In This Issue Letter from the President CSEP Question October Program Highlights: Hot Event and Entertainment Ideas Member News ISES - Minneapolis/St. Paul Awards Student Scholarships Student Member Profiles Sponsor Spotlight Board Member Profile Letter from the President We set a record! We had our biggest crowd ever at the "Hot Event and Entertainment Ideas" program on Oct. 12. About 90 people braved the snow flurries (yikes!) to hear from Michael Cerbelli of New York about the latest trends, newest products and best entertainers. If you were there, thank you! I hope you were inspired and educated to add some new pizzazz to your upcoming events! It just keeps coming, folks. On November 9, we've asked Karolyn Kirchgesler of the Saint Paul Rivercentre Convention and Visitors Authority to talk about the 2008 Republican National Convention and how that will affect our industry in the area. Let's talk about membership, shall we? Membership in ISES is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your career. I truly believe that. When you join ISES and become an active member, you will get more out of it than you put into it! November is our "preview" month. The program on Nov. 9 is available at the ISES member rate of $30 for all attendees. Check us out in November, and join in December. Make it a gift to yourself! During December, membership is available at half-price for the remainder of the ISES membership year (through June 30). That's just $199-or $149 for non-profit representatives. Please consider this option. We'd love to have you join our dynamic, growing, fun chapter. Thanks for your time, and I hope to see you at our November program! Kate Touhey, CSEP President ISES Minneapolis-St. Paul CSEP Question Why Should I Be Certified? The special events industry has experienced phenomenal growth over the past several years and is changing at an even faster pace. Today, special events are more challenging and require a high level of professionalism.  Become a recipient of the Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) designation and set yourself apart from the competition. Test your industry knowledge. Below is a sample question from the CSEP test. A facility without sleeping rooms:     a. convention center     b. lodge     c. conference center     d. resort (See bottom of newsletter for the answer) October Program Highlights: Hot Event and Entertainment Ideas Speaker: Michael Cerbelli The Lafayette Club   The room was packed with a record breaking 89 attendees who were ready to hear Michael Cerbelli's 50 hot event and entertainment ideas. We heard about soft LED drapery, underwater light shows for as little as $50, and how to Pimp Your Tux at your next party - just to name a few of his unique, fresh ideas. Michael not only talked about these ideas, he presented them in a dynamic multi-media presentation. After the presentation he handed out a sheet with all 50 ideas listed along with contact information for the vendors of these products and services. Mary-Jo Brokaw of the Cloth Connection and Lynn Riveria of Twin City Celebrations look at samples of the products mentioned during the presentation. It was wonderful to be able to get a close up look at these products from around the world. As always, a monthly Chapter program is all about networking. Guest Sheila Smith Le Corre of Martin Bastian chats with our guest speaker after the presentation. Member News Lancer Hospitality Promotes Tom Rubenstein to Vice President of Lancer Catering (Eagan, Minnesota) Lancer Hospitality, based in Eagan, Minnesota, is pleased to announce that Tom Rubenstein has been promoted to the position of Vice President of Lancer Catering. Tom was hired by Lancer Hospitality as the Director of Catering at the Minnesota Zoo in 1993, was promoted to General Manager at Edinburgh USA in 1997 and has served as the Director of Sales & Marketing for Lancer Hospitality since 2001. In this role Tom was responsible for promoting the catering, contract food service and entertainment venues managed by Lancer. "Tom has been invaluable in developing Lancer Catering and establishing our presence as one of the premier catering companies in the Twin Cities" said Lancer Hospitality president, Glenn Baron. Mr. Rubenstein is a 1976 Graduate of the University of Minnesota and a 1980 Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York. After graduation from the CIA he worked for several large restaurant and catering companies in the Los Angeles area. ISES - Minneapolis/St. Paul Awards Student Scholarships There is no doubt that interest in the Special Events Industry is a growing trend among students. Colleges and universities are beginning to take notice as new hospitality and event programs are popping up across the country. Jaime Gaard, Andrea Otteman, Kalie Larson, and Katie Ischkin attend the October ISES Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter meeting. Not pictured is scholarship winner Erica Thiel. As the organization for continuing education and the promotion of professionalism and ethics in the special events field, ISES is investing in this next generation of event professionals by offering student memberships into the organization. Student membership allows students the opportunity to meet ISES members, attend events, network, and gain a head start in exploring the field as they consider their interest in special events. In return, the students offer 10 hours of volunteer time to assist the chapter with its needs. In order to raise awareness of ISES and encourage student membership, we offer student scholarships for membership in ISES. Students may apply for the scholarship, which covers the $35 yearly fee, by completing an application for membership, signed by a professor or advisor and submitting an essay on their interest in the special events field. This fall, we distributed the scholarship applications to 26 colleges and universities in Minnesota and Wisconsin and received 20 outstanding applications from interested students. It was a difficult decision, but we selected 5 students as recipients of this