The Quarterly Tea, DEC. 2019

VOL. 1 ISSUE 2 • DECEMBER 2019
THE QUARTERLY TEA
Official Newsletter of SGMP PNW Chapter
Published by Amber Holcomb, Director Supplier
PRESIDENT'S PEN
BECKI ELLISON, SGMP PNW CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Welcome to our second issue of the Quarterly
Tea Newsletter. Your chapter board has been
busy getting ready for our annual December
Auction at the Hotel RL in Olympia
on Thursday December 12th. Lynda Lee, Auction
Chair, has been getting together some amazing
donations for us to bid on, so bring a friend or
two and come on out. Remember, this is our annual fundraiser
where you can also earn 1 credit in technology.
I am excited to report, three chapter members obtained their
CGMP certification in Vancouver, WA this past October. Amber
Holcomb, Cassie Gorrell, and myself attended the four day
course where we learned all about travel and meeting
regulations. It was great to meet and network with many
other planner and supplier members from all over the country
all the while learning a certification that will help us in our
current roles. I highly recommend taking this class if you have
the opportunity while attending the national conference.
Coming up in January, we plan on having a round table
session led by the board members. Please send in any topics
you would like for us to cover. This is a great chance to sit in
small groups and share ideas and how others better execute
meetings.
This issue:
President's Pen
PAGE 01
Holiday Silent Auction
PAGE 02
GMS Program
PAGE 03
Member Spotlights
PAGE 04
National News
PAGE 05
Announcements & Events
PAGE 06
I hope to see you in December and Happy Holidays!
-Becki, PNW Chapter President
THE QUARTERLY TEA PAGE 01

Holiday Silent Auction!
Thursday, December 12
Hotel RL in Olympia
11:30PM Networking & Bidding
12-1PM Technology Program Luncheon
The holidays are upon us and it is time again for
our Chapter’s BIGGEST FUND RAISER OF THE
YEAR! Our holiday silent auction will be held on
Thursday, December 12, 2019 at the RL in Olympia
accompanied by a program luncheon featuring a
Technology core competency.This event raises
funds for our Chapter’s educational
programming, conference scholarships, and our
Chapter charities. To encourage everyone’s
participation, we would like to offer incentives for
each of you to put together a very creative or
exciting auction item(s) to donate to this year’s
event. You can be imaginative or practical in
creating your auction item(s), whatever it takes to
create excitement and competition in the
bidding.This is a fun and festive event that you
won’t want to miss, invite your friends and family!
If you are interested in donating, please contact
Auction Chair, Lynda Lee, CGMP at
lyndalee1961@gmail.com
Need Ideas?
Suppliers—consider donating a hotel
package that includes one or two
night’s stay at your property along with
dinner or breakfast, or perhaps tickets
for skiing, golf, or the theater. Other
possible business close to your
property, Spas, casinos, restaurants.
Planners—consider donating movie
tickets, or creating a theme gift basket
filled with food, coffee, chocolates, or
spa items. Possibly asking your favorite
restaurant for a gift certificate donation.
Consider handmade items like quilts,
greeting cards, or jams and jellies.
Incentive!
For each item
donated you will
receive a raffle ticket
to compete for a gift
card valued at $50
THE QUARTERLY TEA PAGE 02

Join us, become a GMS!
By: Jan Thor, CMP
Bobbi Barkley, CMP, CGMP, CFMP; Missy Goodell; Becki
Ellison, CGMP; Lauren Mealey; and Allleah Pac, are just a few of
the 15 members of the Pacific Northwest Chapter who have
earned their Government Meeting Specialist (GMS) certificate.
You can earn yours too!
The GMS certificate program is an SGMP-approved in-depth
program offered and administered by participating Chapters
nationwide. Over the course of (up to) three years,
participants can earn this “certificate of competency” in
meeting planning through attendance at core competencybased
education programs offered through our Chapter, and
gain the general skill sets necessary to perform your duties as
a government meeting professional.
Congratulations to
Lauren Mealey,
Cedarbrook Lodge, for
receiving her GMS
Certificate at the
November Chapter
Meeting!
The program is designed to formalize the structure and
benefit of the education programs you receive at our Chapter
meetings each month. The program allows you to put a
greater value on the education you receive and is a reason you
can use to show your supervisor the need for continue
participation in SGMP. All you have to do to obtain the
certificate
is attend Chapter meetings and collect education program
contact hours.
The GMS certificate program is not an official professional
certification (such as the CMP and the CGMP designations,
which we also encourage members to obtain). With the GMS
certificate program, there is no study or exam required, or no
prerequisites required other than to be a member of SGMP.
There is also no expense involved.
All you do is attend monthly Chapter meetings and collect the
15 contact hours required in specific categories, which are
Education/Programming, Facilities/Services, Financial and
Contract Management, Leadership, Logistics, Technology,
Ethics, Travel, and Protocol. You have three years to complete
the program, but most complete in a much shorter time if you
attend Chapter meetings regulatory.
To sign up, or get more information, contact me, Jan Thor,
CMP, at rjthor@comcast.net, or at 206-248-0462, and I will
send you the sign-up information. Why not do it today?
TTHE QUARTERLY TEA PAGE 03

