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

President's Letter

2006-2007: Vitalize your ISES Membership
by Vince Early, CSEP, ISES Indiana Chapter President

Abraham Lincoln said, “A person will be about as happy as they make up their mind to be.” In the context of business, I would say that you could very easily replace the word happy in this quote with successful. Opportunities to be successful present themselves to us if we look hard enough. We can either make up our minds to maximize those opportunities, or let someone else make the most out of them. With ISES, we are presented with just such an opportunity. Whether you are just starting out in the Special Event Business or you are looking for new avenues to grow your established business, ISES Membership is a vehicle that can help you bring your goals to life.

I am honored and humbled to have been asked and chosen to serve as President of your 2006-2007 ISES Indiana Board of Directors. I have had the honor to serve on the ISES Indiana Board under 5 outstanding Presidents and have learned much from all of them. I would especially like to thank Leslie Swathwood, our Immediate Past President, for her fine service over the last year. Under her leadership, we grew in numbers and saw some of the most popular programs we have ever experienced as a chapter. Thank you Leslie and GREAT JOB!

Your 2006-2007 Board of Directors is hard at work planning Programs and Networking opportunities to help you grow professionally. Our Motto is “Synergize and Vitalize!” We chose this to remind ourselves to work together in creating and bringing to life the best opportunities for the ISES Indiana Members. But your ISES Membership will only go as far as you take it. Programs and opportunities will be accessible to you, but the benefits will only come to you if you attend and get involved.
We all are busy people, or we would not be ambitious and successful. Sometimes we can feel that the time and money can be spent better elsewhere. I have felt that same way at times when clients need correspondence or some other responsibility is bearing down. But what I have found is, when I attend the functions, I am paid back many times over; either with a new contact that can help my business, or simply to recharge my batteries and share experiences with colleagues.

The Monthly Meetings and Special Programs such as PACE, Business Brilliance and the Education Conference are opportunities for you to shine and show the membership what you can do. Committees are forming for these events, so if you are interested in showcasing your talents contact the Board Member in charge of that committee.

If you have been in the industry for some time and you are thinking on a larger scale, ISES is also very much a Global Community. Through international involvement, you can meet Event Professionals around the US and around the world! “EventWorld” and “The Special Event” are International Conferences sponsored by ISES. These are excellent opportunities to network with the best and brightest in our field. You never know where your next event could come from.

ISES also provides opportunities to exhibit your knowledge and separate yourself from your competition. With the CSEP designation you can show clients and potential clients that you are committed to the industry and subscribe to a high level of standards and ethics.

Whatever your current level of expertise, whatever personal and business goals you may have, you can achieve growth in ISES. The opportunity is there for you. But you have to vitalize it. You have to work it. You have to make it happen. So make up your mind to attend, get involved and take your career to the next level.

July Meeting

Rolling Out the Red Carpet:
Making Your Guests Feel Like Celebrities

A panel discussion including Bruce Livingstone (Director of Catering Sales & Event Services, Conrad Indianapolis), C. Anne Coulter, CSEP (President, Anne Coulter Productions), and Tony Shouse & Anne Land (both from Spotlight Speakers and Entertainment).

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Save Money with a Six Pack

ISES is proud to offer a convenient package to its members. Instead of paying at each monthly meeting you can now prepay for any six monthly meetings and save $20! Get on www.isesindiana.com to register.

ISES Event World

Don’t miss ISES Eventworld® 2006 – An Institute for Professional Development
August 24 - 26, 2006 • Sheraton Waikiki • Honolulu, Hawaii
Visit the ISES website www.ises.com for more information.

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2006 ISES Education Conference

We are looking for energetic ISES members to serve on the ISES Indiana Education Conference Committee. The conference will be held the third week of November. Jobs include: select location, determine class topics, find speakers, obtain sponsors, decorations, signage, AV, marketing, etc. Last year's conference was a huge success and we expect no less for the 2006 event. We encourage members to get involved. Please contact Committee Chair, Jennifer McKinney-Seet, jennifer@thomascaterers.com, if you would like to participate.

Sponsorships are also available for booking now. If you have a service or product you would like to showcase, this is the event for you. Event professionals from all over the Midwest are invited to participate and this is a perfect opportunity for you to market to a specific demographic insuring a high return on investment. Trade value is also accepted, specifically for AV, decor, centerpieces, venue, hotel rooms, attendee gifts, entertainment, printing, and catering. Please contact Committee Chair, Jennifer McKinney-Seet, jennifer@thomascaterers.com, if for more information.