role that government participation in business meetings plays in fostering effective regulation, contributing to innovation that drives economic growth, and providing essential learning and training opportunities.

Congress and the Obama administration should carry out a measured and appropriate response that increases oversight, but does not discourage productive travel from taking place.

The meetings industry has been an active participant in the development of best practices and new guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget to all federal agencies that acknowledges the need for federal employees to attend mission-related conferences and provides some best practices for approving travel and conference expenses.

Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP is the Chief Executive Officer of the Convention Industry Council.