SOCIETY OF
GOVERNMENT
MEETING
PROFESSIONALS
LOUISIANA
CHAPTER
LOUISIANA
LAGNIAPPE
Special points of
interest:
Briefly highlight your point of interest here.
Briefly highlight your point of interest here.
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Briefly highlight your point of interest here.
Inside this issue:
President’s
Message
1
REAL ID and Air
Travel
2
Membership 2
Meeting Topics 2
National Update 3
10th Anniversary 3
Vocabulary Quiz 3
NEC Conference 4
Advertising Info 4
Quick Tips for
Successful
Meetings
4
Announcements 5
Volume 10, Issue 5 January 2017 Page 1
Chapter President’s Message
Quick Pix
www.sgmpla.org
Hello SGMP-LA Chapter members!
Happy New Year - it seems so long ago already as there have been so many activities and
changes in government already this year. The biggest change is that we have a new U.S.
President in office! We will be monitoring for policy changes that impact meetings.
Thank you to Tracy Center for hosting our January meeting in Baton Rouge and to Libby
Noto for the presentation on meeting planning/team ethics. We must all be vigilant with
ethics considerations as we make decisions.
Our February 9th meeting will be on Optimizing Your Food &
Beverage Budget. It will presented by Gilbert Decourt, Food and
Beverage Director, Artisan Catering. We will meet at the Home2
by Hilton Parc Lafayette. Click here to RSVP Today! Sign up early so
that we have the meal numbers. ALSO… we are planning to have
one of our very special quarterly ticket drawings! Please bring items
to contribute to the prize pool—think about Valentine’s Day,
romance, travel, fun, wine, coffee, spa trips, etc. There are a few
prizes already contributed for this meeting—including an overnight
stay! Remember to bring cash or check to buy tickets!
Congratulations to Sharon Delvisco with Team Dynamics for being selected to receive a
Gilmer Institute of Learning National Education Conference Scholarship. Sharon will be
attending the NEC in Fort Lauderdale. Have you started planning for your continuing
education at the NEC? Registration is open! Let’s really get a big group to go and represent
Louisiana at the national conference this year.
If you would like to order a shirt with a chapter logo, contact me.
Overall, we have lots to look forward to in our 10th year!
Click here —>
to learn about
joining as a vendor
or supplier.
Click here —>
to learn about
joining as a
meeting planner.
Thank you Libby for
your presentation at
the January meeting
on ethics!
Former 2nd Vice-President:
Christina Rutherford
WANTED: NEW MEMBERS! Help us grow our membership numbers!
Membership Chair:
Candace Triggs.
Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act established minimum security standards for state-issued
driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies, like TSA, from accepting licenses and
identification cards for official purposes from states that do not meet these standards. Beginning January 22,
2018, driver’s licenses or state IDs issued by states that are not in compliance with the REAL ID Act and have
not been granted an extension by DHS may not be used to fly within the U.S. Beginning October 1, 2020,
every traveler will need a REAL ID-compliant license or state ID or another acceptable form of identification
to fly within the U.S.
If your state is compliant:. you may continue to use your state-issued driver’s license or ID to fly in the U.S.
until October 1, 2020. Beginning October 1, 2020, you may only use a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or
ID or another acceptable form of identification for domestic air travel. If your state is not compliant:,
beginning January 22, 2018, you may continue to use your state-issued driver’s license or ID for domestic air
travel only if your state has been granted an extension to the compliance deadline by DHS.
LOUISIANA STATUS: In October, 2016, Louisiana received an extension for REAL ID enforcement, allowing
Federal agencies to accept driver's licenses and identification cards from Louisiana through October 10, 2017. As of January 22, 2018: You can continue to use your license to fly in the U.S. and access Federal facilities
and nuclear power plants.
As of October 1, 2020—we will either be compliant or noncompliant. There will not be any extensions.
Sources: https://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/files/resources/realid_factsheet.pdf and https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief
Page 2 Volume 10, Issue 5 January 2017
Upcoming topics that have been approved by for certified training hours in government planning:
Please contact Karen Primeaux at 337-501-6786 or [email protected] if you are in-
terested in hosting a meeting in 2017 at your property or have an interest in being a presenter
for one of the monthly training programs.
2017 Program Name Description Core Competency
Feb. 9 Optimizing Your Food & Beverage Budget
presented by Gilbert Decourt, Artisan
Catering.
What are the latest trends in planning
meal functions?
