Annual Retreat Planning for 2025

The planning process for your Annual Retreat should be underway. We recommend that Annual Retreats be held after the Chapter Leadership Summit (September 12) and by the end of November. Remember that using an MPI-Verified Facilitator is required at all Annual Retreats for Chapter compliance. As soon as you have the dates secured for your retreat, please let your Regional Operations Manager know. 

Chapter Leadership Summit 2024

All 2025 Chapter Leaders will be invited to attend the virtual Chapter Leadership Summit on Thursday, September 12, 2024.  Please mark your calendars now and include this date in your Nomination Process to ensure new Board members attend this important training session. Complete details will be shared as they are finalized in the Chapter Leader Newsletter. 

President's Dinner at WEC Louisville

The current Chapter President will be invited to attend the President's Dinner at WEC Louisville on May 21 with a complimentary ticket. Be on the lookout for a special invite which will be sent as we get closer to the event. Should any other Chapter members want to purchase a ticket to attend, more details can be found here. Complimentary tickets are non-transferable.

Reminder: New Board Attendance Policy

As a reminder, a new Board Attendance Policy has been included in the current MPI Chapter Policies. The policy can be found in Article IV, Section 2, 2.5. if you have not read the current Bylaws and Policies which are under revision to add local Chapter policies, you can find the base document here: CLRP > Office of the President > Governance.

May 1 Compliance Documents Due

As shared during Mid-year Retreats/Summits, and previous communications, all Chapters must submit a revised/updated Budget, Business Plan and Calendar to include the period through December 31, 2024, along with the updated MPI Chapter Bylaws and MPI Chapter Policy Manual. Please note that these documents must be submitted on or before May 1 and that it is very important to add your local/chapter-specific policies to the Policy Manual on pages 9 through 13.

Templates for the MPI Chapter Bylaws and the MPI Chapter Policy Manual can be found in the CLRP > Office of the President > Governance

European Calls and Meet up

European Presidents call - April 24

European Membership call – May 7

ECLF & EMEA Meet up at IMEX Frankfurt - May 13 at Messe Frankfurt

MPI’s Annual Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Session Requirement

As shared in August 2023, all Chapters must offer an Anti-Human Trafficking awareness session to their members at least once each calendar year. Members of the Anti-Human Trafficking Committee have started to contact every Chapter to offer their assistance in getting you started with planning this very important awareness session for your members.

As the AHT Committee Ambassadors connect with you, please use this opportunity to collaborate with them in planning/designing your awareness session and tap into the multitude of resources they have available to assist you.

Thank you very much for your support in this important initiative and please note that there is a limited number of $500.00 grants available via the MPI Foundation to help you with the session.

Details on resources available to download and how to apply for the $500.00 grant being offered by the MPI Foundation can be found in the CLRP > Education > Education Forms and Documents > AHT Training & Grant Information 2023/204 (PDF file). 

Social Media Takeover Guide & Example

Have a Chapter event coming up? Want to increase the social awareness of your Chapter? Consider doing a Social Media Takeover to use MPI’s Instagram channel which has 12.7k followers.  Check out an example of a recent takeover done at EMEC and view more Chapter takeovers on our Instagram highlights!

To learn more about scheduling your takeover, visit the CLRP > Marketing and Communication > Marketing Resources > Social Media Takeover Guide

WEC Listing on Chapters/Clubs Events Page

MPI has a special request for all Chapters and Clubs to support WEC Louisville by listing its information in your Chapters/Clubs events page as per this example from the MPI San Diego Chapter.

Digital assets are available via the CLRP > Chapter Toolkits > Monthly Toolkits > WEC Louisville_Chapter Promo Toolkit (Zip file with various assets)

A big Thank You! to all Chapters and Clubs that have already listed WEC on their events page. It is much appreciated.

March Membership Update

** NOT TO BE SHARED IN ADVANCE ** GMID Membership Promotion

MPI will run a membership promotion on Thursday, April 11, 2024, in honor of GMID. To help you prepare to support this campaign, a toolkit will be provided on the CLRP on Monday, April 8. 

Please remember that the promotion should remain confidential until April 11 and no posts or mentions should be made prior to the start of the campaign.  The toolkit will be available on the CLRP > Chapter Toolkits > Monthly Toolkits section. 

Affiliate Membership to Your Chapter

Can MPI Members affiliate to more than one Chapter? YES! 

