Dear Colleagues

MEA Victoria has experienced a great first six months in 2011 with some fantastic Networking Events having been held. Thanks to all MEA Members who have showcased their venue to date including Church 364, River’s Edge Events and Red Scooter. A huge thanks also to the Sebel Albert Park for hosting the MEA Victoria Awards Night. 188 people attended the evening and I would like to congratulate all State Award Winners and those who also went on to receive a National Award at the 2011 Conference in Brisbane.

Our Professional Development Sessions are also being well attended. We are seeing a steady increase in participation numbers so thank you for your attendance. Since January, some inspiring sessions have been held on Social Media, Communication Skills, OH&S, and Public Relations for Events and the New Australian Consumer Law. In July and August, we will be conducting sessions on Writing a Risk Assessment and How to Win More Clients. I encourage you and your staff to attend these educational sessions. Remember, if there is a particular subject that you would like the Committee to consider, please feel free to send me an email.

As we all know, the start of the year was filled with devastating floods across the country. I would particularly like to take this opportunity to send our thoughts to our colleagues in Queensland who were affected. I would also like to congratulate Queensland for the fantastic 2011 Conference. The quality of speakers and the social program was outstanding.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the future Networking and Professional Development Sessions – come and say hello!

Best regards

Bev Williamson AFMEA
Branch Chair – Victoria

2011 has been a bumper year for PD with 6 sessions already held. In January Sam Mutimer from thinktank media delivered a fast-paced and hands on session ‘Social Media for Events’, which gave attendees an overview and insight into the best platforms and the best tactics to maximise their returns using social media. In February Dr Louise Mahler presented a very unique session, ‘Vocal Intelligence’ which showed attendees how breath, laryngeal and physical postures impact on one’s ability to influence, relate, communicate and lead. In March Bea Tomlin from Beaspoke Safety gave a very informative session ‘Your Legal Responsibilities in Occupational, and Public, Health and Safety as Event Managers’. During this interactive and insightful session Bea gave attendees the tools to confidently approach the OH&S planning for their next event. In April Fiona Mercer and Martin Port from Staging Connections presented ‘AV – Understanding All Things Technical’ which covered all things AV for industry novices and included new trends and services. In June two sessions were held; the first on PR ‘Increase your Event Visibility’ presented by Kirstie Bedford from KDJM Communications gave attendees an insight into how to manage communication and generate media exposure for their event, meeting or conference and the second June session ‘The New Australian Consumer Law’ was presented by William Mulholland from William Mulholland + Co Lawyers and explained the new Australian Consumer Law and its impact on the meetings and events industry.

MEA VIC would like to thank all of our presenters; Sam Mutimer, Dr Louise Mahler, Bea Tomlin, Fiona Mercer, Martin Port, Kirstie Bedford and William Mulholland.

Scott MacKay warms up the attendees with the Y-M-E-A!

Y MEA @ Strike Bowling Bar

On Tuesday 7th of June Y MEA held its second function of the year at Strike Bowling Bar at QV. Guests were treated to canapés and cocktails and took to the lanes for some healthy rivalry with James Loveridge from ExpoNet crowned the Y MEA Bowling Champion!

Our special guest speaker Simon Hylton-Smith from the Sofitel Melbourne also provided attendees with an insightful presentation on how to make a ‘Striking Impression’ which covered personal presentation and body language techniques to make a lasting impression. MEA VIC would like to thank Strike Bowling Bar and Simon Hylton-Smith for supporting this event.

Thanks to our Event Sponsor

24 August - ClubMEA Kitchen Tour of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
21 September - ClubMEA Auction Night @ Revolt
October - ClubMEA @ Melbourne and Olympic Parks
9 November - ClubMEA @ William Angliss Institute
And Save the Date - ClubMEA Christmas Party @ Treasury on Monday 12th December!

For further information about any of our upcoming ClubMEA events please contact Tehani Suafoa, MEA VIC, on vic@mea.org.au or 03 9329 5716.

As an Event Manager you are legally responsible for the Occupational Health & Safety of your event. So do you know how to write a comprehensive Risk Assessment?

In this session presented by Paul McCarthy from PBM Safety you'll be provided with the tools and tips to confidently write a detailed Risk Assessment for your next event.

- OHS standards
- Risk standards
- Risk at your event
- OH&S Acts and Harmonisation

This is a must attend session for all Conference and Event Organisers, and Meeting Managers so join us on Thursday 21 July where we’ll explore all you need to know when writing a Risk Assessment.

