April 13th, 2010 
It’s not every day that we discuss who helps make the Purple Carpet possible. But today, we take you behind the scenes as we welcome seasoned event marketing pro Liz Connors to our team.
Joining audience response system global leader IML as Director, Business Development for the West Coast team, Connors brings eight years of experience in the meetings and events industry.
A graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, Connors brings an impressive professional background to the IML team, most recently as a sales, marketing & events consultant at Southern California Meetings+Events Magazine.
March 31st, 2010 
In the current economic climate, fundraisers face a tough challenge: Trying to garner financial donations when donors simply don’t have as much to give.
And yet, that didn’t stop Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston from raising $1 million at its annual “In Party” silent auction fundraiser.
In a recent BizBash article, the hospital’s three secrets to success are revealed:
1. Keep it Simple. Organizers of the silent auction fundraiser moved away from overly elaborate decorations. Instead of expensive floral centerpieces, paper rectangles spanned each table, spelling out the party’s themes: innovation, inspiration and incredible care.
March 24th, 2010 
One preventative hair loss shampoo company is working to “bring back the moustache” with a unique fundraising idea. After all, even bald men can grow moustaches!
Zenagen Shampoo, maker of a preventative hair loss shampoo, asked participants to submit pictures of themselves in costumes incorporating moustaches (real or fake), according to a recent article in The Auburn Plainsman. The winning photo – selected by a panel of judges – was chosen based on how well the moustache was incorporated into the costume.
March 16th, 2010 Which high-profile drug maker recently began allowing shareholders to vote on executive compensation at shareholder meetings?
A. Pfizer
B. AstraZeneca
C. GlaxoSmithKline
If you chose “A. Pfizer,” you’re correct.
Beginning in 2010, Pfizer shareholders will be able to approve or vote against executive compensation for the CEO, CFO and other top execs every two years, according to ABC News. The drug maker’s first shareholder meeting to be affected by the decision is tentatively scheduled for April.
Pfizer follows in the footsteps of Microsoft, which in September made the decision to give shareholders a vote on executive compensation every three years.
March 4th, 2010 Best practices for corporate shareholder meetings are constantly evolving to better ensure accuracy, fairness and order. Leverage the 4 latest trends below to maximize success at your company’s next shareholder meeting.
1. Green shareholder meetings. Corporations are looking to further reduce their carbon footprint and ensure environmental responsibility by taking efforts to green their meetings. Miller Tanner Associates, for example, opted to reduce waste and mitigate negative environmental impact for a recent meeting for the pharmaceutical industry. But it needed to do so in a way that would not compromise the training, interactive format and informational elements of the meeting.
February 24th, 2010 
IML Connector Audience Response System
Attendees at this week’s International Confex Exhibition in London got a firsthand, exclusive view of the brand-new IML Connector audience interaction and voting tool.
Not there? Not to worry.
We’ve got our own exclusive look at the new audience response system.
The audience response device – in direct response to event producer demand – reduces the amount of hardware necessary for attendees to fully participate in events. The single handheld device combines:
- Multiple audio channels and portable PA system
- Instant voting with configurable menus and choices
February 16th, 2010 
Could new requirements from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) soon change the way your business conducts shareholder meetings?
The SEC has proposed several new measures to grant even more voting power to shareholders of US companies, according to The Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch.
Here’s how suggested measures could affect shareholder voting for US corporations moving forward:
Before: In general, shareholders have had a difficult time influencing the way companies operate, especially when it comes to executive pay.
After: A new SEC proposal would give shareholders a non-binding vote on executive pay.
January 14th, 2010 
Where in the world is leading audience response systems provider IML? Right here, in these industry blogs and publications:
Planner Product Review: Read the positive review of the audience response system from IML by Travis Hodge of Elite Meetings International, Inc. Find out why Hodge thinks IML provides the “next best thing” to reading customers’ minds.
The In Crowd: Discover how the “In Party,” hosted by Brigham and Women’s Hospital, reached its goal of $1 million in donations with help from IML electronic bidding technology.
January 7th, 2010 
Large-scale events – from silent auctions to shareholder meetings – require careful planning, monetary resources and manpower. And a few tried-and-true tips for event planning don’t hurt, either.
In a recent podcast and whitepaper from promotional product retailer 4imprint, Paulette Wolf and Donielle Levine, authors of the book “Event Planning Made Easy,” offer what they consider the first and most important tip for successful event planning:
Establish the 5 “W’s” and 1 “How.”
One by one, those 6 elements include:
1. Who are the guests or attendees?
2. What is the event being planned?
