While visiting Washington, D.C. in the spring of 1985, David A. Smart of David A. Smart & Associates Hotel/Convention Bureau Representatives, was approached by the president of the District of Columbia Chapter and asked to consider starting a chapter in Chicago. Mr. Smart thought that this was an excellent idea and returned to Chicago with enthusisam regarding this invitation. He immediately began sending out letters to hotels, Convention Bureaus, State, Federal and Local government meeting planners suggesting the formation of an SGMP chapter in Chicago.
The first meeting to discuss the formation of a Chicago chapter was hosted by Lucille Pennington, Sales Manager, Ramada Congress Hotel, at 520 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois on April 15, 1985. Because the 35 to 38 individuals, who were in attendance at this meeting, voted unanimously to charter a SGMP chapter in Chicago the SGMP Chicago Chapter became the "first" officially chartered chapter outside of the Washington D.C. area in April 1985. Throughout the months of May, June and July 1985 a series of meetings were held. One of the key members in the formation of the Chicago Chapter was William "Bill" Williams, Associate Vice President of Sales, Chicago Convention and Visitors and Tourism Bureau. Another key member was Steven Boem, who currently operates the Destination Management Company in the Western United States. Other members, who shared in the vision of Lucille Pennington, Bill Williams and Steven Boem of creating an organization of government meeting professionals with unity and purpose, were Helga Hausner, Sales Manager, Bismark Hotel, Shirley Whitney, Oxford House Hotel, Tom Haney, Radisson Suites O'Hare and Sarah Hudson-Feldman, Allerton Hotel. Membership in the Chapter has grown since its charter in April 1985 to a peak of approximately 150 members and currently has a membership of approximately 66 members. In 1988, the Chicago Chapter won the SGMP National Membership Award for having the most new members per capita.
The Chicago SGMP Chapter is proud of , and enjoys several "firsts" in SGMP, including, including hosting the "first" National SGMP Educational Conference outside of the National Conference area at the Hyatt Regency Chicago Hotel - "Building the Future". Another "first" was the fact that Illinois was the first state to have two SGMP Chapters - Chicago and Springfield. As sister chapters, the Chicago and Springfield Chapters jointly sponsored the "Midwest Connection" where educational seminars as well as other special events were provided. Another "first" was that for the Chicago Chapter was to have one of its members, Sandi Lynn of Sandi Lynn & Associates, be the "first" female and minority member to be elected as a two-term SGMP National President. She later became a two-term Past President of the Chicago Chapter. Additionally, she is the Chapter's "first" member to hold the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation and was the 1990-1991 recipient of SGMP's highest award, the Sam Gilmer Award.
The SGMP Chicago Chapter's highest priorities continue to be our strong emphasis on enhancing the knowledge of our members in meeting planning through educational and informative programs, establishing a stronger networking bond between planners and suppliers, participating and supporting other meeting planning organizations and reinforcing our commitment and involvement in SGMP National. Each year since its inception, the SGMP Chicago Chapter has donated various items, i.e., clothing, toys, food, etc., and monetary contributions to charitable organizations in conjunction with its Annual Holiday Party event.
