Show Me Your Mo-Town: Joint Meeting Planners Tradeshow

Issue 2—2011
Inside this issue…
Show Me Your Mo-Town: Joint
Meeting Planners Tradeshow
Tips for Selecting the right speaker
Integrating social media into your
tradeshow promotion
Highlights from the MSAE Membership
Meetings
page
page 2
Executive Focus
Issue 2—2011
Published quarterly by:
Missouri Society of
Association Executives
722 East Capitol Ave.
P.O. Box 1574
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Telephone: 573.659.8898
Fax: 573.635.7823
sboeckman@msae.net
Submissions
News items from our membership are
welcome. The editorial staff reserves the
right to edit and/or reject all materials
received. Submissions may be condensed
in order to fit the allotted space.
Local photographs may be submitted by
our members for consideration of cover
placement. Please submit photo in high
resolution and include a photo release.
Deadline for submissions is the 15th of
the month preceding publication.
Advertising
Advertising deadline is the 15th of the
month preceding publication. For
advertising rates or information contact
MSAE office at 573.659.8898.
The appearance of advertisers does not
constitute an endorsement of the
products or services featured by the
Missouri Society of Association
Executives.
On the Cover: Best known as place President
Truman called home, Independence was also
the jumping off point for the westward Santa
Fe, California and Oregon trails. It features
sixteen heritage attractions, including the
Harry S Truman Museum & library, Truman
Home, Victorian mansions, pioneer and
frontier sites, Leila’s Hair Museum and the
Puppetry Arts Institute, plus world famous
religious sites. The historic Square offers
specialty shops and unique restaurants.
Contemporary shopping areas are found
along I-70, along with Bass Pro Shops.
As the largest public genealogy library in the
nation, the Midwest Genealogy Center draws
thousands each year. Other highlights are the
Independence Events Center, golf courses,
walking/biking trails, sports complexes, the
Adventure Oasis Water park and 200
restaurants. A wide variety of lodgings include
hotels, B & Bs and an RV park. Details at
www.visitindependence.com.
Get Your Mo-Town Groove On
June 30th is the annual MSAE, SGMP and MTC Speaker’s
Showcase and Trade Show. Find out a little about the
speakers and activities at this year’s event.
9 Tips for Choosing a Speaker
By Nina Spencer
Choosing the "right" presenter can mean the difference
between basking in the glory of a memorable event, or
baring the brunt of criticism. Use these tips to help in your
selection process.
Integrating Social Media into your Trade
Show Promotion
Learn how can you make the most of today’s social media
trends to maximize your return on investment as an
tradeshow exhibitor.
Member Focus
Trolley Returns To Independence; Tokvam Earns CMP;
Ruppe New Director of at HES; Hilton Garden Opens in
Springfield; COMMUNIQUE Wins Project; Pabst Elected to
Commission; Bush Speaks At HARD WORK U; Web Site To
Promote AdZou; Changes for Branson Showboat; Camden on
the Lake Remodels Conference Center; Courtyard by
Marriott Columbia Wins Award; Springfield CVB Launches
New Website; Staffing Changes at the Capitol Plaza Hotel;
Ducks & Dixie Door-to-Door Deal; KLEER Meeting Solutions
selected for Annual Conclave
MSAE Spotlight: Membership Meetings
Departments
4
President’s Message
4
MSAE Board of Directors
12 Welcome New Members
19 Calendar of Events
page 3
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Linda Oligschlaeger
(573) 638-2258
lindao@mobar.org
PRESIDENT-ELECT
William Schwartz
(573) 645-9330
BillSchwartz1665@gmail.com
SECRETARY TREASURER
Daniel P. Mehan
(573) 634-3511
dmehan@mochamber.com
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Ryan C. Rowden (573) 634-2941
rowdenr@api.org
BOARD MEMBERS
Jennifer Baker (573) 893-2060
jennifer@mohealthcare.com
Patricia M. Barnett, CMP
(314) 992-0645
pbarnett@explorestlouis.com
Jennifer Bauer (573) 635-0830
jbauer@mo-afp.org
Kay Samuelson, CMP (800) 711-8983
ksamuelson@4seasonsresort.com
Doug Smith (573) 636-3188
dsmith@agcmo.org
Jodi Winegar (573) 634-4898
jwinegar@gallagherconsultants.com
VICE PRESIDENT COMMUNITY/PUBLIC
RELATIONS:
Jan Neitzert (573) 636-3828
jan@mopark.org
VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP:
Rose Ann Dey (573) 634-2527
rosie@mtia.org
VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION/
PROGRAMS:
Abby Havens, CMP (573) 636-7522
abby@morx.com
FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVES:
Ron L. Fitzwater, CAE (573) 636-7522
ron@morx.com
Gwen Pelzer (573) 893-3700
gpelzer@mail.mhanet.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
Sandra C. Boeckman
722 E. Capitol Avenue
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573) 659-8898
Email: sboeckman@msae.net
From Your President
Ah, Summer! It’s the time of year when we kick
back a little, at least we should. The legislators
have gone home, school is out, and it’s time to
enjoy backyard barbeques and summer vacation
season. Summer is a change of pace that is
welcomed by all, especially those of us who live
hectic lives.
As hard as we try, it’s difficult to get away from
all the hustle-bustle in our lives. Even if we get
away, we don’t always “get away” mentally.
