Welcome to fall and the summer wrap up newsletter! I am glad to know that the long hot summer here in Texas has kept everyone working since it was unbearable to be outside! With our long hot summer came some sad experiences for some of our colleagues. The Texas fires not only raged through the state, but derailed many lives. It is at times like this when you truly realize what is needed in life to survive how strong you can be. It is amazing how a positive outlook can make any situation, regardless of how devastating it is, seem bearable. Many thanks to our members who stepped up and offered to help each other out during this time of need. Although there is always an immediate response to help, it is truly after the first couple of weeks when support is really needed. Thank you for your support and being wonderful human beings.
Best,
Amy
2. Certification Weekend Seminar
a. November 12-November 13, 2011: Do you want to become a certified wedding planner? Are you tired of fielding the “I wanna be a wedding planner” questions? NECI, the only state licensed vocational school certification, is offering the an intense weekend seminar for event planners. Take 2 days out of your schedule to pursue the career you have always wanted! www.nuptialessentials.com.
3. June Meeting Synopsis
What an outstanding June meeting we had at Austin Country Club! The Jewish Event Panel was not only informative but quite entertaining to listen to. Many thanks to each of our panel participants who took valuable time out of the day to educate us on the various parts of Jewish events and customs.
- Michele Schwartz- The Modern Jewish Wedding
- Rabbi David Komerofsky- Texas Hillel
- Diane Dusek- The Jewish Outlook
- Timo Xavier- DJ Simcha
- Keri Wootton- Leave the Details to Me
I also want to thank our wonderful sponsors. The table décor was breathtaking, the food was delectable and the ambience was relaxing!
- Carrie Beamer- Flora Fetish
- Keri Wootton- Leave the Details 2 Me
- Olga Lee- Polkadots Cupcake Factory
- Sharon Easley- Reel Time Popcorn
- Michele Schwartz- The Modern Jewish Wedding
- Diane Lyerly- Premiere Party Central
- Julie Diaz- Austin Country Club
4. July Continuing Education Seminar
a. Many thanks to all our participants at the “Summer Session Continuing Education” series hosted by Premiere Party Central North. We had 43 attendees who came and polished up (or learned) more efficient ways to fix emergencies that occur at almost every event. Many thanks to our sponsors who made the event possible: Premiere Party Central, Bouquets of Austin, Men’s Warehouse, Eric Hegwer Photography, Michelle’s Patisserie and Platinum Weddings and Events. A special thank you to Royal Fig Catering for the amazing lunch provided. Attendees are still talking about the cookies for dessert. What a delight!
5. August Continuing Education Seminar
a. NEAWP was pleased to bring Alan Berg to Austin on August 29th and 30th. It was a fantastic Event and I personally realized how many things I need to fix in my business! I not only enjoyed learning about how my website would fire me, but realized that this was more than just a “how to be a better business person”. More than just a speech, this was an intensive series of informational, thought-provoking and motivational topics. For those attendees who paid for a private session, I am jealous as you are “toting about what you have learned”. Always remember, “Whether or not you think you can, you are right!”. I would like to extend a warm gratitude to our sponsors of the event: Complete Music and Video, Brenda Abbott Floral Design, Premiere Party Central, Vintage Villas and Cynthia’s Manhattan Limousine Service. You can still purchase a book or video of the event at www.alanberg.com.
a. NEAWP was pleased to bring Alan Berg to Austin on August 29th and 30th. It was a fantastic Event and I personally realized how many things I need to fix in my business! I not only enjoyed learning about how my website would fire me, but realized that this was more than just a “how to be a better business person”. More than just a speech, this was an intensive series of informational, thought-provoking and motivational topics. For those attendees who paid for a private session, I am jealous as you are “toting about what you have learned”. Always remember, “Whether or not you think you can, you are right!”. I would like to extend a warm gratitude to our sponsors of the event: Complete Music and Video, Brenda Abbott Floral Design, Premiere Party Central, Vintage Villas and Cynthia’s Manhattan Limousine Service. You can still purchase a book or video of the event at www.alanberg.com.
