the spur (january-march 2013)

THE SPUR

Check out the national SGMP “Like” us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter!

website at www.sgmp.org Wild West Chapter SGMP @oksgmp

www.oksgmp.org

V

olume 12, Issue 1 •

January–March 2013

Wild West Chapter Oklahoma SGMP

http://www.facebook.com/login.php

http://www.twitter.com/oksgmp

http://www.sgmp.org

www.oksgmp.com Wild West Chapter Oklahoma SGMP

The Spur Volume 12, Issue 1

IN THIS ISSUE: FEATURES

Letter from the President ...................................................................... 3

2013 National Education Conference (NEC) .......................................... 3

Member Recognition—First Quarter Shining Stars ............................... 4

2013 National Education Conference Charity ........................................ 4

January 10, 2013 Meeting ..................................................................... 5

Education—Communication—Networking—Oh, PIE! .......................... 8

And We Soared ..................................................................................... 8

2013 Partners in Education Conference (PIE) ........................................ 9

PIE Saturday Breakfast .......................................................................... 9

Region V 2014 Partners in Education Conference ................................. 9

Hospitality Committee ........................................................................ 11

February 14, 2013 Meeting ................................................................. 12

Awards Committee: Shining Star Nominations ................................... 13

Membership Committee ..................................................................... 14

March 14, 2013 Meeting ..................................................................... 15

Industry: Government Contracts in the Post–GSA Scandal Era ............ 17

Upcoming Meetings & Programs ......................................................... 18

Committee Corral ............................................................................... 20

Professional Feature: The Un–Comfort Zone ...................................... 21

FUN & GAMES

Recipe Roundup ................................................................................. 13

Want Ads ............................................................................................ 16

AD INDEX

Renaissance OKC Convention Center Hotel ........................................ 10

OKC CVB ............................................................................................. 13

Embassy Suites Norman Hotel & Conference Center .......................... 19

President Alice Moore, CGMP University of Oklahoma—CECPD

405.799.6383 [email protected] 1st Vice President Amy Knowles Moore Norman Technology Center

405.325.1902 [email protected] 2nd Vice President Michael Farr, CASE, CGMP Hyatt Regency Tulsa

918.560.2205 [email protected] Secretary Crystal Mappes, CMP OK Assn. of Health Care Providers

405.524.8338 [email protected]

Treasurer Ginger Thompson Oklahoma City CVB

405.297.8979 [email protected] Director—Special Recognition Tracy Blair, CHSP Renaissance OKC Convention Center Hotel

405.228.8011 [email protected] Director—Community Service Sara Furr OSU Foundation

405.863.9538 [email protected] Director—Special Projects Angela Salusky DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tulsa Downtown

918.732.3641 [email protected]



From the President’s Desk

EDUCATION—NETWORKING—RESOURCES Greetings, Members!

The past three months have been a whirlwind of activity for the Wild West Chapter Board. With chapter elections following a new process and timeline, here was the outcome for Officers and Board for 2013–2015:

President—Alice Moore 1st Vice President—Amy Knowles

2nd Vice President—Michael Farr Treasurer—Ginger Thompson

Secretary—Brenda Gentry Director—Tracy Blair

Two positions are vacant and I hope to have a planner & a supplier member willing to fill the positions on July 1.

In January, we also voted to support the Government Meeting Specialist (GMS) Certificate program for any Wild West Chapter member to earn through attendance in core competency based training. Sara Furr is the GMS Board Liaison and the person to contact if you are interested in applying for the program. Members have three years to meet the minimum criteria to earn the certificate. Membership must be maintained throughout the program. The GMS is valid for five years and to reapply, the member must have participated in a minimum of twenty contact hours.

Congratulations to our Wild West Chapter Members recipients of full scholarships to NEC 2013 in Orlando, Florida: Brenda Gentry—OUHSC • Gail Russell—OKDHS/DDSD • Danielle Merryman—OU Tulsa • Mike Knowles—OU CECPD

Oklahoma currently has 14 members pre–registered to attend the NEC in May.

In February the Board accepted the resignation of 1st Vice President Mona Springfield. We were fortunate that Amy Knowles agreed to step into her leadership role four months early. Amy continues to be a valued member of the Wild West Chapter and had previously served as 2nd Vice President in a previous term.

March brought us PIE 2013! The Wild West Chapter was well represented and offered great professional development as attested by the articles in this newsletter. March also bought great news on the national front with our own Maggie McGowan elected to the national board as 1st Vice President! Wow! Congratulations!

As we move forward to our final quarter of this fiscal year, please reach out to your professional acquaintances and spread the word about SGMP and your Wild West Chapter! As members, I encourage you to get connected within the Wild West Chapter—volunteers are needed for all committees. Our planner to supplier membership ratio is second in the nation! Get connected—plug in to SGMP!

