Welcome
Welcome to the online version of the ISES Main Event Newsletter. Browse the newsletter using the links to the left, or just scroll down.

Special thanks to On 3 Photography for the great pictures.

Education Conference Recap

November’s meeting was the annual ISES Indiana Education Conference: “School of Event Wizardry,” presented by Laurel Hall – The Ruth Lilly Conference Center on November 16, 2006. The restored castle-like venue was a perfect location for the Harry Potter themed event with its exotic hardwood floors, antique wood paneling, vaulted ceilings, limestone fireplaces, grand staircase, and stained glass windows. The conference featured 12 different classes with an all star speaker line-up including national and international award winning event producers Timot McGonagle (TN), Kathy Miller (IL), Brian Acheson, CSEP (TX) and Gloria Nelson, CSEP (WI). General Sessions included the Keynote Breakfast, a panel discussion at lunch and a closing session “Potions Class” cocktail reception hosted by Thomas Caterers of Distinction. Breakfast and lunch were provided by Hoaglin Fine Catering. Other sponsors included Chair Covers & Linens, Impact Group, Markey’s Rental & Staging, JP Parker Company Flowers & Events, On 3 Photography, A-Classic Party Rental, Party Time Rental, and Unfaded Memories.

Upon arrival, attendees were separated by the Sorting Hat into four different houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Students were rewarded for participation in class by receiving points (colored chips) for their House and at the end of the day, Slytherin was the winner of the House Cup Competition.

In-between classes, attendees had the opportunity to stroll through the exhibitor area featuring booths from all the event sponsors. Décor included wizard hat centerpieces, battery operated candles and letters addressed to H. Potter that hung from the ceiling, medieval banners, metal clad knights, faux fireplace inserts and a giant gargoyle statute that came alive to guard the entrance until a student guessed the magic password for entry. The main dining hall was converted three times (including different linens and centerpieces) for a different look for breakfast, lunch and closing session.

Purchase Photos, Video, and Audio:
Photos from the Education Conference are available for review and purchase online at www.on3photography.com

A video of the Table Décor/Centerpieces Hands On Workshop and an audio CD recording of 11 of the education classes are now available for $25 and $35 each or $50 for both. Visit www.isesindiana.com for more information and to order. Thanks to Unfaded Memories for the audio and video recordings.

Join ISES in December and SAVE!

Join the International Special Events Society in December 2006 ONLINE for only $199!

Get 7 months of membership for the price of 6 AND avoid the $50 application fee!**

This is an incredible savings!

Click here for a Membership Application!

Feel free to contact Anne-Marie Dezelan of the ISES Indiana Chapter at (317) 442-6882...or ISES Headquarters at 1-800-688-ISES (4737) or info@ises.com.

**All ISES Memberships Expire on June 30, 2007

Upcoming Meetings

• January 24, 2007 (Date has Changed -- Was January 17)
  “I Do -- Weddings with Wow,” at The Indianapolis Museum of Art
• February 21, 2007
  "Innovation" at the Music Mill
• March 21, 2007
  2006 PACE Awards, “Passport Aux Canada, Eh?” at the Mavris Arts and Event Center
• April 18, 2007
  Ray Compton will speak at the Balmoral Club
• May 2, 2007
  “Business Brilliance,” at the Indiana War Memorial

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2006 PACE Awards, "Passport Aux Canada, Eh?"

The 2006 PACE Awards will be held on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at the Mavris Arts and Event Center (formerly Mavris Cultural Center) at
6:00pm. Opportunities are now available:

Download PACE Awards Entry Instructions
Download a Sponsorship Letter
Download a Sponsorhip Agreement

This is the last month of events that will be eligible for the 2006 PACE Awards! Be sure to have your camera with you at all times. Click
on the link below to view the categories and criteria for this year’s PACE Awards. Remember, you cannot win unless you enter, so think about
your best event of 2006 and enter!

The PACE committee will be available at all of the monthly meetings to answer any questions you may have.

If you have any questions or would like more information please contact Dee Haddad at dee@thomascaterers.com.

The Scoop

• Deanna Boyce of Eventfull Planning is expecting twin boys in May!

• Welcome New Members
Wendi Dutrow, Auto Vault
Amanda Haugh, St. Francis Healthcare Foundation
Jesse Vogel, Swan Lake Resort
Jamee Bryant, Setting The Mood
Benjamin Schreiber, Schreiber Entertainment
Kimberly King-Smith, Kim King-Smith Events
Dena Roberts, Student

• The Moreland Group, an ISES member and independent meeting and event planning company, now offers Crime Scene Investigation as a service to clients. Well, at least they do for groups of 20-100 looking for Evidence of a unique teambuilding activity.

CSI:TMG was developed by The Moreland Group, a Forensic Scientist and a 26 year Law Enforcement Officer. The activity incorporates valuable teambuilding experience while allowing participants to use real life techniques, such as dusting for prints or analyzing blood spatter, to solve a crime.

The teambuilding activity takes groups through the crime solving process with classroom type instruction, evidence collection and examination, and analysis of information provided to them. Each group works together to decipher the data and come to a joint conclusion. Through the various exercises, participants are able to recognize their individual and group strengths.

Please send interesting member news, achievements, job changes, etc. to ISES VP of Communications, Dave Strantz dave@innovativei.com.

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Member Spotlight
Valerie Crider

Valerie Crider, Events Manager at the Scottish Rite Cathedral

I have been the Events Manager at the Scottish Rite Cathedral for the last year and a half. In that time I have had the pleasure of working with many of the ISES members and of course our exclusive cater here at the Rite is heavily involved with ISES. While the majority of the events are wedding related, corporate has picked up this year.

I grew up on the West side of Indianapolis and attend Indiana University-Bloomington where I received a BS in Entrepreneurship. From there I was a nanny for a family of four, one of the children had special needs. I also managed a family owned coffee shop located downtown for about a year. I went back to IUPUI to receive a certificate in Event Planning and that is where I lucked out in getting the "internship" at the Scottish Rite. I have also taken culinary classes from Ivy Tech-Indy and The French Culinary School-Chicago.

I live with Fiancée on the North side of Indy and will be getting married in May 2007.

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Board Member Spotlight

Monica Richard, with Wolfgang Puck Catering at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, is the ISES Indiana Chapter Vice President of Programming and Education. When Wolfgang Puck signed their contract with the IMA they brought in people from other Wolfgang Puck cities to open the location, however wanted a local person to join the team for Social Events and Weddings. With Monica’s vast experience from doing over 500 weddings while with her former employer, The Omni, she was the perfect choice. After a year and a half at the IMA, Monica was recently named the title of Director of Sales.

Monica started her position at the IMA the week the museum opened in May 2005, and she enjoys the variety of the 3 reception locations. One location is a large ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens, another is a large colorful space entering the galleries and the most charming location is the former playhouse of the Lilly family, the Garden Terrace. Each space has its own unique sense of style, therefore making each event different from one another. From the most intimate wedding, to a large gala, the complete individuality of each event is what she enjoys the most. She has several occasions that the IMA is hosting more than one wedding, yet each will “feel” completely different from an all white floral garden theme to a nightclub under a tent on the grounds. Monica loves the variety and “themes” that IMA asks her to design. From and an Asian inspired cocktail party for the opening of their latest gallery, to the formality of a 7 course dinner with wine pairings for their largest fundraiser, the IMA events coupled with her first ”love”, weddings, makes this position both a creative and demanding position.

When not at work, Monica enjoys spending time with her husband Paul and her two children, Kyle who just turned for 4 and Sabrina who is 2.

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