For more information or to book click here (http://mfweb.com.au/wc.dll?event~eventview_miaa_anon~0001dF6)

One of the great challenges in the event industry is knowing how to stand out from your competitors, grab the attention of prospective buyers and convert interest into high value clients.

In a special one off workshop, Australia’s RockStar Marketer, Paul McCarthy, will deliver a high intensity 2 hour workshop that’s not to be missed.

In this specially tailored presentation exclusively for MEA members, Paul will reveal:

• How to stand out in a crowded market place
• How to develop an attention grabbing USP (Unique Selling Proposition)
• How to create top of mind awareness
• How to set sales goals and achieve them
• How to attract, convert and retain more clients

While MEA members may well be experts in their fields, it will be your expertise in marketing and selling what you do that ultimately determines your success.

For more information or to book click here (http://mfweb.com.au/wc.dll?event~eventview_miaa_anon~0001dLt)

Hosting an event will provide you with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate support for the continued growth of the meetings and events industry, to promote your venue and service and demonstrate its versatility and capabilities.

If you are interested in hosting an event for MEA members in VIC please contact vic@mea.org.au.

Starting my role at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) was a very exciting day for me. For such a long time I had wanted to pursue a career within the events industry and I remember thinking I was finally on my way. Not only did I have a role within the industry but I was also working with one of Australia’s premiere facilities. Only one year later I have received the biggest boost to my career to date.

Once MEA and USI announced they were seeking nominations for the 2010 Young Professional Scholarship my manager encouraged me to apply. The guidance and words of encouragement came from many different people across the MCEC. I have come to realise people in the meetings and events industry are really great at supporting and encouraging each other and I am extremely proud to be a part of it.

As the Victorian recipient of the Young Professional Scholarship I will be attending the MEA Conference in Brisbane. This is a fantastic opportunity to get a better understanding of the industry that I am now a part of and a great place to network with my peers from all over Australia. I intend on learning as much as possible during the conference, both for my own development and the development of the MCEC.

I am very proud to have been recognised and I understand that the conference will be just one of many opportunities now open to me through the scholarship program. I am very much looking forward to taking advantage of as many of those opportunities as I can over the course of my career.

Nominates for the 2011 USI Young Professionals Scholarship will open later this year and we encourage all eligible MEA members to apply for this great opportunity.

*All photos courtesy of EventPix

We would like to especially welcome the below new members that have joined us since our last newsletter update

PRM Events
Leonie Collins Presentations
Event Technology
Iririki Island Resort and Spa
Liberty Catering Concepts
Shell Company of Australia
Urban Development Institute of Australia (VIC)
ARRB Group
Event Red
Northwest Productions
Ultimate Conference + Events
CMS Australasia
Plan Ahead Events
Marie Ullstrom (Student)
Sarah Krelle (Student)
Patricia Marmo (Student)

Share your passion for all things food and wine and subscribe to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s (MCEC) food and wine blog - www.fromfarmtofork.net.au

Follow MCEC’s director of food and wine, Frank Burger and executive chef, Shaun Bowles’ culinary adventures as they travel across Victoria - meeting with sustainable producers, farmers and winemakers - bringing you stories straight from the farm to the MCEC fork.

The MCEC’s food and wine team challenge traditional venue catering by producing in-house menus using the freshest local produce matched with hand-selected regional wines; offering a far from conventional approach to food and wine. The kitchen team also prepare, cook, bake, braise, cure, craft, pipe and create in-house.

The blog features bios on our food scribes, Frank and Shaun, and illustrates their shared passion for using seasonal ingredients and working with Victorian suppliers.

Each story will offer insights on the suppliers they meet, the vineyards they visit, the recipes they love, some sneak peaks at seasonal dishes, their culinary adventures abroad and the ones right here in one of the greatest food cities of the world - Melbourne.

Subscribe at www.fromfarmtofork.net.au

Integrate your marketing initiatives with MEA digital communications that translate into increased efficiencies for your business within hours.

Maintain consistent messages, leverage the power of frequency in reaching your audience, and achieve top-of-mind awareness among a quality group of MEA Members.

The MEA newsletter is the most cost effective promotional platform designed to keep your brand in the spotlight through-out the year.

To discuss an advertising package please contact Des Tupua (02) 9929 5400 or dtupua@mea.org.au

We are currently sourcing industry case studies to use in some of the publications we work with as well as to use as professional development tools. If you have a great case study, either one that has been written up, or if you have a case study that needs written up, please contact Kate Duldig at the MEA national office via email kduldig@mea.org.au. We would be delighted to work with you to create a useful educational tool for the industry.