There are so many fantastic event blogs on the web and new ones cropping up every day! We are now accepting submissions and nominations for our 2009 EventProfs Blog Awards. This is your opportunity to share your blog or the blogs you love. We’re accepting nominations under the following categories:

Best Education Blog – This award will be presented to a blog focused on providing education to special event & meeting professionals. This could include sales, marketing or technology education.

Best Inspiration Blog – A blog that makes you self-reflect – providing advice, guidance and a unique perspective to our every day challenges.

Best Eye Candy Blog – A blog that is visually inspiring and full of creative design ideas.

Best New Blog – new on the scene and a force to be reckoned with; to qualify for this category a blog must have been started in 2009.

Best Wedding Blog

Best Not-For-Profit Blog

Have we missed a category that you think should be included? Let us know!

Rules:
- the nominated blog must be authored by someone in the events or meeting industry.
- to be fair to all applicants, blogs can only be submitted under 1 category. If multiple categories are submitted, the panel will use our discretion to determine the most appropriate category.
- there will be a maximum of 6 blogs per category. If more than 6 blogs are nominated under a category, the panel will short list the candidates.
- nominated blogs will be voted on by the general public.
- nominees will be provided with a badge to place on their blogs to encourage their readers to vote.
- all submissions are due by August 31, 2009.

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!
Thank you for all submissions

Schedule:
Nominations due – August 31, 2009
Nominees announced & voting commences – by September 7 14, 2009
Voting closes – September 21, 2009
Winner announced – by September 28, 2009

Lara McCulloch-Carter
Author of the Special Event blog ready2spark
Director of Marketing – Regal Tent Productions
Past-President – ISES Toronto
. Follow me on Twitter
. Connect with me on LinkedIn
. Become my Peep at EventPeeps
. Befriend me at Events Network

Lara McCulloch-Carter
Author of the Special Event blog ready2spark
Director of Marketing – Regal Tent Productions
Past-President – ISES Toronto
. Follow me on Twitter
. Connect with me on LinkedIn
. Become my Peep at EventPeeps
. Befriend me at Events Network

So earlier this month, I posted (with glee, I might add) a great alternative to cupcakes. There are so many wonderful sweets out there, it’s a shame that cupcakes have taken the spotlight for so long. Not to be overlooked are my all time favorite Spanish treats. Many a morning, in Spain, I sat at cafes dipping Churros into a warm bowl full of decadent Chocolate.

I nearly flipped when I saw Springwise’s post on Xooro (pronounced Sure-Oh). Holy cow, if you can make it through the flash intro on their site without passing out in a pool of your own saliva, well, kudos to you. With flavors like Maple Bacon, Triple Chocolate, Turkish Hazelnut and Mango…these are not your average Churros.

Currently located in Santa Monica and West Hollywood, they have plans for expansion into Orlando, San Antonio, Santa Monica and San Diego. I’ll be counting the days until they creep their way North.

Lara McCulloch-Carter
Author of the Special Event blog ready2spark
Director of Marketing – Regal Tent Productions
Past-President – ISES Toronto
. Follow me on Twitter
. Connect with me on LinkedIn
. Become my Peep at EventPeeps
. Befriend me at Events Network

One would think, given the amount of graffit posts I’ve done over the years, that you might catch me in a dark alley near you soon. But there’s something thrilling (and perhaps a little naughty) about the thought of picking up a spray can and creating a work of art on a perfectly good wall.

I am so delighted to see how much our #eventprofs chats have grown. And, the quality of participants and ideas that come out of our conversations constantly amaze me. As a thank you to all who have participated, I’ve created 3 badges for you to choose from. I hope you proudly display them on your blog, your facebook page, your website or any other site of your choice.

Foreward by Lara:
I first became acquainted with Liese Gardner through Twitter. If you’ve read my post “First Impressions are Everything” you’ll know that Liese’s profile caught my attention…which led me to her blog: Fuel. Poignantly written and choc full of inspiration, I knew that Liese was someone I could learn from. Despite giving her no direction on a topic, and instead asking her to “write something that inspires her”, Liese was kind enough to write a post for my readers. I hope that you enjoy her response as much as I did.

Great work comes not from trying to MAKE something happen, but by BEING that happening. Today this is more possible than ever. A challenging economy has collided with the rise of social media to create a perfect storm; a new way to do business that is alive with generosity, ideas and inspiration. You could say it’s ready2spark! Certainly the popularity of this blog and Lara herself within the industry are evidence of the ability we each have to ignite and inspire our clients, our selves and one another. Here are several ways to fan that flame!

Be Fearless When Cultivating Relationships. Relationships are at the core of all public relations but not just with media. Reach out to clients and colleagues in a new way — a free workshop, a dinner party in an offbeat venue, a decadent poker night. As you create these experiences, think creatively. For instance, if you are a rental dealer and can’t favor one caterer, hire a mobile specialty food truck – or two! Los Angeles and New York have their share of trendy trucks from Korean BBQ to Mexican food to ice cream and cupcakes. Other cities are following. AND, by creating these events, you have also created an authentic reason to get in touch with print and TV media as well as bloggers with the story. And, of course, you can cover it in your own company blog and send out e-mail blasts with photos and information to clients … hopefully you have that in the works already if not up and running.

