Okay, so are we done with the snow yet?  Thank you to everyone for your understanding when we postponed the February meeting due to snow.  The snow could not take us down a second time - we had an incredibly fun night at M&T Bank Stadium with our Original Game Show Live Host and NACE member Dave Ricklin.  What a wonderful way to have a good time and forget about the weather.  Thank you to all who were involved in making the night so great. 

What's next you say - well, only the multi-award winning fundraiser Uncorked! 2010.  Cate Buscher and the Uncorked! committees have been hard at work planning another spectacular event featuring wine, food, entertainment and decor from the best special event professionals in the Greater Baltimore area.  This is the must-attend event of the year, and we hope you will all register now before there are no more seats available.  Registration is available at www.baltimoreuncorked.com

Looking forward to seeing you on March 15th!

Carmen E. Lennartsson

UNCORKED! Our award-winning fundraiser is right around the corner!  Be sure to purchase your tickets before they sell out:  www.baltimoreuncorked.com   We are still accepting donations to our Silent Auction.  No matter how small or how large, any item will be appreciated.  Please visit www.baltimoreuncorked.com to print out a Silent Auction form.   Any questions?  Contact the Director of Fundraising, Cate Buscher at cab@puttingontheritz.com

Welcome to our new members for 2010

Taylor Kshimetski, Silver Swan Bayside

Lacy Nobles, MarcParcValet,

Helena Cignarales, WeddingWire Inc

Please join us for member-orientation before the April 19th meeting at 5:30pm.  All are Welcome!

Stay Tuned - Spring Membership campaign special is coming March 22nd!!!!!  If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact Debra May at debra@mm4solutions.com or 410-792-8100.

Experience! 2010 FAQ

1. Why should you attend Experience! 2010?

Value

• After the Experience! 2009 conference:

o 92 percent of the attendees reported a positive return on the investment of time and cost
o 95 percent of the attendees said that the education offered was directly relevant to their job
Education

• Discover Your Hidden Talent with 30 educational session options
• Learn from nationally recognized speakers and gain up to 12.25 contact hours towards becoming a Certified Professional Catering Executive (CPCE)
• Experience world-class demonstrations of the latest trends in culinary design and event decor that will show you how to bring that WOW factor to your event

Experience

• Artfully prepared meals created by some of the nation's top chefs

• The opportunity to network with hundreds of industry professionals from all over the country, creating meaningful business relationships that can help you grow your business

2. How much does it cost to attend Experience! 2010?
A full conference registration is $995 for members and $1295 for non-members if you register by March 31.  The full conference registration fee for non-members includes a 1-year membership to NACE!  Act now!  After March 31, rates go up to $1095 (member) and $1395 (non-member). You don't have to pay for your registration all at once.  Visit www.nace.net/cs/events (fees link) to download the Installment Plan.

3. What is included in a full conference registration?

• 30 educational session options (general sessions and breakouts): $500
• All meals and events included in registration: Three breakfasts, two lunches, two specially-themed breaks and two evening events/dinners: $500
• Early registration discounts: $200
• Endless networking, problem solving and business opportunities: AS MUCH AS YOU CAN!

• TOTAL VALUE AND BENEFIT RECEIVED: More than $1,000!!

4. What's new about the conference this year?
This year, we've accelerated the schedule so that you receive all the benefits you've come to expect without needing to be away from your home and business as long. Arrive on Sunday and leave on Wednesday a smarter, better prepared catering professional with hundreds of new and meaningful business contacts.
a. The Awards Gala will be held Tuesday night, July 27
b. The entire conference will require one less hotel night
c. Experience will end on Wednesday, July 28 at noon

5. Do I have to attend the whole conference?  Can I bring my spouse?
Day passes and spouse/guest registrations are available.  Visit www.nace.net/cs/events for more information.

6. Where can I stay during the conference?
The conference will be held at the Hilton Austin Downtown in the heart of Austin.  You can reserve your room at the special group rate of only $169 per night (single/double occupancy).

7. How can I tell the world how excited I am for Experience! 2010??
Become a FAN of Experience! 2010 (http://bit.ly/bhcn3f) and follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/nacenational), use Hashtag #NACEEXP10)

To register, book your hotel room, and find out more about Experience! 2010,
visit www.nace.net/cs/events or email conference@nacenet.org.

