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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
After the ConferenceOMG-What an Annual Conference! It's a blurr as the days quickly passed! We
had 11 of our 37 members attending and we hope for even more for Phoenix next year.
Early Sunday arrivals were able to
partake in a 1st Timers Orientation, Sandals Training, Coastal Mexican Weddings, GetMarried.com or the trade show. That evening
we had a wonderful opening cocktail reception where we were able to reacquaint ourselves with old friends and meet new ones.
Monday opened with a hilarious and heart-felt presentation by Frank Andonoplas, MBCTM Many
of you may remember him from our retreat last year. He didn't disappoint as he shared his climb to the top as well as his
designs. Our Fashionista luncheon featured a local designer who compared tabletop costs of various price points. Our breakout
sessions extended over two days with topics such as Blogging for Business, Destination Weddings, The Art of Negotiation, Marketing
and More. Monday evening we were treated to a fabulous dinner at the Columbia Club featuring local Indiana gourmet foods -
delicious!
Tuesday morning opened with the introduction of the new Masters and the Miss Dorothy Heart recipient - Elaine
Barker - Congratulations, Elaine! Our luncheon had a lush woodland theme and our guest speaker was Ciara Daykin or Rock Star
Wedding. Our afternoon speakers featured first, the wonderful Peggy Post, the great,great-granddaughter-in-law of Emily Post.
She was excellent. Also speaking was the delightful Sylvia Weinstock, the baker to the stars. Both speakers were timely and
insightful.
One of the highlights to me, personally, was that after 16 years, I earned my Master Bridal Consultant designation,
now only one of 50 in the world. It was a long journey but definitely worth it. Thank you, each of you for making it possible
for me to get here.
This is a natural segue into Education....One of my goals this year is to
increase the educational levels of our state members. I want to see the Novices become Consultants with PBCTM,
the PBCTM to become ABCTM. We no longer have any ABCTM in the state. We will discuss this more in the future.
Another goal will be Local
Networking Meetings- Catharine has graciously volunteered to start something for the Greater Milwaukee area, but
I need a volunteers for groups in Madison, in Greater Green Bay Area, Southeastern (La Crosse area) and even Northwestern
since there are currently 3 members north of Hwy 8. These are informal and fun gatherings, less planned than our state meetings,
which we will continue to have.
Our Spring Educational Retreatis in the works and we are
thinking about the last weekend of April, as before but the firm date, venue, speakers, topics, etc have not been set in stone. Please
let me know if you have suggestions.
The Meeting Calendar is being developed. I have a venue for
Milwaukee, but waiting for a good month for them as well as a "volunteer" planner to help me out.
Also,
mark your calendar for the Annual Conference in Phoenix. If you send in a deposit early you can save $$$.
See the website for details and more emails will come from me.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone and let's not forget
to thank our Troops and their families this year!
Mary, MBCTM
9:07 am cst
Friday, August 21, 2009
Local Networking MeetingsGreetings Everyone!
As the summer is drawing to a close, the wedding season is still
in full swing as the weather is still glorious here in the upper Mid-west. We know that all of you are quite busy and have
little time for meetings.
If you have looked at the "Meetings and Events" section here you will notice that
the September meeting in La Crosse has, unfortunately, been cancelled. Instead of attempting to organize a state-wide
meeting at the last minute, I am encouraging each of you to call another member in your area and network
with them.
It's very simple:
If you don't know any other members, go to the ABC website:www.BridalAssn.com, enter your membership number and password, then pull down the "members" menu and enter the
search for WI. Telephone or email someone in your area. (You may also contact me for help.)
If possible, gather a group
of you together. Visit a venue or just have coffee. It does not have to be formal. What we are asking is that you reach out
to each other and get together. This is a very important part of being an ABC member and necessary to being in in this industry.
You'll never know when that person may become an asset for one of your events.
All I ask is that you shoot me a
quick email telling me about what you're doing...no regimented report, but just an update so I am aware of what is happening
within the state.
Also, don't forget our meeting in Green Bay in October. Plans are in the works now. Anyone attending
the Annual Conference needs to let me know as we are drawing names for financial reimbursement at that meeting. You must let
me know in advance, however.
Also, don't forget to sign up for the Business of Brides in Indy! You may also do that online
at the ABC website
See you in October!
Mary
11:03 am cdt
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Annual Conference Warm-upHello Everyone!
Here it is July and we are in the midst of unseasonably cool weather so we need to WARM
IT UP!
I just received an email from Gloria, the Indiana S/C, sending us our assignments for the Annual Conference.
Each of the upper Mid-western States has been asked to assist with directing attendees at meals, seminars, to monitor classrooms,
and to generally be the "go to" people. As Mid-westerners we want to show our counterparts on each coast that we
are warm, hospitable "folks" and not just so many people from those "fly over states". (Oh, oh, there
goes my blood pressure again)....I digress...
Anyway, I noticed from the roster that we don't have many WI
members signed up for the conference as yet. The rates change on July 25th so hurry, hurry. We need many hands to help
Gloria make this conference a great success!
Also, IF you are attending, please let me know ASAP as your name
will go into a drawing in October and one, possibly two, lucky members will receive cold, hard cash at the conference as partial
reimbursement for attending. Also, I am offering, personally, an additional $50 to a 3rd attendee. The rules are pretty simple:
-You must notify me by the October meeting so your name can go into the
drawing and
-you MUST attend the conference to win.