Demands are placed on us to be available nearly 24/7/365, although
we are often our own worst enemies when it comes to guarding our
personal time. A part of this likely has to do with all the technology
available to us today. As productive as these tools and devices are, they
have a tendency to produce distractions that can syphon off our
precious time while never offering respite or escape. Our cell phones
are always with us just waiting to sound off with some sort of crisis. I
confess to being a two-fisted cell phone carrier – one for work, one
personal. Can you imagine what my purse sounds like when they both
ring at the same time? For some of us, our friends and family might
consider filing a missing person’s report if you didn’t show up on
Facebook or LinkedIn one day. Your Twitter feed marches on with all its
hash tags and temptations to tweet and retweet. There are those of us
who would surely go through withdrawal without searching Google every
day. We live with constant demands and it’s difficult to escape into a
summer that includes at least some distraction-free rest and relaxation.
A part of summer to enjoy is our annual Joint Meeting Planners’ Trade
Show being held on June 30 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel. The Trade Show
is always a nice break away from the office in summer to visit with the
friendly vendors. They are always very creative in carrying out the theme
of the event, which this year is “Show Me Your MO-TOWN”. It’s an
opportunity for you to do lots of one-stop shopping for all your event
needs. And, of course, there are countless prizes to be had, so perhaps
you might win a getaway at one of the many wonderful hotels and
resorts in Missouri to entice you to enjoy some relaxing time away. Prior
to the start of the Trade Show, you won’t want to miss the Speakers’
Showcase where the speakers will “show us” their talents. The
Showcase allows you to shop for talent and see the speakers in action
before hiring them for your next event. Besides, you’re sure to have a
fun and relaxing morning as they entertain and inspire you.
Ah, Summer! I’m challenging myself to turn off and getaway from all my
devices for a time this summer. I plan to let the batteries from those
devices run down while I recharge my batteries. We’re all much more
productive after enjoying some relaxing time away that will benefit us
personally as well as our associations. I might even buy a Kindle to use
while I relax on the beach. Oh, that would be an electronic device! Well,
maybe I’ll make an exception. Will you take the challenge with me?
Enjoy a restful and relaxing summer! .
- Linda
page 4
J u ne
30, 2
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Cap
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City, Hotel
MO
Preview of the 2011 Speakers
Showcase & Tradeshow
Join MSAE, SGMP and the Missouri Travel Council for
the annual Speaker’s Showcase and Trade Show June
30 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel. The Showcase begins at
8:30 am following a grab and go breakfast. Here’s a
preview of the amazing talent selected for your review:
Brian Powers will present his Powers of the Mind
comedy hypnosis stage show. Brian is trained in Clinical
and Emergency hypnosis. He brings his skill to the stage
by placing volunteers into a hypnotic daydream-like state
allowing audience members to witness the power of the
mind express itself in a world of imagination.
Craig Wm Venard presentation will focus on Un-puzzling
the People Puzzle. He teaches how to break away from
our natural engrained style that may not be working for
us. Learn how to effectively enhance your people skills
by answering two questions, and how to make these
skills stick!
Randy Dean will present Taming the Email Beast. Every
day, managers and professionals are getting buried
under a continuing stream of both useful and useless
email. Randy shares strategies for effective email
management that have helped thousands of business
professionals regain control and sanity with their email.
Candy Whirley will present Bridging the Gap: Recruiting
and Managing Genders, Generations and Genetics.
Candy maintains that misunderstandings because of
gender differences, diverse skills, and fear of the
unknown can disrupt the flow and success of any
organization. She teaches how to leverage the diverse
behavioral styles of your people to bring out the best.
Damian Mason is Funny on Purpose. As a successful
business owner and a former sales rep for a Fortune
500 company, Damian understands business
fundamentals. As a comedic entertainer, he knows how
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to make people laugh. The result is a show featuring real
life illustrations and anecdotes blended with uproarious
laughter and brilliant comedy.
Kris Campbell will coach attendees in Turning Crowds
Into Groups: How to Influence, Drive and Direct the
Dynamics of Groups. He helps with acquiring the
knowledge and skills to effectively wield influence over a
group and unleash the group’s potential.
Rob Bell will present Make ‘em Say “WOW” Customer
Service. He believes fantastic Customer Service requires
that every person in your business understands the
Fundamentals of Consistent Unsurpassed Service and
provides the powerful tools to help managers impart this
to their employees.
Jef Nance teaches Deception Secrets: How To Get
Greater Results in Every Conversation. He maintains that
both personally and professionally, everything you do
depends on how well you exchange words with others.
Those who can “listen between the lines” always have
the upper hand in any conversation.
Jennie Ayers will present Good Stores = Good Business.
Whether you’re focused on brand storytelling,
influencing your internal and external customers or
sharing knowledge with members of your own
organization, the ability to tell stories is a powerful
currency in forging relationships and one of the six
aptitudes crucial for future business success.
Devin Henderson say Make Your Mark: Share Your
Magic is about finding ways to become more effective at
developing healthy relationships in your work and in your
personal life. Devin puts magic and fun into a
presentation that will inspire you to enjoy your work
while making others feel good about your organization.