Widen Your Circle of Influence. As you can see from the above, forget the medium – today you personally are the message. Thanks to blogging and social media, we can now create and deliver our own stories to an ever-widening circle of people. The catch is to stay on message and not get too personal, too one-sided or too general. Try to keep in mind a couple key words that define you and what you do when you begin to write a blog, tweet or send an e-mail blast. Once you have a “voice” in place, you will find that blogs are an effective way to drive traffic to your web site (the jewel in the crown of your marketing efforts). To complete the circle, Twitter is a great way to drive traffic to your blog posts (although here again, be wary of only tweeting about your posts). Be fearless here too! Social media now allows us all the opportunity to get our ideas out before our competition. Don’t sit on a great idea. That luxury is not part of this new economy.

Rethink. Rework. Reinvent. Remember the words of Yogi Berra – the future ain’t what it used to be. When it comes to marketing and public relations in a 2.0 world where things morph fast, be ready for anything.

Liese Gardner has consulted with special event professionals on their marketing and public relations efforts for the past 10 years as the owner of Mecca: A Communications Destination, www.reachmecca.com. And this year, she began her own blog, www.passionsthatdriveus.com to explore the varieties of “fuel” that drive us personally and professionally.

Lara McCulloch-Carter
Author of the Special Event blog ready2spark
Director of Marketing – Regal Tent Productions
Past-President – ISES Toronto
. Follow me on Twitter
. Connect with me on LinkedIn
. Become my Peep at EventPeeps
. Befriend me at Events Network

Muchos thank yous to Meetings magazine for naming me as a person to follow on Twitter. Mooooi! I feel very special to be considered in the same category as some of the other great event tweeters on their list.

It got me thinking…I’d love to create a list of some of the inspiring people on Twitter. So here’s my list. I’m positive I’ve missed a great number of amazing people (my memory is not so good), so please let me know who you follow in the comments section.

Meeting & Event Tweeple
@MichaelMcCurry – Creative thinker by nature,Event Mgr by trade,Harley Rider Musician/Songwriter loves gadgets,bears football & wants to network! Social Media rocks!
@GregRuby – Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) in Baltimore (the Greatest City in America). All about trade shows|meetings|events|CVBs|Hotels|Tourism! Opinions my own.
@MitchtheFielder – Mitch Fielder is meeting and event professional, a dreamer, and is a musician.
@lizkingevents – I think BIG!
@spkrinteractive – Professional Speakers in Digital Form
@KenaSiu – Outgoing nomad specialized in Event Planning. Photography, Music, Cyberactivism, Food and my Blog are my hobbies @ http://desdemisojos-kenasiu.blogspot.com/
@mandiengram – Destination + tourism marketer @columbiasc. Marketing, social media, travel + community enthusiast. Introverted textrovert.
@MeetingsGal – Meeting Planner , CMM, CMP
@MsStallings – Coordinator to corporate relations and expositions at a not-for-profit association. Here to learn and share. Any opinions are purely personal.
@samueljsmith – Job: Hero, Sherpa and Dad to baby Julia. Previously, with Spotme (www.spotme.com). Interested in Event Tech, Meeting Design, Mar Com and New Ventures.
@GroupsIntl – We’re changing the meetings and events landscape…one day at a time!
@PinkDeb – CEO and Creative Director of Pink Inc. We design & build Tension Fabric Structures for events, exhibits, interiors, for agencies, architects, designers
@EmilieBarta – I get paid to talk for a living…as a Trade Show Presenter, TV Program Host, Narrator, Actress, and Voiceover Artist.
@GreenA_V – Owner of Pulse Staging, green/socially responsible AV for conferences/meetings/events. Smiles always included.
@tojulius – Digital Nomad and Head of blur Marketing #crowdsourcing #online #offline #EventGeek #blogging #community #environment #triiibes #blur’d #MissSilvia
@KarenBrown – Conference and Event Manager, Producer for technical training seminars
@psalinger – background in creating great events and strategies for experiences
@PYMLive – I’m KC Sanders, editor of Plan Your Meetings, an interactive educational resource for meeting and event professionals. Got a story? I’d love to hear it.
@mmcallen – “Do not fear mistakes. There are none.” – Miles Davis
@corbinball – Award winning meetings technology speaker, consultant and writer. Editor of TechTalk News.
@beevents – Creative Strategy and Design Company chasing + creating the future of events
@jessicalevin – I’m a Professional Services Marketer, Meeting Planner, connector of people, speaker, matchmaker and lover of kitchen gadgets and cake.
@sparkliatti – Event Designer — Blogger –Twitterer — Lover of all things pork — Type AB personality
@WillBroome – CEO worldlaunch.com, President ISES UK, would be rock star but not quite talented or good looking enough (but almost!) seeks world domination (in a good way!).
@iandavmcg – Executive Director, Strategy WW – GPJ Experience Marketing, Event / Experiential / Entertainment / Digital Marketer, ENTJ, Sailor, Geek, Scorpio, Dad
@liesegardner – Marketing pro working with all types of event cos. Fueled by Urth coffee, creative solutions, fast company and slow food.
@candicebest – Candice Best is a publicist and owner of Best PR Boutique, a PR firm covering premium brands from fashion to film. Best PR has life.style.covered.
@ChefBrent – Chef, Husband, All Seasons Catering Co – Owner, Catersource Forum Groupie, Wine Lover
@lvwedconcierge – Wedding Planner Saving the World Creating One Stylish, Fabulous Las Vegas Wedding at a Time!
@Velvet_Rope – Event Design and Coordination
@cynthiamartyn – Toronto Wedding Planner & Owner of Sash & Bustle Boutique, Opening September 2009 in Toronto | www.sashandbustle.com
@abcddesigns – Weddings, New Babies, Big Announcements – Milestones in life set the tone. Bespoke Stationery Wardrobes, fitted especially for you!
@pnv123 – Partner in an event and meeting planning, production and management boutique
@ABCeyEvents – Owner and founder of ABCey Events, a premier Event Management firm that services the San Francisco Bay Area www.abcey.com
@DLSHdesign – We are an intimate, award-winning graphic design studio, specializing in smart solutions for businesses and fresh designs for special events.
@ShowTecAE – Account Executive @ Showtec. We provide Design, Production, Lighting, Audio, Video, Special Effects, Scenic, Decor, Furnishings and Florals. Also Theatre Geek
@KeepMeeting – Campaign to underscore the value of meetings and events to the U.S. economy. Thx to all for a great #rallyday on May 12! Let’s keep talking about our value!
@conventionplani – The commission-free search engine’s official account. Convention, event planning resources for meeting planners. FREE! Ashley Spitzer is your friendly tweeter.
@seanlow – President of Preston Bailey Design, Inc. and business consultant
@MichelleRagoLtd – Global Event Planning & Design Firm
@5elementevents – Event Marketing, Design & Production. Since 2003, 5th Element Events has worked with top tiered brands designing custom event experiences!

