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In Ireland on New Year’s Eve right at midnight, it’s a good luck tradition to open your back door and let the old year out and open your front door to let the new one in. This tradition represents “Out with the old, in with the new.”
New Year’s Eve has always been my favorite holiday! I love the excitement, positive energy, and hopefulness that it brings. For many of us, the new year is about a fresh start and new beginnings, almost like a mini reset on life or a breath of fresh air. Before we reset though, many of us will reflect on what we’ve done well and the lessons we’ve learned over the past year to help us create habits and intentions to aid us in reaching our goals in the new year and beyond.
Many of us are not just planners in our professional lives but also play the role of planners in our families’ lives. This time of year can be overwhelming and can add heightened stress and anxiety, so this is a reminder to give yourself grace and be kind to yourself. We can be extremely critical and hard on ourselves in attempting to make everything “Instagram perfect”, but perfect isn't what's important. The most important thing in life is spending time with the people you love. Take the pictures and be IN them. By being present and creating new memories, you will inherently fill your cup and recharge yourself for the year ahead.
As I reflect on 2023, this has been quite an eventful year for our chapter. From winning a RISE Award for our innovative MEETS Conference and a Chapter of Excellence Award to raising the bar on our distinguished CMP/CMM Recognition Event, our chapter is only getting better and better.
I don’t share these accomplishments to boast but to remind you of the value of the network you have with MPI New Jersey. As you think about your goals, whether professional or personal, your MPI community has your back. As Director of Membership, my goal is for our members to get the most out of membership. There are numerous gems and a plethora of resources we have available for you on the MPI New Jersey Chapter website that can help you achieve your goals. Whether you are looking for a new role in your industry, upskilling your career with certifications (AI Event Prof Certified), interested in obtaining your CMP certification, need financial assistance for attending industry events, interested in sharing your knowledge and industry expertise with speaking opportunities (writers can earn CMP credits towards qualification/recertification), or you just want to come to events to network and hang with a great group of people, please reach out! Adele Perkins, Vice President of Membership and myself, along with our membership committee, are here to help you make the most of your membership experience.
Lastly, I want to acknowledge and express my gratitude to our board members and volunteers for their dedication and hard work throughout the year. We could not have earned any of these top achievements without your support. We should all be proud of these accomplishments. I am incredibly proud to be a part of such a wonderful board of directors and like-minded community of passionate event professionals. As our Chapter President, Kellie Cahill, has promised, we will continue to Rise and Elevate into 2024!
Cheers to a wonderful and prosperous 2024!
Marie Monroe
MPI New Jersey Chapter Director of Membership
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