page 5
by
ProducedMTC
&
MSAE, SGMP
2011
30, Hotel
June Plaza
Capitol City, MO
Je fferson
ners’
ting Plan
Show
Joint Meewcase & Trade
Sho
Speakers
Adams Pointe Conf. Center/Courtyard by Marriott ‐ Blue Springs Aladdin Hotel & Spa Ameristar Casino Resort Spa ‐ St. Charles Amtrak Big Cedar Lodge Branson Lakes Area Chamber & CVB Branson Tourism Center Camden Hotel & Conference Center Camden on the Lake Cape Girardeau CVB Columbia CVB Comfort Inn & Conf. Ctr. & Quality Inn & Suites St. Charles Days Inn & Suites ‐ St. James Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction & StoneBridge Resort Ehrhardt Properties Greater St. Charles CVB Hiltons of Branson & Branson Convention Center Holiday Inn CoCo Key Resort Holiday Inn KCI & KCI Expo Center Holiday Inn Northeast Kansas City Holiday Inn St. Louis Co‐Op Hotel Phillips Independence Tourism Inn at Grand Glaize InterContinental Hotel Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Jefferson City CVB Joplin CVB and Holiday Inn Kansas City CVA Kansas City Marriott Downtown Keeter Center (The) Kirby VanBurch theatre Lake of the Ozarks CVB Lake Printing Co., Inc. Liberty Exposition Services, Inc. Lincoln University Midwest Advertising Specialties National world War I Museum Osage Beach Premium Outlets Page and Brown Pointe Royale Condo Resort & Golf Course and Ride the Ducks Powers Entertainment, Inc. Promark Solutions LLC Radisson Hotel Branson Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel Rolla Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center Sheraton Clayton Plaza Hotel Sheraton Westport, Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, Doubetree Westport, Hilton SL Airport Showboat Branson Belle & Chateau on the Lake Resort Springfield CVB St. Joseph CVB St. Louis CVC Stoney Creek Inn Columbia Tan‐Tar‐A Resort The Country Club Hotel & Spa The Elms Resort & Spa The Legend of Kung Fu The Lodge of Four Seasons The Resort at Port Arrowhead Thousand Hills Golf & Conf. Resort & Terry's Transport & Tickets Titanic/Grand Plaza Hotel University of Central Missouri‐Warrensburg Visitors Center Westgate Branson Woods Resort Westin St. Louis Joint Meeting Planners’ Speakers
Showcase & Trade Show
Schedule of Events
8-8:30 am ...................................... Registration/Grab ’n Go Breakfast
Speakers Showcase
Room 1
8:30 am ..........................................................................Brian Powers
Humor, Education, Communication & Stress Relief
9:10 am ....................................................................Craig Wm Venard
Leadership & Workplace Relationships
9:50 am ............................................................................Randy Dean
Time Management
10:30 am........................................................................ Candy Whirley
Motivation, Leadership and Humor
11:10 am ..................................................................... Damian Mason
Humor
Room 2
8:30 am .......................................................................... Kris Campbel
Leadership Development & Group Dynamics
9:10 am ..................................................................................Rob Bell
Customer Service, Humor & Leadership
9:50 am ................................................................................ Jef Nance
Savvy Communication, Subtle Questioning & Detecting Deception
10:30 am.......................................................................... Jennie Ayers
Leadership Development & Improvisational Thinking
11:10 am ..................................................................Devin Henderson
Sales & Client Relations
11:45 am................................................................. Networking Lunch
Speaker: Katie Steele Danner, Director
Missouri Division of Tourism
1 pm .................................................................................. Trade Show
2:30 & 2:45 pm........ New this year: cash drawings in the exhibit hall!
Must be present to win!
3:30 pm...........................................Reception, prize & cash drawings
Sponsored by: Tan-Tar-A
Conference bags sponsored by
Midwest Advertising Specialties Inc.
Nametags/Lanyards sponsored by
Independence Missouri Tourism Dept.
page 6
By Nina Spencer
When it's your role to choose the speakers for your next
annual conference, company meeting, or special event,
you wield significant power over its success. Choosing the
"right" presenter can mean the difference between
basking in the glory of a memorable event, or baring the
brunt of criticism for selecting an inappropriate speaker!
Choose "one of your own" industry
presenters when:
• The information and the message to convey is highly
clinical and industry specific.
• The speaker needs academic knowledge, specific
background or education, to understand the nuances of
your industry's history, politics and corporate culture.
• The event budget is intensely restricted, and it's too
difficult to justify "outside help" when you have
"passable" people in your own backyard.
Choose a Guest Speaker when:
• The themes and messages to convey are broad and
universal. All industries care about Leadership, Team
Building, Attitude and Behaviour around Dealing with
Change, Inter-Personal Communications, Conflict
Resolution, Stress Management, etc. A fine quality
guest speaker will research and customize their subject
of expertise, to specifically address your industry's
needs.
• You suspect the audience will perceive the message to
be more valuable and inspirational if delivered by an
"outsider". When internal representatives address
'touchy" messages, audiences may suspect hidden
agendas, or wonder if the internal speaker has been
"coached" by senior management. In such cases, a
guest speaker is perceived as more objective. "Well if
she says so...then it must be true!".
• Potential staff presenters openly admit they are not the
best choice for the topic in question.
When choosing a guest speaker, consider
these 9 tips:
Identify your meeting's theme. "Why are these
attendees coming together? What are our
objectives? What do we want these people to walk
away with?" Get clear about your meeting's themes
and objectives to help you narrow down your guest
speaker search.
What kind of guest presentation will work best for
your event? Project time frames for your agenda.
A guest speaker works especially well to open or
close your conference, or provide a change of
pace over lunch. Audiences enjoy events that are
framed with universal topics, which help bring the energy
together, or point the way ahead with enthusiasm. A 45 to
60 minute keynote is very common for a guest speaker
keynote. Depending on the total length of your
conference, a breakout session, half or full day in-house
workshop facilitation around a broad conference theme,
is also valuable.
What type of speaker would work best for your
needs? There's a difference between a
professional speaker and a celebrity speaker, a
Canadian speaker and an American. Each brings
their own "magic" to a conference. The way to
ensure the best fit for your event is to ask, "What are the
pros and cons of each type of speaker? What is best for
our audience? What is our primary focus? Do we want this
guest speaker to provide content or entertainment?
Motivation and inspiration? Some of these points or all of
them?"
