Fellow members of ISES Austin,

“Holy cow!!!”  Those were the first words that came out when I took the stage to accept an Espirit Award at this year’s Eventworld. (eloquent, I know)  Standing among my peers, a crowd of 200 of the top events professionals from all over the globe, the presenters said my name, my jaw dropped and all of a sudden, I’m accepting an international award for Best Meeting/Conference Program (Budget under $250,000).

Had you told me this moment would’ve happen when I joined ISES in 2007, nope, I wouldn’t have believed you.  Not in a million years.

I still remember my first ISES meeting…December 2007, it was a Grecian themed holiday party, planned by ISES Austin members.  Chiseled guards with a six-pack and a smile served hot washcloths and fine nibbles.  The venue was spectacular, the décor inspiring.  I felt welcomed and was introduced to ten new people all in one night. I left thinking, “wow, this group really knows how to throw a shindig!”

So immediately, I joined.

But I did it with a promise…No spectating.  To get the most out of my ISES membership, I knew I needed to get involved, get on a first name basis with the best of the best and participate.  And I haven’t looked back since…my secret to success was volunteering on the programs/education committee and then, co-chairing marketing/communications with CulinART and later being invited to be the lead planner for two very successful monthly programs for the chapter.  From there, someone found out I’m a “spreadsheets gal” and then guess who became Director of Finance for the chapter?  Flash forward to today, I’m thrilled to be your new chapter President for the 2011-2012 year.

Why do I tell you all of this?

If you join ISES and sit back, waiting for new business to roll in, you’re wasting your money.

Don’t do it.

If you want to see referrals and growth in your business, your education and your career, there’s only one way to do it…you’ve got to get involved.

Connect, collaborate, kick ass.

If you know my event planning business  The Simplifiers, you know we are a little bit different.  At the 2011 ISES Austin Awards Gala, my presidential address revolved around one primary (albeit, controversial) message: connect, collaborate, KICK ASS!  (Why water down the message?)  At the core, we all want to bring in more business, become the best at our craft and grow.  Therefore, I encourage you all do the same…view your competitors as your collaborators and your trusted vendors as partners.  Once I embraced this notion, my business grew exponentially. 

Your mission:

Engage in our education-rich monthly programs , connect at our free monthly happy hours , and KICK ASS as we take Austin (and FORMULA 1) by storm!

As a goal for each individual member this year, I encourage you all to commit at least 10 hours of volunteer time to your Austin chapter, serving on a committee or CulinART.  Crazy, I know…but when you invest 10 hours into your chapter, I’m willing to bet the relationships you cultivate by being involved will help you and your business grow.  Take the challenge and await my call soon, because I have an idea where each and every one of you should participate, knowing your strengths and areas of individual ROCKSTAR talents.

Stretch yourself this year…this is the year for you to SHINE!  Show us your best work…knock us dead with your incredible new technologies and trends in events.  Share ideas the 2011-2012 Board of Directors hadn’t dreamed of.  Raise the bar and the rest of us will follow.

Our chapter is only as strong as our newest member…and I know that we have the potential to be the most talented chapter in ISES, from all over the world.  Mark my words, we WILL win the Spirit of Excellence Award for ISES Chapter of the Year in 2012.   And no doubt, I plan on cheering you on for your own “Holy Cow!” moment at the ISES Espirit Awards at Eventworld 2012 in Dallas, Texas!

Now, let’s kick some ass…

Mary Baird-Wilcock

President – ISES Austin 2011-2012

Owner | Senior Event Planner | Undercover Superhero – The Simplifiers

512.695.7744 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | www.thesimplifiers.com

The International Special Events Society Austin chapter is comprised of event industry professionals from all disciplines, including event planners, venues, catering, rentals, photographers, décor + floral, entertainment, meeting planners, hotels, transportation, wedding planners, destination management professionals and more.  You can find us on Facebook , Twitter, LinkedIn, and our blog  for the latest news, updates, tips and trends.

The International Special Events Society (ISES) was founded in 1987. With over 7,000 members worldwide , the mission of ISES is to educate, advance and promote the special events industry and its network of professionals and related industries.

Becoming an ISES member is an investment in yourself and your industry.  It’s time to connect!

JOIN ISES!

"ISES CONNECTIONS"
This short film shares the essence of this incredible association