Happy New Year!

WOW! January 2012 is rocking in the industry, I think January may be the new December. 

There are many great things going on this month.  First of all I am so excited that we have 5 board members attending the upcoming NACE Leadership Summits.  We will surely bring back some great ideas to keep Baltimore Rocking in 2012.

Then the 2012 Board of Directors will have their all day retreat on January 25th.  Share your ideas with any board member about education topics or how we can help make NACE work for you.

Finally, my favorite, the January 30th "Member Recognition" meeting where we recognize those members that have made outstanding contributions in the past year.  Don't miss getting in your nominations for Caterer Member of the Year, Event Professional of the Year, and the Arthur Remanjon Inspirational Member of the Year, and your vote for the Best Meeting of the Year.

I'm also thinking Purple these days.  Houston you have a problem! Go Ravens!

I hope to see you at the January 30th event.

Sincerely,

Vickie Preston

President, Baltimore Chapter of NACE

Director Baltimore Office, Entertainment Exchange

Membership Update

JANUARY SPECIAL!!

Enter to win a FREE 1-year membership!

Anyone who joins NACE or renews their NACE membership before January 31^st, 2012 will be entered into a raffle to win a FREE 1-year membership.

One winner will be chosen from all new applications and renewals processed in the month of January. 

This membership can be used toward renewal or given to a new member.

Good luck!!

THE FINE PRINT:

1. New members – those not previously a NACE member or those returning after more than one year of lapsed membership.

2. Membership to NACE national and one local chapter. Members can join additional local chapters for $50 per year per each chapter.

3. Offer valid for any and all member types – professional, students, business partner members, young professionals and corporate members.

4. No code required.

Welcome, New Members!

We’d like to welcome the following new (and returning) Baltimore NACE members:

Collette Deltuva, Backstage Bistro VIP Catering & Events

William Grace, Renaissance Hotel

Jeff Paden, ShutterBooth Maryland

The Baltimore NACE Board is thrilled to once again host the January meeting with the theme "Member Recognition".  This will be our 3rd Annual Local Chapter Awards Event.  These are distinguished awards that one would be proud to boast about with their clients, co-workers, friends and family.  All nominations come from YOU the member, and the winner will be chosen by the Board (Board Members are not eligible  to receive the awards) based on the nominations.  If you click the link listed below you will find the 4 awards we are presenting - Caterer Member of the Year, Event Professional Member of the Year, Arthur Remanjon Inspirational Member of the Year, and the Best Meeting of the Year.  Our chapter is so rich with outstanding individuals, we expect the nominations to come pouring in.  The deadline for your vote on the Best Meeting of the Year is due by Friday, January 13th and the (3) Individual nominations deadline is Thursday, January 19th.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact  Vickie Preston at vickie@entertainmentexchange.com or 410-561-6798.

Click Here for Form

Fundraising

UNCORKED! – Annual Fundraiser

In just less than ten weeks, UNCORKED!, our annual fundraiser event, will be upon us.  Monday, March 19^th, 2012, is the big day.  We are very excited about the new venue, Baltimore Country Club in Roland Park.  At the tented lawn for cocktail hour, the ballroom for dinner and the eye-popping Designer’s Challenge, and the exciting after party downstairs, we’ll take you on a journey to live your life to the fullest.  Perhaps you can cross something off your Bucket List at this event. 

To become a sponsor, please visit our event website at www.baltimoreuncorked.com or contact the event co-chairs directly:  Rachel Shaw at rshaw@planitperfectevents.com or Jean Mayer at jean@beventsllc.com

The design committee is searching for NACE members to bring their Bucket List fantasies to life in our Designer’s Challenge competition.   Interested members should contact Johari Barnes at jabarnes@distinctivelyyoursevents.com

Without our lucrative silent auction, UNCORKED! would not be nearly as successful as it is for our three beneficiaries, the Baltimore Chapter of NACE, the Foundation of NACE, and Meals on Wheels.  We encourage you to donate items and BID, BID, BID!  If you have something to contribute to the auction, contact Debra May at debra@mm4solutions.com, Bowtie Bob Nelson at bob@bowtiebob.com, or Tonya Davis at tonya@blueskyfilms.com

Raffle Ramp-up

This month’s raffle is all about NACE spirit!  Be sure to bring your cash for those generous arms-length and head-to-toe tickets, and you could win a free NACE meeting, a ticket to UNCORKED! and much more!!

Anyone who fills out a donation form for an UNCORKED! silent auction item at the meeting gets a free raffle ticket!

We are looking for raffle items every month.  If you would like to donate an item or service to be raffled off, please contact Rachel or Jean.

Cheers,

Jean Mayer and Rachel Shaw

Fundraising Co-Chairs

Juliet Bodinetz-Rich - Founder, Bilingual Hospitality Training Solutions (BHTS)  

Juliet Bodinetz-Rich founded BHTS in 2007 after twenty-five years of experience in the food service and training industries. Ms. Rich assists clients in developing facility-specific training programs to meet their unique requirements. She provides both open-enrollment and private ServSafe® classes, as well as Safe Staff and Stellar Service courses in English or Spanish. Ms. Rich contributes a wealth of industry knowledge and offers HAACP Plans, restaurant consulting services, referrals, translating and interpreting services.                  

