March 2020
Welcome to 2020: The Year of Gloom, Doom and What Just Happened?
By Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP
Okay, okay, I know the first quarter newsletter is supposed to be upbeat and full of good news and positive projections about well, the first quarter. But hey, with the current climate being what it is, “Hello Coronavirus!”, let’s just be honest and address the elephant that has already landed on our laps and is smothering our jobs, our conversations and thoughts along with our normally sane selves. And I’m not even referring to those that actually have contracted the virus, I’m referring to those of us working in this industry or heck, just about any industry anywhere in the world right now because well name a place or job market that has not already been affected in some way shape or form?
And I’m writing about it today because, despite good intentions to steer the conversation elsewhere, it is the dominate topic of our Wine and Whine chats. And you know what? That was AOK because it IS the current topic everywhere and looks as though it will remain as such for the foreseeable future. And heck here at SPIN we even have a separate thread of ‘all things Coronavirus’ going on our Facebook group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/SPINprofs/] so that as planners we can share our knowledge about what we are experiencing as we navigate these virus-infested waters ahead [apologies, but you just knew that pun was coming at some point, right?].
So, for most of us the future involves dealing with hotel and venue negotiations as they pertain to the virus along with travel plans, schedules that are chaotic at best, and a questionable future, at least for a few months. That’s a given.
But this might also be a good time to look into your crystal ball and start thinking about the recovery zone – whenever that will land – as well as things that you can do right now to stay positive and in forward motion.
If you’ve been with SPIN for any length of time you know that we face things head on in an open and honest forum, so why should things be any different right now? Let’s keep the dialogue open as we learn lessons from cancelled programs, share updates on contract language, help our members who suffer losses by using our network to book future help, and just generally keep our heads up and hair coiffed. [Well, that last note is directed at me because I’m overdue for a cut, but it sounded good to add it here so I did.]
In the end, if it seems like we’re going into battle then at least we’re marching together as veterans who have marched through and survived a multitude of other industry challenges – cue hotel commissions, airline strikes, snowstorms, firestorms, hurricanes and you-name-it-storms – and still come out working in an industry that will survive.
Do I hear an AMEN?
And I’m writing about it today because, despite good intentions to steer the conversation elsewhere, it is the dominate topic of our Wine and Whine chats. And you know what? That was AOK because it IS the current topic everywhere and looks as though it will remain as such for the foreseeable future. And heck here at SPIN we even have a separate thread of ‘all things Coronavirus’ going on our Facebook group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/SPINprofs/] so that as planners we can share our knowledge about what we are experiencing as we navigate these virus-infested waters ahead [apologies, but you just knew that pun was coming at some point, right?].
So, for most of us the future involves dealing with hotel and venue negotiations as they pertain to the virus along with travel plans, schedules that are chaotic at best, and a questionable future, at least for a few months. That’s a given.
But this might also be a good time to look into your crystal ball and start thinking about the recovery zone – whenever that will land – as well as things that you can do right now to stay positive and in forward motion.
If you’ve been with SPIN for any length of time you know that we face things head on in an open and honest forum, so why should things be any different right now? Let’s keep the dialogue open as we learn lessons from cancelled programs, share updates on contract language, help our members who suffer losses by using our network to book future help, and just generally keep our heads up and hair coiffed. [Well, that last note is directed at me because I’m overdue for a cut, but it sounded good to add it here so I did.]
In the end, if it seems like we’re going into battle then at least we’re marching together as veterans who have marched through and survived a multitude of other industry challenges – cue hotel commissions, airline strikes, snowstorms, firestorms, hurricanes and you-name-it-storms – and still come out working in an industry that will survive.
Do I hear an AMEN?
AdventureCon 2020 Postponed to 2021
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Shawna, Catherine and our AdventureCon partners - Alyeska Resort, Visit Anchorage and Alaska Destinations look forward to welcoming you to Alaska in 2021.
Additional details will be coming later this summer. |
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Have You Seen this Industry Petition?
The past month has seen an unprecedented number of event cancelations in the US and worldwide. The Covid-19 virus is nothing like anything we have faced in our modern economic times. The purpose of the petition is to sound the alarm on a massive economic catastrophe that is transpiring in our nation.
An aid package to support us in order to survive and recover the pandemic and economic catastrophe might include, but in no way is limited to the following suggestions:
For full information and sign the petition click here.
