In other annual meeting news, FICP President Michael Burke, CMP, The Hanover Insurance Group, announced the association's new name: Financial and Insurance Conference Planners, and unveiled the new logo. “With our new name and logo, we will begin the process of building a new brand and a new identity,” said Burke. “We intend to demonstrate not only the value of the association, but of the planner to [his or her] company.”

In addition, it was announced that Sharon Chapman, CMP, CMM, Berkshire Life Insurance Co. of America, will serve as FICP president for 2007. New Board of Directors members for three-year terms are Patricia Kerr, CMP, Manulife Financial, vice president, sponsorship; Karyn Rizzo, CMP, Sun Life Financial, vice president, education; and Cindy Wheaton, CMP, Nationwide Financial, vice president, public relations. Debbie Boschee, Prudential Financial, and Steve Clark, representing CUNA Mutual Group, retired from the board.

Pam Ferguson, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., was named chair of the Hospitality Partners Committee for 2006. Jeff Gloeb, Wynn Las Vegas, and Patrick Sullivan, PRA Destination Management New York, joined the committee. Grant Snider, JPdL Destination Management and Todd Gagnon, Caesars Palace, ended their terms on the HP Committee.

It was also announced that the 2006 Summer Educational Forum will be held June 14 to 16 at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, Greensboro, Ga.; and Cancun's Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach will host the 2008 Annual Meeting.

A record-breaking 720 attendees raised another bar by donating $50,753 in silent auction proceeds — auction items were provided by hospitality partners worldwide who took part in the meeting — to the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund, which assists the families of police officers and firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty. The fund gives families a $25,000 check immediately after they lose their loved ones, and helps each year with ongoing cash distributions.