Society of Government Meeting Professionals Officially Charters New England Chapter

Society of Government Meeting Professionals Officially Charters New England Chapter

BOSTON, MA—May 18, 2011—The New England chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) received its charter today at a meeting held at The Westin Boston Waterfront. The chapter is based in Boston and now represents government meeting professionals in all six New England states.

SGMP national president Melody Kebe, CMP, CGMP, presided over a formal ceremony that concluded with the ceremonial passing of the gavel to new chapter president Ann Cote of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. SGMP executive director & CEO Charles Sadler, CGMP, CHSP, CHSC, read the Official Charter Resolution & Decree to the chapter’s charter members and guests.

“Despite continuing challenges and budgetary constraints in federal, state and local governments, SGMP continues its national growth today by adding our 32^nd chapter,” Kebe announced. The new chapter’s petition for a charter was approved by the organization’s national board of directors last month after the group had completed several organizational tasks and reached its membership goals.

“All of us are so proud to become an official SGMP chapter and look forward to providing real value to both planners and suppliers of government meetings all across New England.” said Cote. More information on the chapter, which holds monthly meetings and other special events, may be found at www.sgmpnewengland.org.

SGMP membership is available to federal, state or local government employees and to contract employees who are involved in planning government meetings on a full or part-time basis. Membership is also available to suppliers who provide services or facilities to, or derive income from, these meetings.

“We are grateful for the exceptional efforts of chapter first vice president Kim Ainsworth of the Greater Boston Federal Executive Board and chapter second vice president John Sadek of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide for working so hard to create a local SGMP presence here for government meeting professionals,” said Sadler. This new chapter—the fourth chartering since 2009—represents the continued national expansion of SGMP.

# # #

The Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) is the only professional organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to government meetings. SGMP is a national non-profit organization of 3,800 members in 32 chapters who are involved in planning government meetings. SGMP’s objectives are to enhance the knowledge and expertise of government meeting professionals—through education, resources, and networking—in order to improve the quality, and promote the cost-effectiveness, of government meetings.