October-December Issue, 2011

Message from the SF Bay Area Chapter Board

Greetings from your 2011-2012 Chapter Board!  We hope you will enjoy reading this inaugural issue of the chapter newsletter formatted entirely through our chapter website.  YES, the newsletter looks different and it was exciting to produce an issue that’s greener than past issues.

During the summer, the Board elected to refurbish our website.  Our previous web host provided only a few services.  Lalit Khanna researched and received several proposals to ‘smarten up’ and host our chapter’s website.  The Board selected the Star Chapter organization to give us a fresh look in addition to offering us many new opportunities.  These opportunities will and have greatly enhanced our chapter’s website content and communication tools.  The new board has slowly been learning all the ‘ins and outs’ of designing articles and calendars, emailing members and now, designing a newsletter within the realm of the website hosting.  We were just educated on how to upload logos and websites to acknowledge our monthly Supplier hosts and sponsors.

This newsletter is the first issue using the website communication tool and there is a learning curve, but we know the newsletter has a promising future as your resource for Chapter information.  We want you to be a part of it.  We encourage newsworthy articles or let us know if here are subjects we should cover.  Also, we would love to tell the Chapter about any special events that happen in our members' lives; i.e.: career change, marriages, births, etc.  Please send an email with this information and even pictures (in .jpg or .gif format) to secretary@sgmpsf.org.

You will find a new feature column in this issue – “Ask the Expert” – where no question goes unanswered. 

The Board has been working on creating informative monthly training sessions to bring in more planners to be trained in addition to networking with our bay area suppliers.  We would like to THANK OUR MOST RECENT MONTHLY MEETING SPONSORS:

*          Dolce Hayes Mansion, San Jose

*          Holiday Inn Civic Center, San Francisco

*          Marines Memorial Club & Hotel, San Francisco

*          Crowne Plaza SFO, Burlingame

*          Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco

Anita Hung has been working hard on this year’s Silent Auction which will be on November 10^th.  She has collected many fantastic donations and even Southwest Airlines tickets for our raffle.  Another upcoming event is the annual Holiday Event to support a local Charity.  Nicole Kutchai is researching a Bay Area children’s charity, so please stop in and support our charity while networking and enjoying holiday cheer.  More information on both events can be found under the “Calendar of Events” below.

Michael Perry is organizing our 4^th Annual Joint Education Conference with the support of the Sacramento Chapter.  The Crowne Plaza Concord/Walnut Creek has been selected as the venue and the agenda is being developed.  Write down the date, February 15^th on your calendars for a full day of training, networking, and excitement.

    ASK THE EXPERT

Question: Last week I saw on the news a story about Federal Government Conference Spending focusing on a $16 muffin and some other items. Did they really spend $16 on a muffin?

Answer:  There were several reports about the US Government, especially the Department of Justice paying exorbitant amounts of money for food at conferences and events. The head line was $16 Muffins. Now let me help you put this in perspective.

The Department of Justice actually paid $16 for a Continental Breakfast in a Washington DC hotel which is a normal price based on the items that were ordered. However if you take one item on the menu ordered and make that item the headline you can create an interesting story with the information completely taken out of context.

Question: I saw the other question posted about Government conference spending and what I did not understand was the emphasis placed on the conference planner they hired who made three trips to the conference site.

Answer:: As I am sure you could tell the media was playing up individual items and not addressing the entire issue. This is the media simply sensationalizing a story to make it look like they uncovered a huge problem. To report a conference planner making three trips without specifying what was involved in those trips was irresponsible journalism. Those of us in the meeting industry would have looked at three trips and simply concluded one trip was for the initial planning meeting for the conference, which may also have involved a site inspection of the other. The second trip was either for the site inspection or for the planning meeting with the hotel staff as the meeting was for 800 people. Finally the third trip more than likely was for the actual conference where the planner would have been running the event. Shall we say Meeting Planning 101.

Question: This year we have been trying to book our meetings about 30 to 45 days out and cannot get the dates we want. Last year we were always able to get a Tuesday arrival and a Thursday departure. We are either being told no or we are being told if we want space we need to either arrive on a Monday and leave on Wednesday or we must arrive on a Wednesday and depart of Friday. What is gong on?

Answer; Not knowing the city you were trying to book, let me give you the answer based on current market conditions. First you may have read that corporate business is coming back very quickly. Usually in a recovery you can tell when business is improving based on how many corporate travelers are back on the road.

The busiest day for any city hotel is always Tuesday night and the second is Wednesday night. Right now what you are seeing are hotels managing their inventory and requiring you to take a less busy night if you want a high demand night. Just so you know, in the corporate travel world which does the majority of business in hotels a Monday arrival with a Wednesday departure or a Wednesday arrival and a Friday departure are considered “Normal Business” patterns. So depending on the city where you want to place your conference you will need to shift the days of the week when you have your conference. The current business model for the hotel industry sees their business continuing to improve for the next several years, so plan your events based on what is available to get the best facility.