Make a list of the personality and character traits
you’d like your speaker to demonstrate. Forthright
and brass tack? Humorous? Content heavy?
Inspirational and motivational? Consider the
"personality and chemistry" of your own good
(Continued on page 8)
page 7
(Continued from page 7)
people, to ensure the right "fit" between audience and
speaker.
Identify your speaker budget. Research the
market to get a realistic sense of what 'things’
cost. Research speaker fees by gathering
information on two or three presenters. Fees may
differ, and if they do, explore the "deliverables"
for each. Find out exactly what the quoted fee includes,
e.g. travel and accommodation expenses, printing costs,
etc. Will the speaker customize their presentation? Is
there an additional fee for customization?
Is your conference date etched in stone or is there
flexibility? Do you need to find a guest speaker
who can fit into your chosen date, or can you look
for the "right" speaker for your event, and then
choose a date that works for both?
Word of mouth from a trusted colleague is one
valuable method of exploring possibilities but,
where that isn't available, consider reviewing the
speaker's website to get a greater sense of their
subject matter expertise, years of service,
credentials, clients, and testimonials. Are references
available, if you'd like to go that far? Look for evidence of
a diverse group of satisfied, previous clients. Have they
spoken in your industry? Are they published? Can you
read a sampling of what they stand for, in print? Ask for a
chance to hear a recording of one of their presentations
(you may not always have the time to view a video, but an
audiocassette works well for most, during your daily
commute!).
Do you have a pre-designed agreement for guest
speaker bookings? If not, ask if the speaker
works with a contract and specific terms, e.g. a
clear list of what their fee does and does not
include, percentage of retainer fee to hold the
date, and the terms of the balance due. Agreements work
well for both parties because they clearly define all
expectations and deliverables.
Always insist on having the chance to talk directly
with the speaker. The phone works just fine for
this opportunity, but it must be the speaker you
talk with, not merely their representative! At least
some of your decision may be based on a visceral
intuition that this person is the "right" speaker for your
event. The best way to confirm that for yourself is some
form of real time, direct contact!
A native Torontonian, a Psychology graduate
of York University, and, at one time, a
professional figure skater, Nina draws on 27
years of corporate experience. Over the past
20 years, Nina has made her professional
contribution as a Conference Keynote
Speaker and Organizational Development
Workshop Facilitator in the Public and Private
Sectors, as well as the university and college
setting. Nina Spencer can be reached at 416588-3334 or nina@ninaspencer.com
page 8
Social media is all the buzz. And if all the hype is true,
everyone – from the President to the Pope – is tweeting,
facebooking, Linkedin and QR Coding. Are you? If you’re
like many associations, you are still trying to figure out
exactly where social media fits within your overall
marketing communications mix. The answer depends a
lot on your association’s mission and the informational
needs and habits of your customers. But one area where
social media seems to make a lot of sense for many
organizations is trade show promotions.
With budgets being stretched in every direction but up,
the challenge of promoting your participation at a show
and building booth traffic is challenging at best. Here are
a few social media tricks you can use to promote show
activity before, during and after the event.
Lay the groundwork
Naturally, any social media campaign is only as strong
as the network on which it is built, so if you don’t have a
corporate presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and
LinkedIn, start there. Create your pages and work on
becoming active. You need to build your followers and
connections and the best way to do that is to become
engaged.
Thanks to new developments, there are websites that
enable you to enter the email address of prospective
attendees and find out a list of all the social media
networks that that client is connected to. Once you do
this for all your potential clients, your business will have
a better idea of which social media websites to affiliate
with.
Integrate your social media activities with
your other, more “traditional” promotions
If you advertise or use direct mail/e-mail to promote
your participation in a show, also encourage people to
follow you on Twitter and Facebook to learn about
special events, reports and promotions during the show.
QR (quick response) Codes are two-dimensional
barcodes easily scannable by smart phones and take
the user to an web landing page you designate. Adding
QR Codes to your trade show displays not only lets you
provide prospects with additional content, it could also
help you communicate with them further during (and
after) the show. Bring them to your Twitter or Facebook
page to receive additional updates and offers
throughout the show. Give them ways to win prizes and
reasons to return to your booth! And don’t limit it to your
booth graphics and signage; use the codes in any
directory ads you run and on-site promotional flyers.
Create event pages on LinkedIn
and Facebook
Promote your participation by creating event pages on
LinkedIn and Facebook or by tapping into existing event
pages created by the show management. Either way,
promote your participation and invite your connections
and followers to attend. Encourage your sales
organization to promote the event to their social media
network. Leave comments about what you have planned
for the show on the event pages. Promote contests to
win products or prizes.
Capitalize on the show’s social
media activities
In addition to their event pages, many show
organizations are now using a variety of social media
tactics to promote their events. Make sure you take full
advantage of these. If they’ve created a blog around a
show, submit content and leave comments. Chances are
they’ve created an event hashtag for Twitter. If you’re
not familiar with them, learn more about Twitter
hashtags and how they are used. THIS IS A CRITICAL
TOOL to expand your audience before, during and after
the event. Use them every time you tweet to help people
find you. If the show doesn’t have a designated hashtag,
search to see if other exhibitors or attendees are using a
(Continued on page 10)
page 9
(Continued from page 9)
common one. If so, use that. Finally,
don’t forget to investigate any
YouTube, mobile or Slideshare
options the show may offer.
Broadcast “live” video
updates during the event
Equip members of your show team
with flip video cameras and assign
various broadcasts to each of them.
