Holy Smokes - what a HOT Uncorked! 2010!  That was soooo much fun.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to the Committee, Chefs, Beverage Suppliers, Volunteers, Designers, Judges, Sponsors, Entertainers, and everyone in between for putting on such a stunning fundraiser.  Can't wait to see what they come up with next year.

If you are wondering what's next for the awesome Baltiimore NACE chapter, well look no further because the excitement never ends.  First, the April monthly meeting is a joint venture with the DC chapter of NACE.  If you ever wanted to tap into the DC market or see some associates that you don't get to see very often, this is your chance.  Second, of course, we can't stop mentioning the NACE National's Experience! 2010 conference.  This year it will be held in Austin in July, and if you haven't been, please ask your fellow NACE members who have been to an Experience! what it is about and why you should go.  It is truly an amazing opportunity for education and experiencing the trends across the nation.  Scholarship information to help you pay for this conference will be coming out soon.  Third, we have several Baltimore members who are interested in becoming Certified Professional Catering Executives so we are putting together a study group to prepare for the exam.  Please contact Vickie Preston , VP of Baltimore NACE, if you too are interested.

With all this going on, how could you not be excited!

NACE - Baltimore Chapter

Presents UNCORKED! Unplugged "Music is the Food of Love"

 Let's get this party started!  Monday, March 15, 2010 marked the anniversary of the Baltimore Chapter of NACE's annual UNCORKED! fundraising event.  Hosted by the American Visionary Art Museum, over 300 members, guests, press and foodies alike flooded the building for great food, fun, dinner and (new this year) dancing!

 The cocktail hour and silent auction kicked off in the lower level of the Jim Rouse Building with drinks, hors d' oeuvres, and a photo op to boot.  Anticipation was building as guests moved upstairs to view the incredible tabletop designs by over 25 local designers.  This year's theme, "Music is the Food of Love," was the inspiration for these tablescapes and it was by far a testament to the diverse creativity and talents of our design team.  Judges from both the local music and events industries had the difficult task of choosing their favorites. Design awards were presented during dinner to the following: Best Overall: Bradshaw Styling & Chef's Expressions, "Strawberry Fields Forever," The Beatles, Most Creative & People's Choice: Perkins Productions:  "Love Shack," B-52's, and Best Interpretation:  Absolutely Perfect Catering, "Sugar, Sugar," The Archies.

As dinner service began, opening remarks were made by: Alicia Crosby, host AVAM, Chapter President, Carmen Lennartsson and Chair of the event, Cate Buscher.  The evening's food and wine pairings were right on point and each of three courses were prepared and donated by top local chef's including: Sean Curry, Renaissance Harborplace, Bill Tien, Matsuri Japanese Restaurant, Executive Chef John Walsh, Chef's Expressions and Owner and Corporate Chef, Jerry Edwards, CPCE, Chef's Expressions Catering.

Wine remarks were made by our very own Sharon Charny, CBP, CTC National Director of the Charmer Sunbelt Group from whom the wines were also donated. 

 New this year and with an overwhelmingly positive response was the event's After Party-dinner and dessert--held in the Sculpture Barn.  Live music was provided by the VIP's and a great time was had by all. 

 It is easy to see why UNCORKED! continues to be recognized nationally as "award winning" year-after-year, as our industry's best-of-the-best collaborate on such an extra-ordinary display of fine food, wine and décor. Proceeds from this year's event will benefit: Meals on Wheels, the Foundation of NACE, and our local chapter.

 MANY THANKS to each and every one who donated a service, product, their time and/or creative energies to this event.  The success of our chapter is due to talented professionals and great teamwork.  BALTIMORE ROCKS! 

 To see a complete list of sponsors and/or to check out photos from the event, visit: www.baltimoreuncorked.com or our NEW Facebook page "NACE Baltimore."  We'd love to have you as our FAN!

   

*Click the link below to watch the video clip! http://www.suburbanvideo.com/uncorked/

Welcome to our new members

Ralph Alswang, Alswang Photography

DeAnne Brookshire, Doubletree Inn at the Colonnade Baltimore

Laura Fosler, Westin Annapolis Hotel

Ellen Peppler, Padonia Park Club

Alice Roberts, BGEC

Staci Summers, Haute Cocoa

Ashley Toomey, Rolling Road Golf Club

SPRING MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL IS ALMOST OVER - DON'T MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY!!!
See the link below for more information  http://baltimorenace.net/downloads/2010_spring_membership_campaign_brochure.pdf

If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact Debra May at debra@mm4solutions.com or 410-792-8100.

