What’s Up at Widener University’s Chapter of PCMA

It has been busy start to the year, here at Widener University filled with numerous activities, meetings, and events. The newly elected officers met in late August to discuss and plan out the year ahead so that by September we were ready to roll. We started off the year by hosting one of our several weekly lunch-INS in our newly renovated J. Willard and Alice S. Marriot Dining student-run dining room. PCMA members assisted in the planning of this event, while preparing and serving the food.

Following this event, we are holding our 7th annual PCMA “Outback Fundraiser” on November 18th, 2010 sponsored by the Wayne Outback. This event is certainly an all-hands-on-deck event in which Outback Steakhouse® staff teamed up with our PCMA members to cook and serve a three-course genuine “Outback” meal in our own dining room. While this event is primarily a fundraiser, it also served as an educational activity for our members. It was an excellent opportunity for our members to work with professional restaurateurs.

Members are also selling chocolate and candles during the past few months to help raise money to attend the annual conference in Las Vegas. Presently, we are now working on other general fundraising events such as “Hoagie Fridays” and selling “Gertrude Hawk” chocolate bars to the Widener Community. This year we have added a lunch-in series to our fundraisers to push our club members more and show the things we learn in the classrooms and apply them to real life setting while fundraising for conference.

In addition to hosting events and fundraising, Widener University PCMA will take part in numerous community service projects including volunteering again at the Ronald McDonald House, and City Team Ministries by cooking meals for the public who attend and by collecting canned goods for the holidays.

This coming January, we are pleased to be sending 10 of our members to attend the annual PCMA conference in Las Vegas. For some of our members, this will not be their first conference, but for several others it was their first chance to experience this amazing event. It should be a rewarding and educational experience for all attendees.

Each month we host general meetings as well as board meetings in which we plan out all our events and discuss ideas for the future events. After conference will be planning more events that we would love for some of our local PCMA professional and student members to attend.

If you would like more information about PCMA or have any ideas or suggestions please
contact our president Jason M. Schwemer at jmscwhemer@mail.widener.edu .

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Internship Available at Talley Management

Contact Person: Lisa Astorga, Director of Meetings and Events

Company: Talley Management Group

Address: 19 Mantua Road, Mt Royal, NJ 08061

Phone: 856-423-7222 ext 217

Fax: 856-423-3420

E-mail: lastorga@talley.com

I would like an intern to assist with: Sales & Meeting Planning

Desired availability for internship: January to May 2011

How many days a week? 2 to 3 days per week

How many hours a week? 4 to 7.5 hours per day

Would there be weekend hours? NO

Please describe what the intern’s responsibilities would be: The intern’s responsibilities would be to assist the Exhibit Sales team in doing research and possible sales calls for Exhibit Sales. There would also be administrative work including data input of research results and manning the phones. There may be some additional assistance needed by the meeting managers and assisting them to get meetings “out the door”.

Per-hour salary (or stipend?): Generally if this a for credit class there would be no salary or stipend involved however if it is not for the entire semester we can look at a hourly fee of $10-12 per hour

GPPCMA Annual Meeting Scholarship Winners Announced!!

Congratulations to Christine Frye, Chapter President from Temple PCMA and Jason Schwemer, Chapter President from Widener PCMA for being awarded the GPPCMA Annual Meeting Scholarship for Students!

Christine will receive complimentary registration, 4 nights hotel stay at the MGM Grand and up to $400 for airfare to the PCMA 2011 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.

Jason will receive complimentary registration.

GPPCMA November Educational Meeting

Practiced Spontaneity: Cultivating the Leader Within

Please join us on November 17th, 2010 for a special presentation by Izzy Gesell MS Ed, CSP, this year’s PCMA Best in Class Speaker. Izzy is an "organizational alchemist." He is the author of Playing Along: Group Learning Activities Borrowed from Improvisation Theater. Izzy was one of the first to bring the concepts of Improv Theater into the business world. He has also contributed to the International Association of Facilitator's Handbook and Humor Me, a compilation by America's most prominent humorists. Izzy’s presentation, Practiced Spontaneity: Cultivating the Leader Within, speaks to meeting professional's need to be nimble, confident and creative in order to personally thrive while inspiring others. Interestingly, the same is true of improv theater performers. In fact, the skills that make improvisers so successful are the same ones that make non-performers successful. The good news is that these skills are applicable and available to us. By understanding and practicing the concepts and structures, participants will understand how to develop the powerful personal qualities of presence, acceptance and trust within themselves.

