The Religious Conference Management Association for the fifth year in a row has made a $100,000 donation to World Food Programme's efforts to feed hungry children. RCMA Executive Director DeWayne S. Woodring made the announcement January 29 during the association's 38th Annual World Conference and Exposition, held in Fort Worth, Texas.

"This is a happy day," said Woodring, adding that RCMA leads the meetings industry in efforts to meet the needs of humanity.

Woodring's comments at RCMA capped four days of education, motivation, entertainment, and networking. The conference attracted more than 1,100 attendees and continues to be the only not-for-profit meeting in the world dedicated solely to serving the religious meetings community.

RCMA's general-session speakers included author and business consultant Matt Weinstein, who spoke on how he survived, emotionally, the loss of his life savings in the Bernie Madoff scandal; journalist Catherine Crier; and motivational speakers Jim Jacobus, Vince Poscente, and Vicki Hitzges. Tutorials offered practical information on a wide range of topics, including teen conferences, international meetings, technology trends, best legal practices, and social networking.

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo on Wednesday night highlighted the week's entertainment. Tuesday evening's opening reception at the convention center had a Western theme, and at Thursday night's gala, a cast of gifted performers from Branson, Mo., brought the crowd to its feet.

RCMA's Behind-the-Scenes Experiences gave more than 200 meeting planners hands-on access at a production company, public relations firm, advertising agency, the convention center, and hotels.

Here are other conference highlights:
-- RCMA's board of directors selected Minneapolis as the site for the 2013 conference. RCMA will be held in Tampa, Fla., in 2011, and Kansas City, Mo., in 2012.
-- RCMA bestowed its 2010 President's Award on Jack Stone, district superintendent, Kentucky District, Church of the Nazarene, Hillview, Ky.
-- Four RCMA members were appointed to three-year terms on the RCMA board of directors: Sheri Clemmer, General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Silver Spring, Md.; Marvin Schmucker, Mennonite Health Services Alliance, Wichita, Kan.; Mollie Stewart, Gulfside Association of The United Methodist Church, Talucah, Ala.; and Melvin Tennant, president and CEO of Meet Minneapolis.

Photo gallery of the gala at RCMA 2010