December President’s Message

December always brings the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Festive gatherings, decorating, shopping (both online and in stores), Christmas concerts, and the list of expectations we put on ourselves goes on and on. How is it possible not to get caught up in the excitement and anxiety that the season pushes on us?!? Trying to live up to an ideal set by Pinterest, holiday movies and social media, is exhausting. Despite everyone’s best efforts, it is impossible not to be overwhelmed. I am all for making the holidays special but at our house we have decided that making memories is more important than getting “stuff”.

 

I think this philosophy of making special moments, for lack of a better description, is something that we in the event industry have had to adopt. We can no longer simply create cookie cutter events. We must now create events that are experiences, that leave participants with more than just handouts and name badges. Events are aiming to be immersive and leave participants with a sense of accomplishment, and entertainment. The task of always pushing the envelope and trying to create new concepts is hard. I think we need to appreciate and applaud what our Chapter volunteers are doing as they are hard at work building The Event for April 2018. They are pushing boundaries and working to create meaningful memories and learning opportunities for everyone. Giving us the greatest gift of all, something that will last longer than swag bags and catered lunches: connections and memories. When anyone looks back at an event they have attended they remember the people they have met and the experiences they had. Those highlights determine how successful an event is, and I know that we will be left with lots of amazing moments created by the collaboration of MPI Ottawa, MPI Toronto and MPI Montreal & Quebec.

If you find yourself getting caught up in the chaos of the holiday season, it’s okay to take a moment to breathe and think of the bigger picture. Remember to fill your life with experiences not things, in the end it is more important to have stories to tell than things to show. Spend time with the people that make you happy and enjoy those special moments this holiday season!!

From my family to yours, wishing you all the best this Christmas and in the New Year!

 
Article Written By Jennifer McAndrew, Ottawa Chapter President, Mastermind Event Rentals

Article edited by Cynthia Beaudin, Canada Foundation for Innovation