Welcome to The Attendee Interactive Way! Our mission is to provide its readers with current Attendee Interactive news and events, including useful information on the management of association meetings, trade shows, conventions, and seminars.

This issue focuses on Attendee Interactive’s GREEN initiative and other bits and pieces related to the color green. Happy reading!

Attendee Interactive Launches Green Initiative at ASAE’s Association Technology Conference & Expo

As association executives and directors looked for innovative products at the Association Technology Conference & Expo in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on January 31st and February 1st, they were asked by Attendee Interactive representatives if they currently promoted environmentally friendly meetings and conferences. The attention-grabbing question led many into the booth to discover how Attendee Interactive's event management system – AI-Evolution 3.0 – has the capability to give meetings a "Green Edge."

Not only does Attendee Interactive provide technology that conserves energy and resources – the firm is also a go-to resource for other green meeting practices, such as where to order biodegradable name badge holders.

"Associations are feeling pressure from members to demonstrate environmental responsiveness and responsibility in their meetings," says Vice President of Attendee Interactive, Tim Lynott, "…and meeting budgets are increasingly being tightened."

AI-Evolution 3.0 virtually eliminates the need for paper and additional staff during the meeting planning process as speakers, exhibitors, attendees, logistics, sessions, abstracts, financials, itineraries, communications (the list goes on) are all managed online.

The bottom line is green meetings are good for the environment and good for business.

Contact Tim Lynott for more information on Green Meetings.

Industry Spotlight: Meet Nancy Wilson, CMP of Meeting Strategies Worldwide

On April 24th, 2008 at 2:00pm EST Attendee Interactive will host a FREE Educational Webinar, "The Business Case for Green Meetings," presented by Nancy Wilson, CMP of Meeting Strategies Worldwide.

Nancy J. Wilson, CMP is a leader, innovator, and entrepreneur in the meeting planning and events industry. She began her career in the industry in 1978. Ms. Wilson is a principal with Meeting Strategies Worldwide, a conference management and consulting firm specializing in green meetings. She founded the firm in 1994.

Ms. Wilson and business partner Amy Spatrisano provide green meeting management and consulting services for their diverse clients representing both national and international organizations. Meeting Strategies Worldwide won the IMEX Award for Environmentally Responsible Meetings.

Internationally recognized as a leader in the environmentally responsible meeting and event management field, Nancy served on the Live Earth Global Green Team and was named one of "The 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry" by Meeting News Magazine in 2003. She is cofounder of the Green Meeting Industry Council and currently serves on the Board’s Executive Committee. Ms. Wilson is coauthor of "Simple Steps to Green Meetings and Events." Her blog, "Pretentious Musings of a Meet Green Martyr" shares resources, tips, ideas and funny stories about the life of a green meeting planner.

"The Business Case for Green Meetings"

Learn about the business case –ROI- of green meetings and how to increase your value to your organization. Nancy will talk about recent trends in the green meeting market as well as debunk the five myths to getting started. She will also describe how to develop and implement minimum guidelines in your meetings/events to benefit both your economic and environmental bottom lines. If you're an innovative, blaze-the-trail planner or supplier, this is essential information for you to continue to be an industry leader.

Learner Outcomes:

1. Identify the return on investment of green meetings – the business case
2. Discuss the CIC recommended guidelines and how to implement them
3. Case studies of implementing green meeting practices

CLICK HERE to sign up for this FREE Educational Webinar!

Green In The Office

Global warming and climate change. Water quality. Air pollution. Landfills. Rainforest depletion. Natural resources. Not your typical to-do list at the office, but every workday each of us makes several decisions that affect all of these issues. At Attendee Interactive we are committed to making decisions for the better no matter how big or small the impact is. Here are some of the things we are doing to Green our office:

Designated recycling bins for paper, aluminum, plastic, and glass

• Our building does not offer recycling pick-up, but our employees take their recyclables home to put in their own residential recycling containers.

We purchase copy and print paper, paper towels, and other office supplies made from 100% recycled materials.

• On average, a US employee will use 12,000 sheets of paper per year.*
• Paper accounts for roughly 40% of all municipal solid waste in the United States.*
• One ton of 100% recycled paper save the equivalent of 4,100 kWh of energy, 7,000 gallons of water, 60 lbs of air emissions, and 3 cubic yards of landfill space.*

• Office equipment accounts for 16% of an offices energy use.*
• If every US computer and monitor were turned off at night, the nation could shut down eight large power stations and avoid emitting 7 million tons of carbon dioxide every year.*

• We only have light bulbs in approximately half of our florescent fixtures because we make use of natural lighting.
• Lighting accounts for about 29% of the energy use in a typical office.*

• We have assigned two employees to oversee environmental responsibility in the office and develop an organization-wide sustainability policy. We strongly encourage employees to get engaged!