These could include:
• A fun, “behind-the-scenes” look at
booth setup
• A product demonstration in
the booth
• Video blogs reporting on key
announcements, presentations
and events during the course of
the show
• Interviews with customers
and prospects
• Guest spots from editors or other
industry experts
• “Live” drawings for products
and prizes
A key thing to remember is these
shouldn’t always be about your
company and products specifically.
Give your followers a broader
perspective of what’s going on at the
show. If all you offer is infomercials,
they will grow tired and turn
the channel.
quickly learn about the effectiveness of
their trade show exhibits. Consider
asking one or two questions of booth
attendees and providing them with
instructions on how they can quickly
text or reply on Twitter to your
questions. This feedback would be very
valuable and also immediate.
Have fun!
To follow all things MSAE
use this hashtag: #momsae
You are only limited by your
imagination. Brainstorm ways to keep
people engaged. Develop a plan, but
don’t be afraid to improvise. If there
is a lull in booth traffic, tweet that you
will give a t-shirt to the first person
who can get to your booth and
answer a question you pose. If you
see something cool in another
exhibitor’s booth, share it. If one of
the presenters says something
controversial, comment on it (again,
using the event hashtag).
Scan with your smart phone
Get Feedback
Mobile technology has reached a point
where you can receive nearly instant
feedback about anything posted. By
connecting live audience polling to
these events, show exhibitors can
Adapted from a blog by Jude Fischer with
www.adventivemarketing.com a social media, and marketing automation services
company.
page 10
Richard Ruppe
New Director of
Business
Development at
(HES) Heritage
Exposition
Services
Rich has over 20 years of service in the tradeshow
industry. While serving as a National Sales Manager and
later the VP of Sales for a tradeshow contractor in St
Louis, he had the opportunity to sell and produce
tradeshows and conventions nationally. Locally Rich was
involved in some of the largest events hosted in St. Louis
including the 1999 Papal visit and the 2005 Final Four.
For the past 6 years Rich has worked in the display side
of the industry and in April of this year he was hired as the
Director of Business Development for Heritage Exposition
Services in St. Louis.
Truman Trolley Returns To
Independence, Missouri
The Truman Trolley is rolling the streets of Independence!
Once again the bright red Truman Trolleys are running to
create no-stress visits to the Independence Square and
major tourism attractions during spring, summer and
early fall. Local residents and tourists from Kansas City
can take advantage of this offer for an easy and
affordable way to visit the city’s tourism attractions and
historic sites as well as the shops and restaurants on the
Square. The McClain Group & Independence Tourism are
partnering to present this opportunity to see many of the
major highlights of Independence without the hassles of
driving and parking.
Cost is $1 for all Trolley riders and provides unlimited
rides all day on the date of purchase.
Tokvam Earns CMP Designation
Sherilou Tokvam , a friend to the Missouri Society of
Association Professionals (MSAE) for over ten years,
received her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP)
certification on February 23, 2011.
The CMP process involves an extensive application which
requires educational and professional work experience,
as well as, a formal written examination.
Sherilou is eager and ready to utilize her higher level of
knowledge as she partners with MSAE conference
professionals. She can be reached at 417-243-3414 or
sherilou.tokvam@hilton.com
Rich has been tasked with helping grow the sales
organization at Heritage Exposition while promoting the
company on a national level. "I have been given a great
opportunity to work with an ownership group that is
committed to customer service and dedicated to investing
in its employees, technology and equipment to stimulate
growth. That commitment and dedication allows us to
provide the best customer service in the industry to our
associations, exhibitors and corporate partners."
Rich can be reached at (314) 534-8500 or visit their
website at www.heritageexpo.com.
Hilton Garden Opens in Springfield
Hilton Garden Inn® the award-winning brand of upscale,
yet affordable, hotels announced the opening of the 125room Hilton Garden Inn Springfield, representing an
addition to the brand’s growing portfolio of more than
500 hotels worldwide.
The Hilton Garden Inn Springfield is managed by O’Reilly
Hospitality Management, LLC of Springfield, Missouri, and
is the first hotel in Missouri to be designed to meet LEED
Gold standards, while being just the second Hilton Garden
Inn in the country to meet these standards. Some of the
sustainability features include a geothermal HVAC system
in the pavilion and meeting areas, a salt water swimming
pool, solar electrical system, full recycling and waste food
composting system, and a public “green” building
education program, just to name a few.
Officially Open – Contact Melissa at 417-799-1122 to set
up your next mid-size meeting or business travel rate!
page 11
Welcome New Members
Matthew Amick, Missouri Corn Growers Association
COMMUNIQUE Wins Renewal Of
Biotech University Project
Trey Davis, Missouri Energy Development Association
Todd Fuller, Missouri State Teachers Association
Sharon Horbyk, Houston Area Chamber of Commerce
The national United Soybean Board has retained
COMMUNIQUE, Inc., a strategic communications firm in
Jefferson City, for the planning, development, and
implementation of Biotech University, a two day seminar
on the science of biotechnology.
Melissa Riley, O’Reilly Hospitality Management
The Missouri School of Journalism will host one of the
seminars for the third year in a row. Biotech University
provides an intensive course on the science of
biotechnology for future journalists. The seminar
features presentations by experts in the journalism and
biotechnology fields.
Pabst Elected to Commission
Journalism students are then invited to participate in a
reporting contest on a biotechnology topic of their
choice. Winners can earn either scholarships or a trip to
a biotech conference overseas.
For more information, please check this website:
www.biotech-university.com
Jeff Stratman, Learfield Communications
Kathy Pabst, Director, Division of Continuing Education
at Lincoln University in Jefferson City was elected to the
Leadership and Management Commission of the
University Professional Continuing Education
Association. The Commission supports and promotes the
development of leadership attributes and management
competencies of higher education professionals. In
addition, the commission highlights emerging trends and
best practices that are relevant to the effective
management of continuing higher education. She will
serve a three-year term in this capacity.
