What’s New and Exciting from Jill

I just can’t believe 2012 is almost over and the holiday season has already begun. I hope that everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. Because Thanksgiving is a special day of giving thanks, I want to take this time to express my appreciation to all of you for your membership and to the many volunteers who give so much of their time to our chapter and to our wonderful sponsors throughout the year.

Thank you to all...

Holiday Party

The Vault
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Registration closes at 5pm today
Walk-ins welcome
REGISTER NOW!  

January Breakfast Club
The Centre Club
Wednesday, January 9, 2012
8:00am - 9:30am
REGISTER NOW!

January Monthly Meeting
Raymond James Stadium
Wednesday, January 23, 2012
11:00am - 1:30pm
REGISTER NOW!

SAVE THE DATE
March 11, 2013



Save the Date for a very special MPI luncheon with Emmy-winning television star, celebrity stylist, author and fashion designer Carson Kressley!  
 
March 11th, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at A La Carte Event Pavilion

Annual Toys for Tots Campaign

Toys for Tots Campaign: Thank you to all of our MPI TBA members and guests who participated in our Annual Toys for Tots toy drive. We were honored to have the Marines with us at our Nov. 6 luncheon at the Renaissance Vinoy and our Nov. 13 MPI After 5 on Starlite Cruises. Our chapter donated more than 60 toys and $150 to the Tampa Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

If you or your company is interested in hosting a toy drive, click here.

MPI Tampa Bay Area Chapter's Charitable Grant Program

What's your favorite charitable organization? Which organization do you feel needs a grant to continue their good work? Your MPI Tampa Bay chapter will award two $500 grants to two worthy non-profit organizations this spring.

Click here for guidelines and to download an application.

Completed applications should be submitted to MPITBA Charitable Grant Program Chair:
Jody Hall
c/o WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
8735 Henderson Road
Tampa, FL 33634
mtgeventplanner@gmail.com

January Monthly Meeting Program

Date: January 23, 2012

Location: Raymond  James Stadium

Topic: A Changing Tide for Tampa's Waterfront...
How the Riverwalk Will Impact the Meetings Industry

Guest Speaker:  Lee Hoffman, Development Manager, Riverwalk Project, City of Tampa
Rick Hamilton, Convention Center and Tourism Director at Tampa Convention Center 

Start off the new year by learning how Tampa’s recent $10.9 million TIGER grant will be used to complete the Riverwalk project, and how this attraction will impact the hospitality industry in Tampa.

The southern section of Tampa’s Riverwalk...

MPITBA Board Leadership Opportunity Program 

What it means to be on the MPI Tampa Bay Board of Directors:
The officers and directors represent the voice of the chapter’s membership.  To ensure that the board has the vision and the ability to provide the membership with a variety of benefits including opportunities for learning, building relationships, and growing their businesses, it is required that the board collectively possess the following traits:

~ Diversity ~ Commitment ~ Accountability ~ Respectful ~ Communication ~ Professional ~ Reputable ~ Open-minded ~ Fiscally Responsible ~ Management Skills

Nominations

The nomination process for the 2013-2014 Board of Directors will begin in January, with the dissemination of board applications on January 3, 2013.  Keep an eye on your email!

Leadership is understanding people and involving them to help you do a job. That takes all of the good characteristics, like integrity, dedication of purpose, selflessness, knowledge, skill, implacability, as well as determination not to accept failure.
- Admiral Arleigh A. Burke

An empowered organization is one in which individuals have the knowledge, skill, desire, and opportunity to personally succeed in a way that leads to collective organizational success.
- Stephen R. Covey, Principle-centered Leadership

Yes we're connected, are you?
Stay informed of upcoming events, job opportunities and news by joining the MPI Tampa Bay Area chapter on Facebook and LinkedIn today. If you have information to share on the chapter’s social networking sites, please e-mail it to Gerald Czaja.  

 MPI International is having a drawing for a free IPAD.  The drawing will be held on Dec 21.  A name will be pulled from all of those who have renewed between Dec.1 and 21.  Who wouldn’t love to get an IPAD for Christmas? 

To sweeten the pot, our Tampa Chapter will draw one name at random for our December renewals for a $50.00 member restaurant gift card. 
Happy Holidays from the Tampa Bay MPI.    

Thanks to our Generous Event Patrons
Thank you to our members and their companies who donated raffle prizes for our November events: Renaissance Vinoy, Toffee To Go, GrillSmith Restaurants, Savvy Events & Entertainment, MamaRazzi foto, Colleen Grey,Splitsville, Tina Tapas, Pier House 60 Clearwater Beach Marina Hotel, Loews Don CeSar Hotel, The Florida Hotel and Conference Center, Pizzazz Events, Starlite Cruises and Pin Chasers!
If you are interested in donating a raffle prize for a future event, please email cindy@breezin.com.

Volunteer Opportunities
We have many opportunities for volunteers on committees.  The best way to get the MOST out of your membership is to get involved!!! 
Please contact Karen Farrington, CMP, the Director of Leadership Development at karen@suncoastmeetings.com.

Emerging Leaders
We want to congratulate our Emerging Leaders who completed our inaugural Elite Fleet training this Fall.

Kindra Bess, CMP - ISPE

Emily Minton - Flemings

Kathy Kelly - Grand Events

Cathy Bellatin - A La Carte Pavillion

Robby Allender - Centre Club

Bronwyn Fowler - Pipeline Promotions

Jennifer Johnson, CMP - AVI - SPL

Colleen Gray - Tampa Bay Estuary Program

Sharon Masters - Pasco-Hernando Comm. College Foundation

Michelle Taunton, CMP, CMM - Westover Consultants

Amy Azzarelli - Splitsville

Katie Olender - Italian Club

Welcome New Members!

 Scott Keller  
Laser Battle

 Lisa Reilly   
Howard Johnson Plaza

November Monthly Meeting
Table Hosts

 Pipeline Promotions
Bronwyn Fowler

 Simply Divine Events
Lori Randall 

Tidy Coast Event Services, Inc. 
Sara Bertran

 DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Tampa Bay 
Danielle Archer

Banzai Audio Visual Productions
Dan Doidge

Splitsville & Tinatapas
Amy Azzarelli

 Hollywood Venue 
Paula DeBlasio

 Toffee To Go 
Kelly Flannery

Mainsail Suites Hotel & Conference Center
Elizabeth Settle

Job Opening

Sales Manager, The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Aquarium seeks an enthusiastic, self-motivated member of our sales team. The successful candidate will be responsible for generating and pursuing qualified sales leads. Position requires weekly sales calls in and around the Tampa Bay area and national travel for conferences and trade shows as needed. Sales contracts, sales activity reporting, budgets and revenue analysis required as part of weekly duties. College degree and minimum 2 years hospitality sales experience required. Bilingual is a plus.
Click here for more info and to apply. 

Advertising Opportunities

To place your ad in Connections, eFocus or Social Media contact Denise Glass, Sensory 5