Serving as an MPI chapter leader is so much more than just volunteering time, says Tara Liaschenko, CMM.

"In MPI, our chapter leaders are the heartbeat of the organization, as they are the connection between MPI Global and its members," says Liaschenko, CEO of The Link Event Professionals Inc. and chair of the Facilitator and Chapter Training Committee (FACT, part of the Chapter and Membership Advisory Council). "MPI understands this and invests back in its volunteers. The organization provides great role-specific education but also overall leadership development training. MPI’s chapter leaders become our industry leaders. This leads to future jobs and advancements, more business and greater personal and professional connections."

A few years ago, during a board retreat, Steven G. Foster, CMP, said, "MPI is a heart thing." The words resonated then and continue to do so today.

"Our chapter leaders don’t get paid to serve. They do it because they want to give back to their local community of MPI colleagues," says Foster, managing partner of Foster+Fathom LLC and recipient of MPI’s 2024 RISE Award for Meeting Industry Leadership. "It’s work that often goes unnoticed and unappreciated."

Foster has spent 21 years working with almost every MPI chapter in North America and says without hesitation that there is no MPI without volunteer chapters leaders.

"They impact our professional lives and industry legacy," he says. "Everyone who has ever served as an MPI chapter volunteer should be celebrated as a community hero, because that’s what they are."

MORE EQUIPPED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

Liaschenko and Foster have served as MPI chapter facilitators for many years, but their dedication to the association and the meeting industry goes well beyond the countless hours they’ve volunteered in any "official" capacity. As a staff member working in the MPI media department for more than 20 years, I’ve reached out to both of them many times for quotes or interviews and they have never hesitated, always responding quickly with keen insights even though they’re extremely busy and often on the road.

Foster got involved in MPI chapter facilitation in 2003 when MPI identified a need for its chapter leaders to begin operating with more focused attention on business metrics in areas such as membership, education and sponsorships.

"A group of MPI chapter leaders, mostly past presidents, were selected to participate in an inaugural chapter facilitator program, and I was fortunate enough to make the cut," he says. "Over the next two years we developed a set of chapter business documents to help volunteer leaders at the board level operate more efficiently and collaboratively. Looking back, it really was groundbreaking because it changed the MPI chapter landscape in so many ways. Fast forward 21 years, there have been many changes in our processes and in the Chapter Preferred Facilitator roster, all of them positive. We’ve learned so much along the way and our volunteer chapter leaders today are so much more equipped to be successful in service to their members."

Liaschenko was encouraged by Terri Breining—past chair of the MPI International Board of Directors and current director of the meeting and event management master’s program for the SDSU Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism—to consider facilitating in 2008.

"Sixteen years later, I’ve worked with almost every U.S. chapter, much of the Canadian leadership and many global chapter leader programs," Liaschenko says. "From an MPI Global perspective, the facilitator program has gone through several iterations, but today I find it to be much more structured and supported."

AVAILABLE PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY

One critical component to MPI chapter success: board retreats—annual gatherings to prepare the incoming board for the year ahead and mid-year gatherings to make sure plans are on track. Liaschenko says that beyond the essential business that’s conducted (business plan, budget, 18-month rolling calendar, etc.), there are many components to a chapter retreat.

"It’s a time for bonding through ice breakers, meals and team building," she says. "It’s a time for leadership training, succession planning, volunteer recruitment and management, value propositions and brainstorming."

Foster says that every chapter board essentially runs a business and would ideally meet 12 times a year, but that’s a big ask for anyone, let alone people completely volunteering their time.

"These retreats are vital to the success of the chapter and drive every member-focused value activation throughout the year," he says. "But it’s not only the business that happens in the meeting room that matters. Equally important is the team building (bonding) that occurs when board members have time to get familiar with one another and build relationships. These retreats validate the investment of time, talent and treasure these volunteer leaders have in the professional growth of their fellow chapter members. That’s extraordinary."

Chapter retreats are conducted by facilitators in order to ensure every important component is achieved in a timely and efficient manner, Liaschenko says.

"Facilitators know how to schedule each element with breaks and exercises to keep a positive flow," she says. "They are an unbiased coach to manage conflict and achieve consensus. And they are skilled in varied facilitation techniques to deal with all situations and add fun."

A facilitator who is an MPI member and past chapter leader understands the MPI culture and mission, Foster says.

"Preferred facilitators receive routine training and communication from the FACT Committee and work closely with the Global Chapter Operations team to stay current on the environment in which chapter leaders operate," he says. "We provide a trusted voice and perspective to the specific needs of volunteer chapter leaders. MPI chapter facilitation is unique because it requires a deep understanding of the MPI business model, chapter structure and, most importantly, a willingness to contribute at the same level as the volunteer leaders. It’s not a transactional relationship. You have to be available personally and professionally or it doesn’t work."

THE ‘HEARTBEAT IS STRONG’

Of course, not all training can be conducted at the local level. That’s where the annual MPI Chapter Leaders Summit (CLS) comes into play. Since 2020, the summit has been hosted live from the Grit Studio in Grapevine, Texas, and sponsored by Foster+Fathom and Grit Productions & Expositions.

"For many years, Kelly Massey (Grit Productions & Expositions) and I invested our personal time as volunteer leaders. Today, as business owners and industry colleagues, we are encouraging involvement within our own companies," Foster says. "CLS is something MPI chapter volunteers look forward to attending, so Kelly and I understand we have to deliver on those expectations. By partnering with the MPI Chapter Operations Team, we’ve made a long-term investment to provide chapter leaders the space to collaborate and prepare for their upcoming board terms. In a small way, we’re investing in their success."

Liaschenko has been a CLS facilitator for many years, training volunteer leaders and facilitating meaningful discussions.

"CLS is essential as it’s the only time all our chapter leaders can come together at one time and get amazing training, resources, best practices and, most importantly, connect with their peers to make sure that this organization’s heartbeat is strong," she says.

CLS provides the most focused training, best-practice sharing, leadership support and collaboration necessary for MPI chapters to remain strong, viable and significant, according to Foster.

"Tenure provides opportunity, and as a 32-year MPI member, I’ve been presented with many, but CLS is special," he says. "It’s the one event focused entirely on driving success at the chapter level. I’ve been an attendee, a presenter and now a sponsor, and I always look forward to this community of chapter leaders coming together."

MPI Regional Councils: A New Spark of Enthusiasm

"I’ve been around long enough to see many campaigns roll out across the MPI landscape, but I don’t remember ever being as excited as I am about the new regional council initiative," says Steven G. Foster. And he has good reason to be excited.

Each MPI regional council fosters continuous collaboration, best practice sharing and improvement within MPI chapters, clubs and student clubs in a designated region. This new initiative aims to create cohesive and effective links between MPI communities, so it only made sense to recruit key MPI veterans to head up each council.

Foster is council chair for the Southwest Region (which includes chapters in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, the Texas Hill Country, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado) and reports a high level of enthusiasm from chapter leaders who are ready to achieve great things together.

"I’m working with an amazing vice chair, former MPI Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter President Paige Mejia, and a group of chapter liaisons to provide support, assistance and collaborative strategies to the hundreds of MPI chapter members we represent. We’re completing a very successful first year and have already submitted our goals and objectives for the 2025 term, which will include hosting a SW Region Town Hall in January; sharing financial best practices on budgeting, revenue generation, reserve fund management and sponsorship and partnership development; and hosting a SW Region Meet-Up/Reception at WEC 2025."

Read more about the regional council chairs and their insights into the latest meeting industry trends in the April 2024 issue of The Meeting Professional.