Meeting Professionals International - Northern California Chapter - Annual Gala 2009

I just attended Meeting Professional International-Northern California Chapter's Annual Gala event. They gave a state of the union address, had a silent auction, honored members and suppliers, as well as installed the new board members. I was a first time attendee to any MPI event and went as I consider joining and to network as I market my related services, iSpeaking and Purple Martin.

Honestly, I learned that this was not the venue to network. I could tell it was a much needed and deserved celebration for a battle tested group, weathering the tire fire that is currently the meetings industry.

With that said, this is a group I realized I had to join for the education and networking possibilities. So, I did. I am also attending MPI's World Education Congress in Salt Lake City, July 11-14.

The venue was astonishing. The California Academy of Sciences received a face lift that has many a Hollywooder wondering, who did the work? Come on, a Rain Forest indoors where butterflies perch on your shoulder? Arapaima fish 8 feet long that you can walk underneath?

Brazilian River Monster



Just Outside the Rain Forest