year's ISES Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter Student Scholarship. The scholarship recipients were honored at the October program, and along with their fellow student members will be present at chapter meetings and events throughout the year. Student Member Profiles Name: Andrea Otteman School: St. Olaf College Major/Program: Economics and Management Emphasis What interests you about the Special Events Industry? Event planning is a dynamic, growing field with a unique combination of discipline and freedom. It draws upon both creative and analytical skills to bring people together for a common cause. It is also unbelivably rewarding and motivating to be able to actually see the results of all the hard work put into planning a special event. Why did you apply for the ISES scholarship? As a senior this year, I am acutely aware that I need to be intentional about my post-graduation plans, which is why the ISES scholarship is a timely and attractive prospect for me. It is the ideal opportunity to compliment and enhance my experience to date, and it provides me with an unprecedented chance to kick-start my career as an event planner while I complete my studies. What are you looking forward to or hoping to gain as a member? The opportunity to network with professionals in industy so I can learn more about the industry. Also, the diversity of your membership will give me insight into the variety of roles in the field of special events and help me identify my areas of interest and strength. What would you ultimate event dream job be? To plan national and international special events for philanthropic causes. Name: Kalie Larson School: Gustavus Adolphus College Major/Program: Communication Studies What interests you about the Special Events Industry? The Special Events Industry has sparked my interest because it seems to be an industry that would allow me to express my creative side and witness my imagination and articulation come to life within each final product. It's an industry centered on new trends, ideas and technologies which compels an exciting, challenging and ever-changing career. I am also intrigued by the idea of networking with others and being able to meet new people in my everyday life. Why did you apply for the ISES scholarship? I applied for the ISES scholarship because I thought that becoming a member of such a dynamic organization could bring a vast array of opportunities for advancement in the Special Events Industry. I knew that I had an interest in the field, but I didn't know how to become more educated, involved and open. Regardless of if I were to receive the scholarship, I knew that ISES was a society that would bring opportunities to open doors for a potential career. What are you looking forward to or hoping to gain as a member? By becoming a member, I am looking forward to furthering my education about the event industry and its workings. I am hoping that I'll be able to witness a sample of each of the disciplines within the industry so that I can narrow down what areas are most suitable to me. I'm also very eager to meet and build relationships with other professionals in the industry, and hopefully my interaction and hands-on work will bring potential employment opportunities. What would your ultimate event dream job be? My ultimate event dream job would be one in which I could work one-on-one with a client from day one to the day of the event. I would prefer to not only be able to work off of my client's visual requests but also be able to incorporate some of my own input. I would love to be the grand coordinator, making sure that everything from booking the vendors to setting the tables was done correctly, efficiently and creatively by me, of course with the much-needed help of other event professionals to ensure that the event runs smoothly and cohesively. Name: Erica L. Thiel School: Concordia University St. Paul Major/Program: Marketing Management What interests you about the Special Events Industry? The creativity is very appealing to me. I enjoy learning what the objectives of a meeting or event are and then begin the planning and implementation to make it a success. I enjoy building on my experiences and make the next meeting even better than the last. Why did you apply for the ISES scholarship? I applied for the scholarship with ISES because I recognize what a great organization it is. ISES provides many great resources for event planners. I want to begin networking and learning all I can about the industry. I felt this was a great opportunity to accomplish those goals. What are you looking forward to or hoping to gain as a member? I am looking forward to the volunteer experiences and networking with event professionals. Having the opportunity to learn from others within the industry as well as make new friendships is priceless. I also plan to study for the CSEP exam once I am finished with my degree at Concordia. What would your ultimate event dream job be? I had the opportunity to attend the EventWorld 2006 Seminar in Hawaii. This experience was my first exposure to ISES and was very exciting for me. It demonstrated there are many avenues one can follow within the industry. However, based on my current experience, I would like to begin my journey with corporate event planning. Once I achieve this goal and acquire professional experience, a home based business may be of interest. Name: Jaime Gaard School: Gustavus Adolphus College Major/Program: Communication Studies What interests you about the Special Events Industry? I love the fact that it is an exciting, diverse and relatively new industry that offers a variety of different opportunities. I am excited to learn more about the logistics, strategic and creative plans that go into various special events. I find great fulfillment in seeing an event move through the planning stages to full execution. Why did you apply for the ISES scholarship? The ISES scholarship was offered to students in my Communications Studies major. After researching ISES and learning about the organization, I knew joining ISES would