Alice Moore, CGMP 2011–2013 Wild West Chapter President [email protected]

SGMP National Education Conference • May 22–24, 2013 in Orlando, FL Find more information online at http://www.sgmp.org/conference/orlando.cfm

http://www.sgmp.org/conference/orlando.cfm



First Quarter Shining Stars

Alice Moore accepted the Shining Star Award at the January 10 meeting. Alice has served as the Chapter President since July 1, 2011. Although a bit reluctant to run a second term, she did “cowgirl up” when approached by the Nominations & Elections Chair. She continues to help mentor and provide direction to the Board Members and is always willing to “two-step” up when necessary. She appreciates the dedication of those on the Board, Committees, and the members that help make the Wild West Chapter the best in the west!

Shari Goad accepts her Shining Star Award, presented at the February 14 meeting. Shari did not hesitate when asked to accept the responsibility as the Chapter Nominations & Elections Committee chair person. With new guidelines and timelines from Nationals, the process was quite an undertaking with positive results. Shari has served on the Chapter Board in the past and is admired and respected by her Wild West peers.

Michael Farr also received a Shining Star Award at the February 14 meeting. Michael was willing to serve as Second Vice President when that position became vacant. He keeps members on task when membership renewal dates are approaching and graciously donates each month to our door prize drawings. He was a strong supporter of PIE 2013 and we look forward to new and exciting ventures for membership opportunities. If you know of someone wanting to join the Wild West Chapter, Michael is the man to contact.

2013 National Education Conference Charity The National Charity for the 2013 NEC, The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, http://www.mustardseedfla.org/, has been selected by the SGMP National Board of Directors as a deserving and essential community service organization in the Orlando, FL area. Representatives from each chapter nationwide have volunteered to provide hands-on service to the charity on Wednesday, May 22, 2013. For more information on the hands-on event, visit www.sgmp.org/nec2013/charity.cfm.

All members are encouraged to participate by donating to the National Charity, either individually or through their chapter. Each chapter may highlight The Mustard Seed of Central Florida at one of their upcoming chapter meetings and collect donations toward the charity. Other chapters may have a budget line item for the National Charity and chapter members may want to add to that amount. Remember that donations made to The Mustard Seed of Central Florida from individuals are tax deductible.

We encourage you to take a look at The Mustard Seed of Central Florida website, http://www.mustardseedfla.org/, to understand the vital work that this community organization provides.

Please send your donations to be received by Monday, May 13, made payable to The Mustard Seed of Central Florida, to Colleen Flage, SGMP CFC President, SGMP, P.O. Box 142094, Gainesville, FL 32614-2094. Only checks made payable to The Mustard Seed of Central Florida may be accepted. Members may also contribute via the 2013 NEC online registration system at http://www.sgmp.org/nec2013/. The preference is to receive all donations in advance, but the committee will also collect checks at the conference registration area.

Michael Farr, CASE, CGMP Hyatt Regency Tulsa

Alice Moore, CGMP OU CECPD

Shari Goad, CMP Oklahoma CareerTech

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001mT0xNHXCUlAFc4EUQ8PsFC-UsONYE9XeCaokzxUG_TaEps3lP9gTRdEBY3zFQ0wkW8yHoviFaNWzj_sR54tXSb-Di7o3EwWmUk2ebnWhSNwF64ptUjhz8Q==

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001mT0xNHXCUlDLlQ1o8kb5gES4kl_lx6W0iCEpIFBlun1sxiz0lhHq3AIbdve3WXdbiDw3kZV-cfeKXC9KPKy8FV63cP4RnZcjP-pEht-Wr3RcpheYyQbgC-CnhElzLslNQ4x1I6l2JM4=

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001mT0xNHXCUlAFc4EUQ8PsFC-UsONYE9XeCaokzxUG_TaEps3lP9gTRdEBY3zFQ0wkW8yHoviFaNWzj_sR54tXSb-Di7o3EwWmUk2ebnWhSNwF64ptUjhz8Q==

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001mT0xNHXCUlBJqfOlpCKfCbfugfhbg_ilxAIIeZDJva_RlUX6F4RWs9skBjIC6pFS3R8Kp4GnZRMqsKAFDbBHlMRCeuNUBeAqbaJ47HJd-94zCztJorMI1w==



January 10, 2013 Meeting

Sheraton Midwest City Hotel at the Reed Conference Center

Getting the Most ROI from your SGMP Membership: Navigating the SGMP Website and GMS

by Tasha Houck, CMP

I have the exciting privilege of chatting with you today about the recent luncheon held at the Reed Center. Maggie McGowan, CGMP, CMP, was the speaker and offered lots of great information.

