Calgary Flooding Inundates Scotiabank Saddledome; Stampede Set To Go On
The first Calgary Stampede took place in 1912 and never has had a show canceled despite two wars and a Great Depression. So why should floods that deluged Calgary last Friday prevent the 101st edition of the Stampede from taking place July 5-14? The short answer: it won’t.
Bob Thompson, president and chairman of the board of the Stampede, said as much when he noted “We will be hosting the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, come hell or high water.”
Take the last part of the sentence literally, for T-shirts are on sale that read, “Stampede 101: Hell or High Water.” It should be noted that proceeds are going directly to the Southern Alberta Flood Relief.
May 2013 Leadership Report Available
VenueConnect is rapidly approaching, and of course, our fiscal year is heavily impacted by our success at this event. I am happy to report as of end of May that our registration and sponsorship numbers are tracking ahead of last year, but unfortunately, our exhibit numbers continue to lag. The good news is we have closed the revenue gap somewhat, from about $200K down to approximately $100K. And we are in the process of identifying some expense reductions we can implement to offset a potential shortfall, without sacrificing any member value.
Further positive news is that we are actually now up to 20 approved hosted buyers for the pilot program, DirectConnect, and we are beginning to see unbudgeted revenue from this source. I would like to thank all of you on this leadership distribution list for spreading the word, as we had an uptick in hosted buyer applications after the email to all of you asking for your help. The June report will reflect those increased numbers.
I’d also like to highlight the fact that we added two new partners this month, AEG/AXS and Daktronics. We’d like to express our appreciation to them, as their support is invaluable to our mission here at IAVM. These new partners join Freeman, Ungerboeck, Sodexo and Ticketmaster in the partnership program.
And if you have a moment, please be sure to take a close look at the Marketing & Business Development section of this report. Our incredible marketing and creative services team has been working diligently with staff and volunteer leaders to elevate the quality of all our marketing materials, and to begin creating a branded look and feel. Since some of these materials are directed at different segments of our membership (or to nonmembers), you may not have noticed the changes. We’d love to hear your feedback as we continue to evolve our outreach.
And last, but certainly not least, please note that the hotel cutoff date for the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans is July 5, and the block is filling up fast! Please make your reservations soon, as we really hope to see you there.
Regards,
Vicki Hawarden, CMP
IAVM President and CEO
Green Partnerships Grow Strong Connections for Members
As an association, we know there are many areas where our members are best served through tapping into our large network of subject-matter experts – and unlike the sustainable philosophy of conservation – this is one resource we encourage our members to consume in abundance.
With that in mind, this summer IAVM members are encouraged to take advantage of the sustainability experts they’ll find at IAVM annual conference, VenueConnect; as well as the deep dive into sustainability one can find at the Green Sports Alliance’s Green Sports Alliance Summit. IAVM’s VenueConnect will be in New Orleans, July 27-30, and the Green Sports Alliance Summit for sports venues, stadiums and arenas will take place a month later on August 26-28 in New York.
Elaine Aye IIDA, LEED Fellow
Principal Green Building Services
Last year, IAVM formed a partnership with Green Sports Alliance (GSA), so we thought who better to speak to about both programs than Elaine Aye, IIDA, LEED Fellow and President of Green Building Services – and an IAVM member for the past 6 years. With over 30 years in the industry Elaine can clearly see the path taken thus far; and help us in our efforts to move towards a greener future for the industry and our planet.
How are you involved with IAVM’s sustainability education efforts?
Elaine: I am working with the team to establish potential training opportunities for our members, facilitating some training and exploring opportunities to bring additional education to our members around environmental best practices for their building operations.
Industry News Weekly Roundup
Eagles Sending Bags for Stadium Use to Season Ticket Holders
–NBC Sports
The NFL altered its policy on what kinds of bags fans are allowed to bring into stadiums last week, banning just about everything other than clear bags made of plastic, vinyl, or PVC with dimensions that do not exceed 12 inches by six inches by 12 inches.
There was a wide range of reactions to the change in policy. Some said it was a necessity to minimize the amount of bags to inspect at the gate, others argued that it was an inconvenience that didn’t ensure the safety of crowds and still others noted that NFL teams don’t seem to have any problem selling bags to fans at their stadium stores that they wouldn’t allow inside their own stadiums the next time a purchaser came to a game.
See also: Faster Entry, Better Security the Rallying Cry Behind NFL’s New Bag Policy
And: For NFL Fans, When is Enough, Enough? Continue Reading →
VenueConnect Keynote Speaker John O’Leary Ready to Inspire and Encourage Audience
John O’Leary is a wanted man (in a good way). He began speaking in 2005 to a total of eight organizations and since then has partnered with more than 850 organizations in 46 states and nine countries.
O’Leary is wanted because his message resonates and impacts, motivates and drives. His personal story is one of overcoming a 100% burned body at nine-years-old to achieve success in sharing a message of will, spirit and determination. Those are also the same attributes he talks to audiences about in their professional lives and how they can attain success and significance.
IAVM is fortunate to have O’Leary as a keynote speaker at VenueConnect in July in New Orleans. In advance of meeting and addressing the IAVM audience, O’Leary spent some time visiting on a number of topics.