MPI Chicago Area Committee Descriptions

Purpose & Objective: The Annual Awards Recognition Celebration (AARC) celebrates the contributions of our chapter’s hardest working volunteers, and recognizes those who are making an impact on the meetings and events industry. The purpose of this committee is to organize and execute the MPI-CAC Annual Awards Recognition Celebration. The committee works closely with the Office of the President and the Awards Selection Committee to develop a theme, programming, presentation and scripting, and is also responsible for staying within the budget for the event and securing in-kind sponsorships to help make the event possible. 

Annual Events: (1) - Annual Awards Recognition Celebration (December)

Time Commitment: Monthly committee meeting (60 minutes). Time commitment increases the two months leading up to the event date as needed.

Subcommittees: (3) - Sponsorship; Marketing; Event Execution/Logistics.

Available Roles: Committee Members

**Invite Only**

Purpose & Objective: The committee’s main focus is to reward and recognize MPI-CAC members and are tasked with cultivating a pool of highly qualified nominees.  From this pool of nominees, the committee will encourage them to complete the application process in order to be considered a finalist.  The committee will review all finalist applications and select a slate of recipients by utilizing the ballot rating system as a tool.  Once the slate is selected, it will be presented for approval by the Board of Directors Executive Committee.

Additionally, the committee will work in partnership with the AARC committee on the Finalist Reception and the Celebration.  The point is to ensure that not just the recipients were acknowledged, but everyone that submitted an application (finalists) is acknowledge too.  This will include before, during and after the Celebration to include letters to bosses, follow up letters after the Celebration and any press releases.

Annual Events:  None

Time Commitment: Varies from month to month and is most busy beginning in January through April depending upon the Annual Awards Recognition Celebration event date.  One to two committee meetings in person throughout the year, the remainder of the meetings are conducted via conference call.

Purpose & Objective: The Leadership Development & IDEA Committee exists to equip our current and future leaders with the tools necessary to be champions of change who celebrate diversity across race, gender, age, religion, identity, and experience. We strive to maintain a chapter where every member, regardless of background, sees a clear path to leadership—and feels empowered to shape our collective future. Our leaders reflect the full spectrum of our community, ensuring equitable access to growth while upholding inclusive excellence as the foundation of our chapter’s success.

Vision: Through intentional programming, advocacy, and accountability, we develop leaders who don’t just reflect our industry’s demographics, but redefine its culture through equity and action. We value action over intention, equity over convenience, and progress over perfection.

Methodologies:

• Provide accessible frameworks and actionable strategies for embedding IDEA principles into everyday professional settings.
• Launch initiatives that keep IDEA top of mind through regular content, community engagement, and calls to action.
• Foster ongoing partnership with all committees to align our objectives, develop accessible content, and identify emerging leaders.
• Provide our Chapter’s current and future leaders with learning experiences to foster collaboration, provide training, build leadership skills and inspire them to continue on their leadership path.

Annual Events: None currently.

Time Commitment: Monthly meetings (60 minutes) and approximately two hours outside of monthly IDEA meetings for committee members to perform their subcommittee duties. 

Subcommittees: IDEA liaison for each chapter committee.

Available Roles: Liaison to Education Content

MPI-CAC has (3) education sub-committees that are collaboratively responsible for planning and producing (4) quality education events that provide our members the opportunity to earn up to (6) Continuing Education credits to maintain their certifications. These sub-committees are comprised of the following:

Education Content Committee:

• Purpose & Objectives: Develop content to provide well-rounded, focused education for various career levels and attendee types that incorporates DEI and maximizes CE credit offerings and increases overall attendance.

• Responsible for sourcing, procuring, and nurturing relationships with dynamic speakers for all MPI-CAC educational events.