President George W. Bush Speaks At HARD WORK U
The April 7 event represented months of anticipation for
the special guest at the College of the Ozarks, and the 43rd
President of the United States did not disappoint. Based on
the continual roar of applause, his words resonated with
the crowd.
President Bush focused his
talk on decision making in
leadership and the core
principles behind most of his
decisions, which are
expounded in his memoir,
Decision Points.
During the evening, College
of the Ozarks bestowed to
President Bush a “Great
American Award,” an honor it
reserves for exceptional
individuals whose lives,
careers and service reflect the highest ideals of American
values—those shared by the College.
His address culminated a two-day forum, wherein College
of the Ozarks students and students from visiting
institutions like Texas A & M and the Marine Military
Academy examined the topic of “Leadership and
Character.”
Students had the opportunity to hear plenary speakers
including former Vice Chairman of General Motors Robert
Lutz, former Assistant Commandant of the U. S. Marine
Corps General Terrence Dake, Hobby Lobby founder and
CEO David Green and former
Attorney General John Ashcroft
discuss the issue in relation to
free enterprise or public service.
“Each speaker had something
exceptional to say about
leadership,” said Elizabeth
Hughes, College of the Ozarks
public relations director. “While
they come from different
sectors, an overriding theme
clearly emerged. It takes hard
work, integrity and faith to be a
successful leader.”
The forum is part of the Community Convocation and
Forum series sponsored by the College’s Keeter Center for
Character Education. This series hosts internationallyrenowned speakers, recognized for their character and
leadership, who provide a keynote address reinforcing
institutional values. Past speakers include First Lady
Barbara Bush, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
page 12
Web Site Launched To Promote AdZou, School of Journalism Course
other social media are considered in
the mix when students unveil a final
presentation to the client at the end of
the semester.
Associations looking for
assistance with strategic
communication projects now have
a Web site they can access to tell
them all about AdZou, a Missouri
School of Journalism program that
matches up organizations in need
of communication planning with
student teams who will do just
that. The Web site can be found at
www.adzou.com.
Clients are now being recruited for participation in the
semester long program. A limited number of slots are
available in the fall, with many more slots available for
the spring, 2012 semester. Students conduct research,
develop a strategic approach, and create tactics to help
associations with image building, membership
development or sale of products and services, while being
coached by industry professionals. New media
approaches, including the use of Facebook, Twitter and
Steve Veile, lead instructor for the
course, says it is a great way for
associations and businesses to tap
young, fertile minds for new ideas and
new direction. “The students are in
their last semester and they are eager
to put the knowledge they have acquired at the J-School
to bear on a real project for a real life client,” Veile said.
Veile, an adjunct professor at the J-School, is CEO of
Communique, Inc., an agency he founded 32 years ago.
He urged association executives interested in the AdZou
program to log on to the Web site for more information.
They can also apply for the program on line at the site.
For more information, call Veile at 573/635-3265.
2011 Marks the Biggest Change Year in the Showboat’s History
Two new shows bring three new acts to
Branson in a first-class experience
aboard the showboat Branson Belle.
From top-to-bottom these are all new
shows with a new stage look, décor
and menu.
The Showboat Branson
Belle launched its 2011
season with the headliner
production show Encore!,
presenting three distinct
entertainment acts.
The high-flying theatrics of
Janice Martin have been
applauded across the
globe as she is the world’s
only violin-playing aerialist,
vocalist and multiinstrument musician. She
is heralded worldwide,
dubbed by the New York Times as “A
violinist with a strong personality,” with
The Miami Herald calling her “A
stunning talent.”
TV’s “Sing-Off” type groups with each
member able to perform multiple
talents of singing & dancing!
making for an all-too-rare, totally live
entertainment experience.
New menus from the Showboat’s “Chef
As Master of Ceremonies, the engaging Larry” include Beef Tenderloin in a
Cabernet Sauce, Mediterranean
comedian and magician Christopher
Chicken Kabobs, Chicken
Focaccia with Dijon Sauce
and the Chef’s own Golden
Brittle Lemon-Berry Torte. All
meals are prepared onboard
in the Ship’s galley and
served in the three-story
atrium dining theater.
James weaves the show together with
his ultra-sharp improvisational skills
and uber-funny personality!
The show spans decades of musical
styles from Gershwin to the Beatles to
The six-member group The ShowMen
the Black Eyed Peas -- from
was created by selecting each
contemporary music to the classics of
performer individually following a
Rock, Country and Soul, such as the
national audition call. They hail from all Eagles, Rascal Flatts, The Temptations,
across America with wide-ranging
Backstreet Boys and more! All are
experiences creating a powerful blend accompanied by the showboat’s 5of contemporary harmony similar to
piece LIVE band, Rockin’ Dockers,
Specialty Dining options
include the Paddlewheel Club
Room and Captain’s Row,
with menu choices including
Captain's Cut 18 oz.
Ribeye Steak, Mahi Mahi,
Caribbean Stuffed Chicken
Breast or Mate's Choice surf-and-turf,
plus a specialty dessert. A Children’s
Menu and a Vegetarian Selection are
always available.
The Showboat Branson Belle cruises
Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri,
March 25 through December 31.