One section covered was “Getting the Maximum Value from the SGMP Website” beginning with a reminder on how to log in. Remember for your user name to use the first four letters of your last name followed by your ID number, and for your password use SGMP. (Once you have logged in, you will be able to customize your password.)

An exciting feature of the website is the Request for Proposal option. The RFP his allows the users to implement the website as a functioning part of the work environment for both Planner and Supplier members.

My favorite feature that Maggie covered was the accessibility to other professionals on the website. This community provides a wealth of industry experience and knowledge. Connecting with the 33 chapters and over 3500 SGMP members has never been easier. The electronic membership directory on the website is a fantastic resource for planners and suppliers!

Maggie also introduced the Government Meeting Specialist Certification or GMS, a new program being offered by our chapter. I was excited to find the qualifications are very similar to most certifications and offer dual credits for recertifying. We were provided two GMS specific handouts, a commitment form which must be completed if the member is interested in obtaining the GMS, and a GMS tracking sheet. It is a very handy tool, considering this program requires that the individual track programming attendance credits for submission.

Finally, Maggie provided floor plans for the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida, where the 2013 National Education Conference will be held May 22nd–24th. It was very exciting to hear that this year, due to the capacity and floor plan, the event–flow is anticipated to be the best ever! Distance between sessions and the exhibit hall have been greatly condensed. Also, the hotel is located a convenient five–minute walk away.

Overall, it was a fantastic and informational luncheon! Please contact the board with any questions or if you would like any of the printed materials distributed at the luncheon.



Education—Communication—Networking—Oh, PIE! by Brenda Gentry

Thank you Wild West Chapter Board for the assistance that allowed me to attend my first PIE Conference (2013) held in Arlington, TX. I had a great time learning and getting to know not only my own chapter members but members from other chapters who attended the event.

The first night we enjoyed networking with other chapters members and being entertained by 3 Fools on 3 Stools. The next day was filled with keynote and breakout sessions. Al Batinga, our first keynote speaker had

us thinking about communication with others and how the other person interprets our words. Sometimes it is a good idea to think before you speak!

The breakout sessions were very informative, ranging from Ethics, Group Sales Contract Issues, to alcoholic beverages in meetings. Lyndy Phillips, a motivational/ humorist speaker ended our conference with humor. He was very entertaining and had us all laughing so hard tears were rolling down our cheeks. He reminded us that a few minutes of laughter a day will help us feel better and maybe give us a new perspective on the day.

Thanks again to the board and to Crystal for letting me ride down to Arlington with her and our madam President, Alice Moore. BTW … Crystal also taught me that a “dip” cone is also called a “brown derby”!

And We Soared by Crystal Mappes, CMP

From the welcoming reception featuring Three Fools on Three Stools to the closing keynote, Lyndy Phillips, there were plenty of opportunities for education and networking. You were not disappointed with any of the sessions or the off-site activities. Our theme “Soaring to New Heights” was accomplished thanks to our host

property Sheraton Arlington Hotel and the host chapter North Texas. Five national board members attended and provided a SGMP update. Our national president, Rob Coffman encouraged us to attend the National Education Conference May 22–24 in Orlando, Florida.

Our breakfast keynote, Mr. Batinga, spoke on his true experiences of growing up from a very diverse background. He stated “Change your words, Change your world” and how words reinforce. He spoke of how just a few words can change a

life as it did his many years ago. He challenged us to change a life by changing our words. Our breakout sessions were awesome; kudos to the conference committee! Not only did we learn how to communicate better but also issues in government contracting and utilizing alcohol beverages in meetings.

The closing keynote topic was “Laughter: The Best Medicine” and laugh we did. Mr. Phillips’ interactive style kept us all on the edge of our seats. His message was demonstrated by audience participation which left us with tears in our eyes and smiles on our faces.

We presented the Angel Flight charity over $500 which was collected throughout the conference. Angel Flight is a group of local volunteer pilots who fly cancer patients and their families to various locations within the region for needed cancer treatment who otherwise could not afford the care. What a better way to end another PIE, giving back to the community. If you missed the flight this year, I do hope you will come soar next year. You won’t be disappointed.



2013 Partners in Education Conference by Gail Russell

Another inspiring conference—I have never been to an SGMP conference that I did not come home with a pocketful of ideas and this year’s PIE conference was no different. We were greeted warmly by those Texans south of the border. They do know how to throw a conference. The opening reception entertainment was exceptional. The Three Fools on Three Stools played all of my favorite songs and the facility was just perfect.

I enjoyed both of the keynotes but I must admit I have never laughed as hard as I did at the closing keynote, The Best Medicine, by Lyndy Phillips. Nothing like a good dose of humor to kick start your day. The entire conference was packed full of education and fun. This PIE conference will be a tough act to follow. Houston has their work cut out for them. Then it was back to the great plains of Oklahoma. There’s no place like home!

