Service In Sync^® (SIS) is a program encouraging PCMA members to come together and give back to their local communities on behalf of the meetings industry during the first week of November.

 Network for the Needy^® (NFTN) promotes volunteerism through the meetings and convention industry and is sponsored in part by a generous grant from Global Experience Specialists.

In 2010 we are expecting all of PCMA's 17 chapters to take part in a community service project. As these projects are decided, we will post them here so you can sign up.

The 2009 SIS program was a great success. Check out what these outstanding chapters did in 2009!

Canada East spent 123 volunteer hours sorting food and household goods at three food banks in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. The volunteers also donated money and food to the food banks.

Canada West worked at Quest Food Exchange in Vancouver, a local food rescue. The chapter composted 3,000 pounds of unusable food and recycled the containers.

Capital and Chesapeake spent their Veteran's day with the USO. They assembled 5,000 care packages to be sent to troops overseas and raised $3,680.

Greater Midwest held a supply drive to benefit New Moms, Inc. The chapter gathered 150 items including diapers, clothing and other essential supplies.

Greater Philadelphia put their meeting planning skills to use and set up and decorate the Please Touch Museum for 700 people attending a fundraiser to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

 Gulf States spent 41 volunteer hours sorting and packing food at the North Texas Food Bank. Most members were able to work on the Food4Kids program which provide food for the weekends to school-age kids.

Heartland held a chapter-wide blood drive for the Red Cross throughout their region.

New England spent a day volunteering for the Greater Boston Food Bank

New York worked with the Bowery Mission to serve 300 meals to homeless men, women and children in New York City.

Northern California spent 17 volunteer hours at the Boys and Girls Club in San Francisco. Volunteers came after school to help with homework, play and interact with the kids.

Pacific Northwest volunteered in three total food banks in Spokane, Seattle and Portland. Altogether, volunteers sorted and packed about 10,500 pounds of food.

POWER volunteered at the Cleveland Food Bank and collected $120 for Feeding America through online donations.

Rocky Mountain hosted an autumn craft party for children at The Children's Hospital in Denver. The chapters set up craft tables and face painters in the lobby and spent 54 volunteer hours having a great time with the young patients.

Southeast joined American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge in Atlanta to prepare and serve dinner to 60 patients. In Orlando members volunteered at the Second Harvest Food bank of Central Florida to help assemble 791 boxes of food for local food pantries.

Southwest & Pacific collected school supplies and donations for six area schools in the Las Vegas area.

PCMA Headquarters staff held a food drive and collected 1,943 food items for the Greater Chicago Food Bank.

For more information on SIS, please contact Melissa Bronstein at MBronstein@pcma.org or 312.423.7255.

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