Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to attend RCMA. What are yours? To hear great speakers and be motivated to pursue your personal and professional dreams? To visit with and learn from colleagues? To visit Florida?
These are all good reasons to attend, and you're not alone: Registration is at a record-setting pace for RCMA's 36th World Conference and Exposition, “Exploring New Horizons,” February 5-8, 2008, in Orlando, Fla.
RCMA is expected to draw nearly 1,400 meeting professionals to this international event. The meeting is constructed to help you increase your knowledge and skills, to develop strategic partnerships with all types of vendors, and to improve your performance through the finest lineup of tutorials that RCMA has offered.
You will be energized by fabulous general session speakers. You will hone your meeting-planning skills at the tutorials, and you will be wowed by top-notch entertainment. But above all, RCMA attendees value the fellowship they share with other members and associate members.
You'll be able to see Orlando for yourself with the early bird sightseeing tours and other activities that RCMA has planned for Tuesday, February 5. (See page 36 for details.)
Also on the early bird lineup is a series of Behind-the-Scenes Experiences, something that only RCMA offers.
As an attendee, you will have the opportunity to explore the inner operations of an advertising agency, public relations firm, television station, hotel, or convention center. Gain hands-on experience as you become involved with key personnel in a range of activities that will enhance your professional knowledge.
On Tuesday night, relax and enjoy yourself at the opening reception. Tropical music and color will transport you to the lands of gentle breezes. Try your hand at delightfully enjoyable games. And, of course, partake of tasty food and great conversation.
Wednesday morning, an energizing opening session will fill you with anticipation for what is to come. Keynote speaker Ken Medema will inspire you with his talk: “Exploring New Horizons … In Personal Achievement.”
Then it's off to the Expo, where the booths will be staffed by knowledgeable suppliers who provide services for religious meetings.
But don't worry about being inundated with a barrage of suppliers, according to RCMA Executive Director DeWayne S. Woodring. RCMA carefully manages the planner-to-supplier ratio so that every attendee will have the one-on-one time that they need in order to meet with hoteliers, CVBs, and other facilities and service providers with whom they are considering doing business.
At the center of RCMA's mission are the educational opportunities offered at its expert-led tutorials. This year's lineup on Wednesday and Thursday continues RCMA's tradition of offering the finest breakout sessions. RCMA's 2008 tutorials ensure that there is something for everyone.
The RCMA experience will be topped off with evenings of fun, excitement, humor, and dining.
On Wednesday, thrill to the most honored dinner show in the world, the Arabian Nights.
Closing the evening will be another special treat; you will journey to Epcot for a dessert reception, where the nighttime sky comes to life in a musical fireworks spectacular created by Disney especially for RCMA.
On Thursday, put on your finest for the 36th Annual Gala. This festive evening is a conference highlight, featuring exquisite cuisine, the President's Award, and superb entertainment from three of the best performers Branson, Mo., has to offer: Tony Orlando, Jim Stafford, and Jim Barber. (See page 28 for details).
Make plans now to be part of this thrilling week of exploration and connection.
| 1973 | Louisville, Ky. |
| 1974 | Philadelphia |
| 1975 | Chicago |
| 1976 | Kansas City, Mo. |
| 1977 | Baltimore |
| 1978 | Cincinnati |
| 1979 | St. Louis |
| 1980 | Anaheim, Calif. |
| 1981 | New Orleans |
| 1982 | Nashville, Tenn. |
| 1983 | Indianapolis |
| 1984 | Detroit |
| 1985 | Atlanta |
| 1986 | Fort Worth, Texas |
| 1987 | Long Beach, Calif. |
| 1988 | Rochester, N.Y. |
| 1989 | Milwaukee |
| 1990 | Tampa, Fla. |
| 1991 | Corpus Christi, Texas |
| 1992 | Phoenix |
| 1993 | Chicago |
| 1994 | Birmingham, Ala. |
| 1995 | San Antonio |
| 1996 | Charlotte, N.C. |
| 1997 | Tulsa, Okla. |
| 1998 | Indianapolis |
| 1999 | Columbus, Ohio |
| 2000 | Dallas |
| 2001 | Milwaukee |
| 2002 | Tampa, Fla. |
| 2003 | Charlotte, N.C. |
| 2004 | Pittsburgh |
| 2005 | St. Louis |
| 2006 | San Jose |
| 2007 | Louisville, Ky. |
| 2008 | Orlando, Fla. |
Thursday night's RCMA entertainment features three Branson, Mo.-based performers whose work has delighted millions of fans: Tony Orlando, Jim Stafford, and Jim Barber. The three are making the trip from Branson just for RCMA.
Tony Orlando's sterling career boasts five No. 1 songs, including one of the most memorable pop songs in American music history: Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree. Orlando, whose TV variety show ran for five years in the 1970s, has received three American Music Awards, one People's Choice Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has been a Branson resident since 1993 and has performed more than 2,000 shows there.
Jim Stafford has enjoyed popular success as a singer, songwriter, playwright, and TV personality. After a string of hit records, Jim launched his TV career with The Jim Stafford Show on ABC. He co-hosted the popular prime-time show Those Amazing Animals with Burgess Meredith and Priscilla Presley and has made 26 appearances on The Tonight Show. The singer is self-taught on guitar, fiddle, piano, banjo, organ, and harmonica — he might bring any of them into play at any moment.
A multitalented entertainer, Jim Barber delights audiences with his incredible skills as a ventriloquist, comedian, singer, and musician. Barber appeared earlier this year in a featured performance on The Late Show With David Letterman and has been named one of the “funniest people in America” by Showtime/The Movie Channel.
The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB is sponsoring the evening's entertainment.
Adam's Mark Hotels
Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction
Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau
Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau
Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Daytona Beach Area CVB
Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort
FedEx Kinkos
Gatorland
Gaylord Hotels
Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau
Greater Toledo Hospitality Partners
Illinois Council of Convention and Visitors Bureaus
Levy Restaurants
Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau
LMG Inc.
Meet Minneapolis
Ocean Center
Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau
Orange County Convention Center
Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau
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RegOnline
Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau
Rogers, Arkansas, Convention & Visitors Bureau
Rosen Hotels & Resorts
SeaWorld Orlando
Smart City
Springfield, MO, Convention & Visitors Bureau
Tampa Bay & Company
The Holy Land Experience
Universal Studios Orlando
Valley Forge Convention & Visitors Bureau
Walt Disney World
Willowbank Hotel & Conference Facility
WordSpring Discovery Center
Take advantage of the ease of online registration and register today for RCMA 2008. Go to www.regonline.com/rcmaorlando. (For meeting-planner members only. Registration for associate members is closed.)