Singing about the Power to Change-GMIC

Day 7 - 9, GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference

Westin Peachtree and 200 Peachtree Center, Atlanta

Wellness rating: 3.6/5 Based on no protein and limited allergy/gf sensitivity items available at breakfast, limited options for exercise/walking, limited access to natural light during the sessions. Excellent fitness center in the Westin was well used by participants. I am adding a wellness rating to these meetings because when you are spending 34 days on the road, every day counts.

A Study in Sustainability was how we chose to approach the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference and again, I am so pleased QuickMobile has returned as their mobile app partner and were able to make a positive difference to their initiatives. It is one of the most satisfying parts of my work, to see mobile in action!  It is also one of the reasons we developed the Mobile App Certificate, part of the CIC Preferred Partner Program - 10 hours of how to design mobile into your meetings - and why it matters now that everyone shows up with mobile device in hand!

There were so many things to learn and discover, including a fantastic session on meeting dietary needs of participants in this new age of allergies, sensitivities and choices by Tracy Stuckrath who along with Nancy Zavada, a founder of GMIC was recently named one of M&C's top 25 women in the meetings industry.  Two women I am proud to call friends and who have earned this distinction, along with the others included in this list.

If you don't know Kristi Casey Sanders of PYM - well, you are missing out!  As our host for this meeting she kept us informed, kept it real, reminded us of the learnings we were having along the way, and tied together her love for technology and people with fun periscope interviews throughout. 

We chose to have a study because we wanted to share ideas, and we were able to share twenty copies of Meet Better, a new book by Nancy, Shawna McKinley and Mariela McIlwraith with those who came by to chat with us.  We know they will enjoy the 167 ways to make their meetings more sustainable.  It should truly be part of the thinking behind every meetings - the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit is a pillar we should all be able to get behind and make adaptations that make sense given each particular situation. 

Keynote presentations reminded us of a variety of things related to the theme of the Power to Change, starting with Laura Turner Seydel and the work the Turner family continues to do do around sustainability in their many businesses and using their power for good in their home base of Atlanta.  Derreck Kayongo of the Global Soap Project was simply delightful as he shared his story of starting with one idea and now delivering with partners soap to 92 countries in need! 

We also had the opportunity to head out to MODA, the Museum of Design Atlanta and explore how a city applies design thinking and sustainable choices into their growth including telling the story in innovative ways such as these word cubes. One of the highlights of this whole trip for me was of course the people I get to have conversations with. We began talking about sustainable meetings in 1995 in Vancouver, and have a LEED Platinum Convention Centre and I now teach a Sustainable Event Operations class at BCIT and believe that this needs to be simply woven into our planning and being surrounded by like-minded people is always awesome. One of my early heroes was and remains Jill Drury of the Drury Design Dynamics because they do incredibly interesting and thoughtful and visually stunning work, and do it all with sustainability as a core value - in their office, with their people who never leave, at each and every event and learning from every conversation with her is always something to look forward to. 

Other groups experienced other behind-the-scenes tours and then we reconvened for a closing lunch and a final keynote.

The key reminders were all brought together in a team focused closing keynote led by Angus Clark as he brought out his guitar and shared the story of the beginnings of Song Division in Australia, their journey and the ongoing work they do to support community through music, and ultimately in having us all work together to solidify our learnings into a song verse in teams at our tables.  With input from the group who had worked on various verses the lines were chosen to make up a song which we then were able to hear put together at the end, and laugh and enjoy an upbeat and memorable closing keynote that worked to drive home the key messages.

I was also able to enjoy dining with fantastic friends who are sharing this journey of sustainable meetings from around the world, and enjoy both White Oaks and South City Kitchen, two of the many restaurants offering farm to table options - and there is nothing better than great food paired with fabulous company!

I can't wait to see what the new GMIC President, Roger Simons brings to the organization as he takes on this important leadership role.  His passion for sustainability, enthusiasm for life and living it, and smart approach to the issues at hand will continue the great work done to date by the people before him, many still actively involved, and all still planning sustainable events.