All MPI Chapters can offer an Affiliate Membership application to allow more members to connect with your Chapter.  When a person joins MPI as a Preferred or Premier member, the fee includes one affiliation to the chapter of their choice.  That member can then go directly to your chapter website to purchase an additional affiliation. This is widely used in regions where members can travel between chapters or for Suppliers to cover a geographic territory encompassing more than one MPI Chapter.  The Chapter is responsible for publishing the option on your website, collecting payment, and managing the membership. A template for the Affiliate Member Application is available on the CLRP > Membership > Member Recruitment to download the template.

2024 Fiscal Year Began January 1, 2024

As a reminder, the 2024 Fiscal Year started on January 1, 2024, and will conclude on December 31, 2024. Complete information can be found in the updated FAQ on Fiscal Year Alignment Project for Chapter Leaders (CLRP > Redesign > FAQs, Videos & More). Chapter metrics will maintain an 18-month term (July 2023 – December 2024). 

Last Chance to Register for GMID!

We are one week away from our Global Meetings Industry Day 12-hour virtual broadcast, and you won’t want to miss it! Register here! There is an amazing lineup of speakers and industry professionals ready to educate you and celebrate with you all day long. See you there!

WEC Chapter Leader Lounge Activities

Join us at the 2024 WEC Chapter Leader Lounge, sponsored by Visit Aurora, for special programming and gatherings exclusively for YOU! Mark Your Calendar.

Monday, May 20: 3:00-4:00pm: Volunteer Chapter Leader Reception
Tuesday, May 21: 8:30-9:15am: Effective Succession and Transition Planning, Set Your New Board and Chapter Up for Success.
Tuesday, May 21: 3:20-3:45pm: Meet with a Purpose: Chapter Leader/Retreat Facilitators Meet and Greet
Wednesday, May 22: 8:30-9:15am: Regional Council Chair Panel: Learn about the work being done to support chapters and projects underway.

Receptions and Meet-Ups at WEC Louisville

Need assistance selecting a location for your after-hours chapter reception or meet-up during WEC in Louisville?  If you are planning to schedule chapter meetups/receptions/etc., please do so on Tuesday, May 21. The General Session ends at 5:00pm and the President’s Dinner begins with a reception at 6:45pm.

Please contact Cinnamon Jawor with Louisville Tourism at cjawor@gotolouisville.com or call her at 502-419-7817.

Volunteer Chapter Leader WEC Registration

All FY2023-2024 Volunteer Chapter Leaders and all Chapter Administrators who are MPI members in good standing are eligible for discounted registration:

WEC May 20-22, 2024, in Louisville. Register online using this registration link to secure the $700.00 rate. 

2024 WEC Chapter Challenge Deadline Approaching

Submit your Social Posts before the deadline of May 3, 2024, at 11:59pm (CST).   Learn more about the 2024 WEC Chapter Challenge. CLRP > Chapter Toolkits > Monthly Toolkits

MPI Foundation Chapter Pledge

Chapter Leaders watch for your MPI FOUNDATION Chapter Pledge Document.

Think how easily you can integrate your chapter giving to the MPI Foundation. Be it a stand-alone fun fundraising event or incremental and ongoing by adding a premium to your chapter event registrations, we are seeking your commitment at the Chapter level and asking for a quick turnaround on your Chapter Pledge. Get creative! Get ready! Get going!

Think you had a winning MPI Foundation formula in 2023? Submit for the MPI Foundation Chapter Champion Awards due April 12.

Spotlight scholarships! Please copy/paste the following text into your newsletters or social media if you would like to shine a light on MPI Foundation opportunities available to your members.

Professional Development scholarships are currently available to MPI planners and DMO / CVB profs! Apply today: https://us.grantrequest.com/application.aspx?sid=6233&fid=35161

Anti-Human Trafficking support: Ambassadors, Group Call

Hello MPI chapter leaders!  Most of you by now should have been contacted by your Anti-Human Trafficking Ambassador.  These Ambassadors are here to help get you started and answer questions you may have as you host your AHT meetings this calendar year.  Also, sneak peek!  The Anti-Human Trafficking Committee is busy working on the details of a virtual call that will focus on the question “What Can I Do?”, to help inform you about how to effectively incorporate AHT education and messaging with your chapter.  Thank you

Chapter Leader Webinar: Anti-Human Trafficking Resources and Information for Chapters

“What Can I Do? A Deep Dive Conversation about Combatting Human Trafficking in the Meeting & Event Industry” with resources from the Anti-Human Trafficking Committee.