GEORGIA MPI CHAPTER HOSTS S.E.A.

 (SUMMER EDUCATIONAL ALLIANCE) IN ARUBA

BY RICHARD S. POLLAK, PRESIDENT,

 RAINBOW ENTERTAINMENT/SPEAKERS

BON BINNI ARUBA! WELCOME TO ARUBA! The warm Caribbean breezes of this tropical paradise welcomed over 155 members of the GEORGIA, TENNESSE, POTOMAC, CAROLINAS and GULF STATES MPI CHAPTERS plus ATLANTA ISES, GSAE, HSMAI, PCMA and GO ATLANTA to the 2008 MPI SUMMER EDUCATIONAL  ALLIANCE .

Without a hint of Hurricane Gustov, there were 4 days of Education, Networking, Site Visits and Activities in Aruba, headquartered at THE ARUBA WESTIN RESORT AND CASINO.

Next year, I promised the 2009 organizing committee   to have at least 10 members of the Dallas MPI Chapter participate!

WOW! Would you believe that after 13 years as a member of the Dallas Chapter of MPI, contributing on a   monthly basis to JPA (JAN POLLARD AWARD) scholarship fund, I was actually awarded a $250 scholarship to attend SEA. This was the very first such scholarship of President Carol Benavides reign! Imagine with an additional supplemental fee of $100 towards air travel from the ARUBIAN Government, the $400   cost for the entire conference, only cost me $50.  I already had   the round trip airfare because I had bartered with American Airlines by providing them with a Beatles Tribute Band for their NEW DALLAS TO LONDON FLIGHT. An incredible 4 days and 3 nights of Tropical Wining and Dining for only $50!

 Ken Futch opened the Educational sessions with his award winning “TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT” keynote address.

The educational portion of the conference was then divided into 2 days of  breakout speakers providing the attendees with a choice of topics including Marty Clarke’s “COMMUNICATIONS LAND  MINES”, Dahlton A. Bennington’s “ PRICINPLES OF NEGOCIATION- THE ART OF GETTING WHAT YOU WANT”,  Scott Hagwood’s “ MASTERING YOUR MEMORY- A BUSINESS ESSENTIAL” and Susanne Gaddis, PHD,” EGO BOOSTERS VS EGO BUSTERS”

Closing Keynote speaker and former Dallas Maverick Basketball Player, Walter Bond, a 2007 Dallas MPI Chapter Outstanding Meeting of the Year recipient gave another dynamic speech on the subject of “NO ONE CAN STOP YOU BUT YOU!” Walt has supplemented the presentation that we in Dallas had already experienced by driving hope a more direct message about   personal relationships and growth in addition to his development of the business values he discussed

  The conference theme: PEOPLE/PURPOSE/PASSION was underscored throughout the gathering, from the opening night Poolside Reception/ Dinner at the Westin to the final “AFTER HOURS’ party on the KUKOO KUNUKU PARTY BUS’ tour of local watering holes. The committee plans included lavish dining experiences at   5  of the premiere Hotels on the island ( WESTIN, MARRIOTT, RADISSON, OCCIDENTAL GRAND and HYATT) plus team building, catamaran snorkeling and the closing night  castaway dinner at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino private island

DALLAS MPI MEMBER UPDATE FROM ARUBA:

Sandy  Mukitarian is alive and well in Palm Beach, Florida, as the new Sales Manager for the Palm Beach CVB. While Sandy, the former liaison for Tourism to Quebec for the Dallas MPI Chapter made it to the GAMPI Educational Conference in Aruba, her luggage didn’t. Sandy has been assigned the Southwest so she’ll be back at Dallas MPI events!