Spring was a whirlwind of activity for event professionals and industry suppliers, as we worked hard toward getting our business affairs back on a positive trajectory. As you know, our industry has been deeply affected by the unprecedented health crisis and we’ve all been striving diligently to catch up, many of us with less staff. For the last several months, our Board of Directors have been traveling locally, domestically, and/or internationally, really burning the midnight oil. Kudos to all for persevering through this very challenging time!

Although we eagerly awaited being able to return to “business as usual” during this stage of the pandemic, we now have a new challenge: learning how to balance our workloads with our ever-important personal lives. Not being able to conduct our regular activities because of restricted ability to gather in-person and to travel certainly was stressful. But we must guard against overdoing it and burning ourselves out now that restrictions have been lifted. I strongly recommend that you take time to read the excellent article “Mental Wellness: How the Business Events Industry is Coping,” by Michelle Russell and Barbara Palmer, in the May/June 2022 issue of PCMA’s Convene magazine.

Personally, I’ve found that one of the surest remedies for stress is gratitude. In fact, I strive to start every day with it! So many of us begin our busy days by checking our smartphones or looking at emails on a watch for news, often before we even say “good morning” to our loved ones. We immediately get swept into a stressful mode, learning about unfortunate incidents happening in our world, and start the day’s work in a state of upset or worry. I’d like to suggest that when you wake up in the morning, take a deep breath and consider the things for which you are grateful—including the fact that we’ve functioning through the pandemic and our industry is finally on a comeback! A great gratitude practice also includes thanking others, as often as possible, even for the simplest of things.

There are many fantastic research papers written on the power of gratitude and the wonderfully positive effect it has on us. One such study, published by Emotion, a journal of the American Psychological Association, found that “thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing relationship. So, whether you thank a stranger for holding the door or send a quick thank-you note to that co-worker who helped you with a project, acknowledging other

people’s contributions can lead to new opportunities” and better health. Evidence also indicates that these actions can improve physical health, reduce aggression, decrease anxiety, and improve sleep, in addition to other positive effects. So, write those thank-you notes, hold a door, reach out and express gratitude to your colleagues for their contributions. I wish for all of us to feel grateful for and appreciated by one another!

The NYPCMA Program Committee and Board are assembling outstanding educational opportunities with you in mind, so keep an eye out for more information coming this summer.

Connecting in person is good for us all, so I highly recommend gathering with your chapter colleagues every chance you get!

Of course, we also invite you to connect with us on our social channels. One way you can do this is by sending us your ideas for the chapter at newyork@pcma.org with IDEA in the subject line. Also new this year for camaraderie and bragging rights will be an NYPCMA/MPIGNY friendly softball game in Central Park on August 19th.

Please remember that my phone line is always open. I welcome you to contact me anytime with your concerns, ideas, and suggestions, or just to say hello! Let’s work together to meet your goals as a member.

Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your chapter president. It is truly an honor and a great privilege! And I would be remiss if I didn’t say how grateful I am to my company, Visit Salt Lake, for supporting me in this role. Let’s do great things together!

Karen Staples

President

Sources:

●       https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/11/23/7-scientifically-proven-benefits-of-gratitude-that-will-motivate-you-to-give-thanks-year-round/?sh=263fc8ea183c

●       https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2021/11/22/the-science-of-gratitude-how-thankfulness-impacts-our-brains-and-business/?sh=4831c0ee20cc