An aid package to support us in order to survive and recover the pandemic and economic catastrophe might include, but in no way is limited to the following suggestions:
- Emergency Medicaid Health insurance - to cover our uninsured business owners, contractors and laid off employees
- An additional $200 Billion in low interest federally backed business liquidity loans – the initial $50 Bill has already been surpassed in current sustained losses just to our industry.
- $100 Billion in Employee Retention Grants – these types of grants are being offered in New York City, currently the low interest loans and differed payroll tax are not able to avoid widespread layoffs. as a service based economy of live events and business meetings cannot sustain taking on the level of debt to support employees without any ability to perform revenue generating activities during this time of a large gathering shutdown.
- The ability to submit canceled contracts as loss of income on our 2020 taxes.
For full information and sign the petition click here.
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CoronaVirus is causing many to host virtual meetings. But while remote meetings mean you do not have to plan for things such as décor, seating, food and beverage, your people do still need to connect with one another. And, the best way to do that is to plan a remote team building activity as part of your virtual meeting! Here are some tips on how to plan a remote team building event that engages your participants…
ICEBREAKERS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF A REMOTE TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITY
Hosting a virtual meeting means your people are geographically distant which also makes it difficult for them to connect on a personal level. But, you can help to bridge that gap with a virtual team building icebreaker activity. This could be as simple as asking your team to submit answers to a list of questions that help people get to know one another better that you post for the group. Or, consider using online team building games, for example something like our Getting To Know You Game. Participants access the activity from their own phone or tablet and complete a series of photo and video challenges that show people who they are and what they are all about with challenges such as taking a picture with the one thing in their office that says who they are, or making a video where they state what one place they would most like to travel to and why. This is then put together in a sizzle reel presentation that can be shared with the entire team as they enjoy coffee virtually with one another!
UTILIZE WEB CONFERENCING FOR YOUR REMOTE TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES
Set your group up into teams, giving each one a way to connect over web conferencing. You can simply have them “hang out” together to discuss a topic of the day over coffee for 15 minutes. Or, create a remote team building event they can work on together. For instance, in our Crack The Code virtual team building event, participants download an Escape Room onto their own phone or tablet. They must then work together via conferencing on a series of puzzles and clues to escape a series of 3 screens before time is up. Each individual has different information on their screens which encourages them to work together to Crack The Code.
BUILD STRONGER TEAMS WITH A VIRTUAL TEAM BUILDING EVENT
Many people work in remote teams, so strengthen the feeling of working together towards a common goal with a team game. This could be as easy as giving teams time to brainstorm an idea that one of them pitches to all online. Or, make it more formal with our remote team builder, The Pitch, in which teams work together to build an ad campaign, billboard, and more for a fictional new product or service that will revolutionize their industry. Teams discuss their plan, then divide and conquer to complete each part which is presented to all other teams who then get to vote for their favorite pitch. Or, individual participants can be grouped together in remote teams and participate in a company-related, remote team building quiz with all of their scores adding up together to see which team will get the win.
USE ONLINE TEAM BUILDING AS ENTERTAINMENT
Every in-person meeting has social activities. Your virtual meeting should too! You can create your own to host with simple games such as online Charades, or Pictionary where one person acts/draws out what others have to guess. Or, consider our Manor House Mystery high-tech who dunnit game, or Home Office Game Show where people click on an image of a home office on a game screen on their own phone or tablet to open challenges they can work on as individuals or teams. For instance, click on the candy bowl and prepare to try and guess what candies are pictured at extreme close up. Click on the radio and proceed to answer questions about the songs that play!
For additional ideas visit www.wildlydifferent.com.
ICEBREAKERS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF A REMOTE TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITY
Hosting a virtual meeting means your people are geographically distant which also makes it difficult for them to connect on a personal level. But, you can help to bridge that gap with a virtual team building icebreaker activity. This could be as simple as asking your team to submit answers to a list of questions that help people get to know one another better that you post for the group. Or, consider using online team building games, for example something like our Getting To Know You Game. Participants access the activity from their own phone or tablet and complete a series of photo and video challenges that show people who they are and what they are all about with challenges such as taking a picture with the one thing in their office that says who they are, or making a video where they state what one place they would most like to travel to and why. This is then put together in a sizzle reel presentation that can be shared with the entire team as they enjoy coffee virtually with one another!
