This article originally appeared in the June 1997 edition of The Meeting Professional, celebrating MPI’s 25th anniversary. While engagement and innovation from MPI chapters has been exceptional for the entirety of the association’s life thus far, sharing this article—literally pulling it into the 21st century—is an opportunity to look back and recognize some key chapters and their efforts during the first half of MPI’s history.

By Marsha Veach

During the past 25 years, MPI has changed in many ways but perhaps none quite as noticeable as chapter development. Steady growth has occurred since the Rocky Mountain Area group of Colorado was recognized in 1973 as the first chapter of the newly blossoming meeting industry association.

Since MPI was itself in early development, it took a bit of maneuvering throughout the 1970s to generate guidelines for chapter membership. Without finalized bylaws and standard membership rules, chapter affiliation dropped off in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. But after the International Board of Directors decided on guidelines for chapter formation and realized the importance of an MPI presence at the local level, a strong push for chapters began.

Part of that push was an extensive development program introduced in 1976 to better meet members’ needs. The process for starting a chapter was first created by the Membership Development Committee and later turned over to the Chapter Development Committee. Finally, on June 22, 1977, charters were presented to MPI’s first seven chapters.

In the late ‘80s, MPI leaders were focusing on establishing the association as a viable organization that offered significant member benefits. They achieved that goal partially by hiring staff members to cement strong chapter relations. This approach contributed to the increase in chapter membership seen within the last nine years.

“Recent chapter growth primarily is due to organizational changes which placed emphasis on strengthening MPI’s educational programs and opportunities,” says Sally A. Goldesberry, CMP, chair of MPI’s Chapter Relations Committee. “Overall membership numbers soared to an all-time high due to the increase in member benefits.”

Edwin L. Griffin Jr., CAE, executive vice president/chief executive officer, together with MPI’s leadership have taken the association to the next level, she says.

As for the ‘90s and beyond? The growth is expected to continue. In April, MPI welcomes New Mexico as the latest U.S. chapter and Norway as a new international club.

The International Development Committee, chaired by Mollie S. Wallace, CMP, is focusing on South America, primarily Argentina, Chile and Brazil, as well as the Pacific Rim. And planners in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong have expressed interest in chapter formation.

“One reason MPI is growing is because of aggressive marketing efforts in the international market. Whenever MPI members are in those areas, we always are talking up MPI,” Wallace says. “We’re becoming known as the association to turn to for meeting education.”

New chapters will join the ranks of established chapters that have become more sophisticated through the years. They’ve added programs, activities and benefits that have attracted more members.

Chapters have also been successful in developing their own regional conferences, fund-raising programs, CMP study groups and membership directories. Some participate in a voluntary “Twin Sister” program that pairs chapters of distinctly differing cultures to help promote the MPI spirit through educational experiences.

To assist chapters in developing strong leadership, MPI offers an annual two-day leadership training program and chapter-related events in conjunction with its three international conferences—Chapter Management Forum, President’s Forum and President-Elect’s Forum.

With such effort placed on chapter development, it will be interesting to see what the next 25 years brings.

Chapter history

1976-77

• Areas needed 15 meeting professionals to apply for chapter status.
• June 22, 1977, the following chapters were chartered:
• Rocky Mountain Area (was Rocky Mountain Association)
• Greater New York Area
• Chicago Area
• Metroplex (name later changed to Dallas/Fort Worth)
• Ohio Valley
• Southern California
• Wisconsin

1977-78

• June 9, 1978, the following chapters were approved:
• Delaware Valley (charter was for Greater Philadelphia but the board of directors changed the name)
• Northern California (charter application was for Pacific Northwest but the board of directors changed the name)
• Potomac
• South Florida
• Members were automatically assigned to a chapter but could request a transfer.

1978-79

• Canada (first international chapter)—Sept. 22, 1978
• Houston—Sept. 26, 1978
• Georgia—Sept. 28, 1978
• Minnesota—Oct. 12, 1978
• Rochester, N.Y.—Feb. 15, 1979 (chapter did not survive)
• Greater Boston (name later changed to New England)—April 18, 1979
• Mississippi Valley (name later changed to St. Louis Area)—May 11, 1979
• Arizona Sunbelt—May 24, 1979
• Lake Erie (name later changed to Greater Cleveland followed by Northern Ohio)—June 13, 1979 (chapter did not survive)
• The possibility of non-North American chapters was discussed: President Raymond J. Hall, CM, appointed an International Liaison Task Force for a two-year term.
• Chapter start-up funds increased to $250.
• March 1, before elections for the 1979-1980 year, the membership approved bylaw changes, including that each chapter send two representatives to serve on the MPI Board of Directors.

