Greater Midwest

 Welcome to the Greater Midwest Chapter's Web Site

On behalf of the Greater Midwest Chapter, we want to welcome you to the Chapter's web site! GMC is one of the largest Chapters within PCMA, and our members are some of the most involved in the industry. Thanks to our volunteers, GMC offers cutting edge educational programs, community service projects, professional recognition, CMP Study Groups, student activities, and many other opportunities for our members. Our web site has the most updated information about the chapter activities, leader tools, volunteer opportunities and the most recent edition of the Pulse - our chapter newsletter - is always online, so that you can keep up-to-date on the latest news with GMC!

Number of Members: 1200 +

Geographic Territory: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin

A Message From the President
Paul Miller, Sacramento CVB

You may wonder how someone working in Northern California became the President of the Greater MIDWEST Chapter of PCMA. My roots have always been, and will continue to be, in the Midwest. A native of Wisconsin, I have had the pleasure of working in Orlando, Chicago, San Francisco and Nashville prior to landing in Sacramento. I joined GMC in the early 90s while working in San Francisco, recognizing GMC was the PCMA chapter that offered the strongest educational offerings and best opportunities for long-lasting and fruitful professional relationships.

The five educational activities in the Greater Chicago area, the four programs in states outside of Greater Chicago, three community services activities including the annual charity bowl-a-thon and the other social/networking functions offer over 20 activities from which to chose. Belonging to the GMC has been one of the more rewarding experiences in my professional life and serving my fellow members has been and continues to be a privilege.

For committee volunteer opportunities, we have three levels of involvement (low, medium and high) so whatever you can contribute is greatly appreciated. We encourage you to participate in the education and mentoring programs, charitable activities, member networking events, and other special functions held throughout the year. Our committees are open to join throughout the year, so if you haven't made a decision on what you would like to do, please call us or one of the committee chairs, and we will be happy to speak with you in great detail about serving GMC PCMA and how you stand to benefit from engaging with colleagues with various backgrounds and skill-sets.

This web site will be your home for the GMC. Near term activities are listed below under "What's New" for quick access to program information and links to downloadable registration form or on-line registration. For activities further into the year, visit the calendar for upcoming events. Browse through the navigation links to find information on the Chapter, our great committees, our leaders and our sponsors, without which we could not provide the services to members that we can. And watch your emails, our means to communicate with you, our members.

I look forward to your involvement in the chapter and seeing you at the GMC activities.

Paul Miller
Chapter President
pmiller@cityofsacramento.org

What's New!

The Pulse Beach Issue
The Pulse: Volume VII Issue III, sponsored by Desinatation Hotels & Resorts and Omnipress, Inc.  Click here to access the Beach Issue of The Pulse

June 2008 
The Pulse:  Volume VII Issue II, sponsored by LA INC, The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau and Omnipress, Inc.   Click here to view the June issue of The Pulse.

GMC PCMA September Educational Program
Future Trends and Forecasting...Hospitality Style, moderated by Bruce Harris and sponsored by Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau.  Panelists will include:  Scott Briscoe, CAE, Associations Now; Felix Niespodziewanski, American College of Surgeons; Deidre Ross, American Library Association; and LJ Williams, Rotary International.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare, 5440 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL  60018
Registration - 7:30am - 8:30am; Welcome and Announcements - 8:30am - 9:00am; Program - 9:00am - 10:30am; Q&A - 10:30am - 11:00am; Committee Meetings - 11:15am - 12noon
Click here to register.  For a copy of the Event Summary, click here.

GMC PCMA 7th Annual Student Member Program
The GMC PCMA 7th Annual Student Program is designed by students and solely focuses on students entering the hospitality and meeting planning fields.

Friday, September 26, 2008
Holiday Inn Matteson, 500 Holiday Plaza Drive, Matteson, IL 60443
Registration 7:30am - 8:30am; Program begins at 8:30am

Take this opportunity to network with your fellow students, compare and contrast your field of study and network with industry professionals who can lend their support and expertise.  Click here for more information or to download a registration form. 

Looking to volunteer for a GMC PCMA Committee?  The Greater Midwest Chapter is looking for eager volunteers to serve on our 2009 committees.  Click here to review the committee descriptions.  Once you have reviewed your options, click here to complete and submit the online Commitment to Serve application.  All current committee members should also submit an application if they wish to  continue to serve on the same committee for 2009.  The deadline for submitting an application is September 30th.  You will be contacted by your committee chair in late October.

Should you have any questions about the Greater Midwest Chapter, or suggestions, please contact us at the address provided below.

Contact Information:
Greater Midwest Chapter PCMA
475 S. Frontage Road, Suite 101
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
Phone: 630-323-7413; Fax: 630-323-6989
Email: info@gmcpcma.org