August Awards Celebration

Online registration is now closed.  You may register onsite at the Oregon Garden Resort.  If you want to register for the virtual celebration, please email Stephanie Kennedy at info@mpioc.org.

In-Person: Oregon Garden Resort, 895 W. Main Street, Silverton, OR 97381
Virtual: Zoom

Tickets:
$25 – in-person member price (includes one drink ticket)
$10 – in-person guest price (adult)
$5 – in-person guest price (18 and under)
$10 - virtual attendance via Zoom

$15 – BBQ Dinner Plate (your choice of chicken or pulled pork, with sides and dessert)

Schedule of Events:
3:00 pm – Event registration open, enjoy full access to Gardens
4:00 pm – Social starts, bars open and food for purchase available
5:30 – 6:30 pm – Awards celebration (this portion of the event will be broadcast live on Zoom)
6:30 – 7 pm – Stay and celebrate with the award winners!

Celebrate some amazing MPI Oregon members with us on August 18. Participate in-person at the beautiful Oregon Garden Resort, or online via Zoom. We know not everyone will be comfortable participating in person. Rest assured, however, that we will be doing everything possible to ensure a safe environment for those who do.

COVID SAFETY: The Oregon Garden is located in Marion County and is currently in Phase II of the State of Oregon statewide gathering guidelines (50 people indoors, 100 people outdoors). We will be utilizing an indoor/outdoor area, accessible only to our group and designated tables for each individual/family.

Everyone will be required to wear a face covering (except when actively eating and drinking) anywhere physical distancing isn’t possible. The Oregon Garden will adhere to all safety precautions as outlined by the Governor. We ask for your patience as things will feel a little different than past MPI events and we are all getting used to this new way of doing things.

We are actively monitoring and adjusting as new directives are implemented and will keep everyone posted if anything should need to change with the event details.

MPI August Awards COVID protocols

For your reference:
The meeting space is 9380 square feet and can seat up to 450 people, so we will have ample space to spread out and be safe. We have dedicated restrooms for our event that will not be open to the public. The Garden will close to the public at 5 pm.

A barbeque dinner plate (your choice of chicken or pulled pork with sides) will be available for purchase for $15.00. We thank you for supporting MPI and purchasing dinner for you and your family/guests. We need to reach a minimum in order for the venue to make this happen, so advance orders are requested. You will have an opportunity to place your order when you register for the event.

There will also be a cash bar available (one drink ticket good for beer, wine or a non-alcoholic drink is included with the $25 in-person member registration price).

The Oregon Garden is extending an invitation to come and spend the day to enjoy the grounds prior to the event. Bring your family and enjoy a beautiful day at the Garden prior to the Awards Celebration!

Make a night of it and spend the night. The Oregon Garden Resort is offering a room rate of $139 + tax for our members.

Mentor award nominees
Greg Heinze
Kristina Shipley
Amanda Eriksen, CMP
Carole Astley, CMP
Jenny Moore, CGMP

Torchlight award nominees
Jenny Moore, CGMP
Greg Heinze
Juanita Metzler

Rising Star award nominees
Amy Hildahl
Morgan Baker
Janet Denman, CMP

Planner of the Year award nominees
Janet Denman, CMP
Anne Hallinan, CMP
Carole Astley, CMP

Supplier of the Year award nominees
Amanda Houghton
Jenny Moore, CGMP
Juanita Metzler
Kathleen O'Connor-McNew, CMP
Greg Heinze

2019-2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipent
Carolyn Wence, CMP, CGMP

Ever since she was a little girl Carolyn has been volunteering to help organize 'something' and once word got out about her skills she was always being asked to help out, whether it was organizing get-togethers for the other wives on the Air Force base in New Mexico who all had husbands over in Vietnam to being the mom who planned all the class parties in her kids classes to planning over 400 programs a year at the Oregon State Bar. And in there she also sold wigs, worked her way up at U.S. National Bank, taught Hotel & Convention Management at Mt. Hood Community College, and raised two kids!

Carolyn has had her own business, Plans & Action, since 1997 and everyone who knows her will know that she isn't kidding when she says she loves to stay busy! MPI Oregon has benefited from this greatly as she has volunteered on a committee every single year in her 30 years of being a member including a year of being President from 1996-97.

"Carolyn has been a tireless champion for the local event industry with a focus on inspiring others in our profession. She has been with our Chapter since the start, and has been involved with a genuine commitment and passion since 1990! Our Chapter reveres Carolyn and appreciates all her contributions - so excited for her and her well-deserved award!" says Cathy Mason, MPI Oregon past president (2019-2020).

Some of the past awards bestowed upon Carolyn by MPI Oregon are Planner of the Year in 1993, 1998 and 2007, Mentor of the Year in 2009, Torchlight Award in 2006 and the Dian Lindsay Award in 2012. She has served on the Board, co-chaired the Spring Conference (now Cascadia) in 1992 and literally served on every committee at one time or another!

Carolyn not only gives so much of her time to help MPI, she is also very involved in the Greater Oregon Society of Government Meeting Professionals serving as president for a 2-year term and is currently a National Board Director for the national SGMP.

One of the events she is most proud of is honoring Portland's homeless on Christmas Day. Carolyn started this event and ran it from 1988-95 in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Her team of volunteers collected clothing, food, hot drinks, blankets, hats and gloves and invited anyone without a home in Portland to come enjoy some Christmas cheer. They served between 300-400 people each year and were helped by the Governor and the First Lady, Girl Scouts, fellow employees, family and friends. The project is still being organized by the Girl Scouts.

We are so happy to be able to recognize Carolyn Wence, CMP, CGMP for all her contributions and commitment to the meetings industry and MPI. We look forward to celebrating Carolyn's accomplishments with all of you at the August Awards Celebration!