1979-80

• San Diego—Nov. 14, 1979
• Michigan—Nov. 29, 1979
• MPI began publishing a monthly Chapter Leader Newsletter. The newsletter later changed to a bimonthly and was renamed The Chapter Manager.
• Canada/Montreal—March 12, 1980

1980-81

• Nashville Area—Nov. 25, 1980 (name later changed to Nashville)
• Washington State—May 26, 1981
• Minimum number of members required for chapter chartering increased to 20, at least 12 of whom had to be planners, and the dues remitted to each chapter was increased to $25 ($15 for students).

1981-82

• Kansas City—July 16, 1981
• Kentuckiana—Nov. 12, 1981 (name later changed to Kentucky Bluegrass)
• Memphis—Nov. 24, 1981 (chapter did not survive)
• Canada/Manitoba—Feb. 23, 1982
• Yankee—March 11, 1982

1982-83

• Pittsburgh—Aug. 25, 1982
• Texas Hill Country—Feb. 22, 1983
• Oregon—June 24, 1983

1983-84

• Northeastern Oklahoma (name later changed to Oklahoma)—April 2, 1984
• Carolinas—April 2, 1984
• Greater Orlando Area—June 24, 1984

1984-85

• Tampa Bay—July 20, 1984 (name later changed to Tampa Bay Area)
• Canada/Ottawa—Oct. 15, 1984
• Sacramento—June 5, 1985

1985-86

• New Jersey—Dec. 8, 1985

1986-87

• Virginia—Aug. 20, 1986
• Canada/British Columbia—Jan. 17, 1987

1987-88

• Orange County—Oct. 16, 1987

1988-89

• Southern Connecticut/Westchester County (name later changed to WestField)—March 3, 1989

1989-90

• Canada/Alberta—Dec. 9, 1989

1990-91

• Iowa—Dec. 8, 1990
• Italia—April 13, 1991

1991-92

No chapters were formed

1992-93

• Sept. 13, 1992, the following chapters were approved:
• Greater Calgary
• Greater Edmonton
• Indiana

1993-94

• United Kingdom—April 24, 1994

1994-95

• Dec. 9, 1994, the following chapters were approved:
  • North Florida
  • The Netherlands
  • Utah

• June 24, 1995, the following chapters were approved:

  • Germany
  • Belgium
  • Mid-Atlantic
  • Sweden

1995-96

• Denmark—Dec. 9, 1995

1996-97

• Buffalo—July 28, 1996 (name later changed to Western New York)
• Puerto Rico Club—Jan. 12, 1997
• Swiss Club—Jan. 12, 1997
• New Mexico—April 26, 1997
• Norway Club—April 26, 1997

Rocky Mountain high

When MPI was being formed in the early ‘70s, a group of Denver-area meeting professionals also was taking shape.

At a July 1973 MPI meeting, board member Richard A. Hildreth, Ph.D., CM, proposed that the Rocky Mountain group become the first MPI chapter. The board approved the concept with the provision that official membership be limited to MPI members.

After a great deal of negotiation and organization, the Rocky Mountain Area was recognized as a chapter. However, the group didn’t officially receive its charter until June 1977.

One of the chapter’s many accomplishments was the development of a bibliography of materials relating to the meeting planning field that was housed in the Denver Public Library. This later became the MPI Resource Center as it’s known today.

O Canada!

On Sept. 22, 1978, MPI truly became international when Toronto, Canada, was chartered as MPI’s first non-U.S. chapter.

In 1980, industry professionals in the Montreal area asked to become part of MPI’s chapter system. After considerable discussion with the Canadian Chapter in Toronto, whose members did not want to give up the recognition of being the “Canada Chapter,” the Canada/Montreal Chapter was chartered on March 12, 1980.

In anticipation that other Canadian areas soon would want to form chapters, the board discussed stations what later came to be known as the Maple Lead (later Canadian) Council. The Canadian Council currently represents seven chapters and manages member benefits within Canada.

Bellisimo

The Italia Chapter, headquartered in Milan, Italy, was chartered April 13, 1991. It marked a milestone by becoming the first non-North American MPI chapter.

Rodolfo Musco, CMP, CMM, was a strong supporter of MPI and the need to establish international chapters. He was instrumental in helping the Italia Chapter meet the requirements for MPI affiliation.

Since the chartering of that chapter, seven European chapters and three new clubs in Switzerland, Puerto Rico and Norway have been chartered with more expected in the near future.