NEED AN ANSWER… SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO SECRETARY@SGMPSF.ORG.

Getting Your Return on Investment

By Shelley Mann, CGMP

We on the Supplier side tend to always talk about Return on Investment (ROI).  It is ingrained in us from our very beginnings in this industry.  We want to know what we are going to get back for the energy we put in to each task or opportunity we take on.  But have you planners thought about your ROI? 

In these increasingly difficult times it is extremely important that planners begin to focus on their Return on Investment.  Joining SGMP is an investment, it is a valuable tool in your planning arsenal.  There are ways to increase the benefits from this valuable tool in your planning arsenal!  So let's find out how you can arm yourself. 

1.     Attend your monthly chapter meetings!  The training you get here is extremely valuable and getting more so with the focus on the Meeting Core Competencies!

2.    Network!  The relationships you build at SGMP events with fellow planners as well as suppliers will benefit you in many ways over your planning career.  That person sitting or standing next to you may have the answer to an issue you have been dealing with on a meeting or may have the ideal facility to host your next event.  

3.    Volunteer!  Whether it is by running for a chapter office or by volunteering for a committee, you will get far more out of SGMP than you give when you become part of the leadership.  On top of that, you gain valuable experience in a leadership role that can assist you in your career path!

4.    Show the Suppliers the ROI!  Let’s face it…the suppliers show up for your monthly events most of all to spend the time with YOU.  If planners are not showing up to the events, suppliers are going to stop as well and then where will you be?  Show your suppliers support!

I know in these tough times of reduced budgets and being asked to do more with less that getting out of the office (whether you have to take vacation time or not) is difficult but if you make the effort and invest your time and energy, your ROI will increase.  Give yourself the tools you need to make yourself a success!

Federal Per Diem Mobile App…

The General Services Administration (GSA) has created a per diem mobile application, now available on iPhone and BlackBerry platforms for free. With just a few taps, the per diem reimbursement rates that GSA sets each fiscal year are accessible anytime, anywhere. The new mobile phone application allows you to look up lodging, meals, and incidental rates, and also to search rates by location or ZIP code. Once you identify a location, the rates display by the current month. As rates sometimes change during busy seasons, you can scroll through each month of the fiscal year to find the appropriate rate.

GSA has the responsibility for establishing the per diem rates that Federal agencies use to reimburse their Federal travelers for expenses incurred while on official travel within the continental United States (CONUS). The new FY 2012 per diem rates went into effect October 1, 2011.

Overall, the non-standard area lodging rates are similar to FY 2011 as most rates did not increase or decrease more than $5. The standard CONUS lodging rate, which applies to approximately 2,600 counties, remains the same at $77.

The meal and incidental expense (M&IE) portion of the per diem allowance also remains the same and ranges from $46 to $71.

For more details about the new per diem mobile application and the FY 2012 rates, visit the GSA website at: www.gsa.gov/perdiem.

The holiday season is upon us!  As we begin our hectic holiday plans & schedule, let’s also be mindful of those in need.  In the spirit of giving, each year our chapter sponsors a charity during the holiday season.  Come and enjoy an evening of merriment, friendship and giving!

The Upcoming Annual Joint Education Conference

“ The Four Seasons”, “The Four Tops”, “Four Weddings and Funeral”, “The Fantastic Four”, Four Minutes (to Save the World)”, “25 or 6 to 4” “I Would Die 4 U”…….are all great vocal groups, movies and song titles containing the word or number four (4).

Now we can add to the list another great four……..the 4th Annual Society of Government Meeting Professionals Sacramento/San Francisco Chapters Joint Education Conference!   Our 2012 meeting will be held at the beautiful and conveniently-located Crowne Plaza Concord/Walnut Creek on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 from 8:00AM to 6:00PM.

The Joint Education Conference Planning Committee is in the process of scheduling speakers and finalizing educational meetings to enhance your success as a planner or supplier.   If you have suggestions or ideas on what programs, information or speakers that would pique your interest, please contact Michael Perry, Director of Education (for the San Francisco Chapter) at michael.perry@ihg.com with your ideas.   The 4th Annual JEC promises to be bigger and better than the three preceding conferences!  So keep your eyes peeled for an email letting you know when Registration opens! 

Our Conference venue, Crowne Plaza Concord/Walnut Creek, at 45 John Glenn Drive in Concord is centrally located near both I-680 and Highways 4 & 242 and is convenient to the Concord BART Station.   The Hotel will provide complimentary morning and afternoon shuttle service to BART for the JEC attendees.  Our hosts are offering a rate of $84.00 per room per night for planners and suppliers for the nights of February 14 – 16, 2012.  This rate includes continental breakfast and parking for registered Hotel guests.  Meeting-only attendees will also receive complimentary parking.  Our tradeshow will be held in the Hotel’s Garden Atrium, with natural lighting and beautiful Koi ponds.