• Maintain the Chapter's speaker database and update educational resources on mpicac.org

• Time Commitment: Monthly committee meeting (60 minutes). Time commitment increases when interviewing for upcoming speakers 

• Available Roles: Committee Members (2)

EDUCATION EVENTS AND PROGRAMS

Winter & Summer Education Programs:

• Purpose & Objectives: Responsible for sourcing and securing education event venues, planning event logistics, and managing event marketing and registration in collaboration with Education Content Committee, Partner Development Committee, and Marketing Communications Committee for annual Summer and Winter Education Programs.

• Create and secure sponsors in collaboration with the Partner Development Committee to provide optimal partnership opportunities to our members, suppliers, and vendors.

• Time Commitment: Monthly committee meetings (60 minutes). Time commitment increases the three months leading up to the event date as needed.

• Available Roles: Committee Members (2)

Industry Xchange:

• Purpose & Objectives: The Industry Xchange is the premier event for Chicago's meeting and event professionals, created to transcend the association membership and highlight the camaraderie across our industry. The MPI-CAC Industry Xchange offers a dynamic learning experience where attendees can explore the latest industry trends, with a focus on questioning and illuminating key topics.

• The event's core objectives are to elevate the industry's profile, provide professionals with empowering knowledge, and strengthen connections among a diverse group of attendees, including planners from associations, non-profits, and corporations, as well as third-party professionals and various industry suppliers.

• Annual Events: Industry Xchange (April)

• Time Commitment: Time commitment expected for this committee is five hours/month including committee meetings and conference calls. Time commitment for the month of the event is 12 hours, including the day of. Ideal committee size is 15 members (all participants must be members in good standing of one of the host organizations). 

• Attendance is important. A committee member’s placement will be reviewed with more than one unexcused absence.

• Available Roles: Chair, Co-Chair, Sub-Committee Chair – Marketing, Sub-Committee Chair – Sponsorship, Partner Liaison, Venue Liaison

 

Signature Luncheon:

• Purpose & Objective:  The purpose of Signature Lunch is to offer relevant and appropriate larger education session that will appeal to the majority of MPI-CAC members in an environment that fosters professional development.

• MPI-CAC Signature Luncheon will feature programming and speakers that will allow attendees to think and grow in new ways, ensuring MPI-CAC members are the best educated and most resourceful industry participants.

• MPI-CAC Signature Luncheon will offer attendees education focused on innovative industry tools, sound business practices and the latest business trends.

• MPI-CAC Signature Luncheon will provide attendees with networking opportunities when appropriate.

• Available Roles: Committee members

Purpose & Objective: To create a wonderful, engaging experience out on the golf course for MPI-CAC attendees and partners with the opportunity to meet and develop relationships with planners. 

Annual Events:  Golf Classic (May/June) 

Time Commitment: Monthly committee meeting (60 minutes). Time commitment increases the two months leading up to the event date as needed.

Subcommittees: (4) – Sponsorship; Marketing; Event Execution/Logistics; Silent Auction.

Purpose & Objective

Membership serves as a welcoming, relationship-driven resource for our chapter community, fostering meaningful connections and a strong sense of belonging that highlight the value of MPI-CAC. The committee has two core focus areas: recruiting new members to grow our chapter and retaining current members by helping them connect, engage, and thrive within MPI-CAC.

Key Focus Areas

Member Recruitment | Purpose & Objective: Create a welcoming environment where non-members and guests can build relationships, hear real member stories, and learn about the benefits of joining MPI.

As part of the recruitment and onboarding experience, the committee oversees early-stage member support through the Buddy Program, ensuring non-members and new members receive consistent, personalized outreach during their first year of membership. 

The committee works closely with Marketing & Communications, Leadership Development & IDEA, and all chapter committees to proactively demonstrate the value of membership to both current and prospective members.

Member Care | Purpose & Objective: Support long-term member engagement and retention by fostering meaningful relationships, reinforcing ongoing value, and responding proactively to members’ evolving professional needs. Member Care focuses on sustained connection beyond onboarding, ensuring members continue to feel seen, supported, and aligned with MPI Chicago throughout their membership journey.

Committee members serve as relationship stewards and ambassadors, helping current members maintain engagement, navigate renewal, and deepen their sense of belonging within the chapter.