Cruise times and ticket information:
www.showboatbransonbelle.com or
800-775-boat (2628).
page 13
The Courtyard by Marriott
Columbia Wins Marriott GOLD
CIRCLE Award
The Columbia Courtyard by Marriott General Manager,
Bob McDonald, recently attended the Annual Marriott
General Managers Conference at the JW Marriott in
Indianapolis, Indiana. He proudly accepted Marriott’s
prestigious hotel recognition award, the GOLD CIRCLE
award, for 2010 on behalf of the hotel and Kinseth
Hospitality. Only twelve North American hotels received
this award which recognizes quality inspections scores
of over 85%, guest service feedback of over 88%. We are
ranked the #1 hotel in Missouri for 2010. Our final
rankings placed the Courtyard by Marriott - Columbia,
MO in the top 30 hotels out of the 900 Courtyards world
wide.
Camden on the Lake Announces
Newly Remodeled Event and
Conference Center
The newly renovated Kinderhook Event Center and
Ballroom features functional event and conference
space with a permanent dance floor, full-service
audiovisual equipment with special lighting and full bar
with a first-class view of the main channel of the Lake of
the Ozarks. Onsite catering is available from the resort’s
culinary experts offering an array of delicious menu
selections.
“The new Kinderhook Ballroom is the perfect location
for wedding receptions, elegant banquets and
conferences. Now with an additional 6,000 square feet
of meeting space, Camden on the Lake provides a new
and exciting venue for special events attracting the local
community and visitors to the Lake” said Nicole Kever,
Director of Sales at Camden on the Lake.
The 2011 Courtyard Management Team consists of Bob
McDonald, General Manager; Carrie Spicer, Director of
Sales; Aric Jarvis, Guest Services Manager; Susan
Cunningham, Catering Manager; Stephanie Hysong,
Sales Manager; Roza Cox, Banquet Manager; Denise
Gordon, Executive Housekeeper; Ralph Green, Facilities
Manager, Chef James Wood, and Dana Woodward,
Accounting Manager.
The Courtyard has 133 guest rooms including 4 suites.
The hotel’s amenities include the Market, a 24-hour food
and beverage area, business library, free wireless
internet accessibility throughout the complex, indoor
pool and whirlpool, lobby lounge with a big-screen TV,
complimentary airport shuttle, outdoor courtyard with
firepit, and guest laundry.
The Courtyard is currently under renovation including a
Starbuck’s Coffee, Bistro, and GO board in the lobby;
among other changes.
For more information contact Carrie Spicer, Director of
Sales at 573-443-8109 or cspicer@kinseth.com.
With over 16,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting
and function space, the resort features conference and
event locations that can accommodate up to 500
people. The space includes a 6600 sq. ft. ballroom that
is divisible 3 times, an executive conference room,
reception/breakout rooms with lake view and outdoor
seating, and plenty of outdoor function space. We also
feature a 48-seat movie and presentation theatre that is
power point ready and is equipped with surround sound
and has laptop friendly seating.
For reservations, visit www.camdenonthelake.com or call
888-365-5620 toll-free. For conferences, weddings or
other events, contact Michael Capps at 888-365-5620
or mcapps@camdenonthelakecom, or Nicole Kever,
Director of Sales, at 888-365-5620 or
nicole@camdenonthelake.com.
page 14
Springfield CVB Launches New Website & Advertising Campaign
The Springfield, Mo., Convention & Visitors Bureau
officially launched a new website and its 2011 advertising
campaign promoting Springfield as a travel destination.
Produced by Kansas City-based MMG Worldwide, the new
website at www.SpringfieldMo.org features colorful
photography, video,
user-friendly options,
social networking
capability, an enhanced
events calendar,
mapping and much
more.
More people are
planning their travel with
the Internet and with
rapidly changing
technology, expectations
of website users and
competition with other
cities at an all-time high,
CVB staff determined it was time to bring in a team of
experts to take the site to a new level. In the past, the
bureau managed most of its website production in house.
The last redesign of the site was in 2005.
The new site is just one way the CVB is enhancing
Springfield’s Internet presence. A mobile application for
smart phones was developed (available free
at www.VisitSpringfield.mobi) last year, online advertising
promoting Springfield as a travel destination has
increased and the bureau is working with the Missouri
Division of Tourism on a search engine optimization
campaign to increase website visitation from Google. The
bureau maintains Twitter and
Facebook accounts, a blog
and an online newsletter.
Along with the website
launch, the 2011 advertising
campaign is going into full
swing. The $1 million
campaign includes online,
TV, radio and print
components. View the new
TV ads and print ads below.
The advertising campaign is
a cooperative effort including
the CVB, Bass Pro Shops,
Fantastic Caverns, Wonders of Wildlife, the Springfield
Cardinals and the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield
Foundation.
For more information, call the Convention & Visitors
Bureau at 417-881-5300 or 800-678-8767.
page 15
Big Staffing Changes at the
Capitol Plaza Hotel
The Capitol Plaza is experiencing some changes. In April
the hotel just replaced all of the 1st floor public space
walkway carpeting, newer case goods (desks, coffee
tables, night stands and dressers) were changed and
over 310 flat panel TV’s were installed.
Staffing changes: as of the 1st of April our new General
Manager, Cyndi McDonald was on board replacing Brian
Allen who moved on to our Bowling Green, KY Holiday
Inn as General Manager; the open Association /
Corporate Sales Manager position has been filled by
Angela Hake who has moved up from her Convention
Services Manager job; Maggie Dixon, a 2011 graduate
from the University of Missouri Hotel & Restaurant
School has joined the team as our new Convention
Services Manager and as of May, 27th, David Wallace
will be leaving after almost 11 years to become the
General Manager of the Baymont Inn & Suites in
Jefferson City. For more information, please contact the
Capitol Plaza at 573/635-1234
Best Western Owners Star in Film
Best Western has launched “Indie Films” to celebrate the
independent spirit of Best Western hotel owners, and to tell
their unique and compelling stories.
