The American Society of Association Executives
and the Center for Association Leadership announced it will launch
a “Business of Meetings” certificate program for association
meeting professionals in spring 2005.
M&C spoke with Susan Sarfati, president and CEO of
the CAL, about the new educational offering.
M&C: What is unique about being an association
meeting planner that requires a specialized learning program ?
Sarfati: The biggest issue is working with
volunteers and planning huge meetings, like citywides. Usually, a
corporate meeting is not on that level.
M&C: Will ASAE planners have to choose between this
new certificate and MPI’s CMP certification?
Sarfati: I would hope that people would choose
both, and that one would support the other. It’s important to note
that ours will be a certificate program, not a certification
program.
M&C: Will the program also be open to ASAE’s
supplier members?
Sarfati: We believe that suppliers are total
partners with association professionals. If they’re interested, it
would be our pleasure to work with them.
M&C: Is this certificate program typical of ways
the CAL and ASAE will be working together?
Sarfati: The idea was driven by ASAE’s meetings
and expositions section, which is very vibrant and made up of
experienced planners at all levels. People want advanced
information. They want their learning to move them to the next
level. The certificate program will help them enhance their status
as members of the association who generate lots of revenue for
their organizations.