Recently, as you may know, we
have had visitors from " ABC Corporate". In June, our president, David Wood, came to La Crosse and spoke
to us about the future of ABC at our breakfast meeting following our Mississippi cruise, all beautifully orchestrated
by Nancy Flottmeyer (thank you, Nancy).
Last week Jerry and Eileen Monaghan presented the New Horizons Seminar at the
beautiful Delafield Hotel, which we followed with a small networking dinner. Unfortunately due to the time of year, the turnout
was small however it was very nice to be able to talk about weddings with people from several parts of the industry.
The Monaghans then went to Red Wing, MN where they again presented the NH Seminar. I have to tell you, this was the second
time that I have heard them, after being in business for many years. I still come out of there with a list of things
that I must do to keep my business fresh. For example:
-How many of you have looked at
your business plan in the last 6 months?
-How many of you have a one line "elevator"
speach when someone asks what
you do?
-Is all of your
advertising updated?
-Are all of your papers/stationery correct, coordinated and do they accurately
reflect who you are or who you want to be?....Do you see what I mean?
Mark your
calendars. Nancy Flottmeyer is putting together a great tabletop and reception design seminar at our next networking
meeting with the assistance of one of her local floral designers. It should be great!
The Green Bay gals are putting
their heads together for an October meeting which will be another "can't miss". Plan to your schedules now
and look for carpools.
Hope to see you there.
Mary
4:16 pm cdt
Monday, March 23, 2009
Julie Gereats and More Updates....Good Morning Everyone!
Most of you were notified last week of the untimely passing of Novice
Member, Julie Lulich Gereats, 33, of Elmwood (Spun Sugar Designs). She had been under treatment for ovarian cancer but
was doing well and planning to attend our retreat next month along with her mother, Robyn. Unfortunately, she had a pulmonary
embolism on March 1 and passed away. She leaves behind her husband Tony and stepdaughter, Amber, of Elmwood and her parents,
Robyn and David, of Mason. I am including some information below if anyone is interested. Many of you may remember Julie and
Robyn from the retreat last year.
Cards may be sent to:
Tony and Amber Gereats
N5277 Co Rd CC, Elmwood, WI 54740
Robyn and David Lulich
66390 Colby Road Mason, WI 54856
Online Condolences through: www.MountainFuneralHomes.com
Memorials to:
Ovarian Cancer Research Fund 14 Pennsylvania Plaza Suite 1400 NY, NY 10122
St Agnes Educational Fund - Our Lady of the Lake Church
201 East Lake Shore Drive
Ashland, WI 54806
On a lighter note, I spoke with Frank Andonoplas last Friday following his "over-the-top"
presentation to the ABC-IL state meeting at the Drake Hotel in Chicago last week. You MUST visit his blog at: www.FrankEventDesign.com and read the description of the fantastic tables and presentation THEN you MUST visit www.www.garbolabs.com, enter event code "abc" (lower case) and take a look at his work. This is just a glimpse of what you will see at
our upcoming retreat. Also, PLEASE reconsider if you aren't already signed up. This retreat is far beyond what we have
done in the past. Bill Reed has worked hard to find a great venue for us and there are excellent presenters this year
with many years of expertise on a wide variety of topics.
Also, along that note.....April 3rd is coming soon, which
is the date that I need your checks...hint, hint! We REALLY need to firm up the details, finalize numbers and make plans.
I know it is difficult to commit money at this time but PLEASE try to help me here as it is tough to make any confirmations
without firm numbers.
Also, if you plan to stay at the hotel, be sure to make those reservations soon as the block will
be released early. The resort is very popular at this time of year and you'll need a place to stay.
Think Spring,
Everyone! I look forward to seeing you at the retreat!
Mary
Friday, February 27, 2009
Scammers are Back!Good Morning Everyone!
Just a reminder, (as they're getting more and more sophisticated)....our scammers
are still at work. Their English has improved greatly as well as their grammar and they are using signatures such as "DR"
Jones. The same common threads are still there:
- they want you to "arrange" a wedding for up to 40 "persons"
- they want to pre-book using a credit card
- they want the wedding soon, usually within 5-6 months
- they
want you to do EVERYTHING (over the moon)
- they actually don't know the specific area where you are located or a
specific venue (The Pfister in Milwaukee, for example) as these are being sent all over the country
- they want you to
let them know right away whether you are available (therefore they have your email address and they keep hitting you)
These are scammers! They are usually in Nigeria and are quite talented at funneling money from credit cards and bank accounts.
I am too ignorant of the system to tell you all of the intricacies, however, I can recognize the "MO" as I must
get an email per month which promptly goes into my anti-virus bin.
Although we've said this many times
before, because of the economy and because they're looking more and more legitimate, we must be more and more vigilant.
On a happier note...we're getting a trickle (it's early yet) of applications for the retreat and I'm really
getting excited! I really got fired up after speaking with Frank the other day. He is so inspiring and this is going to be
our BEST retreat ever. He has amazing ideas! Please, try to find a way to attend, even if for part of the time. If
you need help finding a roommate (the room rate is the same for up to 4 people) let me know. The networking, as always, will
be SO helpful!
Keep warm!
Mary
8:19 am cst
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