Welcome New Members!

We want to officially welcome the following new members to AWP:

The Chocolate Chick - Hilary Bradley
Chapel of Love Ceremonies - Rev. Starlene Joyner Burns
Your Marriage Coach - Bill Cochran
Bonato Video - James Bonato
Tomorrow's Caterers - Donna Pendarvis
Invitations Ink - Steve Lahn
Bella Amore Events, LLC - Karie Lewicki
Good Vibrations Entertainment - Vince Colbert
By Request Entertainment - Faith & Neil Kaplanith & Neil Kaplan
Kabloom Florist - Lynn Biondi

Please make it point to search out these people at our meetings and welcome them to our AWP family.

If we missed someone, please let us know.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

through June - Mark your Calendars!

Tuesday, April 25

Monthly dinner meeting at Hilton Arlington - Virginia

Tuesday, May 23

Monthly dinner meeting at Norbeck Country Club - Maryland

Saturday, June 3

Race for the Cure - contact Kathy Azarcon for information on how you can participate

Tuesday, June 27

Monthly dinner meeting at The Westin Grand - Washington, DC

AWP Congratulates Julie Bargeski of Video Express Productions for winning the ISES Award in Videography!

The Annual ISES Capitol Awards Gala was held on March 30, 2006 at the beautiful Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Julie had submitted a video from a special wedding her company videotaped.  Here is what Julie said about the video she submitted after winning the award.  "It was quite a shock and an honor.  Last October we had a couple who were both blind and wanted their wedding videod.  When I met with them I thought to capture this the right way we really would need to boost the audio.  So we kept a wireless microphone on the groom the entire night and as the couple enjoyed their night all of their conversations are captured.  We also did alot more interviews with guests.  For our ending we normally close out our video with a slow recap of music over video clip of the highlights.  For this couple we added sound bits so it is also an audio recap.  My goal was to have a video you could have your eyes closed and feel as though you are there again.  It really did get that feel when it was all done."

For further information on ISES and the Capitol Awards Gala, visit www.dcises.org/2006_Awards_Gala_Re-Cap.shtml.

Again, congratulations to Julie and Video Express Productions on a job well done!

March Meeting Survey Results

Thank you to all of you who filled out a meeting survey for last month's meeting.  These surveys really help your Board to improve where needed and provide programs that you want.

Based on the meeting surveys from the March meeting, it was a huge success.  Look for yourself at the results out of 21 surveys that were completed:

Legend - E=Excellent; G=Good; P=Poor

Meeting Notices -  E - 16, G - 3

Location - E - 13, G - 8

Networking Opportunities -  E - 15,  G - 6

Quality of Food - E - 19, G - 2

Program-Education-Speaker - E - 19, G - 2

Feeling Welcome - E - 14, G - 7

Introduced to others you don't know - E - 10, G - 9

Meeting Value vs Cost - E - 15, G - 6

Balance of: Networking-AWP Updates-Program-Dinner - E - 14, G - 5

Overall Experience - E - 17, G - 3

Expand ratings or give comments about this month's meeting:

"Worth double the cost!"

"Excellent topic.  Very informative."

"I am very impressed.  Keep up the good work."

"I missed the networking.  Table at entrance would be better."

"Perfect"

One comment:

"Have assigned seating to meet more new people."

Ideas or Topics for upcoming meetings:

Marketing

Marketing using the Internet & SEO.  How facilities like to be approached and "sold" by vendors.

How to get PR for your business - Washingtonian Magazine

Members who signed up for committees:

Race for the Cure Committee - James Bonato, Starlene J. Burns and Carol Rose

Newsletter Committee - Lynn Biondi and April Maddox

Welcome Committee - Ruth Hodges, Tarik Jones, Bill Cochran and Chris Steinbruckner

Members who would like to be contacted to serve on a committee:

Dan Lockhart and Allie Licht

Is Your Profile Up-to-Date?

We will print whatever is in your AWP online Directory profile, so please go to www.WeddingProfessionals.org and check your listing and make corrections.  To make corrections, go to 'Member Sign In' at the top of the screen.  If you can't remember the I.D. number that was assigned to you, just check 'Forgot Username/Password' and enter your email.  We will automatically resend the information to you.