Dear ICPA Colleagues:
This is my last message to you as President of ICPA. As I reflect on the year, I have a sense of pride in what your Board of Directors has accomplished and the issues yet to be worked on. It has been an incredible experience to work with people who have the same passion for this fine association, who consistently consider the members' best interests in every discussion. Each board member brings his or her own talents and leadership abilities to the table and I have learned so much from them over this past year.
Many issues have been brought to the Board table. The one crusade I felt very strongly about was eliminating the Exchange held during the Annual Meeting. Although there was heated discussion on this subject at last year's business session, it was very clear that the Exchange was important to you. It was great to hear members comment with as much passion for keeping the Exchange as was my passion for changing it. Because it is so important to members, I am pleased to announce that the Exchange will be held at this year's meeting with a neutral moderator.
There are other issues your Board has tackled this year that we will discuss with members at the Annual Meeting. The Web site, technology, and improvements to the Lottery Draw for Hospitality Partners are on the top of the agenda. Time has been allotted to hear your questions and comments during the Town Hall session.
I look forward to seeing you at Atlantis. Feel free to e-mail me at laverill@nationallife.com.
Sincerely,
Lynn Averill
National Life of Vermont
ICPA now welcomes as members planners from financial services companies. ICPA defines the financial services industry as a group of companies or organizations whose primary revenues are derived from the development and/or marketing and selling of products designed to provide financial security to the purchaser.
These financial services products include income-producing products such as mutual funds, stocks, bonds, annuities, IRAs, and other marketable securities.
Additionally, financial services products include such products as medical insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, and other indemnity products designed to provide some type of financial relief to the policyholder — or designated beneficiaries — should a covered event occur.
The definition does not include those companies or organizations whose primary revenues are derived from “fee for services provided” products such as checking accounts, loans, etc.
If you are interested in becoming a member of ICPA, contact Karen Hopkinson or Helen Peters at ICPA's International Headquarters in Vancouver. Send e-mail to icpa_karen@attcanada.net or icpa_helen@attcanada.net, or call (604) 988-2054. A request-for-membership form will be sent to you. All applications for membership are approved by ICPA's Vice President of Membership.
Get ready for education, networking, and some great new meeting ideas at the ICPA Annual Meeting, November 11 to 15, at the Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, Bahamas. Below is a preliminary agenda.
10 A.M. to 5 P.M.
6:30 to 8:30 P.M.
6:30 to 7 A.M.
7:30 A.M.
8:30 A.M.
6:30 to 7 A.M.
7:15 A.M.
6:30 to 7 A.M.
7 A.M.
7 A.M.
Take all of your new ideas home with you — along with the business cards of your new contacts from the ranks of both planners and suppliers!
About the Monday Tabletop Discussions
Put on your thinking cap! This lively General Session activity puts planners and HPers in a roundtable format to discuss industry topics, hosted by a moderator. Table discussions will be summarized and published.
About the Tuesday Breakout Sessions
These sessions will include a variety of topics of vital interest to planners and suppliers. In addition to industry issues, we will cover topics to help you survive in your professional and personal life.
About Wednesday's Recreational Activities
Every year at the initial Design Team meeting, we struggle with whether to offer recreational activities on Wednesday afternoon of the annual meeting. This year, the team felt it would be a disservice to our members and to the host hotel if we didn't allow attendees time to explore the activities that The Bahamas and the Atlantis Resort are known for. These activities are planned:
Seahorse Catamaran — a half-day cruise
Dolphin Encounter — short boat ride to the Blue Lagoon Dolphin Encounter (no direct interaction)
Deep-Sea Fishing — half-day excursion into the waters of The Bahamas, home to blue marlin, swordfish, barracuda, and more
City Tour Shopping — Visit historic sites including the famous Bay Street shops.
Artists Tour — a four-hour visit to at-work artists' galleries, dance and music theaters, and museums
America's Cup Challenge Sailing — Learn with professional crews and race with your colleagues against another team on one of two International America's Cup IACC-class yachts.
Powerboat Adventures — Visit iguanas on Allan's Cay, then snorkel along an unspoiled reef.
Golf Tournament — on the Ocean Club Golf Course, newly redesigned by Tom Weiskopf
Blue Lagoon Island — an afternoon on an uninhabited Bahamian island with magnificent beaches and shady palm groves strung with hammocks
ICPA thanks the following sponsors for their generous commitment to the Annual Meeting program:
The Atlantis Resort
The Nassau/Paradise Island Promotion Board and The Islands of the Bahamas
ESPI
Royal Caribbean International and Landry & Kling Meetings at Sea
Sunbound Bahamas
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Goodman Speakers Bureau
Seattle Convention & Visitors Bureau and The Westin Seattle
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Gold Stars Speaker Bureau
Kirsh Productions Inc.
KRISAM Group
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
MGM Grand
Aladdin Resort
American Classic Voyages
Bass Hotels
Conventus of Switzerland
Destination Concepts
Fiesta Americana
Fiesta Americana Cabos
Grand Geneva Resort
Group Services Inc.
Hinton & Grusich
IVI Cancun DMC
JPdL Destination Management
KidsAlong
Mandalay Bay Resort
Mohegan Sun
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Opryland Florida and Kissimmee St. Cloud Convention & Visitors Bureau
Outrigger Hotels
Palace Resorts
Paragon Events Ltd.
