Although it got a late start, the meetings industry has rallied behind North American Meetings Industry Day, Thursday, April 16. In fact, some industry association chapters have expanded their advocacy activities to the entire week of April 13-17. So plan now to attend a scheduled event near you this week (see selected events below) and become a meeting industry advocate year-round.

While you’re at it, during this week and especially on April 16, expand the conversation by using the Twitter handle @MeetingsMeanBiz and hashtags #MMBusiness with #NAMID15. Here are some suggested tweets (tailor them to your activities) from Convention Industry Council:
• Are attending a #NAMID15 event this week? Share your pictures using #MMBusiness and don’t forget to tag @MMBusiness
• [SPEAKER] will be speaking today at our #NAMID15 event in [LOCATION] on behalf of #MMBusiness – come see him/her in room [NAME]!
• Did you know that 42% of execs said they would lose their customers without face-to-face #meetings? bit.ly/1o11uWD #MMBusiness #NAMID15
• “It’s days like this and organizations like these that continue to show the power of this industry.” @dpeckinpaugh @MeetingsMeanBiz #NAMID15
• Face-to-face #meetings build relationships & trust – adding to the bottom line & ROI bit.ly/1o11uWD #MMBusiness #NAMID15

United States
— PCMA Capital chapter’s activities on April 16 take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Two hours of education in mid-afternoon are followed by an hour-long rally and reception to promote the industry.
— MPI Southern California chapter’s already scheduled 3rd annual EdCon & Expo April 23-24 at Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa will promote NAMID and meetings advocacy.
— South Florida Meetings Industry lunch program on April 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center focuses on the economic impact and value of meetings and events.
— The Chicagoland Four Star Awards Ceremony on April 16 from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art promotes NAMID and celebrates the people who make meetings means business in Chicago. Sponsors: PCMA, Choose Chicago, MPI Chicago chapter; PCMA Greater Midwest chapter, IAEE, Meetings Mean Business.
— MPI Kansas City chapter hosts its full-day Professional Education Conference on April 15 at University of Kansas-Edwards Campus in Overland Park.
— The Tennessee Society of Association Executives is holding its 10th Annual Industry Education Day on April 16 at Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University. Morning sessions will promote the meetings industry, and the group has submitted a Tennessee Meetings Day proclamation request to the Governor’s office.
— April 13-17 is education week globally for Society for Incentive Travel Excellence. An April 13 webinar focuses on industry advocacy through the Meetings Mean Business coalition, and four chapters are holding their own events.

Canada
This is the 19th year that MPI Canada’s eight chapters have hosted their own National Meetings Industry Day, now in conjunction with NAMID. Some planned events:
— MPI Toronto chapter is partnering with nine industry organizations (including PCMA Canada East chapter, Canadian Society of Association Executives, SITE Canada) on a program of keynote presentation and debates from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Liberty Grand.
— MPI BC chapter’s advocacy panel discussion and reception on April 16, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Vancouver Convention Centre West, focuses on the impact of legacy events on the economy and people of host cities.
— At Omni Mont-Royal in Montreal, MPI Quebec chapter hosts the annual Convivium for members and non-members in the meetings industry on April 16-17. Opening night features an awards dinner and speaker.
— MPI Ottawa chapter presents an evening event on April 16 at Museum of Nature from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
— MPI Atlantic Canada chapter hosts an event on April 16 at World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
— MPI Greater Calgary chapter holds a breakfast event from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. on April 16 at Civic on Third.

Mexico
Here are a few of many planned events that will include meetings industry advocacy:
— Moneyback & MPI. Mayor Industry event on April 16 at Banamex Exhibition and Convention Center in Mexico City, with general session and working tables (300 people are expected) from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Contact: dvdk@moneyback.mx
— Event on April 16 at the Torres Bicentenario Toluca venue for associations, local and state authorities, and automobile and pharmaceutical industries. Contact: oscar.garcia@edomex.gob.mx
— Symposium on tourism and security, April 13-17, organized by the Secretary of Tourism of the State of Jalisco and the Convention Bureau of Puerto Vallarta. Contact: miguelandres@visitpuertovallarta.com
— MPI Mexico Nacional Congress in Merida, April 28 to May 1, 2-day professional program and 1-day student program. Contact: rmejia@gsf-hotels.com
— Expomeetings, Mexico City, April 22-23, for meeting planners, DMCs and hoteliers. Contact: mvillafuerte@turycon.com.mx — Maxine Golding