Enrich your PCMA membership experience by volunteering on a PCMA committee or task force!

Work alongside fellow members to develop your leadership skills and contribute to the meetings and convention industry. You'll meet new people, experience new ideas and work toward advancing your career and PCMA - your association.

Getting involved in PCMA will not only benefit the future of our industry, but will also help advance your career. Consider the following benefits:

• Recognition as a leader in the industry
• Networking with colleagues with similar interests
• Access to innovative ideas to use in your organization
• Leadership training
• New skills development
• Leadership visibility for career enhancement and future roles within PCMA

As a PCMA volunteer, you are expected to:

• Attend and fully participate in all scheduled volunteer meetings and/or events
• Be open and willing to learn from your fellow volunteers
• Be knowledgeable in the area for which you are volunteering; you don't need to be an expert, but a general understanding of the topic is very helpful
• Be familiar with PCMA's goals and direction
• Be open to new ideas and ready to share experiences
• Participate with energy and commitment to the volunteer experience

Committee volunteer appointments are made by the PCMA Chair-elect. The call for volunteers is typically sent out in late summer, and terms officially begin each year on January 1st and end on December 31st. Volunteer appointments are made based on your past involvement and participation as a PCMA volunteer, indication of skills and strengths, and the needs of PCMA. Every effort is made to make use of your time and talents in a way that will be meaningful to you and beneficial to PCMA.

2008 Committees and Task Forces include:

• Achievement Awards & Recognition Committee
• Advocacy Task Force · Annual Meeting Program Committee (AMPC)
• Convene® Magazine Task Force
• Industry Research Committee
• Leadership Program Committee
• Membership Committee
• Network for the Needy Committee

Scroll down for descriptions and expected skills and time commitment.

ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS AND RECOGNITION COMMITTEE

Purpose:

The PCMA Achievement Awards and Recognition Committee works with staff to develop and promote the PCMA Achievement Awards and Recognition program, which honors the best and brightest in the meetings industry. The committee works to promote nominations throughout the industry, makes recommendations to the PCMA Board of Directors on honoree selections and works with staff to develop ways to celebrate the honorees' accomplishments at the PCMA Annual Meeting. This committee also strives to create innovative ways to recognize new and emerging PCMA leaders.

This committee is recommended for members who:

• Are creative thinkers with a "marketing mind"
• Are familiar with awards programs within associations

Time Commitment for the Achievement Awards Committee:

• Attendance at the committee meeting during PCMA 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle
• Attendance at the 2008 Leadership Conference
• Participation in four to six conference calls throughout the year
• Attendance at the Awards selection meeting, Fall 2008 in Chicago
• Attendance at the 2008 PCMA Annual Meeting in Seattle (Awards ceremony)
• Approximately 25 hours of outside work throughout the year to include activities surrounding the marketing of the awards program, evaluation of the awards nominations and on-site assistance at the PCMA Annual Meeting Awards ceremony.

ADVOCACY TASK FORCE

Purpose:

The charge of the Advocacy Task Force is to develop ways to support PCMA's Advocacy Charge and to recommend to the Board of Directors prioritized action items.

PCMA's Advocacy Charge:

To promote the value of face-to-face meetings and the value of meeting professionals, both within their organizations and in the marketplace. Where appropriate, collaborate with industry partner organizations to advocate for positive actions on important issues affecting the meetings industry.

This committee is recommended for members who:

• Understand the value of face-to-face meetings and its impact on the future of our industry
• Have insights and ideas on how to promote the value of meeting professionals within their own organizations
• Understand the unique perspective meeting professionals bring to their organizations
• Believe that meeting professionals can and should be elevated within their organizations
• Have an interest in communicating the value of meetings to those outside our industry
• Wish to advocate on issues important to the future of the meetings industry

Time Commitment for the Advocacy Task Force:

• Attend the committee meeting during PCMA 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle
• Attend the 2008 Leadership Conference
• Participation in six to eight conference calls throughout the year
• Approximately 35-45 hours of outside work throughout the year 2009

ANNUAL MEETING PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Purpose:

The charge of the Annual Meeting Program Committee (AMPC) is to analyze, design and develop the educational content for the PCMA Annual Meeting. The AMPC strives to identify creative and innovative content that addresses the business and professional challenges of PCMA members. This is accomplished in close collaboration with the PCMA Education Department, the PCMA Meetings & Events Department, the PCMA Board, and other subject matter experts. The final program is submitted to PCMA's President and CEO and PCMA's Chairman of the Board for final approval.

