The Northern California Chapter, Meeting Professionals International (NCCMPI) recently announced the organization’s calendar of events for the 2004/2005 fiscal year.  (Note: both members and non-members are welcome to attend these events).

Information and registration for these events is available via NCCMPI’s events page at www.nccmpi.org or by calling (925) 472-5902.

Event: Professional Education Program/ Tips from the Top Date/Time: Wednesday, September 22, 2004/8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Location: San Ramon Marriott, 2600 Bishop Drive San Ramon Speaker: Chip Conley, CEO, Joie de Vivre Hospitality Group

Topic: Conley will inspire attendees to challenge conventional wisdom and to develop job skills that are more in keeping with entrepreneurial methods.  These valuable techniques are designed to help build a more strategic approach to meeting planning and achieving recognition and respect throughout the management chain – even at the top.

Event: Professional Education Program/Diversity Date/Time: Wednesday, October 20, 2004/8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Location: San Francisco – Location TBD

Speaker: Luncheon keynote will feature a presentation on Working Across Cultures: Strategies for Success by Ruth Mastron, MPI Platinum Speaker and expert in Intercultural Training

Topic: This program is designed to help meeting professionals become better equipped to do business with diverse groups.  Discussions will focus on such hot topics as how to identify and develop business in diverse markets, how the outcome of the election will affect world travel and international meetings, working with diverse teams (4 generations, alternative lifestyles, culturally diverse backgrounds), identifying US-Centric attitudes and behaviors and how they affect diverse business relationships and international meetings issues.                                

Event: Leadership Institute Date/Time: Wednesday, November 17, 2004/7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Location: San Francisco – Location TBD

Speaker: The Opening General Session features Colin Rorrie, PhD, CAE, President & CEO, Meeting Professionals International

Topic: The Leadership Institute is a one-day educational program designed to develop leadership skills for professional career growth in the meetings industry.  The program typically draws high-level meeting planners from such companies as Cisco Systems, Genentech, Chiron Corporation, Kaiser Permanente and PeopleSoft as well as many successful and established independent and association planners.

Event: Holiday Reception Date/Time: Thursday, December 9, 2004/5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Location: Hard Rock Café, Pier 39, San Francisco Topic: Join friends and colleagues for an exciting night of networking and celebration of the holiday season.

Event: 3rd Annual Hospitality Hoot Date/Time: Wednesday, February 2, 2005/4:00 – 8:30 p.m. Location: San Francisco Design Center, Two Henry Adams Street

Topic: Attracting over 1,000 Bay Area Hospitality Professionals, the Hospitality Hoot is the largest networking event of its kind in the Bay Area. NCCMPI, along with more than 20 other hospitality organizations, representing over 7,500 members from Northern California, have designed the Hospitality Hoot as the premiere networking and professional development event for the entire cross-section of hospitality professionals throughout the Bay Area.

Event: 17th Annual NCCMPI Trade Show Date/Time: Wednesday, February 16, 2005/8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Location: Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway

Speaker: The keynote is Hugh K. Lee, Chairman, Meeting Professionals International, who will address the latest trends in the meetings industry

Topic: One of Northern California’s largest trade shows for the meetings industry, this is the ideal opportunity for meeting professionals to expand industry contacts, exchange ideas with peers and find out about the latest meeting venues, products, services and technology.                                                                         

Event: 4th Annual Community Heart, Hand & Hope Date/Time: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 Location: The GiftCenter Pavilion, San Francisco

Topic: This evening reception is a wonderful opportunity to sample the tastes, sounds and spirits of some of the Bay Area's finest restaurants, caterers and wineries.  The proceeds of will be given to Project Open Hand.

Event: Annual Gala & Silent Auction Date/Time: Thursday, June 16, 2005/6:00 p.m. – 11:00 a.m. Location: San Francisco – Location TBD

Topic: The event begins with a wine tasting and silent auction at 6:00, dinner at 8:00 and dancing at 11:00