April 21, 2008, CHICAGO, IL -- The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has announced the launch of a significant new educational offering: the 30-minute "On-the-Go!" PCMA Webinar Series. The Webinars are brought to meetings industry professionals by Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and funded in part by the PCMA Education Foundation.

Geared towards busy professionals, the PCMA "On-the-Go!" Webinar Series is designed to provide relevant information in a condensed and convenient format. Each session consists of a 30-minute lecture led by a topic expert, and a 15-minute question and answer period.

"We understand that despite our members' hectic schedules, they still want to take time out for learning and professional development," said PCMA President and CEO Deborah Sexton. "By focusing on relevant and timely information, the Webinar Series presents our members with useful information in just 30 minutes, ultimately aiding in their success as meetings professionals."

Eight Webinars are currently scheduled for 2008, which are divided into three topics: Legal "On-the-Go!;" Info "On-the-Go!;" and Tech "On-the-Go!". Each topic consists of two to four Webinars focused on a specific area of the topic. Selected topics reflect some of the highest ranked issues based on a combination of current member surveys and program evaluations.

Speakers for this year's Webinars include legal expert Tyra Hilliard, Esq., CMP; green meetings expert Nancy Wilson, CMP; and technology expert James Spellos, CMP. The PCMA "On-the-Go!"

Webinars are currently available at the introductory rate of just $25 per session. Registration information is available online at www.pcma.org/webinars. Members of the media who are interested in attending any of the Webinars free of charge should contact Julie Fawcett, PCMA Communications Manager, at jfawcett@pcma.org.

Each webinar will also be archived on the PCMA Live Learning Center: www.pcma.org/livelearningcenter. Program participants can access archived content at no charge, while non-participants can access the content for a $25 fee.

"On-the-Go!" PCMA Webinar Series 2008 Schedule:
February 29, 2008: Legal "On-the-Go!" - Contract Cancellation and Termination Speaker: Tyra Hilliard, Esq., CMP Archived at the PCMA Live Learning Center

March 27, 2008: Legal "On-the-Go!" - Insurance and Indemnification Speaker: Tyra Hilliard, Esq., CMP Archived at the PCMA Live Learning Center

April 22, 2008: Info "On-the-Go!" - The State of Green Meetings 2008 Speaker: Nancy Wilson, CMP

May 20, 2008: Info "On-the-Go!" - The Paperless Meeting: Communicate, Market and Sponsor Green Speaker: Nancy Wilson, CMP

June 18, 2008: Legal "On-the-Go!" - Attrition: How to Minimize Your Risk Speaker: Tyra Hilliard, Esq., CMP

July 23, 2008: Legal "On-the-Go!" - Surcharges, Rebates and Fees Speaker: Tyra Hilliard, Esq., CMP

September 24, 2008: Tech "On-the-Go!" - Google RSS: What it is and How to Use it Speaker: James Spellos, CMP

October 30, 2008: Tech "On-the-Go!" - Google Custom Search: Make it Work for You Speaker: James Spellos, CMP

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The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is the professional resource center and premier educator for the meetings and convention industry. Founded in 1957, PCMA represents the interests of meeting management executives from associations, non-profit organizations, corporations, independent meeting planning companies, and multi-management firms who recognize the importance of meetings to their organization. PCMA empowers members with the tools they need to succeed as meeting professionals and to promote the value of the industry to their organizations and the general public. Headquartered in Chicago, PCMA has 16 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. For additional information, please visit the PCMA Web site at www.pcma.org.

The role of the PCMA Education Foundation is to support the mission of PCMA through fundraising and grant giving focused on education and research that will benefit the meetings and conventions industry. Established in 1985, the Foundation supports educational programs to improve professionalism in the meetings industry and to provide a university-level meeting management curriculum. The Foundation provides educational programs for meeting managers, hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, and other members of the meetings industry. It also conducts ongoing research of industry issues and concerns. The Foundation continually designs and creates new programs to encourage the highest levels of professionalism in the meetings industry.