UTILIZE WEB CONFERENCING FOR YOUR REMOTE TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES
Set your group up into teams, giving each one a way to connect over web conferencing. You can simply have them “hang out” together to discuss a topic of the day over coffee for 15 minutes. Or, create a remote team building event they can work on together. For instance, in our Crack The Code virtual team building event, participants download an Escape Room onto their own phone or tablet. They must then work together via conferencing on a series of puzzles and clues to escape a series of 3 screens before time is up. Each individual has different information on their screens which encourages them to work together to Crack The Code.
BUILD STRONGER TEAMS WITH A VIRTUAL TEAM BUILDING EVENT
Many people work in remote teams, so strengthen the feeling of working together towards a common goal with a team game. This could be as easy as giving teams time to brainstorm an idea that one of them pitches to all online. Or, make it more formal with our remote team builder, The Pitch, in which teams work together to build an ad campaign, billboard, and more for a fictional new product or service that will revolutionize their industry. Teams discuss their plan, then divide and conquer to complete each part which is presented to all other teams who then get to vote for their favorite pitch. Or, individual participants can be grouped together in remote teams and participate in a company-related, remote team building quiz with all of their scores adding up together to see which team will get the win.
USE ONLINE TEAM BUILDING AS ENTERTAINMENT
Every in-person meeting has social activities. Your virtual meeting should too! You can create your own to host with simple games such as online Charades, or Pictionary where one person acts/draws out what others have to guess. Or, consider our Manor House Mystery high-tech who dunnit game, or Home Office Game Show where people click on an image of a home office on a game screen on their own phone or tablet to open challenges they can work on as individuals or teams. For instance, click on the candy bowl and prepare to try and guess what candies are pictured at extreme close up. Click on the radio and proceed to answer questions about the songs that play!
For additional ideas visit www.wildlydifferent.com.
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Enrollment can start at anytime Contact: Randy Clark, Licensed Healthcare Broker 808-799-9789 [email protected] www.efficienthealthsolutions.com 
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How Are You Spending This Unexpected Downtime?
By: Catherine Jensen, VP of Operations
By: Catherine Jensen, VP of Operations
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As we settle into this (hopefully temporary) new normal during this uncertainty, what ways can you bring joy, fun and relaxation into your day or someone else’s? (Bonus points for submitting photos of your quarantine activities in the SPIN Facebook group!)
This is really important right now. Please don’t hide your stress, sadness, or depression. Remember, FINE is the F-Word here in SPIN. Tell someone. Call a friend. Call your doctor. Don’t try to be a superhero with your mental health! Reach out to your fellow SPIN members at https://www.facebook.com/groups/SPINprofs.
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Photo Courtesy of Lisa Laubgross, CMP, President, LAL Consulting, LLC from one of her daily walks.
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Are You Struggling on How to Promote Your Virtual Events?
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I don't need to state how devastating this pandemic is to the event industry and the rest of the world. Overnight our priorities shifted, our worlds have turned upside down and yet, there is something powerfully beautiful emerging. The power of humanity coming together to support and lift each other up. I have met so many new eventprofs (online) from all over the world and we're bonding around basic human things, like family, children, homeschooling, and managing a business.
I am watching how some eventprofs are adapting and creatively finding solutions to adapt to the new reality of meeting virtually where it’s the only viable option. New partnerships are being formed, and associations are fast-tracking into embracing technology to provide their members the one major thing that associations exist for: community.
So, what can we do to help? I've been asking myself that question over and over, listening to conversations and taking it all in. It brought me back to our core values of why we exist in the first place: to bring people together around an event and help them connect by spreading the word. The more we connect and unite, the stronger we become to bounce back collectively.
Today, I am removing the cap on the number of influencers (speakers, participants, partners, etc..) mobilized via snöball to all eventprofs, associations, and businesses who are taking their events online and need to leverage the power of their community to get the word out. Here at snöball, our contribution is to offer a one-time basic package with unlimited influencers to any event gone virtual.
In addition, if you find yourself with a reduced team and need support to keep the boat afloat, our team of event and digital marketers, creative designers, and content writers can lend a hand.
Together we can spread positivity until we meet again.
For now, the show must go on(line).
Email me for more details.
snöball, a fully-managed event marketing technology, mobilizes your event influencers (your speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees.) to help you grow your live and virtual event attendance. snöball arms your speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and attendees with a fully personalized digital event marketing toolkit that drives conversions and conversations.