Additional committee activities:

Aside from meetings and conference calls, additional committee activities consist of the following:

• Review and evaluate of Annual Meeting educational submissions
• Research new and emerging trends
• Develop session descriptions and learner outcomes
• Identify potential speaker/panelist
• Prepare speakers/panelists
• Manage session introductions and room monitoring at Annual Meeting
• Review completed educational sessions (post-conference) for posting to PCMA's Live Learning Center
• Other duties as assigned

This committee is recommended for members who:

• Have been employed at least five (5) years in the industry
• Are knowledgeable about current industry news, trends, research and emerging issues
• Are knowledgeable about adult learning
• Regularly read industry publications including Convene® , PCMA's award winning magazine
• Are experienced in planning professional or executive-level educational programs
• Have attended at least two (2) PCMA Annual Meetings in the past five (5) years
• Possess expertise in at least two of the following areas:
  • Strategic Planning
  • Professional Development
  • Business Development
  •  Leadership
  • Event Management
  • Marketing
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Talent Management
  • Communication
  • Facilities and Services
  • Program Planning

 Time Commitment for the 2009 Annual Meeting Program Committee:

The 2009 AMPC begins planning the 2009 Annual Meeting at the conclusion of the 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle and continues through the conclusion of the 2009 Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Other time commitments include:

• Attendance at PCMA 2008 Annual Meeting (Seattle, January 13th - 16th, 2008)
  • 2009 AMPC Orientation, Tuesday January 15th 4:00pm - 5:30 pm 2008
  • Debrief Wednesday January 16th 5:00pm - 6:00pm
  • Includes 2008 and 2009 AMPC members
• AMPC Committee Meeting (2 ½ days in Chicago, TBD)
  • Leadership Team Meeting (1 day)
  • Full Committee Meeting (1 ½ days)
• AMPC Committee Meeting (2 days in Chicago, dates TBD)
• PCMA 2009 Annual Meeting (New Orleans, January 11th - 14th 2009)
• Approximately eight (8) conference calls related to speaker/panelist preparation

The AMPC is one of the most demanding PCMA committees, requiring approximately 40 hours of outside work above and beyond the face-to-face committee meetings listed above. These hours occur primarily between March and July.

Convene® MAGAZINE TASK FORCE

Purpose:

The Convene® Magazine Task Force aids the PCMA Convene® editorial team in developing and enhancing articles, feature ideas, research surveys and other educational components of the magazine.

This committee is recommended for members who:

• Regularly read Convene® and are familiar with its content
• Read a wide variety of other magazines, journals and periodicals on a regular basis
• Understand the survey research process

Time Commitment for the Convene® Magazine Task Force:

• Attendance at the committee meeting during PCMA 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle
• Attendance at the 2008 Leadership Conference
• Participation in four to six conference calls throughout the year
• Approximately 10 hours of outside work throughout the year to review draft survey questions, research potential issues, topics and magazine contributors

INDUSTRY RESEARCH COMMITTEE

Purpose:

The Industry Research Committee identifies important issues and emerging trends affecting the meetings, conventions and hospitality industry. The Committee may be asked to provide input and feedback on issues identified by the Board of Directors. The Committee may work with vendors to conduct research on these issues and validate the assumptions. The Committee will then identify and recommend the most effective and appropriate methods to inform and educate PCMA members and the industry about these issues, such as publication in Convene® and other media outlets including the PCMA website, educational programming, and collaborations and partnerships with other organizations.

