This year, the Event Coordinators’ Network welcomed Jim Hooker, cofounder of Stewart and Hooker and former associate senior vice president for Cultural Relations and University Events at the University of Southern California.
In his keynote address, Mr. Hooker spoke about “Rising to the Next Level.” He reminded us that it does not take a large budget to create a great event and having a large budget does not guarantee success. An event becomes great when it maintains consistently high standards and makes an emotional connection with the guests.
Who could forget Humphrey Bogart’s famous last line in Casablanca? Bogart’s character Rick Blaine gave us so many memorable quotes within the 1942 romantic classic, but his final one resonates most with me in reference to both my personal and professional life. While planning events here at Georgia Tech, I am continually inspired by how the development of “beautiful friendships” can significantly impact the outcome of my events and the guests’ experiences.
I’ve always felt sending a thank-you note after an event to those who have been of assistance is crucial to the post-event planning phase. As event planners, we know we call upon many peers, colleagues, and volunteers to ensure our events are successful. I consulted the 18th edition of Emily Post’s Etiquette: Manners for a New World for a few thank-you note guidelines that I paraphrase below.
The Office of Institute Special Events & Protocol was created in July 2011 to execute Institute-level events, set the standards and protocol for event planning at Georgia Tech, and serve as a resource for fellow planners in the Tech community. Since then my colleague, Serena Wallace, and I have committed ourselves to hearing the needs of our campus colleagues and providing resources and solutions to assist them in efficient, exceptional planning.