Annual Events: (4) Member Meetups hosted at various locations. Partnership Development secures locations for these events, and Membership works with Marketing & Communications to promote. The committee also co-hosts (2) New Member Mixers with Leadership Development & IDEA.

Committee Structure: The Membership Committee is a service-based committee that supports the chapter by strengthening engagement, connection, and volunteer involvement across all committees and events.

Time Commitment: Monthly meetings (60 minutes), plus an additional 2–4 hours per month outside of meetings for outreach and communication with assigned New Member Buddies (a New Member is defined as being in their first full year of membership). Members are expected to attend four (4) Member Meetups and two (2) New Member Mixers per year, as schedules allow. Committee members are also encouraged to participate in all chapter events.

Available Roles: Co-Chair

Purpose & Objective: Serve as liaisons to the MPI Chicago Area Chapter event committees, help create and execute the event committee’s marketing plans ensuring all collateral meets the guidelines set forth by the chapter. Manage the chapter’s social media platforms i.e., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube channel; help to increase exposure for chapter events, building brand awareness & loyalty, and grow audience engagement. Produce a monthly e-newsletter, To the Po!nt, providing relevant news and updates about the meeting and events industry. Duties may include researching creative content ideas; creating graphics or video; supporting content strategy, analytics, and audience engagement goals; writing and publishing digital newsletter articles for MPI Chicago Area Chapter’s website; scheduling and managing the chapter’s social media post requests; or guiding committees as they develop their event marketing and communication plans.

Annual Events: None

Time Commitment: Monthly committee meetings (60 minutes). Monthly marketing meetings for committee members to perform subcommittee duties (2-3 hours). Duties may include researching and writing electronic e-newsletter articles, managing the chapter’s social media post requests, or guiding committees as they form their event marketing plans. Co-chair duties based on committee needs and project work (2-3 hours) per month. Duties may include: researching creative content ideas; creating graphics or video; supporting content strategy, analytics, and audience engagement goals; and writing and publishing digital newsletter articles for MPI Chicago Area Chapter’s website; scheduling or managing the chapter’s social media platforms; or guiding committees as they develop their event committee’s marketing and communication plans.

Subcommittees: (4) – Event Marketing Liaisons; Social Media; To the Po!nt

Available Roles:  

Membership Liaison
IDEA Liaison
Ed Programs Liaison (summer / winter knowledge share)
Leadership & Development Liaison
Partnership Development Liaison
Signature Luncheon Liaison
Content Creator

Purpose & Objective: The Rotating Special Event Committee is responsible for planning and executing a fresh, engaging annual event every Spring to support our organization's mission and member engagement. The committee will brainstorm, select, and organize a unique theme for each year’s event, ensuring a fun and dynamic experience for participants. For 2025, the committee has chosen a Bingo Night that will offer members an exciting evening of games and connection.

Annual Events: (1) – Rotating Special Event (Spring)

Time Commitment: Monthly committee meeting (60 minutes). Time commitment increases the two months leading up to the event date as needed.

Subcommittees: (4) – Sponsorship, Marketing, Event Operations, Donations/Silent Auction (GalaBid).

Available Roles: Committee members

Purpose & Objective: To source venues for all MPI-CAC chapter events, and to build & maintain strong partnerships with cash and in-kind sponsors of MPI-CAC through collaboration with management company, marketing/communications and event-specific committees. 

Provide committees with a toolkit to use based upon standards of recognition set for all MPI-CAC partnerships. Support the committees by assigning a Partner Development Committee Member Liaison to ensure the standards of recognition are implemented at all chapter events and all chapter sponsors/partners are being well-served with well-managed relationships. 

Annual Events: None

Time Commitment: Monthly Partner Development Committee meetings (30-60 minutes); Monthly event specific committee meetings for Partner Development Committee member liaisons (10-15 minutes).

Subcommittees: None

Available Roles: Vice Chair, Liaison (x2)