Financial/Contract
Management
Mar. 10 10th Anniversary Chapter Celebration Charter reunion celebration and review
of a decade of achievements
Ethics
April 13 Excel Spreadsheets presented by Connie
Lanier
Learn the latest tips and tricks to
working with spreadsheets.
Technology
Monthly Meetings - Topics and Speakers!
Real ID and Air Travel—Current Status
Former 2nd Vice-President:
Christina Rutherford
Page 3 Volume 10, Issue 5 January 2017
Crawfish & Corn Beignets When most people think of beignets,
they think of the French Quarter
powdered sugar variety. These are
savory little clouds of crawfish and
corn that make an excellent first
course to any dinner.
Ingredients:
4 cups Lou Ana Peanut Oil
3 cups flour
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 pound crawfish tails, coarsely chopped
One 16-ounce can cooked whole kernel corn
1/4 cup minced parsley
1/4 cup chopped green onions
Directions: 1. Heat Lou Ana Peanut Oil until it reaches 350
degrees. 2. In a large bowl blend together flour, milk, baking
powder, Cajun seasoning, garlic, thyme, hot sauce and stir
until batter is formed. 3. Stir in remaining ingredients until
all are incorporated. 4. Drop batter by the spoonful into
hot grease, being careful not to splash. 5. Cook beignets for
5 minutes after they float to the top of pot, flipping
occasionally. 6. Drain on paper towels and serve with your
favorite dipping sauce. Yields 2 dozen beignets.
Recipe compliments of Chef Patrick Mould. Provided by
Karen Primeaux, Lafayette Travel.
Share your favorite recipe with us! Send to:
Menus from Members...
Carolyn Wooten, our
SGMP-Louisiana Chapter
Past President, was recently
appointed to the National
Board of SGMP by President
Michelle Milligan to fulfill a
vacant position.
Congratulations to Carolyn!
National SGMP Update
Join us on March 9th in Baton Rouge to
celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the
chartering of Louisiana’s SGMP chapter!
Members, Bosses, Supervisors, Colleagues Invited!
The celebration will be:
11:30am to 2:00pm
Capital Park Welcome Center
702 River Road, Baton Rouge, LA
Special guest speakers on the agenda.
Seeking all original charter members!
Want to get involved? Contact:
Melissa Lee or Karen Primeaux
RSVP Online Today! Click Here
Meeting Vocabulary Pop Quiz Can you name the term for following definitions?
1. A clause in a venue or vendor contract that limits
the liability of the venue or vendor should an
unexpected or uncontrollable event occur.
2. By the day expenditure allowance commonly, but
not exclusively, used by government employees.
3. Guests with confirmed reservations are sent to
another hotel due to overbooking at the hotel for
which they hold a confirmed reservation.
4. A bar is set up for the event, but guests pay for
their own beverages.
5. The cost of bringing into a facility alcoholic
beverages purchased elsewhere.
6. A detailed document that provides to a venue
instructions and a timeline for how the banquet,
meeting, or event will be run.
7. A confirmed number of meals that you will be
paying for whether or not those will be consumed
by the attendees at your event.
1. Force Majeure 2.Per Diem 3. Walking or Being Walked
4. Cash Bar 5. Corkage Charge 6. Banquet Event Order
(BEO) 7. Guarantee
Former 2nd Vice-President:
Christina Rutherford
Besides being a good troubleshooter, what strategies
can you adopt as an event planning that will give you
the best possible chance for success? Here are some
quick tips:
Stay calm. This might be easier said than done,
but you set the stage for how others respond.
Create good energy at every event. The
energy that you share with others usually comes
back. Offer referrals and share information with
other suppliers and planners at SGMP meetings.
Acquire professional training. We suggest
SGMP meetings, webinars, national education
conference and other training opportunities!
Provide the service you say you will. Keep
good records, stick to deadlines, deliver fully and
accurately.
Create a reliable team around you. Your
choice of team members reflects your attitudes
on quality, ethics, leadership & communications.
Try to be one step ahead, and expect the
unexpected. There is no reset button! Be ready
with Plan A, B and C. -Susan Shaffette, Team Dynamics
Quick Tips for Successful Meetings
Beginning in 2017, you are
invited to advertise with
SGMP-LA
The advertising information and form will be posted on
the SGMP-LA website or contact Susan Shaffette.
Rates to advertise will be: $300 for six months.
