Speaker - June 2010

Spotlight on the Convention
Industry Council

As the economy slowly recovers, NSA continues to be aware of the challenges our members face, and is constantly looking for ways to provide help in overcoming them. Our goal is to help all members speak more and earn more money. In addition to offering education programs, NSA seeks to partner with other groups, such as the Convention Industry Council (CIC), to achieve this goal.

CIC, a group in the convention and meetings industry, provides a forum that allows 30+ convention-related organizations to exchange information on trends, collaborate on industry issues, and advocate the value of meetings, conventions, exhibitions and events. NSA has been a member of CIC for over

15 years, and I currently sit on CIC’s board of directors as the chairman-elect and as a representative of the speaking segment of the industry.

CIC is involved in various initiatives to speed the recovery of the industry, including the U.S.

Economic Impact Study and messaging campaigns, which are explained here in more detail.

U.S. Economic Impact Study

The industry has lacked quantifiable
information to better define the impact
that meetings have on our economy,
as well as meeting attendees and
their businesses. Earlier this year,
a group of industry organizations
within CIC funded a $500,000
study, which is being conducted by
PricewaterhouseCoopers, to gather
data to illustrate the positive impact
of meetings in the United States. This
information will be shared later this
year in a variety of formats with
legislative leaders, industry
partners and corporate
decision makers to continue
to make the case for the value
of meetings. NSA has signed
on as a partner in this study so
we can actively participate in
conveying this message.

Messaging
Campaigns
CIC is active
in creating
industry
messaging for
placement
in key
publications
and for
members’ use
in their own
publications. The
latest is an effort to

promote face-to-face meetings through the “FACE TIME.

It Matters” campaign. For details and tools you can use, visit www.facetimematters.org.

In addition to these efforts, CIC owns and administers the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation for meeting professionals. Thanks to the efforts of Ed Scannell, CMP, CSP, we continually have information about using professional speakers in front of this group.

It is major progress for professional speakers—and NSA—to be viewed as part of the meetings and convention industry. Nearly 20 years ago, NSA applied for CIC membership and was twice denied because speakers were not considered an integral part of the industry. Through the perseverance of Scannell and a few other leaders at the time, however, NSA was accepted into the CIC.

Today, I feel honored and privileged to represent speakers in my role as a CIC leader. I am excited to share the many ways NSA continually seeks partnerships to enhance the use of speakers. If you have ideas for organizations that NSA can partner with, please send an email to stacy@ nsaspeaker.org.