This committee is recommended for members who:

• Have significant experience (10 or more years) in the meetings, conventions and hospitality industry, either as a professional meeting manager, association executive, or supplier partner
• Read a wide variety of publications and attend industry educational events
• Have a thorough understanding of the research process
• Have experience contributing to white papers

Time Commitment for the Industry Research Committee:

• Attendance at the committee meeting during PCMA 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle
• Attendance at the 2008 Leadership Conference
• Participation in four to six conference calls throughout the year
• Approximately 40 hours of outside work to include researching issues and drafting recommendations

LEADERSHIP PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Purpose:

The charge of the Leadership Program Committee is to analyze, design and develop the educational content along with the logistical aspects for the PCMA Leadership Conference. The Leadership Program Committee will strive to identify creative and innovative content which meets the leadership development needs of current and future PCMA members. This will be accomplished in close collaboration with the PCMA Education Department, the PCMA Meetings & Events Department, the PCMA Board, and other subject matter experts. The final program will be submitted to PCMA's President and CEO and PCMA's Chairman of the Board for final approval.

This committee is recommended for members who:

• Have attended the PCMA Leadership Conference in the past
• Enjoy the topics of leadership development and personal and professional growth

Time Commitment for the Leadership Program Committee:

• Participation at the in-person conference planning meeting, November 2007
• Attendance at the committee meeting during PCMA 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle
• Attendance at the 2008 Leadership Conference
• Participation in four to six conference calls throughout the year
• Approximately 30 hours of outside work throughout the year to review volunteer concepts and research leadership topics and speakers

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Purpose:

The Membership Committee is charged by the Board of Directors to ensure that the PCMA member value position and brand is clearly conveyed to both existing and potential members. As part of its charge, the Committee may be asked to help PCMA staff evaluate new member resources, identify the key return on investments of the various membership categories and secure member testimony crucial to communicate the value of belonging to PCMA. The committee actively supports recruiting efforts and programs. The Membership Committee will act as a sounding board for the critical messages and initiatives necessary for recruitment and retention of PCMA members.

Specific committee activities include:

• Review prospect lists and source new members
• Interface with the Membership Chairs of the PCMA Chapters to ensure continuity and growth of membership objectives
• Sub-committees will be formed to develop the following areas: recruitment, retention, prospecting, and services

This committee is recommended for members who:

• Are familiar with membership recruitment and retention strategies within associations
• Enjoy developing new marketing strategies
• Have access to and be able to supply prospecting resources
• Have a thorough understanding of the meetings and conventions industry

 Time Commitment for the Membership Committee:

• Attendance at the committee meeting during PCMA 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle
• Attendance at the 2008 Leadership Conference
• Participation in six to ten conference calls throughout the year with designated project outcomes, typically resulting from sub-committee activity
• Approximately 30-45 hours of outside work to research prospects, potential new growth areas for membership and actively engage with PCMA on recruitment and retention

 NETWORK FOR THE NEEDY COMMITTEE

Purpose:

The PCMA Network for the Needy Committee works to develop and promote community service initiatives on behalf of PCMA and the meetings and convention industry. Network for the Needy Committee has input into activities such as Party With a Purpose, Hospitality Helping Hands and more. The Committee is tasked with helping to identify methods to better educate the industry about the NWTN program to enhance future involvement.

This committee is recommended for members who:

• Have a passion for community service
• Have a thorough understanding of the meetings and conventions industry
• Are innovative thinkers and creative problem solvers

Time Commitment for the Network for the Needy Committee:

• Attendance at the committee meeting during PCMA 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle
• Attendance at the 2008 Leadership Conference
• Participation in six to eight conference calls throughout the year
• Approximately 30 hours of outside work throughout the year (the majority of which occurs June-December) to review and research potential community service initiatives, conduct phone calls on behalf of PCMA fundraisers or projects, and develop promotion ideas