I call your attention to the cover story regarding job transitions. The article contains valuable advice on what I believe is an important and often overlooked part of being a religious meeting planner.

RCMA Board Member Melvin Worthington, CMP, recently shared his thoughts with me regarding this topic as well.

I've known Melvin for a number of years, and I've learned that he's a wise person. Here are his thoughts on what religious meeting planners and their organizations can do to make it easier for the people who step into meeting-planning roles.

1. One successful program that can be utilized is an intern training program for college students interested in meeting management. We have such a program … through Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tenn. Students take a course at the college taught by the Free Will Baptist convention manager using the Convention Industry Council manual. During our annual convention, the students are assigned certain areas of responsibility. It has worked well. It is an attempt to identify and train those who have an interest in meeting management. From this pool of candidates, there may be potential meeting planners.

2. Meeting planners should make every attempt to educate their staffs in the art of meeting management through attendance at seminars, conferences, and association meetings. During my tenure as the meeting planner for the National Association of Free Will Baptists Inc., I encouraged my staff to attend the RCMA conference. This enables them to gain a comprehensive concept of meeting management. When a new meeting planner is employed, this makes the transition much easier because the staff has meeting-planning experience and training.

3. The organization should provide training for new meeting planners. They should be encouraged to attend professional conferences to sharpen their meeting-planning skills. Membership in professional organizations provides networking opportunities for interaction with other meeting planners and suppliers.

4. The new meeting planner immediately should begin preparing to take the CMP exam. This provides an incentive for continual education and training. Preparation for the CMP exam can enhance the personal and professional development of new meeting planners.

5. Organizations should make provision for a backup for the meeting planner. Successful meeting planners surround themselves with competent staff members who can run their meetings in case of an emergency. Resources should be provided by the organization for staff education and training.