DALLAS - May 3, 2001 - Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the global authority and resource for the meeting industry, will host its annual Chapter Leadership Conference (CLC), in Dallas, Thursday through Saturday, May 3-5, 2001. The three-day professional development event will be held at the Adam's Mark Dallas hotel.

The conference will focus on skills and knowledge necessary for the leadership of MPI’s 59 chapters to grow and develop membership at the local level. With several MPI chapters now exceeding 1,000 members, this leadership program addresses the inherent challenges of managing leadership organizations during a time of widespread industry change and emerging opportunity.

“The Chapter Leadership Conference is an important plateau for the incoming elected members to cultivate relationships and develop tools in conjunction with their chapters to ensure meetings are more strategically effective for the association’s members,” said Edwin L. Griffin, Jr., CAE, Meeting Professionals International president and CEO.

The sessions and elements of the Chapter Leadership Conference will further demonstrate MPI’s commitment to define and shape the meetings industry through innovative professional development, peer to peer networking, analysis of significant business, social and global trends as well as ways in which the value of meetings can be effectively presented.

More than 300 of MPI’s chapter leaders from around the world are expected to attend the conference to learn and discuss innovative trends and best practices for professional development within their chapter leadership role. Specifically, the conference breakout sessions are geared towards teaching chapter operations and assisting MPI’s chapter board members in their roles including: presidents, president elects, education/program, membership, marketing/communications, treasurers, and newsletter editors.

“I’m impressed with the incredible quality of leadership at our chapter level,” said Jerry Wayne, chairman elect of Meeting Professionals International. “I look forward to our member’s continued contributions to MPI’s global leadership in the meeting industry.”

Ian Dockrill, CMP, AHCIMA, executive vice president of professional development & global member services for MPI, will serve as the speaker for the conference kickoff, Thursday, May 3 at the Wyndam Anatole Hotel. The opening networking reception will follow in the Wyndham Anatole Hotel’s Wedgewood Room.

Additional contributions include: Access Limousine Services, DIGIVOTE, Inc., Call Darlene Bush Productions Inc., Chuck Clark Photography, Dallas Alley, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau, Dallas Conventioner, E&J Gallo Winery, GEAR for Sports, Polo Ralph Lauren Corporate Markets, Professional Marketing Services, SuperShuttle DFW and the Wyndham Anatole Hotel.

Meeting Professionals International, with more than 18,500 members in 64 countries and 59 chapters and five chapters in formation, is the leading global community committed to shaping and defining the future of the meeting and event industry.

NOTE TO EDITORS: PHOTO AVAILABLE AT www.meetinggallery.com