Don’t delay…..not even for four minutes!   Please call 877.276.4600, extension 3777 or 925.825.7700, extension 3777 by Tuesday, January 24, 2012 to book this incredible hotel rate.

We look forward to seeing you on February 15th for four times the fun!

Gene Lee, Program Director
Office of Travel and Transportation Services FAS, US GSA
 

Gene Lee is the Program Director of the Office of Travel and Transportation Services in the Federal Acquisition Service, US GSA, heading up the GSA Lodging Team.  Gene is an amateur long distance runner, movie aficionado, and rock music buff (80's).  He loves spending time with his family when not working and traveling.  Gene's wife, of 13 years, is a real estate accountant, are proud parents of two beautiful children - 8 and 2 years old.  Gene loves working on GSA's lodging product line and strongly believes in the value of the Fedrooms Program, and especially enthusiastic about the new Meeting Planning Market Research Tool.

Our Chapter currently has 94 members, 46 planners, 43 suppliers and 5 retirees/others - 51.7%

Welcome new members, Linda Christie and Jorie McCarthy!  Linda Christie is an Account Manager with Starwood and Jorie McCarthy is the Purchasing Manager for Wested.  Both ladies joined us in September and we look forward to getting to know them better.  At the next meeting, introduce yourself to Linda and Jorie.

We have 2 suppliers that would like to join our chapter, if you know of any planners that are thinking about joining, please email @ nicole.kutchai@sirfrancisdrake.com so she can match them up.

Remember suppliers, you can bring planners that aren't yet members to their 1st meeting for free!

by Nicole Kutchai, 2nd VP & Membership 

Thank you for renewing your membership:

Katherine Day, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Tom Gallant, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

Myra Howay, Claremont Hotel Club & Spa

Kathy McInturff, US Air Force

Bridgette McKernan, Executive Inn and Suites

Senem Ozer, San Francisco State University

Lenore Patton, CGMP, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies

Dolores Salvi, Intercontinental, The Clement Monterey

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, you may be looking to change-up some of the items that show up on your table year after year (oh please, no more French’s Canned Onions & Green Bean Casserole!).

Some of you may know I grew up in the South and may have read the book or seen the movie “The Help”. The book lovingly reminds me of my childhood and all the great food we always had on the table, especially on holidays and special occasions. So, I wanted to share with you a great recipe for the upcoming holidays that works well with Turkey or Ham.

Corn Pudding…….yes CORN pudding, and not just any corn pudding, but my Uncle Chip’s Corn Puddin’ recipe! You see, we southerners have a hard time separating the sweet from the savory. So this dish, which is not a dessert, but a side-dish, fits the bill. And it’s so easy to make.

My partner’s nieces, who grew up in Napa with all that earthy-crunchy California Cuisine and who now spend Thanksgiving with us, will not sit down to dinner unless the corn pudding is front & center. It’s become such a staple for our gathering that usually I am required to make a second one to ensure there is enough for Friday’s leftover dinner.

So here’s how it happens:

Uncle Chip’s Corn Puddin’

• 2 cans of White Shoepeg Corn, with all the liquid drained (use the smaller cans, not the tall ones and don't use yellow corn….the Shoepeg corn is sweeter and is available in all grocery stores)
•  ½ Cup of Sugar
•  1 Tbls of Pure Vanilla Extract (I’ve discovered the flavor is better with a little more than a tablespoon)
•  2 to 3 Eggs (we Southerners will always use three for best results!)
•  1 ½ Tbls of Butter (NOT Margarine or “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” or “Smart Balance”…it’s a holiday for cryin’ out loud….use the BUTTER… and more if you’d like!!)
•  A Heavy Dash of Whipping Cream (heavy is the operative word – whipping cream is your friend, at least for this dish)
•  A Dash of Nutmeg (ok, more than a dash if you like the flavor)

Mix all ingredients together in a buttered square Corning glass baking dish.  Cook in a pre-heated 350 degrees oven for an hour until firm & done.  (I like mine a little-more brown on the top, so I let it cook for just a few extra minutes)

Let it quickly rest  to absorb all the flavors and then serve! Be prepared to take in all the love and adoration from the people who will enjoy more than one helping! 

Enjoy and have a Happy Thanksgiving! Let me know if you try it. Oh, and you might want to have enough of everything to make a second one to enjoy with the leftovers on Black Friday.

By Michael Perry

 Pumpkin Dip 

• 1 can pumpkin (regular)
• 1 - 8 oz softened cream cheese
• 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 1 tsp. ginger
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• Box of Ginger Snaps

Beat together the 5 main ingredients until smooth - there might be a few small pieces of cream cheese. Place in a bowl and dip your ginger snaps in it for a delicious treat.     

By Kathy McInturff