June - Road to Learning

I am very fortunate to be able to represent QuickMobile at many events throughout the year, and I have a few of my favorites coming up in June.  The first I will attend (narrowly missing AIBTM which we have sent two other lucky people to) is Collaborate Marketplace. I first attended this Collinson Media event in Denver, and found the quality of format, presentations, and take-away information to be of the highest caliber.  I am simply thrilled to be participating again and look forward to seeing many friends there where I expect to be having at least this much fun!

Whan life gives you lemons... juggle! Event created while at Cantrav in 2010.

From here it is straight across Florida to PCMA Educon, where they will be again offering up a day of hybrid sessions and where we are again partnering to do their awesome app.  This is a group that pushes boundaries and shows meeting professionals alternatives - I always appreciate that! 

GMIC beckons again, and the longer I teach Sustainable Event Operations at BCIT for, the more I know there is to learn to deliver events which meet a triple bottom line.  The passionate planners in this room are our greatest brain trust and I love the conversations we are able to have.  Also so happy we are doing their app again! At our space there we will be giving away this fabulous brand new resource, Meet Better, authored by experts Nancy J Zavada, Shawna McKinley and Mariela McIlwraith - just come and have a conversation with us for your chance to take home your own. 

Where will I see you next?

GMIC - 20 final thoughts

As I have mentioned, I live in Vancouver, where we do consider ourselves sustainable - not perfect but certainly taking some great steps. This week it was awesome to see, as they self - referred, the "Choir" of Green Meeting and Event Professionals at the GMIC event at the Doubletree Portland. By all accounts, a hotel ahead on sustainability, while still maintaining very high standards, excellent food quality and presentation, and yes, the warm cookies. (hello!!)

I blogged to support the (Spruce Almighty) team and became a virtual extension of the event. As they did say in their final wrap-up to keep communicating the message, I have just a few things to continue the conversation. I will note here that I have a lot of thoughts on being green and even more on being sustainable but as I have covered these in the blog links here, I won't rehash my pretty strong feelings and amazing examples. Instead a focus on the awesome information, lessons and next steps that came out of GMIC.

1. This is the "choir" who must now continue to spread the message of sustainability.
2. Social gaming, when properly structured, is an amazing tool for increasing the depth and breadth of learning, engagement and relationship building. Make the time to plan for it, communicate it, and promote it. Then debrief it.
3. Meeting and event professionals are ideally positioned to make huge impacts if we take even small steps on each meeting to make them more sustainable.
4. As strategists, we need to maintain our seat at the table, and ensure that sustainability is high on the agenda of every event's basic structure.
5. Open source your knowledge. When we share knowledge we open ourselves up to even more opportunities to learn and grow.
6. We must consider our entire supply chain, and engage suppliers in discussion about our objectives and expectations around sustainability.
7. We know sustainability is high on consumer and client wish lists. But "green" is just one factor. They also want to know if the people producing the product are being treated fairly, if there is cooperation, and that we care about where our products are being made and how.
8. We need to not only engage in discussion, but we need our suppliers and stakeholders to own the process with us and share responsibility for sustainability.
9. Social media is an amazing tool, not just for hybrid meetings, but also for continuing the discussions and growing the reach of the messages.
10. The messages must be consistent.
11. SMART goals are both important, but are also something as event professionals that we can work with our clients and stakeholders to better articulate - leading to meetings that are more productive. (pick the words that fit you best)
1. S - specific, significant
   M - measurable, meaningful, motivational
   
   A - agreed upon, attainable, achievable, acceptable, action-oriented
   
   R - realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding, results-oriented
   