PIE Saturday Breakfast by Candie Westbrook, CGMP

The Saturday morning breakfast included guest speaker Al Batinga, President, Speak Up Speak Out! His message was simple … A few words can change your life. Have you ever considered how a word can change your whole perception of a conversation? Words like can’t, won’t, never, but and so on. Al challenged the group to find words that can replace those negative words with to steer a conversation in order to completely change the outcome of that conversation.

A video that was shown during his presentation was about an older gentleman who was blind, sitting on a street corner begging for money. His sign simply stated, “I’m blind, please help.” One afternoon a young woman came along and noticed that his jar was empty. She took it upon herself to change what he had written and before the day was over he had so much money in his jar that he had no room left. She returned later that day to see how things were going. He asked her, “What did you write on my sign?” She simply stated, “I wrote the same thing you did but said it a little differently.” At that time the sign is shown and it read, “It’s a beautiful day outside and I can’t see it.” It really isn’t about what you say; it’s about how you say it.

Region V Education Conference 2014 The Houston Gulf Coast Chapter of SGMP, in cooperation with the Wild West, North Texas,

Lone Star Capital, and San Antonio chapters, is excited to officially announce the:

Region V 2014 Partners in Education Conference March 7–9, 2014

Hilton Houston Westchase Hotel

If you are interested in sponsoring an event or serving on the conference committee, please contact:

Melinda Mintz, Conference Chair—[email protected] or

Linda Williams, Chapter President—[email protected]



Hospitality Committee Report submitted by Candie Westbrook, CGMP

SGMP JANUARY 2013 MONTHLY MEETING DOOR PRIZE DONATIONS

Michel Farr, Hyatt Regency Tulsa: One night weekend stay in the Regency Club King at the Hyatt Regency Tulsa with complimentary parking and a movie

Lacy Ragland, Hard Rock Casino Tulsa: One night stay at the Hard Hotel & Casino in Tulsa

Tanya Bethel, DoubleTree Warren Place—Tulsa: Tin of DoubleTree cookies

Wissam Damaj, Sheraton Midwest City at The Reed Center: Complimentary room night w/breakfast for two

Tracy Blair, Renaissance Convention Center Hotel & Spa: Houdini Italian basket from Nonni's

Candie Westbrook & Morgan Hughes, NCED Conference Center & Hotel: Goodie Basket

SGMP FEBRUARY 2013 MONTHLY MEETING DOOR PRIZE DONATIONS


Lacy Ragland, Hard Rock Casino Tulsa: One night stay at the Hard Hotel & Casino in Tulsa

Angela Salusky, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tulsa Downtown: (2) tins of DoubleTree cookies

Candie Westbrook & Morgan Hughes, NCED Conference Center & Hotel: Box of Valentine’s goodies & one–hour massage

Alice Moore, OU CECPD: (3) Valentine’s gift mugs

Ginger Thompson, OKC CVB: Made in Oklahoma product basket

SGMP MARCH 2013 MONTHLY MEETING DOOR PRIZE DONATIONS


Angela Salusky, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tulsa Downtown: (2) tins of DoubleTree cookies

Candie Westbrook & Morgan Hughes, NCED Conference Center & Hotel: cranberry apple pie and 2 bottles of water

Amanda Burks, Skirvin Hilton Hotel: (2) candy jar with mints

Candie Westbrook, NCED Conference Center & Hotel: 3 Fools on 3 Stools

Ginger Thompson, OKC CVB: Made in Oklahoma product basket

Bri DeMarco, VisitTulsa: (2) lunch box w/ pen, sticky notes and clip magnet

Ginger Thompson, OKC CVB: hat and 2 sleeves of golf balls Do you want to donate a door prize for a future meeting? Prizes can be anything from your facility, i.e., a t–shirt, key ring, coffee mug, complimentary night stay, jump drive, mouse pad, etc. Anything you would like to offer will be GREATLY appreciated!

By donating a prize, you have put your company in front of planners with your logo featured in the PowerPoint presentation, your name and company announced during the drawing, and a listing in the quarterly newsletter, The Spur. If you are interested in donating, please contact Hospitality Committee Chair Candie Westbrook, CGMP at [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]?subject=SGMP%20Door%20Prize%20Donation



February 14, 2013 Meeting Renaissance OKC Convention Center Hotel

The Process and Benefits of Using the CVB by Crystal Mappes, CMP

The February 14, 2013, Wild West Chapter OK SGMP monthly luncheon was hosted by Tracy Blair, CHSP, at the Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center & Hotel with the theme “Caribbean Valentine.” The décor was elegant with a red pattern overlay on red

linens and red napkins. Red lights projected from floor to ceiling to portray a sense of ambience to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Blair presented a rose to all the women and Christopher Jones opened the program with a serenade of What a Wonderful World.

