Clark Thomas, MPA, CAE
President
Meeting planning has played a significant role in Clark's career. Whether a conference, special event or tradeshow, he feels meetings are the most dynamic of nonprofit ventures, and enjoys all aspects of their planning and execution. He is immediate past chair of the Meetings &
3577 Chamblee-Tucker Road, Building A, Suite 285, Atlanta, GA 30341
P) 770-939-9054
Nonprofit employees and volunteers can often underestimate the time and resource investment required for superior meeting planning.
From contract negotiations, attendee marketing, vendor relations, pre- and post-analysis to on-site logistics, meetings are perhaps the most intricate yet high-yield endeavors an organization can undertake. As such, all meeting components should be well-conceived and expertly crafted.
At its best, meeting planning combines technical skills, legal considerations, customer-oriented finesse and many other sensitive elements that impact the success of an event. Each planning facet, including concept development, site selection, event staffing, food and beverage, presentations/productions, etc., will leave lasting impressions and can literally make or break a meeting.
Association Innovations is uniquely qualified to assist in all these areas.
Incorporating social and environmental responsibility into your meeting planning can be simpler than you might think.
Meetings often define and significantly reinforce brand recognition in not-for-profits. Given this, it is important to view each meeting a priority as well as an opportunity to showcase the special services your organization delivers in a way that no other nonprofit can.
With this in mind, meetings are an exceptional means by which an organization may exhibit a commitment to not only their individual mission and vision
but to also affect other social inequities. For instance, a women's shelter might collaborate with a workforce training agency and utilize a gala to showcase the importance of cross-organizational programming efforts to maximize impact in the lives of those they serve. This could help shed light on the more complex root issues affecting a shared client, and it would support social gains in two organizations via a single event thereby maximizing societal advancement.
Another opportunity at a meeting held for any cause would be to promote environmental responsibility by decreasing the organization's carbon footprint. Making small changes in meeting planning and attendee activities can support the growing global effort to reduce pollution and improve environmental standards.
Hosting "green meetings" has become much easier in recent years, and by incorporating 'green' planning into an event many venues can actually reduce the final costs to an organization. With the advent of LEED certification in convention/conference centers and hotels, environmentally-friendly meetings have become a competitive business that benefits everyone.
