The neon lights of Broadway also paid homage to MeetNY at the Hard Rock Café. Pictured (left to right): Joel A. Dolci, CAE, NYSAE President and CEO; Wanda Otero, National Accounts Director, Puerto Rico Convention Bureau; Lester Shafran, Executive Director, Independent Payphone Association of New York and Vice-Chair of NYSAE’s Board of Directors; Wendy Pery; Rita Lopez; Carter Keithley, President, Toy Industry Association, and NYSAE Chair of the Board; and Lori Alstrom.NYSAE’s MeetNY is the best hosted buyer-event in the north east and includes education, unequivocal networking, and professional development. The February 28 program began with two hot topic meetings industry educational sessions—Disaster Planning: Are You Serious? and Taking Your Meeting Program Global (see separate stories). MeetNY was Chaired by Dean D'Anna, Account Director, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Vice-Chair Jeffrey P. Fagan, CMP, CASE, Director, National Accounts, Marriott Global Sales Organization.
The Silent Auction benefited the Group Foundation for Mental Health and the Steven Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation
An afternoon of education was followed by a mini trade show and reception at the Hard Rock Café, where hosts and meeting planners mingled. A feature of the trade show was a silent auction, which this year benefited the Group Foundation for Mental Health and the Steven Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
AGPA’s Group Foundation for Advancing Mental Health is a philanthropic organization dedicated to changing lives through therapeutic group work by advancing the most effective and innovative approaches to group therapy education, training, research and community outreach. Among the trauma work it funds is helping those affected by the tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
The Steven Siller Foundation honors the legacy of love given by Stephen Siller, FDNY, who laid down his life on 9/11. The Foundation does this by following Stephen’s footsteps of selflessness and love by “doing good” in his memory. The Foundation has established “In the Line of Duty” programs for Firefighters, First Responders, and Military and “Legacy of Love” programs to make a lasting and positive difference in the lives of children who have lost one or both parents.
The day was topped off by a trip to Broadway to see Once, winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Featuring an impressive ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onstage, Once is an enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who’s about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows, his music soars to powerful new heights, but their unlikely connection turns out to be deeper and more complex than your everyday romance.