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How to plan a successful ancillary event and maximize education and networking opportunities at a conference:  I know that these tips sound typical, but after planning hundreds of ancillary events and working seamlessly with associations, the below tips really work.

1. Plan well in advance – it is worth the effort
2. Be aware of all dates and deadlines – try to get these in advance
3. Read and follow the rules, regulations and guidelines – there is no point in challenging these
4. Work with an experienced planning team who can guide you through the details – like us
5. To save time, collect information and feedback before the event for a more valuable and engaging attendee experience – capture the voice of the attendee
6. Send out clear, effective communications and logistical details -deliver a professional message right from the start
7. Plan an appropriate agenda and respect timelines – time is extremely valuable
8. Consider recording your event for people who cannot attend

Today I participated in a Clean the World community service event. We were bused and arrived to the facility. Upon arrival, Shawn Seipler,
CEO of Clean the World greeted the group. Then Gregg Herning, VP Sales & Marketing from The Peabody Orlando announced the First Annual Clean the World Gala that is taking place November 5^th at The Peabody Orlando. We were then brought inside the facility for a video that explained how effective a bar of soap is to prevent the spread of the top killers of children younger than five from diseases. We take for granted what can be lifesaving to others. Unused bars of soap, shampoo and conditioner are collected by Clean the World Hospitality
Partners and are shipped to the facility. Our jobs today were split up. Some of us had to scrape the bars of soap to clean off debris. The soaps then go into a rebatching and soap sanitation process. It is then boxed and shipped to those in need. Other people had to go through bins of shampoo, conditioner and lotions and save the ones that are 90% full. These plastic bottles are sanitized and shipped as well. The unused bottles are poured out and are properly recycled. Today, teams worked for approximately one hour. In that hour 680 lbs of amenities were presorted and cleaned. These efforts helped 725 children. 700 pounds of bars of soap were boxed which will help 800 children.
This should give a good idea on how Clean the World is really making a difference. Starwood Hotels was the first corporate partner to join Clean the World’s efforts to promote a global hygiene revolution.  After my experience today, I better understand the concept agree that Clean the World is truly committed to saving lives and protecting our planet! Visit www.cleantheworld.org

Ladies and Gentleman, start your engines! Meeting Logistics has a new package that is both thrilling and exciting! Miller Motorsports Park in Utah offers corporate packages sure to create special memories for your meeting and group. Always wanted to ride a race car, beat your friends in a race, or off-road in style? Well our packages allow you to do just that!

Start your day with a Mustang experience where your group will drive Mustang GT’s with every Ford performance part that you can bolt on. Prepare to follow a professional driver at speed for 10 laps on the longest and safest race course in North America and then ride shotgun for 2 laps with the driver at actual race speed! Then, host a lunch in the executive level of the Miller Motorsports Park Club house. After lunch, enjoy a high speed kart race and really get the competition going. Tour the museum and facilities to learn about the history and art of racing and end your day with the quickly growing nightlife of downtown Salt Lake City. Your package can be customized however you would like to fit a one, two or three day option; it’s your meeting, take charge!

Interested in really going all out? Enjoy an overnight Off Road adventure in either a custom built Jeep Rubicon or Baja 1000 buggies provided by Wide Open Excursions of Utah. Experience the wild west off-roading on the historic Pony Express Trail and camp out with beautiful vistas in the picturesque Wasatach Mountain range. Hit the high desert and mountain terrain with power in an Off Road adventure you can check off the old bucket list.

If you don’t want your next meeting to crash and burn, consider a unique experience that will build camaraderie, confidence and of course, FUN! Contact Meeting Logistics for more details.

On May 25^th I attended the Meetings Technology Expo in  NYC. Debi Scholar kicked off the day with a very informative session on Strategic Meetings Management and how automation saves time and money. She provided questions for meeting management technology suppliers in order to compare suppliers such as Starcite, Cvent, SignUp4 and Meeting Revolution.

Constant Contact talked about how they help customers increase Email marketing efforts with social sharing tools and noted that Thursday and Friday from 10-4 EST were more interactive days. Phil Forte from Blue Sky Broadcast provided key information about Webcasting and Video Conferencing.  Storing  your information and creating  online learning libraries (learning portals) creates continuity of education and value for your organization or Association.

CrowdCompass provided an excellent demo of their mobile device apps for iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Ipad. Mobile applications are the wave of the future for meetings, events and conferences. They promote interaction, implement green initiatives and deliver a seamless participant experience. The use of smartphone scannable QR codes are becoming more popular and assist with data retrieval: an excellent example is QRSYNQ.

Overall this event provided information on cutting edge technology solutions, excellent speakers and demos as well as excellent networking.

At the most recent MPI-NJ event that took place on May 11th, 2011, the scene was a perfect setting for the topic that Gary Giberson presented. Starting off the night with various cheeses and wine tasting, the Laurita Winery added a sense of “green” that can be hard to find in New Jersey. Gary Giberson, Executive Chef at The Lawrenceville School and Founder and President of Sustainable Fare presented an eye opening topic on green sustainability. He used examples from the practices he uses in his own setting and informed all attendees how easy and simple making eco-friendly changes can be.
 
            The first part of becoming a sustainable company is looking at the amount of waste you produce. Small actions can make a big impact. For example, if an establishment orders fish from a supplier, asking the supplier to deliver intact fish on ice can reduce a wasteful amount of plastic that normally would come with packaged and cut fish. Gary even provoked an interesting thought of the amount of space that waste takes up. For example, if you’re paying for a dumpster to haul away your trash every day, crushing cans after use can allow more room for waste, thus reducing waste removal costs. Gary saved $15,000 by buying a can crusher to maximize the space available in the dumpster outside The Lawrenceville School.
 
            Another major point that Gary made was about local and “organic” produce. As the “Green” trend grows, green-washing (advertising green practices without really following the standards) is more common than ever before. He emphasized to Meeting Planners that we must research companies and ask questions before we choose to buy their products. USDA Organic seals  do not necessarily mean that the produce is truly organic, researching and asking questions are important when choosing products and suppliers.
 
            The one point that I took away from the presentation was the point about making changes in your office or corporate environment. There is no need to make a total change over night, just making a 1% change in your actions every day or week can gradually add up to a complete change in a year. This point was important to me because it was realistic. Companies want to practice sustainability to have a better image and some times cut corners, but making small changes day by day can really aid in the transition from wasteful to a zero-waste environment.
 
           Gary Giberson, a professional chef for nearly thirty years, is a leader in sustainable dining. He joined The Lawrenceville School as Executive Chef in 1998, and began to develop the School’s sustainable dining program in 2003. In 2007 he founded the food service company Sustainable Fare, L.L.C., with a focus on integrating sustainable food systems. Gary has recently been invited to join Michele Obama’s Chefs Move to Schools initiative and attended the 2010 White House event.