Beantown Bedding Named as a Finalist in MassChallenge

ACCED-I Corporate Partner Beantown Bedding has been named as a finalist in the MassChallenge, a Boston-based startup accelerator and competition. Beantown Bedding is the creator of Bedsox, biodegradable and compostable bed sheets that may be used for weeks and discarded in trash or compost. 

Teams in the MassChallenge include 36 in high tech; 32 in health care and life sciences; 21 in social impact; 11 in energy and cleantech; and 28 in the general category. The finalist teams receive office space at the MassChallenge office in the South Boston Seaport for four months, work with teams of mentors and advisors on tap to help them navigate the early days of building a company and compete for $1 million in cash awards. This year's MassChallenge began on June 25 and concludes October 30 with the awards ceremony. Read more

What is ACCED-I?

The Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors-International consists of over 1,500 campus professionals who design, market, coordinate and plan conferences and special events on the campuses of colleges and universities around the world.  Since 1980, ACCED-I has increased the visibility and enhanced the stature of the collegiate conference and events profession.

There are numerous membership benefits available to members of ACCED-I, including:

• Subscribe to the ACCED-I (members only) LISTSERV and learn from the experiences of over 1,000 colleagues of this active electronic discussion forum.
• Receive access to the online ACCED-I Membership Directory and expand your professional networking base.
• Enjoy reading ACCED-I Connect, ACCED-I's informative newsletter, and keep up-to-date on current trends, Association business and regional news.
• Become certified! We offer both individual professional (Collegiate Conference and Events Professional (CCEP) Certification program) and institutional programs (One-Stop Shop Certification program).
• Access an extensive resource library of information including sample contracts, job descriptions, mission statements, marketing plans and conference sessions on conference and event planning.
• Attend the Annual Conference at the discounted member rate. This conference attracts hundreds of your colleagues. Engage in thought provoking general sessions, nuts and bolts concurrent sessions, interactive roundtable discussions, experience unparalleled networking opportunities and explore exhibits showcasing products and services of value to you.
• Advance your career with the ACCED-I CareerCenter, the premiere source for connecting professionals with positions in collegiate conference and events management. Job seekers can search jobs and advertise their resume to employers free of charge.   

Learn more at www.acced-i.org

ACCED-I Thanks Allegiance Partners

ACCED-I would like to recognize those of our business members who have offered ongoing support to the Association and its members with its Allegiance Member Program.

In order to be eligible for this program, business members must be ACCED-I members in good standing for a minimum of five consecutive years and have participated in the Annual Conference and Expo as either an exhibitor or sponsor for a minimum of five consecutive years. Please join is in acknowledging and thanking these organizations for their ongoing support of ACCED-I.


Allegiance partners include:

CollegeNet
Event Management Systems
Event Pro
Harbor Linen
Kinetic Software
PMSI
Seattle Technology Group
SICO
Ungerboeck Software International
Unique Venues
University Cheerleaders Association/University Dance Association

Anna Head Alumnae Hall Opens at University of California, Berkeley

Anna Head Alumnae Hall has recently been refinished and is used as event space at the University of California, Berkeley. Anna Head Alumnae hall was built as an assembly hall in 1927 and covers approximately 6,500 square feet of the larger Anna Head School Complex, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located at 2537 Haste Street, it seats up to 168 banquet and 320 lecture setup, not including anything else in the main room. The room features a built-in stage that measures 760 square feet. There is a courtyard outside that is ideally suited for receptions.

The University of California, Berkeley is an ACCED-I institutional member. 

Swimming After Hours Anyone?

When hosting conferences on campus, ACCED-I members try to be as accommodating as possible to groups and guests on campus. However, sometimes conference requests arise that raise questions on what procedures to follow. For example, what do you do when a group requests to use facilities such as a swimming pool at the campus recreation center after hours? Do you try to negotiate with the facility, or do you adhere to building hours?

A recent LISTSERV discussion addressed this issue. Following are some comments posted by ACCED-I members.

"We have a partnership with our Rec Sports facilities.  If a group requests to use a space after hours, I send the request to Rec Sports, who checks availability.  If the request can be accommodated, the group pays a rental fee, in additional to labor for additional staff.  For liability reasons, Rec Sports always provides the staff for their facilities."

"In the past, the Campus Recreation Center has agreed to rent facilities after hours.

They would charge normal facility rental fees plus staffing costs such as:

Lifeguards per hour/per guard -- (3 guards required)

Building Staff per hour/ per staff person  -- (1 supervisor and 2 student employees)

The CRC controls building hours, approves rental requests, and staffs their building.    I would write that section of the contract according to the specific situation after all negotiations were complete."

"We also run “one stop shop” and would consider any after-hours clients based on availability for any spot on campus.  We clear with that building manager to make sure everything is properly staffed."

