The meeting professional stood at the Golden Gate.

His head was bending low.

He merely asked the man of fate

Which way he ought to go.

“What have you done,” St. Peter asked, “to seek admission here?”

“I was a meeting professional down on Earth, for many and many a year.”

St. Peter opened wide the gate, and gently pressed the bell.

“Come in,” he said, “and choose your harp.

“You've had your share of hell.”

Thanks to Patti Shock and John Stefanelli, professors at the Harrah College of Hotel Administration, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for sharing this poem. It's adapted from “Ode to a Purchasing Agent” (author unknown) and is included in a book they are co-writing, tentatively titled, The Meeting Professional's Guide to Planning and Purchasing Food and Beverage Events, due out in early 2008.