Brothers, Dale and Larry Gerstner, owners and general
managers of BEST WESTERN PLUS Capital Inn of Jefferson
City, were selected to share their unique story from over
2,000 North American Best Western owners. Best Western
International organized a film and production crew to visit
the Gerstner family’s hotel to document their history with
Best Western and the Jefferson City community. The film
also introduces Dale’s daughter, Dayla Gerstner, the third
generation family member, now completing the
management team. “I am proud to be an owner within ‘The
World’s Biggest Hotel Family’—Best Western,” Dale Gerstner
explains “I feel honored to be selected to share our family
story.” BestWestern.com/IndieFilms
page 16
Ducks & Dixie Door-to-Door Deal!
Looking for a great value, extremely fun outing for your
group function? Ride The Ducks and Dixie Stampede
Dinner Attraction have teamed up for an amazing combo
offer…plus we’ll pick you up and drop you off! From the
convenience of your hotel board a Ride The Ducks
amphibious craft for a fun-filled Table Rock Lake
sightseeing adventure, then be transported to Dixie
Stampede for a fabulous dinner and show featuring the
“Return of the Buffalo!” All in one package and all for
just $62.37 per person. Offer is good for groups of 30+
persons. Tax & gratuity additional. Subject to availability,
so reserve early!
Shelly Miller 800-335-2279 or Angel Eubanks 800-5205101
KLEER Meeting Solutions provides onsite registration services for the 2011
Annual CIC CMP Conclave
KLEER Meeting Solutions, a division of
KLEERTECH, was selected as the
onsite registration sponsor for the
Annual CIC (Convention Industry
Council) CMP Conclave. This year’s
event was held May 9-11, 2011 at the
Hilton Cancun Golf & Spa Resort in
Cancun, Mexico.
Conclave is the industry’s only
exclusive meeting of CMPs [Certified
Meeting Planners]. The CIC CMP
Conclave is a very unique event for
certificates who wish to contribute to
their profession. The Conclave
provides many opportunities for CMPs
to build relationships and partner with
other meeting professionals. CMPs
also enhance their professional
expertise by participating in exam
development, attending educational
sessions and networking with fellow
CMPs. – text modified from
www.conventionindustry.org
This year, KLEER Meeting Solutions
(KMS) was given the opportunity to
demonstrate its registration services
to more than 250 certified meeting
planners.
“What a great opportunity, to
showcase the KMS registration system
at an event specifically FOR meeting
planners.” Tonia Roberts, Director of
KMS Registration Services.
One of the many highlights this year
was session tracking via hand-held,
wireless scanners. This allowed the
staff to track and view real-time
attendee data captured through bar
code scanning. Additionally, the staff is
able to quickly generate electronic
certificates (in PDF format) through the
KMS online CEU certificate generator –
eliminating a lot of manual, postconference work.
Additional features utilized this year
included: electronic email
confirmations to the registered
attendees, on-demand badge printing
at the registration desk, wireless
scanners, onsite reporting, as well as
on-site equipment and staffing
supplied by KMS.
For more information regarding the CIC
CMP Conclave, please visit http://
www.conventionindustry.org
To learn more about KLEER Meeting
Solutions (a division of KLEERTECH),
please visit
www.kleermeetingsolutions.com
@twitter/Kleermeeting or
facebook.com/KLEERTECH
page 17
MSAE Spotlight
February/April Membership Meetings
The February membership meeting was held on the 25th
at the Capitol Plaza Hotel. Planners participated in a
series of roundtables designed to provide an interactive
forum from which to learn from each other. Erika Leonard
& Patrick Bonnot led Legislative Activities; Jan Neitzert &
Jennifer Baker, CMP led Developing Partnerships and
Sponsorships; Kathryn Szwargulski & Brenda Roling led
Planning a meeting on a shoe string budget; Ed Stroesser
& Diane Gillespie led What do you do to promote the
industry you serve; Kay Samuelson, CMP & Julie Davinroy
led Hotel Contracts and Catering; and Margaret Booker &
Sarah (Stroesser) Alsager led Communicating with Board
& Members.
Thank you Reception Sponsor:
Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel and St. Louis Airport
Marriott
& Lunch Speaker Matt Cowell Sponsor
Lincoln University
Division of Continuing Education and Extended Studies
Thank you Reception Sponsor:
Springfield CVB
page 18
St. Joe
quarter page
2011 Calendar of Events
JUNE 30
Joint Meeting Planners Trade Show
Capitol Plaza Hotel
JULY 14
Board Meeting
MSAE office
AUGUST 6-9
ASAE Annual Meeting,
St. Louis, MO
SEPTEMBER 19
Board Meeting and Funfest
Meadow Lake Acres Country Club
SEPTEMBER 20
Annual Meeting
Doubletree Jeff City
Sponsor: Branson CVB
NOV. 4
Membership Meeting and
Workshop
Capitol Plaza Hotel
Education Workshop:
Ten Marketing
Strategies Your
Organization can
Implement Tomorrow
Speaker Jon Goldman,
President, Brand Launcher
Sponsor: Columbia CVB
DECEMBER 7
Board Meeting.
MSAE Office
DECEMBER 8
Christmas Party
Jeff City Country Club
September 19 and 20, 2011
This year’s funfest will be held at the Meadow
Lake Acres Country Club just north of Jefferson
City off of Highway 54. The 4-person scramble golf
tournament will begin at 11:30 am with a shotgun
start! You may enter a team or we will assign you
to one.
SEPT. 30 - OCT. 1
Board Retreat
Kansas City
page 19