6. September Conference
a. This September I made it a priority to attend the Wedding MBA conference in Las Vegas. I planned on attending this in June. My thought was that in August (when my darling little Abby went to kindergarten and it would be the first time in 13 years I did not have a child(ren) at home) I would have an obscene about of time on my hands. When school started in August, well since it is October, I am still waiting for that obscene amount of time to come to me. Nonetheless, I made a commitment to better myself and business. All I can say is “MAKE THE TIME TO GO!”. I have not made the time to process all my notes that I feverishly was writing down. It was a great conference and after the first ½ day I felt that I got my monies worth and I had 2 days left to go. It was nice to walk around and find some fellow Texans (you know who you are with the YOU-TWIT-FACE shirtsJ) but also chat with people who are in different areas from Boise, Idaho to Cayman Islands. It truly was the most reasonable conference for the content that was provided. I realized that after being completely exhausted each night, the three days I was there were enough for me to make drastic changes in life and business. I hope to see you at the next conference October 2-4, 2012 in Las Vegas. They do run discounts so try to take advantage of those. To register go to www.weddingmba.com.
b. Special Event Olympics- What a day this was in the life of NEAWP! Due to the Central Texas Fires, we changed the Olympics date to September 21,2011. As always, this tends to be my most favorite meeting as you see vendors in a truly different state! Thank goodness for Liz Baughier of Elizabeth Jayne Photography for making sure that no moment was left out. Each year I am truly amazed at how much people train for this meeting, how good men actually look draped in linens and makeup, the intense level of smack talking and how professionals bring out their oppressed competitiveness to win cheesy gifts and titles. Our charity for this quarter and event was actually a wedding professional. Byron Smith, the drummer for The Pictures band, lost everything in the Bastrop fires (that includes drums that he needs to make money). NEAWP is proud to give Byron and Jilly Smith $1000.00. Many thanks to each of you!!The participants at the Olympics won “beads” that were assigned a dollar amount that NEAWP would donate to Byron in honor of the winner. Congratulations to the following winners:
First Place and Best use of Costumes- CM Crazies (Tara Humphries-Captain)
Scott Valley (complete music)
Jordan Mitchell (complete music)
April Skinner (complete music)
Jordan (makeup superstar)
Courtney (makeup superstar)
Second Place and Best use of Talent- Fab 5 (Lydia Smith- Captain)
Steve Smith (premiere party central)
Ken Sharpels (premiere party central)
Emily Knapp (premiere party central)
Cheryl Bailey (yellow umbrella events)
Carrie Beamer (flora fetish)
Third Place and best use of theme- Tootsie Pops (Amy Mader- Captain)
Josh Wilkinson (penguin entertainment)
Thomas Meredith (rojo pictures)
Haley Hyman (platinum weddings and events)
Crissalane Discher (in a dischen events)
Spirit Award- Skip Neal (honeymoon guru) and April Carter (fairy godmothers)
FINALLY- a huge thank you to our sponsors! You made this fantastic event possible:
Resurgence Fitness- Kenneth Bobo
Premiere Party Central and Texas Star Event Center- Delores Crum
Elizabeth Jayne Photography- Liz Baughier
Groove Labs- Kit Ketterman
Which Wich Slaughter Lane
7. Graduate Students
a. Maricel Dona of Austin Texas
a. This September I made it a priority to attend the Wedding MBA conference in Las Vegas. I planned on attending this in June. My thought was that in August (when my darling little Abby went to kindergarten and it would be the first time in 13 years I did not have a child(ren) at home) I would have an obscene about of time on my hands. When school started in August, well since it is October, I am still waiting for that obscene amount of time to come to me. Nonetheless, I made a commitment to better myself and business. All I can say is “MAKE THE TIME TO GO!”. I have not made the time to process all my notes that I feverishly was writing down. It was a great conference and after the first ½ day I felt that I got my monies worth and I had 2 days left to go. It was nice to walk around and find some fellow Texans (you know who you are with the YOU-TWIT-FACE shirtsJ) but also chat with people who are in different areas from Boise, Idaho to Cayman Islands. It truly was the most reasonable conference for the content that was provided. I realized that after being completely exhausted each night, the three days I was there were enough for me to make drastic changes in life and business. I hope to see you at the next conference October 2-4, 2012 in Las Vegas. They do run discounts so try to take advantage of those. To register go to www.weddingmba.com.