Heather El-Zein, Senior Catering Sales Executive for the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards has accepted a promotion to Area Account Executive Mid Market for the Baltimore Market.   Heather will be responsible for managing two large accounts for several Marriott hotels throughout Baltimore.  Although this position is account based and no longer a concentration on catering, Heather will continue her role as secretary of the Baltimore NACE Board and as an active member of NACE.

"The Original Game Show Live!"

Meeting Recap

Monday, February 22, 2010

After the threat of yet another few inches of snow, the Baltimore Chapter of NACE rescheduled its monthly meeting for Monday, February 22, 2010.   The Raven's locker room was the perfect place to kick off an evening of fun and games-all puns intended!  Affairs to Remember helped set a festive stage while the staff at Aramark passed hor d'oeuvres throughout the room.

Gearing up for any big game is a process in and of itself and as members and guests made their way upstairs for the show, host and fellow NACE member Dave Ricklin, prepared to dazzle audience members with his alter ego "McCheesy" the host of The Original Game Show Live!  With Stephanie Bradshaw from Bradshaw Styling filling in for Vanna White, the show got off to a great start involving  audience members start-to-finish with fun, interactive NACE trivia, games, and even a sing off to close the evening on stage. 

A stations dinner thrilled guests as networking over fabulous food continued for the remainder of the evening.  A gourmet salad bar, grown up Mac and Cheese station, carving station and dessert station were just a few of the fan favorites.

We would also like to thank the following event professionals:

Aramark M&T Bank Stadium

Affairs to Remember

Absolute Entertainment

BBJ Linens

Blue Sky Video

The Original Game Show Live!

Kathy Freundel Photography

Millennium Marketing Solutions

Join us for our biggest event of the year, UNCORKED! Unplugged at the American Visionary Art Museum on Monday, March 15, 2010.  Purchase your tickets today at: www.baltimoreuncorked.com!

Mark your calendar for our April meeting, a joint effort with the DC Chapter of NACE.  Monday, April 19, 2010 at the Party Rental, Ltd. Warehouse in Laurel, MD.  Catering will be by Linwood's.

Tonya Davis

Tonya was inspired at an early age with all things visual. "My Grandmother was a big influence on me. She was always watching movies, old classics and new. I always new I wanted to do something visual, something that inspired others as much as I was inspired."

Winning 2^nd place in a photo contest while attending the 7^th grade, Tonya propelled herself head first into photography. She was accepted into The Hallmark Institute of Photography further cementing her desire to create art with film. After Hallmark, Tonya had the privilege of putting her skills to work in a Baltimore based photography studio, amending her ideas and honing her skills.

In 2003, she joined forces with Martin Andrews as one of his very first associate filmmakers.  As Martin launched Blue Sky Films in late 2004, Tonya evolved in her quest of all things visual becoming a full time videographer and editor. In 2006 she was promoted to become Blue Sky Film's very first Sales Director in a company that has been decorated by: "The Best of Weddings" The Knot.com, "Washington's Best Videographers" by Washingtonian Magazine, and inducted into the Grace Ormonde Platinum List. Married in July 2007, and being promoted to Director of Marketing in Fall of 2009, Tonya has embraced her commitment to the arts and has not slowed down one bit.

She is currently an active member in NACE, and heads the up the "Marketing" committee for Uncorked!, Baltimore NACE's annual fund-raiser. "The best part of my job is delivering the end film. When clients call me and tell me how perfect the film was, how they laughed, cried, re-lived, this is when I know I'm exactly where I need to be!"

RAFFLE Congratulations to Derek McDonald and Michael Thompson, each a winner of a ticket to UNCORKED!   Our February raffle came in at $275.00.  Many thanks to everyone who purchased tickets!   If you would like to contribute an item to be used for a future raffle, please contact our Raffle Princess, Cate Buscher, at cab@puttingontheritz.com.    

