Posted by Vincent Alonzo under Current AffairsResponses (2)

Recently, Successful Meetings and our sister publication MeetingNews hosted a Leadership Roundtable in Las Vegas at which members of the Las Vegas hospitality community gathered to discuss, among other things, President Obama's comments on holding meetings in Las Vegas. Here's what they had to say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTa80JAgU0k

Posted by Travel and Performance Group under Current AffairsResponses (8)

George Carlin, the legendary comedian who passed away last night at the age of 71 became famous for a routine called, "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television." But making lists of dirty words wasn't all this legendary comedian did. Most of his humor and insights were actually clean. And some of them offer sage advice for planning meetings. Here's a few:

Continue reading "Meeting Planning Tips From George Carlin "

Posted by Will Ng under Current AffairsResponses (0)

On Monday, Japan did the unthinkable of naming Hello Kitty a tourism ambassador. It marked the first time the country picked a fictional character to go around promoting Japanese tourism.

Continue reading "Hello, Kitty"

Posted by Terri Hardin under Current AffairsResponses (0)

Tomorrow, March 29, people around the world will celebrate Earth Hour by turning off unnecessary lights and appliances. Last year, the first Earth Hour was held in Sydney, Australia, and the participation of nearly 2.3 million residents resulted in a 10.2-percent reduction in Sydney's energy consumption, which is the equivalent of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year. This year, 30 million people are expected to participate, and there will be fund-raising events everywhere, with proceeds going to the World Wildlife Fund.

Since this year’s participation will occur in all time zones, 8PM is the designated Earth Hour, wherever you happen to be.

In North America this comprises Canada, Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix, San Francisco, Denver, Honolulu, and more. The following is a selection of activities; meeting planners should take note, both for eco-tips and for theme ideas:

Continue reading "Turn Off that Light!"

Posted by Terri Hardin under Current AffairsResponses (0)

This year, President’s Day came to mean more than a reason to sell cars. Between Super Tuesday, the reopening of the Lincoln’s DC cottage (and the upcoming Lincoln bicentennial), and the ongoing struggle of the 2008 candidates, this has been the most president-centric month in decades.

In Washington DC, the White House Visitors Center held a “President for a Day” on February 18. Visitors were able to “chat” with Abraham Lincoln about his decision to preserve the Union during the Civil War (or what it was like to live in a log cabin); “meet” First Lady Dolley Madison; have their pictures taken with Presidents Lincoln, Kennedy and Ford; and test their own knowledge of White House history in a game of “Who Wants to be a President?”

Perhaps it’s a good time to ponder what the role of leader means to us. And to help in that pondering, Quirk Books offers its Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents: Trivia Card Game. Based on Cormac O’Brien’s  Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, this game settles all kinds of presidential hash, such as

Which president walked his pet raccoon on a leash? Which president slept for (literally) half of the day? Who worked as a cover model for Cosmopolitan magazine? Which one blamed air pollution on trees?

The Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents: Trivia Card Game was brought to my attention at a luncheon hosted by the Washington DC CVA, which recently brought its hotel and venue partners to New York City on a media mission. The snow that fell in the Sculpture Garden of the Modern Museum of Art (seen from our private dining room at The Modern restaurant) was a subtle reminder of cherry blossoms, which each CVA member invoked. We Big Apple journalists also got our memories restoked on that truly unique destination that is DC, from the refurbished Library of Congress building and website, to the ongoing renovations throughout DC’s hotel inventory. Most importantly, with the properties' lighthearted digs at DC’s rampant partisanship (at the Madison, for example, you can have your waffles with Blue State blueberries or Red State strawberries), we got new insight into how hospitality can be the cure for inhospitality.

Who wants to be a president? Well, I can think of at least four people. But who thinks it’s a game? None of them, I hope.

 

Posted by Will Ng under Current AffairsResponses (5)

You may have heard or read about the big flap over Golfweek magazine's recent "Caught in a Noose" cover. I gotta wonder what Dave Seanor, now ex-editor, was thinking, putting a noose on the cover. And he was "surprised by the negative reaction"?

Continue reading "Two Wrongs Don't Make a 'Write'"

Posted by Terri Hardin under Current AffairsResponses (0)

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

I was 10 years old at the time, growing up poor in New York City. My mother was single and working, so after school, I attended the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, where poor kids were able to participate in sports and activities for a nominal fee - or even no fee at all.

But on the day after the Dr. King was killed, our after-school counselors sat us down and talked about his life and his significance; and we agreed to do something for this man who had been so vital, not only to the civil rights movement, but to the Poor People’s Campaign. Our little band of pre-teens, armed with petitions, then went door-to-door, canvassing for a “Martin Luther King Day.”

How things have changed since that time. For one thing, I think we’re more protective of our children; they are barely allowed to treat or treat or sell Girl Scout Cookies by themselves, let alone knock on strangers’ doors in Manhattan’s high-rises and walk-ups with petitions!

And, I think, we are only dimly aware of others’ sacrifices on our behalf. “Support Our Troops” ribbons are everywhere, but does that mean soldiers have gear to keep them safe, that they receive benefits if they are injured, or that their families are financially secure?

But even as things change, many things stay the same. As planners, you know how much a part of the human condition it is to come together, to get things done as a community. As Dr. King brought people together to right social wrongs, and our little Neighbor House gang came together to express our grief.

This year, voters are coming together, asking questions of the candidates and making their voices heard.

Forty years ago, the world lost a charismatic leader who did everything he could to make the world a better place. Forty years later, will we find such another in the 2008 presidential season?

 

 

 

Posted by Terri Hardin under Current AffairsResponses (1)

Last night, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) won the Iowa Caucus.

For some, the caucus, which began at 7PM CST for the Democrats and 7:30PM for the Republicans, was preceded by so much media hoopla, it threatened to derail the holidays (as in “Hey, what did your husband give you for the Iowa Caucus?”). For others, the caucus demonstrated the greatness of our system.

But the success of Obama and Huckabee also yields lessons for today’s association recruitment. These candidates

Continue reading "The All-Nighter"

Posted by Kinley Levack under Current AffairsResponses (0)

I had another blog topic all picked out for today, but I just stumbled on a site that I have to share. You may have heard about Brad Pitt’s Pink Project to build homes in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward with an emphasis on sustainability—well now there is a way for companies, organizations, and individuals to contribute in a really special way.

Continue reading "Adding a Touch of Pink to the Holidays "

Posted by Terri Hardin under Current AffairsResponses (4)

Everyone wants to be green these days, but why turn blue with the effort? There are many ways that are simple and bone lazy. Here’s a few; try ’em, you’ll like ’em!

1. Use revolving doors. Using them in public buildings conserves the energy lost by opening—and holding open—doors.
2. Get “slow” cash. Tom Kostigen, author of The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time, suggests that, when getting cash from an ATM, you refuse the receipt whenever possible. However, when you use the “fast cash” option at the ATM, it prints out a receipt without asking you. Go slow and refuse the receipt.
3. Hold onto your cell phone, if you can. Sure you can trade in your old cell phone for a newer model, but is it necessary? Currently, 100 million cell phones are trashed each year—all of which are as poisonous as batteries or motor oil when simply tossed away.
4. Go to a water fountain when you’re thirsty. Think of all the half-empty bottles you’ll save!
5. Re-gift. After all, ’tis the season. Think of things taking up space in your life that others would better appreciate. Empty your closets, and stuff those stockings!

Of course, it doesn’t have to end here. Send in your own bone-lazy tips. Let’s make this world a better place—without trying too hard!