Exciting news for meeting planner members: RCMA will offer the Hosted-Buyer Scholarship program for its annual meeting next year, January 24-27, in Kansas City, Mo. The scholarship program, which reimburses qualified planners for travel and meeting registration expenses, was successfully launched last year, enabling more planners to attend the 2011 World Conference & Expo.

Here is important information planners need to know regarding the program:

Reimbursement for member's expenses include:

• Conference registration fee

• Up to four nights lodging (single rate) in one of the host hotels

• Airfare or mileage up to $300

RCMA meeting planner qualifications:

• Be a meeting planner for his or her religious organization

• Hold meetings in multiple locations

• Use a minimum number of 60 room nights on peak night during at least one event annually

To qualify for reimbursement:

• Meet with exhibitors in at least 15 booths on Wednesday, January 26, and another 15 exhibitors in an additional 15 booths on Thursday, January 27

• Minimum time required for each meeting is 5 minutes

• Obtain a signature from each exhibitor attesting to the meeting

Submit the following documents to RCMA by February 15, 2012:

• Completed Meetings with Exhibitors signature page

• Completed Planner Scholarship Application

• Copy of hotel room bill

• Copy of airline ticket or mileage statement (tickets obtained with frequent flier miles not reimbursable)

No need to sign up for this program! Simply register for the conference, make your hotel reservations in one of the official conference hotels, and meet with the exhibitors of your choice at the Expo. All forms necessary to participate are provided on site. Reimbursement checks are mailed after the conference. Planners can register online at rcmaweb.org.