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.