b. Special Event Olympics- What a day this was in the life of NEAWP! Due to the Central Texas Fires, we changed the Olympics date to September 21,2011. As always, this tends to be my most favorite meeting as you see vendors in a truly different state! Thank goodness for Liz Baughier of Elizabeth Jayne Photography for making sure that no moment was left out. Each year I am truly amazed at how much people train for this meeting, how good men actually look draped in linens and makeup, the intense level of smack talking and how professionals bring out their oppressed competitiveness to win cheesy gifts and titles. Our charity for this quarter and event was actually a wedding professional. Byron Smith, the drummer for The Pictures band, lost everything in the Bastrop fires (that includes drums that he needs to make money). NEAWP is proud to give Byron and Jilly Smith $1000.00. Many thanks to each of you!!The participants at the Olympics won “beads” that were assigned a dollar amount that NEAWP would donate to Byron in honor of the winner. Congratulations to the following winners:
- Thomas Meredith- Rojo Photos
- Crissalane Discher- In a disc hen Events
- Haley Hyman- Platinum weddings and events
- The Allen House
- Emily Knapp- Premiere Party Central
- Skip Neal- Honeymoon Guru
- Angel Carter- The Fairy Godmothers
- Stella Embelton- Flora Fetish
- Unkown (someone walked away without reporting)
- Scott Valley-Complete Music- Big Momma Crown
First Place and Best use of Costumes- CM Crazies (Tara Humphries-Captain)
Scott Valley (complete music)
Jordan Mitchell (complete music)
April Skinner (complete music)
Jordan (makeup superstar)
Courtney (makeup superstar)
Second Place and Best use of Talent- Fab 5 (Lydia Smith- Captain)
Steve Smith (premiere party central)
Ken Sharpels (premiere party central)
Emily Knapp (premiere party central)
Cheryl Bailey (yellow umbrella events)
Carrie Beamer (flora fetish)
Third Place and best use of theme- Tootsie Pops (Amy Mader- Captain)
Josh Wilkinson (penguin entertainment)
Thomas Meredith (rojo pictures)
Haley Hyman (platinum weddings and events)
Crissalane Discher (in a dischen events)
Spirit Award- Skip Neal (honeymoon guru) and April Carter (fairy godmothers)
FINALLY- a huge thank you to our sponsors! You made this fantastic event possible:
Resurgence Fitness- Kenneth Bobo
Premiere Party Central and Texas Star Event Center- Delores Crum
Elizabeth Jayne Photography- Liz Baughier
Groove Labs- Kit Ketterman
Which Wich Slaughter Lane
7. Graduate Students
a. Maricel Dona of Austin Texas
8. Upcoming Events
a. November 2,2012 - NEAWP General Meeting- Driskill Hotel
b. November 12-13- NECI Wedding Certification Seminar
c. December 7,2012- NEAWP General Meeting- AT&T Conference Center
d. December 13,2012- ISES/NACE/NEAWP Charity Holiday Party- Maggie Mae’s
e. January 7 &8- Bridal Extravaganza- contact beth Kuhn bkuhn@austinweddings.com or 512.797.9470
f. January 11,2012- NEAWP Annual Gala- Hyatt Hotel
g. February 1, 2012- NEAWP General Meeting- Hummingbird House
h. March 7,2012- NEAWP General Meeting- Uncle Billy’s at Lake Travis
9. Quote of the month- As I listened to my 5 year old read “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein to me, I have realized how relevant this excerpt is.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree. "I wish that I could give you something------ but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump."
"I don't need very much now," said the boy. "just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, "Well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest." And the boy did. And the tree was happy.
10. Book club- if you have not purchased this quarters book, there is still time to get reading in! I am determined to get this book read with some other peopleJ Bethenny Frankel- A Place of Yes. Discussion meeting on November 16,2012 at 11am.
11. The Event Talk: Meet, Grow, Learn- I am going to be starting something a little new this fall (yes, it came from my Wedding MBA experience). Come sit with a small group of individuals to talk about business! Here are the details:
The Event Talk: Meet, Grow, Learn
10133 Planters Woods Drive
Austin, Texas 78730
Tuesday, October 25,2011
12:30-2:30pm
Rsvp amy@neawp.org
(first 12 to respond are in like flynn)
12. The Perfect Holiday Trifecta! ISES/NACE/NEAWP will be collectively hosting a holiday party supporting Austin Children’s Shelter. 100% of the proceeds of the meeting will go towards ACS. The event will be at Maggie Mae’s Downtown on December 13,2011. The fee is $20.00 per attendee. More information will be provided to you.
13. CONGRATULATIONS! There are A LOT of NEAWP babies being born this summer (and yes a lot of girls!!!)
a. Lauren Allen welcomed daughter Charlotte
b. Amanda Dudley welcome daughter Ellison
c. Jennie Temple welcomed daughter Arie
14. Holiday Meeting and January Gala- NEAWP is opening up sponsorship for the holiday meeting and the January gala. To contribute your talent to this event or these events, contact amy@neawp.org. No talent is too big or too small!
15. NEAWP will be taking nominations for the 2012 Board positions. If you feel that you have a trait that would be conducive to making the board successful, contact amy@neawp.org. All nominations must be received by October 28,2011. In the event that a position has dual nominations a vote will take place online on the neawp website.