"Our Conference Services Office will take a request for after-hours athletic space and discuss the possibility with the Athletic Director. If space is available, Athletics will then check to see if any of their student or pro staff are interested in taking an extra shift to cover the hours outlined in the request. If none of the staff wants to cover the shift, it’s out of our control and we can’t force them to accommodate the request. If either student or pro staff takes the shift then the rental group will be responsible for covering the cost of labor, and may be subject to a rental fee depending on what space they are requesting to use. Any additional charges for labor or rental will be added to the groups final bill that Conference Services issues."

Call for Presentations - Unmask Potential

Don't miss on the opportunity to participate in the ACCED-I 34th Annual Conference! Share your knowledge and enthusiasm about the profession with your colleagues by presenting a session in New Orleans.

The ACCED-I Annual Conference is the largest gathering of collegiate conference and events professionals in the world. The conference provides numerous educational opportunities in a variety of program formats: 75-minute special interest sessions, 45-minute mini sessions and 45-minute roundtable discussions. Attendees come with a wide-range of expertise and experiences. Presentations are focused on the many disciplines in the field of collegiate conferencing and events.

Submit a proposal and learn more at www.acced-i.org/unmaskpotential.

The ACCED-I headquarters has moved to new office space! Please note our new address:

2900 S. College Avenue, Suite 3B
Fort Collins  CO  80525

Our phone and fax numbers are still the same...

Phone: (970) 449-4960
Fax: (970) 449-4965

Visit the ACCED-I webpage to find contact information for ACCED-I staff members.

Social Responsibility: The Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors-International is Giving Back to Local Communities

By Melissa Flood, Cornell University


This year marks the 16th anniversary since the Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors-International (ACCED-I) started giving back to local communities through the Act of Caring program.

It all started in 1998, as part of the Annual Conference, when an organized community service project was established in conjunction with the Haven Family Center in Norfolk, VA. The Association collected $240 in donations and Region 5 generously contributed $100 of an unused conference scholarship to benefit the Haven Center. Toys were also collected during the reception and were donated to the children at the Center. In addition, ACCED-I Conference attendees volunteered by spending an afternoon doing landscape work and cleaning out the food storage area at one of their facilities. Lori Everhart, electronic communications manager, ACCED-I, commented at the time, “It was great to actually be at the facility and do some hands-on work in addition to the donation. I really think this will become an annual event at the conference.” Since then, the Hospitality Committee has included an Act of Caring subcommittee, which coordinates the outreach programs within each host conference city.

Socially responsible conferences and meetings are on the rise. More and more companies and associations are recognizing not only the importance of social responsibility, but also the benefits. Successful Meetings magazine noted in February 2012 that one of 11 meeting trends that would shape 2012 was socially responsible meetings. “The need to give back remains strong in America, and investing in the community is as important for planners and conference attendees as it is for the hotel or resort serving as the meeting venue. Socially responsible meetings are no longer just about helping clean up the environment, they're about helping teams learn ways to more actively integrate into their local community and help develop and strengthen its social fabric.”

ACCED-I’s 33rd Annual Conference was held in Toronto, Ontario and collected $2,755 for the Yonge Street Mission, an organization that offers help and support to people in need in Toronto through community centres, clothing resale, health services and housing assistance. The Act of Caring committee, led by Katie Thies, special programs manager at SUNY Fredonia, and Lois Kubinak, CCEP, director of conference at Albright College, organized the Act of Caring this year by a version of the “Empty Bowls” fundraiser. Region 11 members contributed pieces of pottery (mug, bowl, vase, etc.) that were sold in the Hospitality Area. An electronics bundle, donated by Jacques Moore, director of special programs at Colby College, was also raffled off to conference attendees. Region 11 volunteers worked the Act of Caring table throughout the conference to show their support.

In 13 years, members of ACCED-I have collected more than $16,500 at Annual Conferences and provided countless hours of hands-on experience through service projects, which have included preparing meals, washing dishes, cleaning pantries and creating care packages, along with collecting toys, t-shirts and more. In addition to the effort put forth at Annual Conferences, Association members go above and beyond at Regional Fall Summits by supporting their local host organizations.

Additionally, community service is starting to become part of the Association’s Regional Summits. While not all of the Regions have incorporated an Act of Caring within their Regional Summits, more and more Regions are looking to make this part of their annual program.  Region 11 (New Jersey, New York, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Quebec) has participated in outreach programs to local communities during its Regional Summits for a number of years. Members of Region 11 have contributed non-perishable foods to a community food shelter and participants have brought blankets to support the homeless. These are just a few of the many community service outreach projects this region has participated in as part of its Fall Summits over the years.

Each year, we see an increase in participation in the Act of Caring program and look forward to meeting inNew Orleans for 2014 and contributing to another great organization.

Melissa Flood is a conference planner at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. She can be reached at mf244@cornell.edu or (607) 255-6051.