   T - time-based, timely, tangible, trackable
12. Experimentation in safe environments is important to growth. Accept the growing pains, enjoy the innovations gained along the way. (no experimenting = no innovation)
13. Collaboration is the most important transformative tool.
14. Collaboration is "easier" when started face-to-face. It can be started with off-line tools, but it is trickier - off-line is an awesome way to continue the conversations. Indefinitely.
15. Standards can be sexy. Ask anyone who has given their time (and it takes TIME to reach consensus) to bring one standard after another to fruition.
16. The only way for standards to become standards is if we engage with and use them.
17. Think in bulk - save packaging where you can. Bring your own water bottle or mug for example and encourage others to do the same. (hotel soap / shampoo, condiments and so much more)
18. Apparently bags are on the way out (btw check these out - made from fabric reclaimed before it becomes landfill and sewn by home sewers)
19. Be a champion. Embrace the challenge. Sustainability is not an option.
20. Our First Nations ancestors plan ahead for seven generations. What will our world be like in seven generations if we don't step up and take responsibility now? 
Be the change you want to see!  Thank you so much to the board, leaders, speakers, presenters, staff, team and volunteers who all made this happen.


GMIC - 10 Tweetable Moments

Ah, the tweetable moments... here we go

1. collaboration = transformation via @mdanimonroe
2. our mission is clear, be inspired from Pedro from Estoril
3. Don't see sustainability as penance. via @mitchellbeer
4. It's about the solutions. Who are the strategiest via @mitchellbeer
5. be a champion: use standard right for your org, commit to providing feedback, serve as a case study via @LisaKraus
6. APEX/ASTM standards are misunderstood to be US standards; can be applied globally via @eco_efficient
7. APEX standards are a living document. The only way to make them perfect is to engage with the process via @hduckworth
8. leadership and conversation both needed to move forward via @laurelcootePMB
9. you can be green and run a sustainable business. pay attention to supply chain via @TahiraCreates
10. f2f with future GMIC leaders - talk about renewable energy (now that is what we are talking about!) 

GMIC - Virtually Missing...

Well I have just said what I like so here is what you miss as a virtual attendee

1. Hugs. When you get together with a group like this, and the tweeps you have met, you get a lot of hugs.
2. Food. Let's face it, my kashi and yogurt was delicious, but lonely. It looks like the Doubletree is knocking it out for y'all
3. Voodoo Donuts. ok. location specific. Like the warm cookies. Hello Doubletree.
4. Fashion Shows. Seriously - that looked like the coolest idea EVER. Nice one.
5. Hallway conversations. that are longer than 140 chararters.
6. Pink Power. GO GreenA_V
7. Live brainstorming. Skype was more successful for @samueljsmith than for our team
8. Sessions beyond the general sessions - especially the improv one with @jenisefryatt looked quite awesome
9. Having compressed, focused time with people who matter.

OK, but I did save some carbon attending this way...

GMIC - Virtually Amazing

For those of you that have been following my blog, you know that I am basically addicted to events, and that I believe that all events can be done with sustainability front of mind. By sustainability, I mean BIG PICTURE sustainability, as I blogged about for Engage365 - the 3ps of Meeting Planning.

While I would have loved to have been live at the Green Meetings Industry Council Event in Portland this week, for time and money, I had to make a choice, and instead found myself at Event Camp live, and as a virtual attendee at GMIC and team member of Team Spruce Almighty.  What an awesome thing, to be able to be engaged from my desk and thank you to this team (GMIC and its many sponsors and Spruce specifically) for making this possible.

Things I have learned so far:

1. Face to face remains the most important way for people to connect, but
2. Engaged virtual attendees have a lot to offer and including this option increases opportunity on both sides
3. I am lucky to work now primarily in Vancouver / Whistler / Banff, all true leaders in sustainable meetings and living (I know but hey, it is my blog, right...)
4. Cooperation is necessary - integrate and initiate discussions about how all the partners you work with can fit into a more sustainable model
5. Solutions that start with looking at the entire supply chain and work their way through the various details of the meeting are integral to continued success
6. APEX is a great tool and will fit well with standards around the globe
7. We need to not only use the sustainable tools we have, but to communicate them, pre-event, during it and following - show what we are doing TOGETHER
8. We have the opportunity to be leaders in change and we must embrace the opportunities and be leaders in sustainability
9. Sustainability is thinking strategically - when we as planners can show that we think strategically we get to sit at the table with the "big kids" and be much, much more effective in bringing our organizations overriding brand messages and values to life in live events (which are fundamentally one of the most powerful tools in our marketing and communication mix)
10. Every step counts