Good Stuff from Joan Eisenstodt

It seems that 'firsts' come more rapidly than they did before.  In the United States, we are observing some amazing 'firsts': the first African-American to be the presumptive nominee for President of the Democratic Party; the first woman (since Rep. Shirley Chisholm) to have had an amazing run for the same ticket; the first nominee from the GOP (Grand Old Party or Republican Party) to be the oldest nominee ever for President.

It is an amazing time to be alive and to participate in all this.

This article in today's Washington Post gave me a different perspective of who really was 'first' -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/06/AR2008060604509.html

when it came to running for and holding office.

I've been discussing w/ MPI some of our own organizational 'firsts' and our history.  With so many members new or relatively new [I consider less than 15 years' membership new!], there is a lack of knowledge about MPI's origins.  Many lack simple knowledge of what it was called before (Meeting Planners Intl.) and in what city it had its first office (Middletown, Ohio - halfway btw. Dayton and Cincinnati) and more facts about founders (referred to as CMs - Charter Members.)  Some, when names like Al Sears or Steve Powell or Marjorie Hamilton are mentioned don't know who they were. (Past MPI Presidents - now known as "Chair" - including Marjorie as the first international president.)

No country .. no person .. no organization does well w/o the knowledge of its past.  It's time we all begin to learn more.

About what firsts do you know for our industry? Share them with others. We all can learn and participate better by doing so.