The National Board, the Gilmer Institute of Learning, and SGMP Headquarters have selected the month of October to promote and celebrate SGMP by planning Gilmer Day 2009. All promotional events that highlight our mission of education and networking will culminate on October 27, 2009; SGMP’s founding date.

Most of you are aware the vision of a forum for government meetings and issues started with Sam Gilmer, a federal employee who saw the importance to connect with others in the industry with similar needs. Today, 28 years later, SGMP has become an evolving reality that is playing a major role in the meetings industry. From just 13 government planners in 1981 to 1,619 in 2009, SGMP planners impact the economy with $470,460,000 worth of meetings annually. As a supplier member you know SGMP membership can connect you to individuals in government that plan meetings, plug you into resources on how to find government meetings, and provide educational tools for success in your market.

SGMP Headquarters will be promoting our networking opportunities and education mission while encouraging our planners and suppliers to conduct business with each other during this event. We ask that you consider assisting us in our funding goal to provide planners the opportunity to receive scholarships, to learn how to partner with our supplier members and to continue to promote SGMP to other agencies and non-members in an effort to build a bigger networking business environment.

Gilmer Day 2009 is your opportunity to pledge dollars to SGMP’s Gilmer Institute of Learning to make all these things happen. Please click here to review the pledge or donation form. The process is simple, as we are asking our hotel members to pledge either $1.00 per room night occupied on October 27, 2009, or a set dollar amount contribution to Gilmer Day 2009. In return, as a Gilmer Day supporter, we will list you on the SGMP web site and the December 2009 issue of Government Connections. You will also be signed up for an exclusive complimentary SGMP webinar that will provide booking tools on how to locate potential government meeting business.

The relationship SGMP has had with our supplier members has been integral to reaching our goals over the past 28 years. This partnership works because our members are all dedicated to the purpose and mission of SGMP. I ask that you look at this win-win opportunity and thank you in advance for helping SGMP make our first Gilmer Day event a major success with your pledge.

Most Sincerely,

Charles S. Sadler, CGMP, CHSP, CHSC
Executive Director and CEO