What a year it has been! I address you as President for the last INSIGHT while reminiscing on the past 12 months. This year has been like none other. Our same old, same old was challenged. Our perfected planning timeline was flipped on its head. But, most importantly, our past expectations for ourselves were achieved beyond what we could have imagined. Our industry is coming out of this year with a renewed perspective and drive to rebuild and rethink how our unique events, venues and services will look like in the future.

I dedicate this past year to you, our members, to amplify your voices as we continue to unite and make an impact on an industry that may look a little different than it has ever before. You are the reason why I am inspired to strive for an improved self. You are to whom I’ve turned to in times of need and celebration. And you have amazed me by the experiences you’ve not only participated in but created.

This month, we met for the End of Year Chapter Celebration – our first in-person chapter function since February of 2020 – to celebrate our recovery and each other. We made it, guys! We’ve reskilled and restructured, discovered new revenue streams and avenues of meeting, leaned upon one another for guidance and wisdom and created so much more as a community than we could individually!

In addition to all we have accomplished in our careers, we:

• Contributed over $1,000 to help one another with membership and participation relief
• Networked with one another in ten chapter Zoomy Hour events
• Provided six town hall events to keep you informed and connected
• Learned about, studied for and received CMP designations
• Recertified and reskilled with MPI Academy’s certification programs
• Refreshed our LinkedIn profiles with Dawn Rasmussen’s guidance
• Gamified our networking events with bingo, DJ-style trivia, a game of “naming that tune,” a Halloween party, recipe-sharing for the holidays, an ugly sweater contest and St. Patrick’s Day dueling DJs
• Held our first-ever virtual Texas Education Conference (TEC20 Virtual)
• Contributed to two online auction fundraising programs
• Drove to Grapevine for MPI’s hybrid World Education Congress (WEC)
• Provided a free WEC recap to members who missed out on the conference or the in-person experience with what worked well in a hybrid setting
• Celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a cooking experience from Laredo and a loteria game throughout the event
• Learned about strategies to build our own businesses, reskill and refocus on the longevity of our staff
• Celebrated our industry, each other and our chapter in-person

As we close out this year on June 30 with the motivation to return to a physical venue, we do this together! While membership recovers, we partner together, planners and suppliers alike. We have collectively accomplished so much as one united front. And I know that we will accomplish so much more and strive through challenging times to make an impact on all who encounter the experiences we are creating – together.

I am grateful to each of you, honored that you have allowed me to serve as your president this past year.

Meaghan Rhame, CMP
2020-2021 President, MPI Texas Hill Country Chapter