January/February 2023

Cover illustration by Sirin Thada

view digital edition subscribe

Medical Society Finds Success by Getting Uncomfortable

After taking a chance on a new format during the pandemic, The Aesthetic Society is reaping the rewards of taking more risks with its annual conference in 2023.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst February 3, 2023

Science Group’s Hybrid Meetings Improve Access and Affordability

The Genetics Society of America’s hybrid format, pricing structure, and content strategy gives global participants a chance to share the science.

BY Barbara Palmer February 3, 2023

Finding the ‘Sweet Spot’ for Anesthesiologist Group’s Annual Meeting

In November 2020, the American Society of Anesthesiologists took its annual meeting entirely online. Here’s what its digital event strategy looks like now.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst February 2, 2023

Captured on (Instant) Film

At the Instant Film Society’s annual PolaCon, they take — and shake — actual Polaroid pictures to preserve the art of fast film.

BY Casey Gale February 2, 2023

Acquisition of a Fan Expo Opens Doors for Nonprofit

When Pop Culture Classroom’s main fundraising event, Denver Comic Con, was acquired by Informa Connect in 2021, it freed up the organization to focus on its primary mission.

BY Casey Gale January 31, 2023

How Short-Term Activations Can Create Lasting Positive Change

A growing number of destinations seeking to create community experiences since the pandemic are looking at Better Block’s neighborhood pop-up projects.

BY Michelle Russell January 30, 2023

Breaking Through the Mindset of Digital vs. In-person Events

It’s time to experiment more with hybrid event formats, says Annalisa Ponchia Baccara, director of international congress development at AIM Group International.

BY Barbara Palmer January 30, 2023

AMDA’s Journey to Meeting Back In Person

The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine’s annual conference has undergone several transformations since 2020.Here’s what the society’s meetings manager, Kristin Pichon, has learned about her members as a result.

BY Casey Gale January 30, 2023

4 Ideas to Consider When Making Main Stage Contingency Plans

As event professionals hope for a full return to in-person events amid continued uncertainties, having speakers agree to contingency plans is a wise move.

BY Dave Lutz, CMP January 27, 2023

Increasing Post-Session Survey Response Rates

PCMA’s Catalyst community discussed some ways to get attendees to fill out session surveys, and shared ideas on how to celebrate an association’s anniversary.

BY Convene Editors January 27, 2023

Should You Supersize Your Screens?

For many tasks, the smaller the screen, the smaller the thoughts. Get the big picture in our latest Meetings and Your Brain column.

BY Barbara Palmer January 27, 2023

What Should Your Hybrid Event Strategy Be?

When planning your hybrid events, start by determining what you want to accomplish. Here are four important questions for planners to consider.

BY Beth Surmont January 23, 2023

Recovering the Cuisine of Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous chefs are using restaurants and special events to tell the mostly unknown story about Native food in America. 

BY Barbara Palmer January 20, 2023

Five Ways to Jumpstart Your 2023 in Better Form

In this time of “The Great Sorting,” Convening Leaders 2023 speaker Daniel Pink said, we have to figure things out for ourselves. Here are his tips to help us find our way.

BY Michelle Russell January 19, 2023

Charting a Bold New Path for PCMA

For any organization, embracing change is key to transformation.

BY Sherrif Karamat January 16, 2023

How Volunteers Can Move Your Event Closer to Your Sustainability Goals

At Greenbuild, Team Human’s person-to-person communication helped educate participants about event sustainability practices, which helped prevent recycling errors.

BY Barbara Palmer January 13, 2023

Moving Events Forward in the Face of Social and Economic Challenges

PCMA convened a roundtable in the American Geophysical Union’s boardroom in Washington, D.C., for the leaders of several associations, DMOs, and convention centers to discuss the impact of travel boycotts and how to navigate social and political challenges.

BY Michelle Russell January 13, 2023

Magnet Wall Draws Git Merge Attendees to Networking Space

A magnet board at a GitHub tech conference not only engaged participants but reinforced the collaborative spirit of their community. 

BY Michelle Russell January 13, 2023

8 Ways to Plan Face-to-Face Events for 2023

Hint: It’s not about getting your pre-pandemic groove back.

BY Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes January 12, 2023

Become a Member

Get premium access to provocative executive-level education, face-to-face networking and business intelligence.

Join PCMA