Industry Rags
@special_events – The International Resource for Event Professionals
@rachelES – Editor in chief and education director of Event Solutions magazine, conference and tradeshow
@DavidAdler – BizBash Media, CEO
@MeetingsMHJ – A publication for professionals in Minnesota’s hospitality industry.
@Eventmagazine – Event magazine is the leading publication for the event industry

MPI Folks
@MPIRandyC – Randy Crabtree, Membership Master Storyteller for Meeting Professionals International
@TNMPI – Meeting Professionals International Tennessee Chapter
@MPIGOA – Greater Orlando Area Chapter
@aprilbroussard – Consultant & Speaker for Social Media and Meeting Industry (from North Florida MPI Chapter)
@meetingplanning – Director of Marketing and Communications for the Greater Orlando MPI Chapter
@jtauvaa – Vice President, Member Care & Chapter Business Management for MPI
@Alanjbaptista – Director of Community Development for MPI
@VonInMPIs – Regional Sales Manager for Meeting Professionals International
@MPIevents – Meeting Professionals International’s main conference page, for WEC, MeetDifferent, EMEC, GMEC, etc.
@BMACMPI – I am blessed to have family, friends and colleagues who want to make a difference for their communities and world. How can I help?
@DigLiberry – I’m Marj Atkinson, Research Manager for Meeting Professionals International.
@MPIOH – MPI Ohio is an association of the meetings industry. MPI has 20K members worldwide and 350 in Ohio.
@MPIGermany – DialogTag 2009, the annual conference of the Germany Meetings and Events Professionals
@mpiheartland – MPI Heartland Chapter, news, events, updates
@mpineny – Building an inspired, global meeting and events industry community is the vision of Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
@MPIEurope – MPI Europe
@MPIOC – MPI Orange County
@MPI_THCC – MPI Texas Hill Country Chapter will be the leading force in positioning meetings and events as a key strategic component for organizational success.
@MPIMN – MPI MN

ISES Peeps
@ISESDallas – Dallas Special Events Professionals
@ISESToronto – Educate, advance & promote the special events industry across the GTA
@ISES_Columbus – ISES Columbus is the local Columbus, Ohio chapter of the International Special Events Society.
@ises_orlando – ISES Orlando
@ISESSFLC – ISES’ is an org. for event professionals that provides education and networking opportunities in SoFla /Caribbean
@ISES_Denver – The Colorado Chapter of ISES promoting proffessionalism & education within the special events industry
@ISESArizona – The Arizona chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES), bringing together all members of the Arizona event industry.
@ISES_NCC – Stay up to date on the latest and greatest infomation about our Chapter!
@isesatlanta – Atlanta Chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES)
@ISESDetroit – ISES Detroit

Lara McCulloch-Carter
Author of the Special Event blog ready2spark
Director of Marketing – Regal Tent Productions
Past-President – ISES Toronto
. Follow me on Twitter
. Connect with me on LinkedIn
. Become my Peep at EventPeeps
. Befriend me at Events Network