AFR Event Furnishings Acquires Room Service Furniture Rental Company Merger Will Make a Huge Impact on the Special Event Industry

February 16, 2010. Miami, FL. Imagine if two of the event industry's foremost furniture rental companies joined forces? The result would be monumental. The result would be industry changing.  After today, there is no need to imagine. Introducing Room Service by AFR Event Furnishings.  "We are excited to join forces with AFR," says Greg Zalkin, owner and founder of Room Service Furniture & Event Rentals. "The combined strength of Room Service & AFR will allow us to better serve clients on a national leveland offer a greater range of furniture and décor options." Launched in January 2005 and with distribution centers in four east coast markets, Miami-based Room Service specializes in upscale furnishings and event rentals and offers a wide variety of furniture and accessories.  Unique designs and superlative customer service have enabled Room Service to grow so rapidly. Established in 1975, AFR is a national furnishings supplier with 13 distributions centers coast to coast.  For the last four years, AFR Event Furnishings has made its mark on the special events and trade shows industriesthrough its unique cutting-edge products, keen attention to detail and total understanding of time sensitivity and recognition of urgency within venues. Today's announced acquisition of Room Service "combines AFR's size and strengths with Room Services' creativity and uniqueness in the market place," says Jerry Hellmann, President, AFR Event Furnishings. "Strategically, AFR's infrastructure and distribution channels  coupled with Room Service's product and market knowledge, creates apowerful force in the event and tradeshow industry." Zalkin will retain an owner's stake in the company and will run the Southeast region including Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and part of Georgia and surrounding areas.  All of Room Service's employees will remain in their current positions. The companies plan to integrate and utilize all pertinent inventories, nearly tripling current product offerings. Room Service by AFR will maintain its primary offices in Miami along with satellite offices in Orlando and Washington, D.C.

Room Service by AFR continues to provide world-class, professional customer service and limitless style, product and support to its ever-growing breadth of national clientele. As the most prolific rental company in the U.S., offering a wide variety of sofas, chairs, ottomans, tables, bars, and accent pieces is only part of the company's appeal. Room Service by AFR's greatest strength lies in its unequivocal client support. Its indisputable reputation for going above and beyond is what keeps existing clients coming back.

Job Opening – FACILITY RENTAL COORDINATOR

The American Visionary Art Museum is in search of a full-time Facility Rental Coordinator.

Primary responsibilities include –

• Market facility for rentals through advertising, networking and special events
• Provide all rental information to potential clients, schedule site visits, keep master calendar and handle all contracting of rental events
• Maintain updated database of clients and vendors; maintain working relationship with area catering and event professionals
• Schedule AVAM event and security staff for all rental events
• Responsible to coordinate Museum events; handles all BEOs & RFPs, catering, menu selection, staffing, coordinates all rentals, including linen, china/glassware/flatware, etc.

Job Requirements include -

• College degree in Marketing, Communications, Business or related field.
• 3+ years experience in Marketing and Event Planning; knowledge of Hospitality/Food & Beverage Industry
  Computer skills – Microsoft Office/Word/Excel, FileMaker Pro, iCal, etc.
  Knowledge of spreadsheets and budgeting
• Detail-oriented, organized, ability to multi-task
• Customer service skills

Salary – based on experience
Benefits – health/dental insurance, vacation/sick leave, 403B retirement

Please send cover letter and resume to:            

Donna Katrinic
American Visionary Art Museum
800 Key Highway, Baltimore, MD  21230
443-874-7252 fax
donna@avam.org

We are seeking a highly motivated wedding and event sales professional to help grow our very reputable retail floral boutique and get ready for our big move from Canton to Roland Park. This individual must be knowledgeable in all aspects of floral design and customer consultation as well as possess a proven sales-closing track record. The successful candidate will be self-motivated, energetic, and driven to make sales while routinely exceeding our customers’ expectations. Duties will also include design and daily orders. Knowledge of Excel and Mac Mail a plus!

Please have applicant send resume - amy@crimsonandcloverdesigns.com

Chair Covers & Linens Territory Sales Manager
Responsibilities:
The Baltimore Territory Sales Manager engages in sales strategies to meet and exceed assigned goals.  This person aggressively identifies, pursues, and maintains new accounts, while maintaining the existing client base.  This individual represents the organization in industry related events and within the event industry.

Requirements:
• Associates or Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Must have proven sales and performance experience.
• Must possess superior customer service skills.
• Experience within the event industry preferred.
• Must be a proven self-motivator, with self-guided disciplines.
• Must have the ability to work with little to no supervision, along with the ability to work within a team environment.
• Must possess above-average computer skills.

All qualified applicants should e-mail a resume, along with salary requirements, to Kristen@linenhero.com.