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FICP Financially Strong through Tough Times Next month marks one year since the financial institutions and markets were shaken with losses, layoffs and talk of recession. Shortly thereafter, our industry experienced its own issues with meeting cancellations due to the ensuing recession and perception issues. Many of our members’ and hospitality partners’ companies were dealing with layoffs, meeting cancellations and an increased focus on reducing costs wherever possible. While some experts see signs of recovery, it will be some time until our industry fully recovers. We are thankful to see so many voices speaking on the importance of meetings and conferences. FICP recently concluded its 2008 audit and we’re pleased to report that we’re still a financially strong organization. The 2008 net assets for the organization remained flat with that of the prior year. The first half of 2009 is proving no different. The association’s net assets continue to trend positively. The investments the organization made are performing reasonably well ― having recovered to levels seen at the end of 2008. With next year’s budget season upon us, we hope that you remember FICP in planning for next year’s memberships/industry events. FICP provides outstanding continuing educational opportunities via Webinars, regional meetings, the Education Forum and Annual Conference. Understanding that budgets will be tight in 2010, your membership and participation in these events ensures FICP serves your professional development needs in 2010 and beyond. I would like to take this opportunity to again thank the hospitality partner community. Their ongoing support through their financial contributions and time and energy spent supporting our association is a vital component to our success. I encourage you to support them through your continued business. In these trying times, it is important to educate yourself and others on the value of meetings and conferences. This year’s Annual Conference offers sessions to help you do just that. By continuing to demonstrate the importance of meetings, we can get our industry back on its feet and contribute positively to the economies of the world. I look forward to seeing you this November in Toronto as we come together to support our industry. 
Morgan Murphy, CMP |
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New Online Exchange Now Live The FICP Online Exchange is now live on the FICP Web site. This is a consolidated repository of data to improve meetings by exchanging information with fellow meeting planners. Planners can enter information about past, current and future events, and include details such as the location of the event, the resources used including venue(s), DMC, speaker(s) and entertainers. As with any user-driven tool, this resource will only be as great as our members make it. Adding your meeting information is the crucial first step to ensuring this is a success! We encourage planner members to log in and begin populating the Online Exchange with meeting information. Industry Mourns Loss of Leader, Friend and Teacher The hospitality industry recently experienced a great loss, with the passing of Joseph F. Durocher. He was an associate professor of Hospitality Management at the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics; husband to Regina Baraban, editor-at-large for MeetingsNet and former editor of Financial & Insurance Meetings; and was well known in hospitality circles. For more information on Joe's life, please visit Fosters.com. Join Us on LinkedIn FICP’s presence on the professional networking site LinkedIn is rapidly growing. Join our group and contribute to the discussions today. BUY FICP Relationships, partnerships and education are more important than ever in today’s business climate. In an effort to support our hospitality community, we ask that you learn more about the BUY FICP initiative, and support those who support you. When you BUY FICP, you have the opportunity to work with a supplier who understands your business, is experienced within the financial services and insurance markets and is committed to your event’s/program’s success. FICP Seeking Silent Auction Prizes Continuing our tradition of giving back to the communities in which we do business, FICP is hosting its eighth silent auction at this year’s Annual Conference. We are seeking donations of a minimum retail value of $75 from planner members and hospitality partners. For more information on what to donate and to learn about this year's charity, visit the silent auction portion of the registration Web site. Please contact registration@ficpnet.com to make a donation. Last Chance to Participate in the 2009 Member Recruiting Contest Know someone who could benefit from FICP membership? Encourage them to join this month and qualify for the New Member Recruiting Contest! The contest runs through the end of the day on Monday, August 31, 2009, so don't delay. Click here for more information. |
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2009 Annual Conference - Register Today November 15-18, 2009 Gearing up for the 2009 Annual Conference, Northern Exposure ... Unlimited Opportunities? Visit the registration Web site for a full list of the more than 30 education sessions offered at this year's conference, descriptions of each keynote presentation and an overview of networking opportunities. In addition, new worksheets have been added to assist planners and HPers in documenting their goals for the 2009 Annual Conference. Registration* is open, and post-event tours are filling up quickly, so sign up today! *Current planners, prospective planners who qualify for membership and invited hospitality partners are eligible to register. Free Social Media Webinar The final FICP Webinar of 2009 will be held on Wednesday, September 16 at 1:00 p.m. Central. The Webinar, Building Community Around Content, will be presented by Clinton Bonner, Senior Vice President of Social Collective. The interactive call will discuss social media: its uses, benefits, pitfalls and opportunities as well as how social media can help the meetings industry. Visit the FICP Web site for more information and to register today! Chapter Events 2009 Canadian Chapter Meeting 2009 Great Lakes and Midwest Chapter Meeting 2009 Events Please click here to view our Calendar of Events, which includes 2009 events, a list of chapter meetings, CMP Exams and additional programs. |
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The following people joined FICP in late July and early August: Julie Calvert, CMP, CMM, PwC Management Services LP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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Remember, the HPC is your voice to the association, and your comments or suggestions are always welcome! New Sponsorship Opportunities for the 2009 Annual Conference New, low-cost sponsorship opportunities are now available for the 2009 Annual Conference. Please see the sponsorship grid for more information. BUY FICP Supports HP Community Through a new initiative, BUY FICP, we encourage planner members to consider FICP HPers when assessing their future business needs. To show your support of the financial services and insurance industries, download the FICP hospitality partner logo. Your Role in the FICP Online Exchange The newly-launched FICP Online Exchange will be helpful to our hospitality partners, providing them the ability to source qualified meeting planners with future meeting needs that match their own service offerings. Hospitality partners can search the database for FICP meeting planner members who have indicated a future event resource need. Log in today to begin leveraging this valuable tool. 2010 Annual Conference Sponsorships We are beginning to source evening, lunch and breakfast sponsors for the 2010 FICP Annual Conference at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. This event hosts approximately 700 people and generally offers minimum sponsorships of $100,000 for an evening event, $60,000 for lunch and $50,000 for breakfast. If you are interested in being a sponsor and marketing to the meeting planners of FICP, please contact sponsorship@ficpnet.com by October 1, 2009. Recent Additions to the HP Community: Matt Barnett, OnStage Talent Group, Pacific Palisades, CA |
FICP Brand Positioning Statement FICP provides high-quality information, education and networking to financial and insurance meeting professionals, increasing their success and strategic value. We maintain a balanced planner to hospitality partner ratio at all times, resulting in a unique business environment.
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