be a great way for me to begin my journey into the field of event planning. Receiving this student scholarship is a wonderful honor. What are you looking forward to or hoping to gain as a member? I am looking forward to learning more about the special events industry and the various opportunities. I anticipate that this chapter will be filled with inspiring, passionate professionals. I hope to connect and network with others who may offer their advice, help or strategies for success in the industry. I am really looking forward to gaining hands-on event experience, contributing to the organization and exploring the possibilities of this field. What would your ultimate event dream job be? My ultimate event dream job would be to organize a tennis exhibition featuring the top professional tennis players in the world that would raise money for charity. Thank you to our Platinum-Level Strategic Partner The Answer from the CSEP quiz - A - Convention Center

November Program: 2008 Republican National Convention Karolyn Kirchgesler, the President & CEO of the Saint Paul RiverCentre Convention & Visitors Authority will discuss how it will affect the local event industry and how you can get involved! Thursday, November 9, 2006 11:00am to 1:00pm Eagan Community Center 1501 Central Parkway Eagan, MN 55121 Directions * 11:00am Registration * 11:30am Welcome and ISES News * 11:45am Feature Presentation by Karolyn Kirchgesler * 1:00pm Conclusion Please RSVP Members $30.00 Guests $30.00 Students $15.00 Guests: Come check out ISES in November, then join in December for half year membership at half price! Please RSVP by Monday, November 6, 2006. There will be a $10 surcharge for anyone who registers after this deadline. Cancellations after Monday, November 6, 2006 and No-shows will be billed. Speaker Bio Karolyn Kirchgesler is the President & CEO of the Saint Paul RiverCentre Convention & Visitors Authority. Saint Paul is one of the first few cities in the nation to combine their convention center and convention and visitors bureau. Karolyn moved to Saint Paul in December 2004, prior to the merger of the two organizations and was instrumental in receiving legislative support to consolidate the two entities. Prior to coming to the area, she was the executive director of the Greater New Haven Convention & Visitors Bureau, which represented 19 municipalities in Connecticut. Originally from the Midwest, she grew up in South Dakota and has been in the industry for 20 years. Karolyn and her staff worked very closely with City officials and were involved in the bid presentations and site inspections for both the RNC and DNC bids. Thanks to our Platinum-Level Program Sponsor: Sponsor Spotlight Twin City Catering began its journey in 1993 with daily corporate catering and outdoor events. In 2002, Affairs to Remember was launched as an upscale catering division now known as Twin City Celebrations. In 2005 we purchased Professional Foodservice and Northwinds Aviation Foodservice. We are now the largest outdoor catering company in the region while providing both onsite and offsite services. Thanks to our Bronze-Level Program Sponsors: Board Member Profile Vice President of Membership Ryan Hanson Creative Director for MENTTIUM Corporation Years in event industry: 5 I am responsible for making sure members of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Chapter of ISES are HAPPY! I work along with Craig Oliver to ensure that, as a chapter, we are providing value to our members through our offerings and activities. Together we work towards a continuously growing and productive chapter. If you know someone who is interested in becoming a member or who should be a member of ISES, come and see me! Also if you have questions, concerns, or ideas about how to make membership in ISES more valuable to you, I would love to share the conversation with you! The most fantastic part of being a member of ISES is the community you are able to be a part of. This is a great networking opportunity, not just locally, but globally. As a member, I was able to connect with planners from around the country at the 2005 ISES Eventworld. Together with one of these planners, I will led a conference session at the 2006 ISES conference. These connections also lead to partnerships on my events that occur outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul market. As a planner who has to produce event outside of the market, through the people I met at the conference I am able to get great service for my company and find quality vendors in any city we travel to. All I have to do is mention my ISES membership and the connection works! On the other hand, as a planner who constantly wants to push myself - I love being part of this organization because you get to know and see what is happening elsewhere in the industry - learn the trends and then try to create and build upon them in my events. Without ISES I wouldn't know where to begin finding a network like this! Something Fun Halloween Drink Idea Bloody Eyeball Cocktail per eyeball: 1 radish 1 pimiento stuffed green olive Per drink: 1 shot vodka or tequila (optional) 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/4 tsp. horseradish salt & pepper to taste hot sauce to taste V8 juice to fill glass small lemon or lime wedge Prepare ice "eyeballs" at least a day before your plan to use them. Peel radishes, leaving thin streaks of red skin on to represent blood vessels. Using the tip of the vegetable peeler or a small, knife, carefully scoop out a small hole in each radish, roughly the size of an olive. Stuff a green olive, pimiento side out, in each hole. Place 1 radish eyeball in each section of an empty ice cube tray. Pare the radishes down a bit to fit, if necessarry. Fill the tray with water and freeze overnight. To make drink, fill a tall cocktail glass with 3-4 eyeball ice cubes, add ingredients in the order given and shake. For an elegant touch, line the glass with a salt rim before filling by running a piece of lemon or lime around the rim then dipping it in a small dish of salt. ©2005 FabulousFoods.com