Supplier Spotlight
Claire Lawrence, Sales Manager
Kitsap Conference Center
A Pacific Northwest transplant, Claire joins
SGMP with over 16 years of experience working
in the hospitality industry, she graduated from
Western Carolina University with a Bachelor’s in
Hospitality Management. She and her family
recently put down roots to call Bremerton
home. Claire is an extremely proud mom of 1
and stepmom of 3, she spends her spare time
with her husband, kids, and 4 canine babies.
Planner Spotlight
Hana Kenny, Director of Events
and Strategic Programs
University of WA School of Law
A Seattle native, Hana has worked at
the UW School of Law planning
events for over twelve years. Planning
Everything from small VIP dinners to the UW Law
commencement ceremony for 3,000 people, Hana
has grown her experience at UW substantially.
Working with faculty and students to plan events
keeps things varied and quite interesting! Prior to
UW Law, Hana worked in the vendor side of
hospitality for Catering by McCormick & Schmick’s
and Columbia Hospitality. She earned a degree in
Public Relations from Gonzaga University. Hana lives
in Seattle with her family. Ask her about her recent
trip to Bali!
THE QUARTERLY TEA PAGE 04

NATIONAL NEWS
Attend NEC on Scholarship
The Rance R. Willis Planner
Development Scholarship will
accept applications November 1,
2019 through 5pm EST on Friday,
December 6, 2019.
Top Young Professionals
Under 37 Announced
during Government
Meeting Professionals
Month
Meet our latest class of Top
Young Professionals Under 37 at
sgmp.org
REGISTRATION NOW
OPEN FOR NEC!
SGMP Congratulates its
new CGMPs; Announces
date for CGMP Summit
The CGMP is the highest
designation available specifically
for government meeting
professionals including planners
and suppliers. Read more about
the most recent CGMP designees
as well as new information
regarding the 2020 CGMP Summit.
at sgmp.org
Fall/Winter
Government
Connections Magazine
The latest issue of
Government Connections
Magazine has been
released.
THE QUARTERLY TEA PAGE 05

ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW CGMPs!
Featured Sponsor
WENATCHEE CONVENTION CENTER
50,000 sq. ft. of adaptable meeting space
Accommodates groups up to 1,000
10,000 sq. ft. grand Apple Ballroom
7,500 sq. ft. exhibit space
14 additional meeting/breakout rooms
State of the art HDMI Audio-Visual
Complimentary high-speed WiFi
Complimentary Parking
Delicious Cuisine
Caring & dedicated staff
1,675 guestrooms in market
Right to Left: Amber Holcomb, CGMP,
Wenatchee Convention Center, PNW
Chapter Director Supplier, Becki Ellison,
CGMP, WA State Parks & Recreation
Commission, PNW Chapter President,
Cassie Gorrell, CGMP, Hilton Vancouver,
WA, and Proctor, Bobbie Barkley, CMP,
CGMP, CFMP, DoubleTree/Hilton Seattle
Aiport, Gilmer Institute of Learning Trustee
The Healing Center,
December Donation Request:
Family Games, Playing Cards, Coloring Books,
Crayons, Markers. Bring them to the meeting
and we will take them to the Center.
SAVE THE DATE!
May 19-21, 2020
38th National Education Conference
St. Louis, MO
CONFERENCE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
THE CENTER FOR ALL YOUR EVENT NEEDS
509.662.4411
www.wenatcheeconventioncenter.com
Upcoming Events
December 12: Today's Newest Trends in Event
Technology and Holiday Luncheon and Silent
Auction
Hotel RL, Olympia
January 8: Chapter Program Luncheon
Tolmie State Park, Olympia
February 12: Chapter Program Luncheon
Olympia
February 23-25: GOSGMP Education Conference
Sunriver, OR
THE QUARTERLY TEA PAGE 06