PCMA Again Synchronizes Community Service Projects for Second Year in a Row

PCMA members across North America are gearing up to give back to their local communities during the second annual "Service in Sync" community service day, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006. All 16 PCMA chapters are planning and promoting volunteer events.

"It's a great opportunity to rally the collective volunteer energy within PCMA to make a difference in the lives of others. It's also a great occasion for us to engage our members in a cross-chapter initiative that not only helps those in need, but leaves participants with a great feeling of personal fulfillment," said Service in Sync Chair Peter O'Brien, CMP, CASE, director of national accounts, Marriott Global Sales.

Some PCMA chapters have already announced their community service projects. The Capital Chapter will once again volunteer at Fort Belvoir to assemble USO Care Packages to be sent to U.S. troops. The Greater Philadelphia Chapter will help refurbish the Anna M. Sample Complex in Camden, N.J., which provides temporary housing for single women and children in need. The Rocky Mountain Chapter has organized three different projects, including cleaning Brent's Place, a temporary housing complex for kids with cancer and their families; serving lunch at the Denver Ronald McDonald House; and hosting a craft party at Children's Hospital.

Service in Sync, sponsored in part by a generous grant from GES Exposition Services, is part of PCMA's Network for the Needy program, which promotes volunteerism and product donations through the meetings and convention industry. For more information, visit www.pcma.org or contact Sarah Corradino at scorradino@ pcma.org or (312) 423-7232.

Apply for a Grant From the PCMA Education Foundation

The PCMA Education Foundation provides support for educationally based projects that have a broad impact on the meetings and hospitality industry and is currently seeking applications for grants. The Foundation funds research and development of products and services designed for the meetings professional.

The due date for grant proposals is Oct. 31, 2006. Applicants must be professionally or academically involved in the meetings and hospitality industry or at a university with an accredited hospitality/meetings program. Applications and accompanying paperwork must be received on or before the due date. Early submissions are encouraged, and e-mailed proposals are accepted but are not considered complete until a hard copy is received. Grants are awarded twice yearly.

The Education Foundation does not fund projects that benefit an individual personally, commercial interests, venture capital proposals, capital improvements, business equipment or supplies, endowments, or other projects and initiatives that do not align with PCMA's Strategic Plan.

Proposals are evaluated and recommended for funding by the PCMA Education Foundation Grant Review Committee, and final decisions are made by the PCMA Education Foundation Board of Trustees. For an application and more information, go to the grants page on PCMA's Web site, www.pcma.org.

Congratulations PCMA Members/New CMP Graduates!

Nearly 60 PCMA members passed the July exam and earned the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential. They join more than 11,700 other CMPs in 32 countries. The next CMP exams are scheduled for Jan. 20, 2007 (the application deadline was in September) and July 28, 2007 with an application deadline of March 19, 2007. (* January Graduates)

July CMP Graduates
Ilse Almanza, CMP American Society for Healthcare Engineering Chicago, IL
Tanya Barrett, CMP American Institute of Architects Washington, D.C.
Michelle Beniak, CMP Overland Park, KS
Leslie Britt, CMP Anheuser-Busch Companies Denver, CO
Desiree Bryant, CMP Renal Physicians Association Rockville, MD
Thomas Buzsaki, CMP Vindico Medical Education Inc. Thorofare, NJ
Dawn Campbell, CMP Precision Strike Association Arlington, VA
Kelly Carson, CMP American Council for Technology Fairfax, VA
Jenny Conrad, CMP Gateway Center Collinsville, IL
Nicoal Crawford, CMP Source Media New York, NY
Beth Croll, CMP American Heart Association Dallas, TX
Amy Dageenakis, CMP New Hope Natural Media Boulder, CO
Pamela Dallstream, CMP Society of Critical Care Medicine Des Plaines, IL
Laura Daniel, CMP The Fairmont Olympic Hotel Seattle, WA
Jennifer Dauer, CMP University Health System Consortium Oak Brook, IL
Christopher Daw, CMP American Association of School Administrators Arlington, VA
Lori Ehnes, CMP George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, TX
Rebecca Field, CMP Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort Chandler, AZ
Christy Goehner, CMP Precision Strike Association Arlington, VA
Cheryll Hairston, CMP American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) Alexandria, VA Wayneston Harbeson, CMP Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Las Vegas, NV
Carrie Harris, CMP National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Reston, VA
Wendi Haught, CMP Coeur d'Alene Resort Coeur D Alene, ID
Lise Hodgson, CMP* Canadian Cardiovascular Society Ottawa, ON
Hiromi Itoh, CMP Sheraton Moana Surfrider and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotels Honolulu, HI
David Jewell, CMP HelmsBriscoe Toronto, ON
Helene Kenny, CMP Canadian Automobile Association Ottawa, ON
Lisa Kiehn, CMP Keystone Event Group Troy, NY
Brent Korf, CMP Sheraton Overland Park Hotel Overland Park, KS
Courtney Lett, CMP Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C.
Christine Lindmark, CMP Vista Marketing Denver, CO
Heather McCroskey, CMP Gaylord Opryland Resort Nashville, TN
Jolene McNeil, CMP Drug Information Association Horsham, PA
Michael McQuade, CMP Washington State Convention and Trade Center Seattle, WA
Neda Mojgani, CMP Delta Chelsea Hotel Toronto, ON
Jennifer Muna, CMP Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Las Vegas, NV
Raquel Najera, CMP Colorado Veterinary Medical Association Denver, CO
Jenni Oberan, CMP CO-OP Network Ontario, CA
Victoria Ondrla, CMP American Library Association Chicago, IL
Melissa Parrish, CMP American Association for the Study of Liver Disease Alexandria, VA
Kelly Peacy, CMP Professional Convention Management Association Chicago, IL
Jennifer Perry, CMP MD Evnets Inc. Conshohocken, PA
Nicole Peterson, CMP Precision Strike Association Arlington, VA
Tracey Pierce, CMP National Osteoporosis Foundation Washington, D.C.
Donna Porter, CMP Epilepsy Foundation Landover, MD
Deena Rawlings, CMP American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Park Ridge, IL
Richard Rheindorf, CMP German Convention Bureau New York, NY
Carrie Rice, CMP George Washington University Arlington, VA
Carolyn Riggs, CMP Omni Interlocken Resort Broomfield, CO
Diane Shearer, CMP Meeting Professionals International Dallas, TX
Jonna Thoma, CMP American Council of Engineering Companies Washington, D.C.
Diane Vaughnley, CMP King Stringfellow Group Inc. Bel Air, MD
Sherry Watson, CMP* Canadian Real Estate Association Ottawa, ON
Amy Weishar, CMP Sterling Jewelers Akron, OH
Sharon Winings, CMP Eli Lilly and Company Indianapolis, IN
Melissa Wolpert, CMP American Association of School Administrators Arlington, VA
Darlene Wright, CMP Meeting Professionals International Dallas, TX
Jill Zeigenfus, CMP American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Washington, D.C.
Patricia Zurat, CMP Sheraton Station Square Hotel Pittsburgh, PA