The International Association for Exposition Management (IAEM) drew a record 2,238 registrants to Atlanta for its December 2 to 5 annual conference and trade show. In keeping with the association's efforts to balance representation from members and associate (supplier) members, there were 773 exposition managers and 1,248 associate members, a more even ratio than last year's annual meeting.

In the opening keynote address, former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young pointed to the city as an example of racial harmony and integration at work. And Karen Howe, CEM, group trade show director for Diversified Expositions, Portland, ME, handed over IAEM's chairmanship to Lawson Hockman, CEM, COO of the Environmental Industry Associations, Washington, DC. Hockman has served on IAEM's board for seven years. He said his goal as chairman would be to renew the association's commitment to education, carry out the long-range business plan for the association, and work on chapter development and services.

IAEM's educational sessions focused on international opportunities for trade shows, technology developments, and various issues around labor unions, general contractors, and convention centers.

Among the trends predicted: more co-location of domestic and international trade shows, more show management focus on attendees versus exhibitors, and continued pressure for labor reform fromexhibitors. Medical trade shows are expected to continue their rapid growth and diversification as managed-care reforms continue to unfold. IAEM's mid-year meeting will be June 9 to 12 in Reno, NV.

In December's Midwest site file, the Lake Lawn Resort and the Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Resort and Spa should have been listed as being located in Grand Geneva, WI, not Milwaukee. Also, we neglected to include the correct name of the newly renovated Milwaukee Hilton, formerly called the Marc Plaza Hotel.

Mary Davar, research meetings planner with Wyeth-Ayerst Research in Radnor, PA, received the 1997-98 Meeting Professional Award, Planner Category, from the Phila-delphia Chapter of Meetings Professionals International (MPI). A six-year MPI veteran, Davar has also received the Professional Education Scholarship award in 1995, and currently serves on the executive committee as vice president of education. Davar has created and taught courses on meeting and event planning at Temple University Center City, and at Temple University, Ambler Campus, where she is co-developing a Meeting Planning Certificate Program, slated to being this year.

Gwynn Brickenridge, meeting planner for the International Association for Dental Research in Alexandria, VA, won the Florida Vacation Package when her name was drawn at random from ballots submitted for the Medical Meetings M&D Awards. Ballots for the 1998 M&D Awards can be found on page 66 of this issue. You can't be a winner if you don't enter!