We are planning the next few issues of connections magazine, and we would love to hear what your organization is doing! Contact Jane Anne if you have a story you''d like to share. Upcoming themes include:

• Spring 2019: Taking Networking to the Next Level (cover story)
  • Onboarding New Members
• Summer 2019: CEO Perspective - Experienced and New Leaders (cover story)
  • Innovative Spaces and Venues
  • New Tech on the Horizon: Cybersecurity & Privacy
• Fall 2019 CVBs Share Their Meetings Expertise - How & Why to Use Your CVB (cover story)
  • Meeting Out of State
  • Non-Dues Revenue

On February 16, Sharon Hunt transitioned to her eternal rest after a brave battle with cancer. This remarkable lady touched the lives of countless friends, family, and colleagues on her journey and occupies a special place in the hearts of each. A memorial service will be held at EHUMC on Saturday, April 27 at 11:00 AM, followed by lunch. Contributions can be made to Embry Hills United Methodist Church, 3304 Henderson Mill Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, www.embryhillsumc.org/give or to the Georgia Society of Association Executives Foundation, www.gsae.org/donate. Our thanks to Sharon''s daughter, Heather Hunt, for sharing this beautifully written memorial with all of us.

GSAE will also have an event honoring Sharon and her many contributions to our community during the Annual Meeting, May 29-31, in Greenville, SC. Please keep the family in your thoughts.

Congratulations to Elisa Adelman, MPA, Director of Finance and Operations, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, and her husband Max on the birth of their first child! Simon Francisco Adelman was born February 17 at 2:50 pm, weighing 8 lbs 5 oz and 20 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing great!

Hemophilia of Georgia (HoG), the premier organization in Georgia dedicated to providing services and support for people with inherited bleeding disorders, announces the appointment of Edith Rosato as its Chief Executive Officer, effective March 11. Rosato will lead HoG’s dedicated team of professionals while growing the value of the organization to those with inherited bleeding disorders, donors, sponsors, partners and other stakeholders. She will lead efforts to expand relationships with Hemophilia Treatment Centers, federal and state legislators, and the broader bleeding disorders network.

Paying for your dream vacation doesn’t need to be a nightmare - and MONEY’s 2019 Best in Travel guide is proof. Ranked #1 in the U.S., Jekyll Island packs a lot of action into its small seven-by-two-mile border. Nature lovers will feel right at home with eight miles of beaches, 20 miles of hiking trails, and a flat landscape all well within reach, making the area ideal for casual walking and biking. The Historic District surrounding the Jekyll Island Club - featuring 200 acres of buildings dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the town was developed - helped it join the ranks of the most beautiful small towns in America, according to Architectural Digest. Congratulations to GSAE members Kevin Udell, Director of Sales and Maria Weiss, Sales Manager, Jekyll Island Authority Convention & Visitors Bureau!

Congratulations to our CVB members who''s beaches have been named some of the Top 25 Best Beaches in the United States by TripAdvisor, 2019 Travelers'' Choice Awards:

• #3: Panama City Beach, FL - Renee Lalanne-Wuerdeman, Director of Conference & Group Sales, Visit Panama City Beach
• #8: St. Augustine Beach, FL - William McBroom, Director of Conference Sales, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau
• #10: Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, GA - Kevin Udell, Director of Sales; Maria Weiss, Sales Manager, Jekyll Island Authority Convention & Visitors Bureau
• #11: Cherry Grove Beach, North Myrtle Beach, SC - Dawn Formo, Group Sales Manager, Myrtle Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Book your room today!
May 29-31 at The Westin Poinsett Hotel in Greenville, SC

• Up to 12 CAE hours with a pre-con workshop (9 without)
• Registration rates: $399 Association Execs; $659-$2909 Corporate Supplier sponsor & exhibit packages; $299 Additional Staff
• Use this downloadable form to register multiple people from the same organization

Any organization in Georgia that employs at least one GSAE member may apply. The applications are due May 1 and will be judged on the quality of the internship experience described in the application rather than on the qualifications of the student who will fill the internship. It is the responsibility of the organization to recruit a qualified student to fill the internship, but this may be done after the GSAE Foundation announces which applications will be funded. Watch this video and visit GSAE.org to learn more about the internship grant program. And, please consider making a donation to the GSAE Foundation.

