Meeting planning basics: A guide for administrative professionals

Planning meetings and events is a job function that requires skills and knowledge of the meeting management industry. In today’s economy and within many organizations across the globe, both corporate and association meeting planning is a job function that is frequently being seen as a task that an administrative professional can take on in addition to their other workload. While in many instances this may seem like the most efficient and cost-effective route for organizations to undertake, in the long-run it can actually cost the organization more – in both time and money. In addition, it can lead to poorly run and ineffective meetings. Lastly, the lack of comprehension by the administrative professionals on how meetings are run can have a great impact on meeting suppliers in the industry. By having to take the time to educate their partners on key terms, contractual language as well as the basics of meeting planners, suppliers risk losing time and money on meetings and events that are not strategically thought out and planned. Currently there are a multitude of training guides, manuals, certificate programs as well as degree programs available to learn how to plan meetings and events. For administrative professionals, however, in order to quickly undertake the task of creating a successful meeting or event for their organization they may not have the time or money to spend in enrolling in certificate programs or reading these thorough documents. This paper includes a literature review of current meeting management training manuals available, and utilized within the industry, as well as trade publications; extracting from them common themes and the basic tools necessary to quickly and efficiently learn how to plan a meeting and event. A chart summarizing the contents of these manuals is provided in the appendices. In addition, qualitative interviews were conducted with current corporate administrative professionals within various corporations tasked with meeting planning, to inquire and extract information of real-need meeting planning for them to effectively conduct their jobs

The Grizzly, April 24, 2014

Ursinus Conducts First Ever ISGP Conference on Pandemic Preparedness • Library Staff Planning for Big Changes • First Schellhase Ursinus Essay Prize Announced on CoSa Day • Annual Charity Art Fair to Support Camp Cranium • Political Activists to Speak at Graduation • Senior Fellows Help to Shape the Incoming Freshman Class • Alumni Weekend to be Held on Campus • Opinion: Parents Influence our Political Beliefs; Fight to Preserve Net Neutrality in the US • Balancing Act for the Ages: Senior Bryn O\u27Neill • Opinion: MLB Must Move on From Steroid Era • Men\u27s Lacrosse Stays Alive, Baseball Splits with JHUhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1905/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, May 1, 2014

Faculty Start First Creative Art Exchange at Myrin Library • UC Sustainability and Graduation Speaker Important to Upcoming Commencement • Safety and Care Remain Important RA Qualities • Bearitones and B\u27Naturals Will Take the Stage This Weekend for Semesterly Concerts • Ursinus Dance Company to Take the Stage This Weekend • Soccer Tournament Supports Ragball • Fulbright Winner Will Travel to Spain • Opinion: Four Loko-Type Drinks Shouldn\u27t be Banned; Temple Cuts Cast Shadow Over Men\u27s Gymnastics • Opinion: NFL Players Earn Every Cent • NBA Owner Accused of Making Racist Comments • Men\u27s Lacrosse, Both Tennis Teams Finish Stronghttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1906/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, January 24, 2013

Distinguished Retirees Leave Ursinus • New Deans Take Office • Plans for Library\u27s Future • Resident Adviser Recruitment Continues • UC Welcomes New RD • Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Strives for Change • Students Create Their Own Wismer Masterpieces • How to Form a New Student Club on Campus • Opinion: Sexual Assault Absent in Media Coverage; Birthright Trip to Israel Provides New Insights • Senior Abitz Attends FFCA Academy • Senior Spotlight: Amber Yacenda, Basketball • Draper Drops 33, Swarthmore in OThttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1872/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 10, 2014

Greek Week to Wrap up on Sunday • Relay for Life Focuses on Participation This Year • Financial Aid, Interest, Preparedness in Focus as National Decline in Enrollment Continues • At CoSA, 341 Students to Present This Year • Bikeshare Kicks Off New Cycling Season • Taiko Drum and Dance Group to Perform Sold-Out Show • Student Athlete on a Mission • Opinion: Not Black Enough, Not White Enough; Using Study Drugs is Dangerous and Unfair • Northwestern Football Faces Landmark Decision • UC Quarterback Balances Biology and Starting Spot • Tough Weekend for Many UC Teamshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1903/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, March 27, 2014

Bonner Leaders Attend Jamaica Service Trip This Past Spring Break • Google VP Talks This Weekend About Careers in Conjunction with a Liberal Arts Education • Art and Art History Departments Take Students to New York City • Gares Reveals Priorities for his Final Week as President of USGA • Spring Concert Coming in May • Enactus Reaching Out • Watson Winner to Study Black Masculinity Through Art, Culture • Opinion: Feminism Suffers from Misconceptions; Feminism\u27s Shortcomings Alienate Potential Allies • Gymnast Refuses to let Disease Slow Her Down • Early March Madness Games Filled with Surprises • Ursinus Spring Sports Continue to Build Steamhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1901/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 20, 2014

Student Senate Assembled After Reimert Party Ban • Ursinus to Hold First Musical Combining Three Departments • Professors Determine Class Cancellations • More Than 300 Students Attend Job Fair This Year • Professors Return to Campus Life • Heavy Snowfall no Match for Facilities; Ursinus Remains Open • Student Response Counts When Hiring Faculty • Opinion: Supply Chain is Our Biggest Food Risk; Michael Sam Shouldn\u27t Need a Press Conference • Record-Breaking Career for UC Swimmer • Large Freshman Class Will Help Baseball Bounce Back • Winter Sports End Regular Season on High Notehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1898/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, September 20, 2012

USGA Elections • WeCAN\u27s Wismer Plans • Yard Sale Saturday • Textbook Prices a Problem • Late Night Lower Back • SUN and UC Dems Hold Political Talk • Accessible Art in the Berman • New Chalk Rules • Opinion: Don\u27t Rely on Social Media This Election Year; Paralympics Deserve More Coverage • Up-and-Down Week for UC Athletics • Cross Country Team Hopes the Kids are All Right • Senior Spotlight: Catherine Bitterlyhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1863/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, December 6, 2012

Dean Addresses New Faculty Rumors • Main Street Accident Raises Crosswalk Safety Concerns • Infonet\u27s Future Still Uncertain • New Director Plans Art Exhibits • UCARE Grants Kids\u27 Wishes • The Ruby Tradition Continues • Best Buddies Gives Back to the Community • 75th Anniversary of the Messiah at Ursinus • Huang Wins a Prestigious Environmental Award • Opinion: Consider Others When Considering Vandalism; Recent Events an Opportunity to Grow • Behind the Scenes: Nienius and Peck • Basketball Teams Strong Start • Men\u27s Basketball Falls to No. 9 F&Mhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1871/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, November 1, 2012

Search for Student Activities • Presidential Debate Wrap-Up • Staff Editorial • Homecoming 2012 • 24-Hour Play Set to Begin Friday • Departments Revise Curriculums • Students Prepare for November 6 Election • Campus Radio Grows • Up \u27Til Dawn Fights Kids\u27 Cancer • Opinion: Presidential Candidates Head to Head; No Matter Political Affiliation, College Students Need to Vote; Reaction to Sports Opinion Piece • Football Falls to JHUhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1868/thumbnail.jp