InView July 2010 Issue
MEMBER NEWS
Raphael Badagliacca's second book The Yogi Poems and Other Celebrations of Local Baseball is becoming a play. The Baseball Stories presents seven characters (the writer, the muse, the husband, the wife, and three fans in the stands) who wrestle, cajole, debate, and glory in life's challenges with baseball as their constant metaphor. Raphael's first book, Father's Day: Encounters with Everyday Life, was translated into a one-man show at the Soho Playhouse. Badagliacca is president of SpaceMaster, Inc.
Lucy Cabrera, PhD, CAE, President and CEO of the Food Bank for New York City, reports that the organization's Earned Income Tax Credit Program was one of 21 organizations recognized with an Award of Excellence in the spring round of judging for the 2010 Associations Advance America (AAA) Award program, sponsored by ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership. Now in its 20th year, the AAA Awards program recognizes associations and industry partners that improve the quality of life in America with innovative programs in education, skills training, standard setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation, citizenship and community service. The Food Bank's Earned Income Tax Credit Program received NYSAE's 2010 Social Responsibility Award.
The Hawaii Convention Center reports that the American Lung Association's State of the Air 2010 lists Honolulu as the third cleanest city in the nation for air quality. The American Lung Association's report studied particulate matter and ozone pollution levels in the air that was analyzed over a 24-hour period and on a year round average. Cheyenne, Wyoming, came in first followed by Santa Fe-Espanola, New Mexico. In all, 12 cities received an "A" rating for ozone pollution.
The Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau's Annual Golf Tournament at Saratoga National Golf Club raised nearly $1,000 in donations for the Backstretch Employee Service Team of New York, Inc. (B.E.S.T.), the organization in the backstretch that provides a full range of health and human services to support workers in the barn areas of the racetracks at Belmont Park, Aqueduct and Saratoga.
The Watkins Research Group, Inc. ranked Toronto the number one convention city in North America based on the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Tourism Toronto, and convention center services, provided by the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC). Watkins Research Group conducts a biennial survey of convention and meeting planners who make decisions about where to hold their organization's meetings. The survey included over 600 meeting planners from across North America. In addition to the overall #1 ranking of its CVB and convention center services, Toronto ranked in the top five (among 46 cities) for: hotels well suited for my largest meeting; safe and secure; superior convention facilities; and great all around convention city.