• BHTS’ mission is to provide students an enjoyable experience; keep lessons simple, serious and memorable using real world scenarios; and succeed in students applying lessons immediately and successfully on the job.

A Call To Action: Opportunities Chefs and Culinary Professionals

The Restaurant Association of Maryland Education Foundation is partnering with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on a new initiative to improve food quality and nutrition in the school food programs.  The Cook Smart program will be piloted in four Maryland county school systems (Garrett, Washington, Cecil and Harford) with the purpose of developing menus and recipes as well as providing training and support to the school kitchen staff.  Professional chefs are needed to lead or participate in teams to work with the schools and MSDE staff to create the menus and recipes as well as provide onsite training to kitchen staff.  We are looking for creative and innovative chefs that can work within a budget to create nutritional food for kids.  Chefs need not reside in the participating counties, but must be willing to travel to their assigned county to meet with and train the school staff.  A stipend will be paid for some positions.

Qualifications:

• Chefs must possess a culinary degree or certificate from an accredited institution.
• At least 2 years of professional culinary experience in an instructional, production or line environment.
• Excellent instructional skills with strong skills in teaching in a hands-on environment.
• Excellent team building and organizational skills.

If interested, please contact:

Leslie Meyer

Director of Education

Restaurant Association ofMaryland

(410) 290-6800 X1043

e-mail: leslie@ramef.org.

Don't get your diapers all bunched up!! On second thought, please do get your diapers bunched...

The House of Ruth is in urgent need of diapers!  In January the Baltimore NACE Chapter traditionally supports the House of Ruth Maryland, www.hruth.org. This organization is one of the leading domestic Violence centers, helping thousands of battered women and their children find safety and security that so many of us take for granted.

**Please bring new, disposable diapers,sizes 4, 5, & 6 as well as Pull-ups sizes 2T thru 6T to our January meeting.** 

We will make sure they get delivered to the House of Ruth.

Thanks in advance for covering their butts.

Hospitality Holiday Bash 2011 – Let’s Have a Ball!

On Monday, December 12^th, the Annual Hospitality Industry Holiday Bash – was held at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, with the theme “Let’s Have a Ball!”.  With over 20 different caterers, restaurants and hotels providing food stations, several bars, and one giant floor of entertainment and festivity, it was certainly one of the best parties in Baltimore this holiday season.   The Feats* elves had arrived earlier in the day to transform the space, complete with garland, large ornaments and two 9’ wreaths along the windows overlooking President Street.  This year’s color scheme was designed in lime green, fuchsia, and aubergine – the new red & green palette.  Gala Cloths supplied floor-length satin and bengaline linens in this year’s colors – thank you Dulany Noble - for tables supplied by Lauri Dixon at Party Plus Baltimore.

Upon arriving, guests were greeted by a living Christmas tree and a holiday stilt-walker, supplied by Entertainment Exchange…such beautiful and unique costumes.   The awards for the “Best in Show” for decorating their catering tables within the theme and color scheme went to Phillips Seafood Baltimore (first place) – great Ravens Christmas tree!, Delaware North Camden Yards (second place) a twist on baseballs and serving the yummiest crabcakes!, and Harbor Magic Hotels (third place) –and wow! Their cupcakes were wonderful!

Making their debut appearance at the Bash, Bond Street Social, Red Spring’s Café & Catering at The Hollywood Diner, Supano’s Steakhouse, Seafood and Pasta, Harbor Market Kitchen, Dick’s Last Resort and Fleming’s Steakhouse created quite a buzz.  We hear through the grapevine that Bond Street Social is now the “in” place to see and be seen for happy hour.   And thank you for the wonderful food stations provided by our Baltimore NACE members: Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor, Baltimore Marriott Waterfront,  Chef's Expressions, Delaware North at Camden Yards, Harbor Magic Hotels, and Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, we can always count on you.

Our friends at Cort Event Furnishings supplied groovy lounge furniture to guests to mix and mingle along with a fabulous illuminated bar in greens and pinks – so very coordinated.

William Gross, Magician brought his special sleight of hand talents and amazed guests, the perfect walk-around entertainment.  DJ Carl Brashears supplied the music.  Feats supplied the 50/50 Raffle Ticket Lovely Ladies and Gents, coordinated by the young and dashing Ian Bottiglieri.  Lee Johnson, from Harbor Magic Hotels won the 50/50 Raffle…….and after all the incredible work he did organizing the caterers (along with the vivacious Patti Neumann from CityPeek.com), it was definitely a Christmas Karma miracle.   Hats off to Patti for coordinating a lot of “holiday spirit” donations as well.

