This award recognizes an MPI chapter, club or student club for their achievements in promoting and advancing the meeting and event industry.

Insight provided by Kathleen Headington, CMP, destination experience manager for Visit Indy and VP of education for the MPI Indiana Chapter.

Are there some specific factors that you feel contributed the most to your chapter’s success, leading to this RISE Award recognition?

We are thrilled for how this award will continue to shine a light on the incredible educational opportunities the MPI Indiana Chapter continues to produce to add value to membership.

When we began brainstorming about this event, our Education Committee worked in tandem with our Communications Committee to consider all potential barriers to participation for events. We discussed cost, organizational support, educational value, in-person attendance and more. We also compared those with the goals currently in place for our own chapter, some of which included partnering with other organizations to plan events, as well as increase our social media presence. The partnerships and willingness to work together and support each other was evident among our committees, as well as organizations throughout the state that were excited to work together to elevate awareness around the meeting and event industry in Indiana.

Can you name any certain skills that played a significant role?

Constant communication among the three organizations, and among our committees, was imperative for the success of the overall event. We held consistent meetings, checked in to alter setups, prize structures or create new sponsorship opportunities throughout the planning process. Collaboration was also key, as some organizations helped create marketing, others provided onsite support, while another worked on menus. This created opportunities for all organizations and volunteers to shine in their strongest areas.

Is there a skill that you’re keen for your chapter to learn, or develop further, in the next year or so?

I am more and more interested in how our chapter can be better stewards through the lens of sustainability, so I hope we can continue to grow in that area as we plan and execute events, communications and community engagement.

What advice do you have for other chapter leaders who may be struggling with some of the challenges currently facing association volunteers?

Don’t be afraid to make the ask. Whether that’s reaching out about a sponsorship to an organization that’s not yet involved in MPI but may find value or to a volunteer that may have interest but just hasn’t been directly asked—including others in the process may take a little longer, but will produce results beyond what any single person or organization could do on their own.

What is something that your chapter is most excited about in the near future?

We are really excited for some of the unique and creative educational opportunities our Education Committee continues to produce. We also look forward to growing our own chapter membership to help others continues to grow their network and find valuable education and connections they didn’t even know they were looking for. 

What led to the MPI Indiana Chapter receiving this RISE Award?

For its first goal, the chapter created a four-week social media campaign (“March Meeting Mania”) through which members could earn points by re-sharing posts, tagging organizers and inviting others to the GMID Celebration Event. The points could then be used in a raffle or other prize event held in conjunction with GMID.

To break boundaries and collaborate inclusively, the chapter also partnered with the Indianapolis chapters of the ILEA, as well as Minorities in Hospitality throughout the planning, marketing and execution of the event. Together, these organizations all shared costs and revenues regardless of the number of members from each group who attended to create an equitable experience.

The program was a success, with an in-person rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.