Robert Wood, Convention Sales Manager with the Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau took the lead on presenting The Process and Benefits of Using the CVB. He focused on the range of free resources offered by CVB to make your meeting a success. Robert explained the difference of a CVB and a Destination Management Company (DMC) and why history and flexibility mean so much.

Our second presenter was Stefanie Brickman, Norman CVB, stating no matter how large or small a meeting you plan, the CVBs can help make planning your event much easier. CVBs will send your RFPs to all properties within their city and compile the responses for your review and selection. That can take a lot of leg work and telephone calls off your to do list.

Last but not least, Bri DeMarco and Vanesa Masucci with Visit Tulsa presented a role–playing skit which outlined questions and answers on many misperceptions of CVBs. They pointed out the various resources available for planners by utilizing their services.

Mike Knowles was the lucky winner of the monthly 50/50 drawing, taking home $99!

No doubt this will be a Valentine’s Day to remember for those who attended.



DO YOU KNOW A

SHINING STAR? The Special Recognition Committee is accepting nominations for Shining Star awards.

Guidelines: The person you nominate must be a current,

active member of the Oklahoma Chapter of SGMP.

A member can only be recognized for a “Shining Star” award once per year (July–June).

Nominations must be submitted before the first of the month for recognition the following month; otherwise, nominations will be carried over for the next award date.

Send nominations to [email protected]

RECIPE ROUNDUP from the kitchen of Laura Morgan

12 ounces cream cheese, softened Combine in small bowl: 2 cans Pillsbury® Crescent Rolls ½ c sugar ½ c sugar 2 t cinnamon 1 t vanilla extract ½ c butter, melted

1. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray, unroll one package of crescent rolls and line the bottom of the pan. Bake according to package instructions until just beginning to brown. Remove from oven.

2. Mix together the cream cheese, sugar and extract. Spread mixture over warm crescent rolls.

3. Unroll the other can of crescent rolls and place on top of cream cheese mixture.

4. Pour melted butter over the top and sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 25–30 minutes.

Do you have a delicious recipe you would like to share? Send the recipe and a photo of the dish to

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]?subject=SGMP%20Recipe



Membership Committee Report

As of March 31, 2013, the Wild West Chapter has:

47 Planners + 31 Suppliers + 1 Retiree = 79 Total Members

New Members

Ann Barnes—American Indian Institute at OU

Ashley Norman—Choctaw Casino and Resort

Name Change

Ezra Poindexter replaces Wissam Damaj—Sheraton Midwest City Hotel at the Reed Conference Center

Thanks to the following members for renewing their memberships this quarter!

Lynn Beard—OU

Tanya Bethel—DoubleTree Warren Place

Penny Cramer—Moore Norman Technology Center

Beverly Davis—Oklahoma Dept of Health

Karin Ford—OUCPM

Diane Haser–Bennett—OKDHS

Morgan Hughes, CGMP—NCED Conference Center & Hotel

Felicity Johnson—Association of County Commissioners

Jonnie Leckie—Association of County Commissioners

Janet Logan—Oklahoma State Parks

Danielle Merryman—University of Oklahoma

Laura Morgan—Winner’s Circle, Inc.

Kathie Nicolleti—University of Oklahoma

Stacy Payne—OSU Ag Conferences

Carrie Rohr—Retired

Michelle Samp—Norman CVB

Do you know someone who might benefit from SGMP, but don’t have time to invite them yourself? Send your membership leads and we will invite them for you, plus, you can earn scholarship points

for qualifying leads! Send your leads to Michael Farr, CASE, CGMP, at [email protected].



March 14, 2013 Meeting Skirvin Hilton Hotel

Improving the Quality & Cost Effectiveness of Government Meetings by Morgan Hughes, CGMP

As we all well know, planning and executing government meetings has become quite the juggling act over the past couple of years. Who knew that all professionals in the Government meeting planning world would someday shutter at the site and sound of the made up term “Muffin Gate”? Or that the very agency that establishes guidelines we are supposed to follow as meeting professionals would choose to violate them in such a huge way? It was an unfortunate turn of events that has led us down the path we are on now, but thankfully, we have a huge support network in SGMP.

On March 14th, we all gathered at the beautiful Skirvin Hilton Hotel for a St. Patty’s Day–themed meal (which was delicious!), and a very appropriate presentation for the times, “Improving the Quality & Cost Effectiveness of Government Meetings”. Linda Dowling was our presenter and she did a fabulous job in leading us all in a large group discussion, which was imperative in the successful presentation of such a topic. Suppliers and planners alike were able to share best practices that have helped them succeed when faced

with all the current political and economic challenges of planning a Government meeting these days. We discussed success factors and cost reducing strategies that do not take away from the quality of the meeting. Every single idea or best practice shared was invaluable.

