As the year is winding to a close, this is a great opportunity to look back on all that has taken place in 2016. For some, this has been their best year ever! For others, they cannot wait to put 2016 to rest and start anew in 2017. I always find the end of the year to be a great time to reevaluate many aspects of my personal and professional life. While I’m not a big believer in New Year’s resolutions, I am a big fan of setting goals for myself. I look forward to putting those in writing before the end of the year and encourage you to consider doing the same as well.

The holidays always seem to come so fast and this year was no different. The hustle and bustle of the season is upon us and soon we will all be celebrating the New Year. Throughout the holiday I encourage each of you to take some time to reflect on all of the wonderful things that make the season so amazing: family, friends, food & the opportunity to give back to those around you! My hope is that each of you find joy, peace, comfort, and happiness this holiday season throughout the New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Corey Ringh
MPIKC, VP Communications

See who's celebrating!

Find out who are the trivia champions and giveaway winners!

o Marriott Kansas City Overland Park
o Bob Compton Photography
o Caesars Entertainment
o Overland Chauffeured Services
o ONYX Meetings & Events
o Hilton Kansas City Airport Hotel
o Marriott Caribbean & Latin America
o Diana Midyett Meeting & Event Planning LLC.
o ’37 Steak
o Berbigila’s Roost Fried Chicken & Wood Fired Q

MPIKC Trivia Night was held on November 9, 2016 at the Marriott Kansas City Overland Park. It was an evening of fun, food and friendly competition where team members sharpened their wits to remember odd trivia. The event was well attended by 93 competitors and raised $3,300 for MPIKC and provided donations to Operation Breakthrough. Ms. Lee Duckett, from Operation Breakthrough, spoke at the beginning of the evening to discuss the organization and the many needs of the children throughout the year.

Join us for our Annual State of the Industry Event. This year the session will focus on transportation and its impact on the meeting and tourism industry. Speakers will discuss the present and future Streetcar project along with other modes of transportation in Kansas City as well as the fun and problems with group use of all forms of transportation in the city.

What’s the difference between planning events and designing experiences? Where is the industry going? How do you stay invigorated, involved and in tune? These are some of the big-picture concepts we’ll address in powerful, action-oriented keynotes.

Help us host by donating your Time, Treasure and Talent and showcasing your company to our PEC attendees.

MPI offers resources to help you find the best speaker for your event! Sourcing speakers on your own can be challenging and time-consuming, especially if you’re not familiar with the process. You’ll lose valuable time that could be spent on other important event programming and logistics. MPI is here to help.

Farm gal from southeast Iowa. Moved to Texas after graduating college and worked in psychiatry for 10 years. My final psych job was at a maximum security psych prison in Lubbock, TX and after a year and a half decided that was not for me. Moved to Kansas and got into marketing and then meeting & events. Spent several years volunteering at Olathe East High School with Project Graduation and the OE Hawks Football team. I joined Bayer Animal Health in September 2015 and absolutely love life! Recently joined MPI and stepped into the new Community Service Liaison role.

 

Calling all HOT TOPICS! In February, MPIKC will be hosting a round table for suppliers and planners to discuss "Hot Topics!" Do you have a hot topic you want included? Email Audra Kamin at kamin-audra0@aramark.com

A gesture that seems so small to one person can make such a big impact on another. During this season of giving (as well as throughout the remainder of the year), I would like to encourage each of you to help support Operation Breakthrough and the families it serves. We are continuing to collect socks and underwear (new please) in sizes 2 – 5T for their clothes closet. If you would like to go a step further, they are also in need of new or gently worn children’s shoes. Other donation items can include household cleaning items, toiletries or non-perishable food items.

Take time to visit the Operation Breakthrough website (www.operationbreakthrough.org) to learn more about this organization. They welcome new volunteers and would be happy with an hour, a day, one time or on a schedule.

We greatly appreciate all the donations that have been collected over the past two months. It is heartwarming to see the support in way of mounds of underwear, socks and shoes! If you have any questions or would like additional information about Operation Breakthrough, please contact me at mindi.johnson@bayer.com.

Las Vegas Extravaganza! Be one of 2 lucky winners to be drawn in June at the MPIKC Annual Banquet! We have made it easy to buy raffle tickets! Find the VEGAS RAFFLE tab when you register for the next MPIKC event for your chance to win!

- $200 Airline Voucher
- Two-night stay in any of the eight Caesars properties on the strip
- Two tickets for Caesars-owned shows!
- Dinner for two at any Caesars Restaurant
- $30 a ticket or 3 tickets for $75 for a chance to win a trip worth $1,400

Tis the season... Are you up for renewal this month? Renew your MPI membership before 2017 starts and you will be entered into a drawing for one of three great prizes. The winner will pick one! Renew today!

- ½ off registration to WEC 2017 or EMEC 2017
- 6-month extended membership
- Receive 6 complimentary tickets to any chapter event (up to $300). Can be used for six tickets to one event, one ticket to six separate events, or any combination. Must be used by December 2017.

As a member of MPI you will the opportunity to connect and engage with over 18,000 professionals within the meetings and events industry worldwide. Join MPI at www.mpiweb.org/join and use MPIHoliday16 before December 31 to waive your new member application fee.