June Installation & Awards Gala, June 19, 2009
Surf, Sand, Sun and Style
at the MPISCC Installation Dinner
The annual MPISCC Installation dinner on Friday, June 19th truly reflected the Southern California lifestyle with the casual beach theme and resort feel of the beautiful Loew's Santa Monica Beach Hotel, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The evening started with the traditional Past President’s reception as Linda Jenkins, the outgoing President, was inducted into the Council of Past Presidents. Linda then thanked all of the 2008-2009 chapter volunteers at a poolside reception. The festivities continued inside where the Arcadia Foyer had been transformed into a boardwalk, complete with games, wine and beer tasting, and fair-like snacks such as mini-corn dogs and cotton candy.
At 7:00 pm the doors of the main ballroom opened to the sounds of the Beach Boys and "Sufing Safari"! Linda Jenkins, acknowledged the successes of the chapter, even in a year where the economy was in turmoil, and thanked the outgoing board for their service. She bestowed the President's Award to Maureen Gehle, with Classic Party Rentals for her work this past year on the MPISCC trade show. Michael Dominguez, the incoming President, officially thanked Linda for her term as President and began the awards portion of the program. Among the awards given out were the Past President's Award to Don Foreman with Loews Hotels Corporation and the Lois B. Hauser Service Award to Haley Powers with Insiteful Meetings. Haley also installed the incoming Board of Directors, as they agreed to their terms of service for the coming year.
The nominees for the Supplier of the Year, Planner of the Year, Chapter Leader of the Year, Rising Star and Shining Star represented the best and the brightest of the MPISCC chapter. All of those nominated spent countless hours throughout the past year and often cumulatively over the course of their career to help make the chapter a success. While all the nominees were all winners, some of the "official" winners included Katie Rogers with Eventworks for Supplier of the Year; Robinmarie Carriere, with LA County Bar Association for Planner of the Year and Audra Narikawa, CMP, with Capital Group Companies as Chapter Leader of the Year.
Michael Dominguez finished the official part of the program with a heartfelt video from Jimmy Valvano, and then articulated to the audience his "Gung Ho" vision to the chapter for the coming year. As the official program ended, it was time for the culinary delights of the Loews Santa Monica Hotel and lots of Southern California surf music straight from the 60s, dancing, networking and mingling with both new and old friends.
As always, at an event like this, it truly "takes a village" to complete, so thanks to the MPISCC Installation committee, headed by Laura Bergersen, CMP, CMP and all of the wonderful sponsors who so generously donated their goods and services.
By Margie Johnston, RevenueResources Management, LLC
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