Linda was a great leader, and her open forum presentation was what made this so effective; it allowed us all to share our strategies to planning a successful, quality Government meeting, even when budgets are literally disappearing. As a supplier, I sometimes wish there were a “Booking Government Meetings for Idiots” book, because it seems like every Agency I work with has a different M.O. that changes each week. Let me tell you, it can be quite taxing to keep it all straight. The relationships made in SGMP, however, make it all seem a bit less absurd. In these hard times, I’m more and more thankful that I have the opportunity to have you all in my

network. Thanks for sharing, and here’s to more and more success!



Advertising special: Purchase one year of newsletter advertising (4 issues) and receive a 10% discount on your ad!

Ad Dimensions ¼ Page: 7.5” x 2.5” (horizontal) or 3.75” x 5” (vertical) ½ Page: 7.5” x 5” (horizontal) or 3.75” x 10” (vertical) Full Page: 7.5” x 10”

Below is the publication schedule for the quarterly issues:

Edition Ad Deadline Published by January–March April 1 April 30 April–June July 1 July 31 July–September October 1 October 31 October–December January 1 January 31

Share your knowledge and present on a topic of your

choice that will educate all SGMP members. You will be appreciated by your peers, & earn points for

meeting planning certifications & chapter scholarships.

Your topic does not have to be solely on meeting planning or the hotel industry. Think

outside the box about topics that are essential in everyday life at work, home, relationships, etc. All of us

make up the body of the chapter and each of you ARE the chapter.

If you aren’t comfortable presenting by yourself, buddy up with a colleague to do a presentation. You may have someone in your office who would give a presentation. The possibilities are endless! With the amount of expertise we all bring to one group, it will be a phenomenal year for the Wild West Chapter and we can keep bringing stellar programs to the 2nd Thursday of every month!

Please contact Amy Knowles, with your presentation ideas at [email protected] or 405.809.3500. Thanks!

¼ page = $50 ½ page = $75

Full Page = $125 Prices are per issue

Ad formats: .tif, .jpg, or .pdf

Contact: [email protected]

We want your contributions to The Spur. Let us know what is going on with you on a personal

or professional level. Do you have a new addition to your family, new job, got

engaged/married or have other news about yourself or another SGMP member?

We want your photos and news of events big

and small. Articles can be about a new meeting planning experience or something that you

learned to do or not to do.

Give us your input and remember, articles count for PIE & NEC scholarship points.

mailto:[email protected]



Government Contracts in the Post-GSA Scandal Era

submitted by Candie Westbrook, CGMP

In a breakout session at the 2013 PIE Conference, we discussed government contracts in the post GSA scandal era. This breakout, as a supplier, was the most beneficial course I have ever taken on government contracting. Steve Rudner is a lawyer who works with several brands of hotels all across the United States that are in battle with state or federal agencies over contracts. The three myths of government contracts are 1) The government cannot sign a contract, 2) The government is not allowed to pay attrition or cancellation and 3) Government contracts (for the state of Oklahoma) are not allowed to extend past the current fiscal year because of the state budget.

In regards to myth number one, the government can sign contracts; you just have to know who your contracting officer is. There have been so many instances where someone with signature authority signs a contract and then the event cancels and they say, “Well, we are not going to pay because this contract was not signed by a contracting officer.” Make sure that you get something in writing from the person who is signing your contracts that they are the contracting officer. If they do not know whether they are the contracting officer or not then 99% of the time they will not be the right person.

Myth two states that, the government cannot pay attrition or cancellation. The reason the government has gotten away with this is because, when the economy was bad, hotels were happily accepting government contracts on the government’s terms and they were able to get away with it. The government says that it cannot pay for products or services that it did not “consume.” There is a matter of interpretation when it comes to the word “consume.” Some would think it means rooms actually used. The fact is that when you are expecting a certain number of rooms and you turn away potential business (be it group or transient) those rooms are being consumed. Therefore, attrition and cancellation applies. Another clause that government falls back on a lot is Force Majeure. When government groups cancel they try to say that it was government regulation. There was a case in California when Governor Schwarzenegger released a memo that all travel and training would be cancelled in an effort to save the state money. Not only were hotels in California affected by this but also hotels spanning across the U.S. The end result was that it was a memo and not a regulation. Therefore, millions of dollars were recuperated and paid to the hotels. Majority of the memos and policies that come down the pipeline regarding conferences and budget cuts pertaining to training have nothing to do with government regulation. Sequestration is not considered to be a government regulation and therefore it is not a valid reason to cancel a contract. You can also remove the words government regulation from your Force Majeure clauses to prevent this conversation from even happening in the first place.