Enjoy an hour of self discovery while learning new skills for effective human interaction through a journey in improv. We are honored to have Kati Quigley, Chairman of the Board, PCMA, join us for this program.

If you are a new member or want to know more about GPPCMA, please join us for an Orientation Session from 4:30pm – 5:00pm.

Wednesday, November 17th

4:00pm- 6:30pm – Registration
4:30pm – 5:00pm – Orientation for new members
5:00pm – 6:00pm – Reception
6:00pm – 7:15pm – Izzy Gesell, PCMA Best in Class speaker brought to you by the PCMA Education Foundation and Visit Baltimore
7:15pm – 8:15pm – Reception

Location: Crowne Plaza Valley Forge, http://www.cpvalleyforge.com, 260 Mall Blvd, King of Prussia, PA, 19406, 610-265-7500

GPPCMA Service in Sync Events!

Service In Sync® (SIS) is a program encouraging PCMA members to come together and give back to their local communities on behalf of the meetings industry during the first week of November. Please consider supporting one of the following activities that GPPCMA is sponsoring for SIS.

Red Cross Blood Drive – November 1-7, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm,
Philadelphia Donor Ctr, 700 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA (free parking) or any Donor Center

Philabundance – November 3 & 5, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm,
3616 South Galloway Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Ronald McDonald House Dinner – November 4, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm,
Ronald McDonald House-Front and Erie, 100 E. Erie Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

Please contact Lucy Rivera, Community Services Chair with any questions and to RSVP for the projects at lucyrivera@comcast.net or at lrivera@philadelphiabelle.com by October 29.

GPPCMA Annual Meeting Scholarship for Student Members

Dear Student Members,

The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of PCMA is happy to announce our scholarship opportunity for the 2011 PCMA Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 9-12, 2011.

The Greater Philadelphia Chapter recognizes the value for students to attend the PCMA Annual Meeting, but also understands that it can become a financial burden as well.

We invite all GPPCMA Student Members to apply for the Annual Meeting Scholarship by submitting the following items to the GPPCMA Student Development Committee:

1. Cover Letter – Letter to Student Committee explaining why you would like to attend the Annual Meeting and why you deserve to receive this scholarship
2. Proof of PCMA Student Membership
3. Current Resume
4. Proof of involvement in PCMA, GPPCMA, Student Chapter of PCMA and hospitality industry. Potential items to include are:
a. GPPCMA Newsletter Articles
b. Minutes from Student Chapter Meetings
c. Summary of and pictures from Student Chapter functions/events
d. Items from internships
e. Certificates/Awards
f. Any additional items you feel represent your involvement
**Since this is a brand new scholarship, items are not limited to a certain time frame.
Also, all submissions will be returned to applicants.
Submissions must be received by Astrid Schrier, GPPCMA Student Development Committee Chair by Friday, October 22nd, 2010. Submissions can be sent via e-mail to gppcmastudents@gmail.com or mailed to the following:

Astrid Schrier
Association Headquarters Inc.
15000 Commerce Pkwy, Suite CMt. Laurel, NJ 08054

Submissions will be reviewed by the members of the GPPCMA Student Development Committee and winners will be announced no later than Friday, October 29th, 2010.

The scholarship winner will receive the following:

-Complimentary registration to the 2011 Annual Meeting
-Four nights stay at the MGM Grand (Saturday-Tuesday or Sunday-Wednesday)
-$400 for use for airfare to the 2011 Annual Meeting

Student must submit an article (625 words) for the GPPCMA newsletter describing his or her experience at the Annual Meeting.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Astrid Schrier at gppcmastudents@gmail.com

Thank you and GOOD LUCK!