June Newsletter
President's Report
I want to thank Club Auto Sport, Catered Too and all of our sponsors for hosting an amazing dinner last month. The Sheraton Palo Alto will be welcoming us on June 20th for an evening of networking, an amazing menu, and education from the Vice President of TeamBuilding-Unlimited and Murder on the Menu. Hope you can all make it for a fun evening.
Ann Ogden, Chapter President
Upcoming Events
Bears that Care at the Sheraton Palo Alto!
June 20, 2018
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sheraton Palo Alto
625 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94301
The Sheraton Palo Alto welcomes us for an evening of networking, an amazing menu, and education from the Vice President of TeamBuilding-Unlimited and Murder on the Menu, Frank Price! TeamBuilding Unlimited is a company that has been providing customized and interactive entertainment for over thirty years and Frank is excited to share how team building is a great way to elevate a meeting and energize the participants. Frank will describe different types of teambuilding events that work in different situations, for different groups. We will also be taking part in one of their company's most popular activities- Bears that Care- so don't forget to bring your creativity! Please note, the Sheraton has graciously offered to host our self parking, so be sure to self park!
Thank you sponsors:
- Venue and Catering: Karen Bowne, Sheraton Palo Alto
- Rentals and Linens: Maribel Campoy, Williams Party Rentals
Joint Meeting with Tri-Valley Wedding Professionals
July 18, 2018
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The Ranch at Birch Creek
8433 Patterson Pass Road
Livermore, CA 94550
The Ranch at Birch Creek welcomes us for an evening of networking, an amazing menu, and education from Wedding Wire Education Guru, Alan Berg, as he presents: 10 Creative Ways to Use Your Reviews to Make More Money!
Are your reviews gathering dust on industry websites? Reviews are a key way to showcase your expertise – all from the voice of happy clients! Great reviews increase the likelihood potential clients will view your online profiles, but they can also make a big impact on your overall brand exposure both on- and offline.
In this presentation, marketing expert Alan Berg will help you set your business up for success during busy inquiry season, and all year long!
What you’ll learn:
- The top 10 ways to make your reviews work for you
- Creative ideas to leverage reviews in new ways
- How to ask for reviews from past clients
- How to incorporate your best feedback ‘sound bites’ into your marketing materials
THIS MEETING'S SPONSORS include
- Venue: Linda Marshall, The Ranch at Birch Creek
- Catering: Teri Schenkel, Catered Too!
- Rentals: PJ Rude, Pleasanton Rentals
- Live Music: Patricio Angulo, Oye Productions
- Photographer: Anna Vickroy, Ultra-Spective Photography
- Florals: Sheela Meskin, Sarah's Garden
- Dessert: Briana Martinez, Tipsy Cakery
- Media Sponsor: Cristine Thomas, Today's Bride
- DJ/AV/Lighting: Kevin Dennis, Fantasy Sound Event Services
Call for Raffle Items!
Everyone loves a raffle! Did you know that proceeds from our raffle go to help fund our chapter as well as the local non profit organizations we work with?
We are seeking businesses and individuals intersted in donating raffle items for our monthly raffles. In exchange, you will get a shout out verbally during the raffle drawing as well as printed acknowledgement at the registration table where we are selling raffle tickets. Bottles of wine, tins of cookies, gift cards, tickets to events, etc are all appreciated.
Please contact Shannon De Atley-Johnson with any questions [email protected]
Recap from our Last Meeting
Can you say "WOW"? What a fabulous meeting we had last month. The venue, the speaker, THAT FOOD and all of the details really set the stage for a memorable experience. Attendees enjoyed cocktails, appetizers and a photobooth during cocktail hour. Guests were then seated to listed to Sandy Hammer from AllSeated as she talked about the importance of branding. Once Sandy was done enlightening us, we moved over to start dinner.
The set up of this dinner was one of the most beautiful and unique set ups we have seen. This Kamayan family style dinner was amazing. From the beautiful set up and amazing smells, to the delicious food, this truly was a memorable (and yummy) experience.
THIS MEETING'S SPONSORS include
- Venue: Club Auto Sport
- Catering: Catered Too!
- Linens: Creative Coverings
- DJ/AV: Elite Entertainment
- Florals: Citti's Florist
- Photographer: Brian MacStay Photography
- Stationery: Sleepy Hedgehog Press
- Rentals: Standard Party Rentals
- Farm Tables: Danny Thomas Party Rentals
- Photo Booth: TapSnap
- Media Sponsor: Cristine Thomas, Today's Bride
Please check out photos from the evening's event here
Community Service
June: Pack the Bag
July: Back to School Backpack Drive
Our back-to-school backpack drive, benefitting under-privileged students in East Palo Alto through The Ecumenical Hunger Program, is this month! We are very excited to bring this drive back again for a third year. We would love it if you could bring a new backpack filled with school supplies to our August meeting. Don't forget – any charitable donation is tax deductible! To learn more about the EHP, and why the Board has decided to continue our support of the EHP, and about future drives, please visit ourCommunity Service Page.
Board Member Spotlight
Lindsay Fogarty, Communications Chair
Robert Kuster, Marketing Chair
How long have you been a NACE member? Had to look that up, joined the organization on 3/29/2010, so that would mean just over eight years
How long have you been in the event industry? Don’t recall the exact date, but it was in the mid 90s I began working for a mobile DJ company to pay for college. I could make in two days, what it took a whole week to make in retail. After college, I retired from DJ’ing. In 2001 a friend asked if I could DJ her wedding at a SciFi convention, I still had most of the equipment and all the music I would need, so that event kicked off my vocation as a solo mobile disc jockey and master of ceremonies. In total over 20 years, as a solo 17 years.
What made you want to be part of the event industry? Initially, getting paid to party. Going solo, I found that I love the LOVE in weddings and relish the time I get to spend with my couples, their family, and their friends as the celebrate their special day.
What is your favorite first dance song?It would have to be what I danced with my wife at our wedding, we cha-cha’ed to Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede. There is a story there, ask me over a drink to hear our love story and why we chose that song.
What is your favorite industry related app? I use google docs to trade documents with clients.
Coffee or tea?Arnold Parmer before an event, coffee at an event to keep the energy up.
What do you do in your free time?Biking, gardening, baking, cooking, reading, but really who has much free time.
Favorite part of a wedding/reception?Seeing the look on a couple’s face when the officiant says, “I now pronounce you…”
What is the biggest lesson you have learned over the years that would benefit anyone new to the industry? Never stop learning. I totally changed my approach to weddings after taking a workshop.