Myth three was geared specifically towards state agencies in Oklahoma. For those who work closely with Universities this will be most important to you. On most occasions we can only book a University a year out based on the July 1, fiscal year due to state budgets. On one particular occasion, a University tried to cancel an event that they had booked for 2014. When it went to the state courts it was said that the state budget had not yet been appropriated and there was no money available for that conference. There was no way to prove this was the case because conference monies are allocated in a lump sum of other funds in the Oklahoma state budget and was therefore thrown out.

Government business is no different than anything else. They buy products and services every day using contracts. Why should they be able to buy products and services from you without one?



Upcoming Meetings & Programs Unless otherwise noted, monthly meetings follow the below schedule:

Board Meeting: 9:30am (members invited to attend) Registration & Networking: 11:00am

Luncheon: 11:15am

April 11, 2013 Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tulsa Downtown Program: Social Media in Meeting Planning

May 9, 2013 Venue: Choctaw Casino & Resort Durant Program: Safety Preparedness for Event Planning

May 22–24, 2013 Venue: Rosen Shingle Creek—Orlando, FL Program: National Education Conference

June 13, 2013 Venue: NCED Conference Center & Hotel—Norman Program: Supplier Appreciation & Annual Awards Banquet

July 29–30, 2013 Venue: Hyatt Regency Tulsa Program: Board Retreat

August 8, 2013 Venue: Embassy Suites Norman Hotel & Conference Center

September 12, 2013 Venue: Hyatt Regency Tulsa Program: How to Respond to a Government Contract

October 10, 2013 Venue: Enid Event Center & Convention Hall

Mark your calendar now!

50/50 Raffle

Tickets are just $1 each, 7 tickets for $5, and 15 tickets for $10 and may be purchased at registration.

We will draw a winner after lunch and the lucky winner will keep ½ the pot! The other half will go to the chapter to increase available scholarship money. If you are interested in participating, please bring cash and your lucky charm!

Thank you SGMP members who participated in this month’s drawing. We truly appreciate your contributions to SGMP scholarships. Be sure to try again at the upcoming luncheons!



Committee Corral Do you want to serve the Wild West Chapter, but don’t know what to do? Below is a list of the chapter’s committees and description of each. If you are interested in serving on one of these committees, contact the committee chair.

Budget and Finance

Chair: Ginger Thompson—[email protected]

Responsible for maintaining budget, bank statements, tax reports and other tax information as necessary. The treasurer staffs the registration table to receive monthly meeting fees from members. The treasurer shall submit appropriate records to National Headquarters as required.

Communication

Chair: Laura Morgan—[email protected]

Publishes the Chapter newsletter, which includes the solicitation of articles, layout and design, publication and distribution. The committee is responsible for all content on chapter website, including but not limited to, meeting schedules, archives, and advertising.

Community Service

Chair: Sara Furr—[email protected]

Develops and implements community service projects, which are carried out by the Chapter membership throughout the year.

Hospitality

Chair: Candie Westbrook, CGMP—[email protected]

Responsible for meeting and greeting members and guests at each chapter meeting, soliciting door prizes for each monthly meeting and send a thank you card for those who donate gifts, maintaining Chapter PowerPoint for each monthly luncheon meeting, and maintaining spreadsheet of monthly door prize donors.

Marketing

Chair: Crystal Mappes, CMP—[email protected]

Responsible for regular communications and notifications to the chapter membership for monthly luncheons, special events, and other chapter events.

Membership

Chair: Michael Farr, CASE, CGMP—[email protected]

Develops, promotes, and maintains the chapter membership. The committee registers members and guests at all official functions and maintains membership database and revisions on a monthly basis.

Nominations & Election Committee

Chair: Shari Goad, CMP—[email protected]

Oversees the nominations and elections process.

Programs & Education

Chair: Amy Knowles—[email protected]

Arranges meeting sites, speakers and programs for the regular monthly luncheons and Acts as the liaison to the speaker for any audio/visual equipment requested and the host properties.

Scholarship

Chair: Angela Salusky—[email protected]

Consists of Chapter Board members and Committee Chairs. Updates the scholarship guidelines and distribute to all chapter members at least 3 months prior to NEC and PIE.

Special Projects

Chair: Angela Salusky—[email protected]

Responsible for planning special activities to raise funds for scholarships to enable Chapter members to attend the NEC (National Education Conference) and Partner’s In Education (PIE). Also responsible for the holiday gala, silent auction, installation of officers and awards ceremony.

Special Recognition

Chair: Tracy Blair, CHSP—[email protected]

Responsible for recognizing members who volunteer time and energy to the Chapter. Other honors may include special recognition in the newsletter, telephone calls, letters of thanks, letters of appreciation to their supervisor, or certificates.