The advertising fee includes one quarter-page print
advertisement and a logo on the home page of the SGMP-LA
website. Your documentation and payment must be received
before submitting advertising artwork. The Communications
Committee members will follow-up for artwork files.
THANK YOU!
Page 4 Volume 10, Issue 5 January 2017
SGMP’s National Education Conference (NEC) is the
biggest annual event in the government meetings
industry and is where government professionals from
across the country come together for one-stop and
non-stop education, resources and networking. The
event kicks off on Tuesday afternoon and culminates
with Thursday’s general session. This is your best
opportunity all year to master your industry’s best
practices and to earn up to 13 education contact
hours. For comprehensive NEC information and links
to register, go to www.sgmpnec.org.
The NEC features:
Education sessions by industry experts on topics
across the spectrum of your profession.
Significant professional networking opportunities
through-out the event, including the largest
gathering of key exhibitors in the government
meetings industry.
A wide variety of optional programming—
including the Certified Government Meeting
Professional (“CGMP”) course and exam—is also
available and would add even more contact hours
with your participation.
This year's expo will feature a three-part format in-
corporating a traditional pipe and drape show along
with a luncheon education session and a regionally
based dessert reception. It promises to provide the
best opportunities for planners and suppliers to meet
and greet in the perfect setting for each.
June 6-8, 2017
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center
National Education Conference
Advertisement
SGMP-LA Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Carolyn Wooten, CGMP
LA School Board Association
225-769-3191
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT
Renette Dominick, M.Ed.
U S Postal Service
504-589-1142
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT
Kelly Johnson
Morial Convention Center, New Orleans
504-582-3070
SECRETARY
Allison Jones Ferguson
LA Department of Insurance
225-342-4311
TREASURER
Jennifer Toups
Marriott International
504-430-5790
DIRECTOR/PLANNER
Jack Warner
LA Office of Tourism
225-342-8125
..la.gov
DIRECTOR/SUPPLIER
Kelly Johnson
Morial Convention Center, New Orleans
504-582-3070
DIRECTOR/SUPPLIER
Elizabeth Hidalgo
Hilton New Orleans
504-556-3718
PAST PRESIDENT
Libby Noto
Office of the Attorney General
225-326-6048
Volume 10, Issue 5 Page 5
SGMP-LA Chapter P. O. Box 84285
Baton Rouge, LA 70884
EDITOR: Susan
Delle Shaffette, CGMP
SOCIETY OF
GOVERNMENT
MEETING
PROFESSIONALS
LOUISIANA
CHAPTER
www.sgmpla.org
SGMP - LA Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Melissa Lee
LA Transportation Research Center
225-767-9155
FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT
Libby Noto, CGMP
Office of Attorney General
225-326-6712
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT
Karen Primeaux, CGMP
Lafayette CVC
337-232-3737
SECRETARY
Allison Landry, CGMP
LA DOTD/LTRC
225-767-9134
TREASURER
Susan Mack
Bourbon Orleans Hotel
504-571-4620
DIRECTOR/SUPPLIER
Jason Miller
Louisiana Office of Tourism
225-219-1200
DIRECTOR/PLANNER
Susan Delle Shaffette, CGMP
Team Dynamics LLC
985-624-3514 ext. 1
DIRECTOR/SUPPLIER
Candace Triggs
Holiday Inn Express BR Downtown
225-379-3884
Volume 10, Issue 5 January 2017 Page 5
Auction items for the national conference are currently
being collected. If you would like to contribute, please
contact Melissa Lee or go online: http://www.sgmpnec.org/
auction for more information and the donation form.
Are you interested in becoming a Certified Government
Meeting Professional? There are three upcoming locations
where you can take the 3-day course and then sit for the
exam. Go to the SGMP website for info! www.sgmp.org
The Society of Government Meeting Professionals is
looking for leaders to serve on the national board of
directors! Nominations are now being accepted for all
eight elected positions on the 2017-2019 National Board
of Directors. Any member may nominate himself/herself
or another member for a position. Please note all
nominees must complete and submit the nominee
information sheet by 5:00 pm Eastern time on
Friday, January 27, 2017. Nomination info: http://
www.sgmp.org/index.asp
Announcements
At our February
meeting, we will hold
our next quarterly
fundraiser. Please
bring items to go
into the ticket
drawings! The theme
will be Valentine’s
Day—romance, love,
fun, etc. Be creative
and contribute—
bring your cash
too!!!
Fundraising:
Louisiana Chapter
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