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Meetings Done "Right": Corporate Social Responsibility

If given the opportunity to add a third dimension to a meeting, 44% of recently polled meeting planners say increasing volunteer/charitable activities "is the right thing to do."

Beyond a company's corporate charitable program, meetings are now becoming the place to give back. There are companies who have quietly been doing this for years and others who are trying it for the first time as a result of the recent media scrutiny and economic challenges.

The true motives behind the plan to give must be beyond a public relations strategy. It's about adding another opportunity for meeting attendees to become engaged in a meaningful way or in meeting planning lingo, "CSR" (corporate social responsibility). In fact the idea of "CSR" within meetings is not a new concept. The greed and excess of the 90's helped launch "CSR" into popularity as companies and the country began to get back to their 'Mother Nature' roots at the turn of the new millennium.

So how do you pile on good deeds when your plate already runneth over or how do you convince management to add more meaning to their meetings? A few strategies are listed here to help you jump start your way to the right thing to do.

You don't have to do it alone. Whether your organization is big or small, engage others to help. It may be your community affairs division or the new hire in your company who wants to make an impact. Find a common thread connecting you with others who want to do good. Then call in the experts. Meeting planners, destination management firms or professional companies like "Impact 4 Good" or "Give Instead of Take" to minimize the work by providing ideas or connect you with others in need, anywhere in the world.

Enlighten those around you. If not at a meeting or annual convention, what other place or time does your company have a large concentration of employees under one roof to boost morale or strengthen team spirit? The return on the small investment it will cost to incorporate giving to your meetings could be huge. "CSR" activities can provide an effective and efficient outlet to shift corporate culture, introduce change or build bridges among employee work groups.

Out of time? If you don't have time during your program or are just out of time to pull off adding an activity, why not look to hold your meeting at a hotel that does good. The Ritz Carlton and others now have programs offering a percentage of your room revenue to a local charity.

Wondering how to leave a philanthropic footprint? Ideas can be simple or extravagant. Once you get started the giving will be easy and contagious. You'll soon find your programs taking on new life thru the endless possibilities. Here are just a few:

Write notes of encouragement or fill care packages for the U.S. troops overseas.
Meet at a food bank to serve or create and distribute meals.
Help a school spruce up or green the schools by planting a school garden or trees.

Let us know how you have added volunteer or charitable activities to your events or meetings by emailing info@kc-a.com. All ideas will be included in a future edition of the KCA Connection.