Samuel J. Smith (left), an event technology consultant and digital strategist with Interactive Meeting Technology, and a speaker at WEC13; Miguel Neves, knowledge and social media manager, IMEX Group. Neves received the MPI RISE Award for Member of the Year at this year's WEC13.
WEC13 was peachy, according to the Georgia Chapter at the final luncheon.
The opening reception at the Venetian, complete with faux-hawks, blinking black berets, fake tattoos, and roaring 1980s rock-and-roll, was topped off when headliner and '80s rocker extraordinaire Billy Idol took to the stage.
A wide variety of yummy dishes were enjoyed, some fancy cocktails were sipped, the dance floor was crowded, and tabletops were danced upon—yes, a good time was had by all at the opening reception held in the Venetian Hotel Palazzo Ballroom. The reception was hosted by the Sands-Venetian Palazzo, Destinations By Design, and the Las Vegas CVA.
From left to right: Eduardo Chaillo, Global Meetings and Tourism Specialists, LLC; Hali Cooper, Meeting Expectations; Martina Fundaro, Prague Convention Bureau
MaryAnne Bobrow, Bobrow Associates, Inc.; Michael Owen, Eventgenuity
One of the kits that would soon be transformed into a prosthetic hand to be given to a landmine victim somewhere in the world during the corporate social responsibility session. More than 1,000 prosthetic hands were put together by WEC13 delegates over the course of the session, called Helping Hands: Connecting Heads, Hands, and Hearts.
Lain Hensley, Odyssey Teams, explaining the mission and logistics of assembling prosthetic hands for landmine victims around the world at the Helping Hands: Connecting Heads, Hands, and Hearts CSR event.
(Left to right): Ben Alderman, American Express; Jennifer Cheung Cline, Hello! Las Vegas Destination Management; and Pat Moore, Mattel, building teamwork and relationships along with a prosthetic hand at the Helping Hands: Connecting Heads, Hands, and Hearts CSR event.
Once the prosthetic hands were assembled, participants were instructed to write a letter to the person who would receive the hand, and to decorate the bag in which it would be presented. Pictured here proudly showing off their finished and bagged prosthetic hand are Steven Lakus, American Express Merchant Services; Melanie Pilgrim, Great Wolf Lodge; and Sue Pelletier, MeetingsNet.
Once the prosthetic hands were assembled, participants were asked to come up on the stage and hand their finished and bagged prostheses on a wall.
Inspired by keynote speaker Candy Chang's
"Before I die" project, MPI invited its members to contribute thoughts on what they too would like to accomplish during their lifetimes.
A close-up view of one of the Before I Die boards shows thoughts that are funny, profound, and moving.
Members of the Minnesota Chapter formed lines on either side of the entry to the final day's luncheon to cheer MPI members as they came in. The 2014 WEC will be held in Minneapolis, which sponsored the luncheon.
The Greater Calgary Chapter gathering for lunch on the final day of WEC13.
Members of the Tennessee Chapter at the final luncheon.
The Sacramento/Sierra Nevada Chapter enjoyed the food, but even more the chance to get together with each other, at the final luncheon.
The Toronto Chapter was just one of many of the international chapters that got together during WEC13.
Many members were observed taking pictures of the registration area, complete with comfy couches and other amenities, for inspiration on how to make their registration feel friendlier and be more efficient.
MPI also put up several boards asking participants for their suggestions for next year's World Education Congress. "Bring back the puppies" seemed to be a common request.
Nick Topitzes, PC/Nametag (left), with Jim Lewis, Best Meetings, Inc., at the MarketSquare at WEC13.
The glow of the computer screen had to stand in for flames as Dr. Alexandra Kenyon, Leeds Metropolitan University, led a Campfire session on research
in social media and helped participants sort through what's tweeting and what's twaddling.