The party lounge also featured Daniel Nakamura and his Booth-o-Rama-Modern Photobooth – this is where the heavy networking was going on, and surprise…we found Dennis Dietz from Days Inn Inner Harbor and his entourage, including Mike Nasuti, next to the big illuminated bar here ---- so many guests, too many to name, all of them friends and colleagues!  Here is a link to the great images caught by the Photobooth!

http://booth-o-rama.com/gallery/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=10170

The access code is:  121211

*Feats Inc.  and AON were proud to be the 2011 Gold Sponsors

Baltimore Chapter of NACE and Visit Baltimore were proud to be 2011 Silver Sponsors

Hyatt Regency Baltimore was proud to be a Holiday Sponsor

NOTE:  Proceeds from the Annual Hospitality Industry Holiday Bash go to support the fine work of the NAF Academy in Baltimore.

Helping Up Mission.

"I was over the moon thrilled when HUM’s Kris Sharrar invited me to join Deb Poquette and Valarie Wideman to help plan the Christmas meal. The dangling carrot for me? I would get to invite my NACE friends to join me . . . and I know that when I get those guys involved, beautiful things result.

I’m humbled. Truly humbled. Just look and see for yourself. And if you’re at all inclined and want a partner to visit HUM with you . . . just call my name:)

It was all about the guys at HUM, the way it should be . . . but please indulge me while I brag on those generous friends that donated their time and resources . .."

~ Kathy Freundel

Style Magazine would like to offer Baltimore NACE Members a FREE 3 year subscription to our magazine!  This offer is completely complimentary, with no strings attached and no obligation of any kind.  It is simply an opportunity for us to increase our readership. 

Feel free to contact Lauren Remenyi directly at 443-451-0736 if you have any questions.

Innovative Party Planners, located in Owings Mills MD is looking for an entry level applicant to work in our office part time to assist our event planning team. The applicant must have an extreme attention to detail, enjoy a creative atmosphere of continuous learning, is able to multi task, work efficiently and independently, have a professional and friendly demeanor, seek challenging opportunities, and be excited about gaining valuable professional and career experience. Possible full work may result.

The successful candidate for this position will be responsible for:
- Answering phones
- General administrative duties
- Assist with coordinating event details
- Communication with clients
- Communication with vendors
- Communication with event professionals
- Well-versed in Microsoft Office and Quick Books

No event planning experience is required; we will train the right person with the right attitude! This is part-time. Our office is open 9 am – 5 pm Monday – Thursday, 9 am – 3 pm Friday.  There is an opportunity for weekend on site event set-up and management.  If seeking this job, please submit a cover letter, hours available and a resume to sales@innovativepartyplanners.com.  This position is available immediately.

Elizabeth Bailey Weddings is hiring an office assistant. If you know someone who might be interested in working in the office for about 24 hours a week, contact beth at (410) 879-8984 . www.elizabethbaileyweddings.com

Company Introduction: Chair Covers & Linens is an American success story!  Our company was founded by a team of event professionals dedicated to providing affordable and elegant chair covers to anyone who wanted to make their event extraordinary.  The primary focus, then and now, remains how to help our customers transform an ordinary room into something magical without spending a fortune.

Today, we are leaders in our industry.  Our team of award winning staff is dedicated to turning our clients’ dreams into reality.  Our creativity is backed by our extensive national presence that enables us to execute hundreds of events nationwide each week.

Job Summary: Engages in sales strategies to meet and exceed assigned goals, aggressively identifies, pursues, and maintains new accounts, while maintaining the existing client base.  Represents the organization in industry related events and within the event industry.

Essential Functions, Duties and Responsibilities:

• Actively seeks additional business from both existing and new clients from aggressive outside sales calls, utilizing the organization’s CRM to filter out potential clients, quotes and cold calls.
• Networks and holds meetings with hotels, caterers, florists, and various associations to generate sales.
• Actively participates in industry associations (NACE, ISES, etc).
• Utilizes accelerated computer skills to create presentations, spreadsheets, and business plans to manage the assigned territory and to fully execute tasks within company software programs.
• Assists with client consultations and appointments.
• Meets regularly with all top accounts and slipping accounts in person.
• Keeps clients apprised of new products, services, and marketing developments.
• Coordinates project timing and budgets with all relevant personnel.
• Communicates with the Executive Team on issues relevant to clients, the industry and the market developments in the assigned territory. 
• Co-ordinates with the Executive Team on ideas relevant to business development needs such as electronic communications, website, follow-up tools and company standards.
• Manages and co-ordinates the local logistics team and assists when necessary.
• Assists with the orders of high level corporate and social clients.
• Participates in bridal and event planning shows.
• Must be thoroughly familiar with the organization’s product line.  Adhere to all quality standards.
• Comply with company policies and procedures as outlined in the employee handbook and memos, and state and federal safety policies, procedures, guidelines and laws.
• Maintain good communications in the department and throughout the organization. 
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.  Responsibilities include assisting with the following: training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.  The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills and/or abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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 accelerated computer skills.

Education and/or Experience: Associates or Bachelor’s Degree preferred.  Must have proven sales and performance experience.  Experience within the event industry preferred.