Save the Date for Executive Edge, Oct. 9 in Chicago

The PCMA Executive Edge program is back with two new, hands-on programs focused on advancing leadership skills and elevating negotiation strategies. In partnership with the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, PCMA has developed an original and interactive program geared toward meetings industry executives. Participants will choose between two high-level tracks.

In "Authentic Leadership: Taking Center Stage," Harry Davis, Ph.D., will use the metaphor of the theater to help participants discover an "authentic leadership" style, which requires the mastery of all four roles: playwright, director, actor, and audience. Participants will learn to adopt these different leadership styles to fit any business situation and, in turn, become more strategic leaders for their organizations.

In the second track, "Negotiation Skills and Group Decision Making" led by Linda Ginzel, meeting attendees will participate in role-playing activities to gain further insight into effective negotiation techniques. These key industry leaders will also work together to gain a deeper understanding of group dynamics and how to leverage their own teams' strengths to create higher-quality group decisions.

For more information, visit www.pcma.org/education. Due to the format of the program and space constraints, Executive Edge is by invitation only.

PCMA Members Help Rebuild New Orleans

Working to help rebuild the greater New Orleans area, PCMA's Network for the Needy program partnered with the Meeting Industry Ladies Organization (MILO) to bring the hospitality community together for a Habitat for Humanity home building project in Slidell, La. On May 9, 2007, after the MILO golf tournament in New Orleans, 12 volunteers were taken to the worksite to paint, install insulation, and build frameworks for lattice walls.

Slidell, La., is located on the north side of Lake Pontchartrain about 35 minutes from New Orleans proper. Since Katrina, 60,000 new residents - most of whom were displaced by the storm - have moved to the community. Habitat has approved 109 families for housing.

"Having planners and suppliers come together for this joint effort with Habitat for Humanity was so special to me. It is so important that we are part of the recovery process. A huge thank you for all who stayed the extra day and participated," said Jackie Benear, 2007 Network for the Needy chair.

Southwest and Pacific Chapter Fund-raiser Supports U.S. Military Men and Women

On Friday, July 27, 2007, the Southwest and Pacific Chapter will hold a Golf Tournament and Silent Auction with an important goal - helping support military men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The fund-raiser will provide "comfort items" for troops in the field and raise money through a silent auction for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

"Support from our industry has been tremendous," said Mike Ouimet, director of sales & marketing for the Wilshire Grand Los Angeles, who is helping coordinate the event. "We're looking forward to raising a lot of money to support our troops and the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund."

The chapter is asking for your help in reaching their online silent auction goal of $25,000. If you would like to learn more and join the Southwest Pacific Chapter in supporting the troops, you can donate a package or item to the silent auction by visiting www.pcma.org/sp.

PCMA Canada East Chapter Members Give Back, Discover Art of Food and Wine Pairing

On June 5, PCMA Canada East Chapter members participated in a Network for the Needy community service project to assist in remodeling The Massey Centre for Women. The center is an award-winning, non-profit, community agency located in Toronto that provides housing and resources for pregnant teens, young single mothers, and their children. Chapter members helped in remodeling the Centre's lounge area and one of its bedrooms.

The chapter will host an event of an entirely different nature on July 12, with an evening to "stir the senses." At a food and wine pairing event at Hilton Niagara Falls, local experts will share their knowledge of food and wine pairing with chapter members while providing them with tips they can use in their personal and professional lives. For more information on this event and other activities planned for the Canada East Chapter for the fall and winter, visit www.pcma.org/ce.

Information on all PCMA chapters and more upcoming events in your area is just a click away. Visit www.pcma.org/chapters.

Meetings Industry Leaders Learn to 'Go Green' at The Masters Series in Chicago

On June 27, meetings industry executives came together to gain some important strategies for greening their meetings and associations. "At EC is the New PC: How to Make Your Association More Environmentally Conscious," members of the industry realized the tremendous opportunity they have to make an impact globally and become environmental leaders. The event was headlined by keynote speaker Joel Makower, recently featured on CNN, Good Morning America, and in BusinessWeek, who discussed how associations can lead the charge to reduce the service industry's carbon footprint. Makower also moderated a panel of industry representatives that included: Amy Spatrisano, director and board chair of the Green Meeting Industry Council; Kimberly Lewis, director of conferences and events, U.S. Green Building Council; and Mary Beth Nowak, Executive for Assembly Logistics, Meeting Management, and Travel, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In addition to addressing many popular "green" myths, the panel shared tips for best managing the expectations surrounding this global initiative - and described how their own organizations are adopting sustainable business practices to become more environmentally conscious.

Save the date for the next Masters Series program, Sept. 4 in Washington, D.C. Check www.pcma/MastersSeries for more information.

For more information on "going green," visit the December 2006 issue of Convene at www.pcma.org and Convene's new monthly green pages.