Did you know? A growing body of research demonstrates that experiential learning enhances student learning, success in the classroom, on-time graduation, and transition to the workforce. Many UGA students already engage in experiential learning, and ensuring that all students do so prior to graduation will take the world-class learning experience that UGA provides to an even higher level. GSAE is partnering with the University’s Experiential Learning program staff to help associations and CVBs connect with potential interns for the spring or summer. Contact President Wendy Kavanagh, CAE for more information.

• Begins July 10 before the summer luncheon, then meets via ZOOM through the end of August
• $79 for GSAE members
• Includes Review session and Mock CAE Exam
• Based on ASAE''s Study Guide
• Alternate CAE courses are available at the member price in partnership with Michigan Society of Association Executives

Live webinars are worth 1 CAE hour. Did you know? More than 94 CAE-qualifying recorded webinars are available 24/7 on our GSAE website. 

• March 27 - An Inclusive Society - Under Construction
• April 2 - The Impact of the new global Data Privacy Regulations, including General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), for the Association Sector
• April 18 - Plan It, Stage It, Sell It. Stay on Message As You Step to the Podium
• May 9 - Go from Worrier to Warrior. Practical and Fun Stress Reduction

• July 10 Summer Luncheon at Renaissance Atlanta Midtown - sponsorship opportunity available!
• September 18 Quarterly Luncheon, The Abit Massey Lecture Series featuring GSAE past president Cynthia Mills, FASAE,CAE, CMC, CPC, CCRC, sponsored by Discover Dunwoody - hosting opportunity available!
• November 6 Quarterly Luncheon & Tech Showcase, sponsored by Richmond Regional Tourism - hosting opportunity available!
• December 11 Holiday Luncheon, Awards Show, Silent Auction & Annual Business Meeting - hosting and sponsorship opportunities available!

Please contact us ASAP if your property would like to host or sponsors a luncheon in 2019!

Our old friend and GSAE favorite Beth Z is thrilled to call Nashville home now. Her laptop is fired up, and she''s eager to get to know the organizations close to home. Beth is a sure bet to wow your members with the latest in productivity hacks, marketing tools and more. Check out Beth''s new keynote and workshops. 

PS. Beth is offering a one-time super special discount to any group wanting to bring Beth in the week of May 13. It''s a great chance to hold a workshop or training day for your team before Beth joins GSAE at the 2019 Leadership Academy that Friday.

Contact: Molly Veydovec at (720) 933-2031 or Molly@YourNerdyBestFriend.com to chat about our special association day rate and what sessions will rock your next conference or meeting.

Get ready for a unique experience with event industry professionals where you will learn about the latest trends in technology while engaging with like-minded individuals. You will not only be able to "Talk the TECH" with our fascinating speakers, but also "Touch the TECH" during the interactive tech playground. If that doesn’t start-up your operating system, you will also "Taste the TECH" while enjoying a few quick bytes and socializing in one of Atlanta’s SMART event venues. So, let’s plug in and reboot! Are you game? Learn more & register here.

Join us Thursday, April 4, 2019 for Atlanta''s 4th annual Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) celebration. This event brings together leaders from across the meetings and events industry to showcase the real impact that business meetings, conferences, conventions, incentive travel, trade shows and exhibitions have on people, business and communities.

Registration is $25 for GSAE members and includes a one-hour networking reception with food & beverages. Learn more & register here. 

This recognition of GMID is a join effort of GSAE, IAEE SE, MPI Georgia, PCMA Southeast and SITE Southeast.

As part of our ongoing partnership with Association Laboratory, a full-service research and consulting firm serving the association industry, GSAE members can participate in a three-part webinar series focused on the 2019 results of the Looking Forward, the longest running environmental scan in the association industry. Attendees will get a deep dive into the survey results and Association Laboratory spot-on analysis, including:

1. Trends impacting the association environment
2. The implications of these factors on your organizations
3. Top solutions to face these trends head on and be well-prepared

Dates: Thursday, March 14, 21, and 28 at 1 pm ET.

BONUS: Association Laboratory is offering GSAE members a 25 percent discount using the code GEORGIA25. Regularly priced at $285, GSAE member can register for $213.75. Register today to learn all the things you need to know to keep your association moving forward.