The Un-Comfort Zone

Empathy on Empty I saw six people huddled on the sidewalk in front of me; through their legs I saw what looked like a body on the ground. I rushed over to see what was going on. I saw a man with a bloody gash on his head; he appeared to be unconscious. I pushed through and started checking him out using my Boy Scout First–Aid training. His clothes were filthy and tattered, and he smelled bad, but a quick examination showed that his wound was not very deep.

I was a 19 year old college kid, and had just moved into my first apartment. I was walking to get acquainted with the neighborhood, when I found the injured man. "What happened?" I asked the crowd.

"He's a drunk; I'm calling the police!" responded one man.

I couldn't believe the callous response. "This man is hurt," I cried. He doesn't need the police – he needs help!"

I roused the man and got him to his feet. "Come on Mister, let me take you home."

I asked him where he lived. He grunted and pointed down the block, so I took his arm and we started walking. I gave a dirty look to the guy who wanted to call the police. I was clueless that my ward might be homeless.

At each intersection, I asked him which way to go, but he always pointed straight ahead. In the middle of the third block he veered off the sidewalk and into the street where he stopped. Then to my shock, while I was holding him up, he unzipped his fly and began urinating in the middle of the road. I was mortified. I looked around; hoping the guy up the street had not called the police. At that moment, I was glad that none of my neighbors knew me yet.

When he finished, we walked another block. The street ended at a park. I asked the man which way to turn. Suddenly, he developed a burst of energy, broke free from my grasp, ran deep into the park, and disappeared into the trees. I stood there staring after him feeling stupid.

A few years later, I moved to New York City. It was my second week in the Big Apple when I stopped my car at a red light. A man holding a gas can walked up to my window and said, "I live out on Long Island and ran out of gas, but I left my wallet at the house." He held the can up expectantly and said, "A gallon will get me home."

I was very intimidated by the size and congestion of New York; I knew I would hate to be stuck there without my wallet. I handed him two dollars. Two days later, I pulled up to a red light at a different intersection when the same man came up to me with the same story. I was furious.

After experiencing a few more incidents like these, my empathy was running on empty.

Whatever natural compassion I carried from my youth was being ground out daily by the harsh realities of life. As I became more successful professionally, I paid it forward with generous donations and volunteer work. But empathy? Understanding people's feelings? There just didn't seem to be a role for it in my life.

Then one day, I needed a little myself. My love relationship was falling apart. I explained my concerns to my girlfriend in the

hope for some understanding, but none was forthcoming. On the other hand, I was too caught up in my own issues to have any feelings for hers. The relationship ended. I was distraught, but it made me determined to learn how to be more empathic in the future.

As I explore empathy, I have observed that I'm not the only one suffering from a lack of it. It seems to be a worldwide phenomenon. Just like me, people are demanding that they are offered compassion, but take no time to understand the viewpoint of others.

The more I learn about it however, it seems that the opposite would be true, because the benefits of empathy are enormous. For one, it is a great way to motivate people – not just in our personal lives – but in business as well.

California–based graphic designer, Moira Hill, says, "Being empathetic absolutely helps in business – because it allows you to see things from your customer's perspective and adjust your service and how you provide them accordingly." She adds, "Empathy increases kindness in the world. It takes little time, and a small action can have ripple effects."

Hillary Nash is a top seller of cancer insurance policies for AFLAC. She attributes her success to sharing her own story of how her family was devastated by her father's cancer. "I hear from clients often about how they were touched that I would share something so personal."

Psychotherapist and author of The Self–Aware Parent, Dr. Fran Walfish, enjoys repeat business and referrals because she tells patients some of her own personal struggles. "I share a flaw of my own to help the patient put into perspective their own challenges and to realize that even the doctor whom they idealize and hold in high regard has problems, too."

Dr. Joseph Shrand, an instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, says that good business is based on relationships, and that respect is the first step you take in having empathy for someone. He makes this observation, "When is the last time you got angry at a person who was treating you with respect? You don't!"

Executive coach, Dr. Karissa Thacker, sees it as a business tool. "Nice guys can finish first, if they have an enlightened, practical understanding of empathy."

Does your empathy need a fill up?

Publishing Information

Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. is a motivational speaker and humorist. He works with companies that want to be more competitive and with people who want to think like innovators. For more information on Robert's programs please visit www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com.

This article is offered free of charge on a nonexclusive basis. The copyright is retained by Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. You may reprint or post this material, as long as my name (Robert Evans Wilson, Jr.) and contact information (www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com) are included. If you publish it, please send a copy to Jumpstart Your Meeting! PO Box 190146, Atlanta, GA 31119. If you post it, please send the URL to [email protected].

http://www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com/

http://www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com/

mailto:[email protected]

the spur (january-march 2013)

Documents

education conference

wild west chapter sgmp

national sgmp

okc cvb

awards committee

hospitality committee

membership committee

committee corral