Holiday Bash 2009 Highlights

Well the blizzards have passed and we were finally able to reschedule our committee wrap up meeting at NAF's new location.   A group of hospitality students from the NAF High School prepared the committee a fabulous lunch in their new kitchen to show their appreciation.

The great news was that the Holiday Bash raised $22,000 that went towards scholarships for deserving students at NAF.  It was such a huge success due to many of our NACE members that donated their time and services to this fun and worthwhile event.

View the slideshow from Holiday Bash 2009.

http://www.vimeo.com/10719587

SAVE THE DATE for the NAF - Baltimore Academy Awards

Dear Friends of Baltimore's National Academy Foundation High School:

Thanks to you, The National Academy Foundation School has arrived in a sensational new location in Baltimore.  The Academies of Hospitality & Tourism, Law, Finance and Information Technology are now housed together in their new home on 500 North Caroline Street.

On behalf of the NAF Academy Awards Committee, we are asking for your support for the reception at its

15^th Annual Awards to be held on Wednesday, June 9, 2011 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. The 15th Annual NAF Academy Awards will honor leaders from the Hospitality and Tourism Industry as well as the Law, Finance and Information/Technology Communities. The Proceeds support teacher initiatives and training and provides validated curriculum and national certification. Baltimore's NAF High School is leading the high school reform challenge in Baltimore and nationally. Every graduate of the Academy last year was accepted to college, an unheard of statistic in most public high schools.

Thank you in advance for seeing the value of these students and our community.

For more information and to support this program www.baltimoreacadamies.org

_{Julie Brown-Edwards, CPCE}

_{Director of Catering}

_{Baltimore's Tremonts}

_{Historic Venue and All-Suite Hotel}

Little bitty babies need our help!  

There are 35 to 40 infants in Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital at any given time. The babies at Mt. Washington are here for at least a month or longer and they are committed to making the hospital stay as "normal" as possible for the families. One of the ways they do that is to have the baby dressed in regular baby clothes versus a hospital gown. For the families, this allows them to see their baby first and not the illness or medical equipment. It helps them realize and understand that their baby is just like other babies!

They need 0-3 month sleepers/onesies (NO ZIPPERS!), new born socks, binkies/pacifiers and rattles for their little bitty patients. Everything must be new, no used clothing!

 Dulany Noble, community service chair

Dulany@galacloths.com

Norlene Gensler

Norlene  a former CPA, left the financial industry over 10 years ago to begin a hospitality and corporate gift and gift basket business, Gifts With Good Taste and Designer Baskets. The company was voted "Baltimore's BestGift Baskets".  Here is a glimpse of some of her unique designs:  a reupholstered baby seat designed to encourage a Child Safety Organization to bring their conference to town; a Maryland Welcome Wagon designed exclusively for a Baltimore Hotel and a 3' tall 10 piece faux dark brown suede tower for client gifts designed for a prestigious law firm.

Norlene continues to create the most unusual and delicious corporate gift packages for major corporations in the region. She usually just does large quantity orders now. This gives her the access to search the globe for the finest gourmet products, containers and gifts. Her clients care about their gifts just as much as Norlene does.  Please feel free to stop by November-December to see her "Basket Elves" assembling and shipping out over 2500 packages. It truly is an experience.

A few years ago, Norlene set up the place card table for a friend's daughter's BatMitzvah and found it to be tedious. Place Card Butler^TM, by Write Style Solutionsis her revelation due to that experience. It is a patent pending vertical display for place cards.  Place Card Butler^TM  was featured in Eventline, Special Events Magazine Newsletter in Feb 2010 . It is being shipped to event planners, hotels, venues & florists Nationwide.

Norlene is  a member of  Baltimore & DC NACE. She was the Co Chair for  Baltimore and DC silent auctions. Norlene and husband Kenny have 2 children, Ronnie and Andrea and 2 English Golden Retrievers. Ronnie graduated from Columbia in NY and Andrea graduated from Washington University in St Louis. The family loves Modern Architecture and this is represented in their home.

Alicia Karoll, Immediate Past President of the Baltimore Chapter of NACE and Vice Chair of the Chapter President's Council, has officially changed her name to Alicia Crosby. After divorcing over two years ago, she felt it was time to go back to her family name. Alicia is also the Director of Administration and Facility Rental Coordinator at the American Visionary Art Museum.

Take a look on the link below to see some of the highlights from our February event.                                            

http://vimeo.com/10410533

Video By, Tonya Davis
Director of Marketing
Blue Sky Films

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.