PGA National Resort
PGI
Radisson Seven Seas
Rocky Mountain Connections
Rocky Mountain Railtours
San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau
The DMC Network
The French Government Tourist Office
Tourism Montréal
Tourism Vancouver
Travel Alberta
Tropic Temptations
Villas of Grand Cypress
Worldwide Cruise Associates
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Dynamic Speakers Inc.
For the Sixth ICPA Summer FORUM, held from July 12 to 14, Québec City extended a gracious and enthusiastic welcome to around 60 attendees and a dozen guests. The landmark Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac was home to attendees for two days. Educational sessions were held in the hotel's conference space, as well as at the Québec City Convention Centre, a short walk away.
To kick off the FORUM, Ken Juel of Mutual of Omaha and Ken Pickle, CPCU, CMP, of SAFECO spoke on logistics, promotion, and budgeting for small meetings. (When attendees were polled for cost-savings suggestions for small meetings, one delegate said: “Have your meeting in Canada where the Canadian dollar is worth 63 cents U.S.!”) During a refreshment break, the travel-weary group was greeted by 10 hotel masseuses ready to soothe aching necks and shoulders. Then attendees gathered for an exchange of ideas, led by Mauna Hatchett, CMP, Indianapolis Life Insurance Co., FORUM chairperson.
That evening's festivities featured dinner and a musical performance, with both FORUM attendees and performers decked out in elaborate 18th-century dress. (See story and photos, page 22.)
The next day the group was shuttled to the Québec City Convention Centre, an impressive facility perched atop a hill overlooking the city. Convention center staff had set up about 30 computers hooked to high-speed Internet access for attendees. Tony Aslanian, CMP, PlanSoft Corp., spoke on the use of the Internet for site selection, planning, and booking meetings. Then Gilles Methe, director of the center, took the floor in hopes of selling the group on the feasibility of using convention centers such as Québec's for small to mid-sized meetings and events — but if there was any doubt in the minds of attendees, it was wiped out later that evening at the spectacular circus event held in the center.
Back at the Frontenac after lunch, Odette Pollar gave a lively presentation on coping with information overload,” (see page 9). Beth Shanker, of ING Security Life, attacked the difficult but timely issue of compliance to N.A.S.D. regulations, and John Risberg of Maritz Travel spoke on taxation and risk management.
That evening, the city pulled out all the stops with a seamlessly coordinated event at the convention center. A champagne reception with strolling jugglers and musicians and body-paint artists was followed by a private, world premier performance by the city's own Cirque Eos. (See page 22.)
On Saturday, it was back to the classroom. Ken Pickle presented a guide to using audiovisual tools for site inspections and meetings. Then John F. Gardner of the Disney Institute, Walt Disney World, Orlando, wrapped up the sessions with a look at how the Disney Institute encourages creativity and innovation.
In closing, Mauna Hatchett sent out a special thank-you to Karen Hopkinson and Helen Peters for their extraordinary organizational work behind the scenes.
— Barbara L. Brewer
ICPA would like to thank our generous Québec partners who assisted in the planning and hosting of this successful meeting. They provided professional expertise, tremendous support, and great teamwork.
Danny Thibault (418) 691-2193
Host hotel and co-sponsor for all parts of Thursday evening (including costume rentals)
Andrée Gauthier (418) 692-6636
Member of the FORUM Design Team, sponsor of all ground transportation, and co-sponsor of the Thursday evening décor and entertainment and costume rentals
Dennis Tucker (972) 425-7028
Discounted airfares to Québec City
Susan Frei (703) 323-6307
Provided computer terminals for our hands-on technology session
Nadine Chamberland (418) 626-6300
Contributing sponsor of the Friday evening event at the Québec City Convention Centre
Tom Capp (619) 282-0382
Producer of a short video of the FORUM to be shown at the ICPA 2001 Annual Meeting at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas, in November.
Jennifer Chapin (212) 715-7022
Participated in the FORUM and provided two refreshment breaks
(The Pierre, New York; Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale; Four Seasons Resort Maui; Four Seasons Resort Toronto)
June Locke (312) 944-4949
Sponsored the wonderful Saturday morning breakfast
Lucie Gauthier (418) 647-2411
Contributing sponsor of the Friday evening event at the Québec City Convention Centre
Renee Gosselin (418) 647-2222
Contributing sponsor of the Friday evening event at the Québec City Convention Centre
Doris Dallow (312) 654-0110
Another terrific breakfast held on Friday morning, sponsored by Doris Dallow and her Hospitality Partners: American Airlines, Eden Roc, Hotel Inter-Continental Montreal, Loews Miami, Mohegan Sun, Monterey Plaza, Opryland Hotel, PGA National, Sanctuary on Camelback, Topnotch at Stowe, Turnberry Isle Resort, Wild Dunes
Lisa Molony (843) 763-6366
Sponsored a fabulous lunch at the Garrison Club (a private members' club) right in the heart of Québec City
Martin LaChance (418) 522-3511
A major sponsor of the Friday evening event at the Québec City Convention Centre and a contributing sponsor of the Québec registration bags
Jessica Martin (418) 649-7711/4043
What an event on Friday night at the beautiful Convention Centre: quality, service, creativity in décor, food, and entertainment. An evening everyone will remember!
Susan Wilkinson (418) 647-1717
Contributing sponsor of the Friday evening event at the Québec City Convention Centre
Kent Cisewski (407) 566-4856
Sponsor of a dynamic presentation on creativity, Disney-style