Sock Wars!

So it's crunch time at BCIT -- although when isn't it?! We've seen students are wearing their pajamas to school, carrying pillows around with them... it's a rough scene. What these students really need is a little pick-me-up. Something that evokes energy and inspiration! What better to get people pumped up than a game of......                         SOCK WARS!

Don't worry, I didn't know what it was either before I read this. Sock Wars is designed to bring students closer by pinning them against each other. Makes sense, right? 

Well to better explain what Sock Wars really is, check out this awesome video compiled by BCIT students in collaboration of the BCITMA: Spy vs Spy Teaser Video (link leads to YouTube).

All details on are on Facebook event page. Click here to let us know you want to play!

How to Play:
1 - Sign up in the Great Hall Feb.19-22nd, $2 min. donation
     Tuesdsay 11:30-12:30
     Wednesday 12:30-1:30
     Thursday 11:30-12:30, 1:30-3pm
     Friday TBA
2 - Obtain a CLEAN sock
3 - Feb. 25th, you will be emailed a picture of your target and a phone number of "M" whom you report all of your successful hits to.
4 - HIT YOUR TARGET!!
5 - Once you hit your target, you must pursue their target as your new target and report your success to "M"
6 - on March 1st last person standing WINS!!

Rules:
1. "Hitting" is only valid if it is with at a sock, and a CLEAN one
3. Labs, Lectures and mandatory team meetings off limits. All other times a free-for-all!
4. BCIT campus in bounds, elsewhere out of bounds
5. IMMUNITY is awarded to anyone during the time they are wearing socks on both hands
6. all's fair in love and WAR, Have fun :)

The $2 min. donation goes towards the MPI Endowment Fund which will help future students obtain an education that would be out of their grasps in normal circumstances.

Wise Words from Liz King

Liz King

Liz King, a sought after event planner from New York took the time to hang out in a Starbucks and Skype with some students from BCIT. Tina Nguyen and Albert Yee led MPI BCIT's February General Meeting and invited Liz to share her experience. Exceeding our expectations, Liz offered golden advice on both how to connect with people in business and the steps to creating a personal brand!



As students we always want to know… where do we start? How do we break into the industry? How do we meet people in the industry? The answer? Twitter. Liz King had some great (and simple) advice that anyone can follow – literally!

King talked about how following interesting people and following the people they are following is a great way to learn about what going on in the industry. Use hashtags specific to an industry to discover trends or hot topics. After sitting back and watching, Liz started to share content she was interested in and then started engaging and commenting on other peoples content. Eventually, Liz began to create her own content. She said, “it’s a great way to meet people!”

Wait, who are you?

Another specialty of Liz’s – as if she didn’t already do enough! – is discussing personal branding. Now, as a student at BCIT we’ve all heard the spiel from Tracey, but a personal brand really is important!! Liz’s tips are:

•  Figure out what is unique about YOU. Something simple but distinguishing.
• Communicate who you are quickly. Someone should know something about you after only 10-15 seconds on your page. Capture them.
• Be prepared to brag a bit! Now is not a time to be modest.

Use these tips in your LinkedIn profile, Twitter bio and other social media tools (Facebook is generally for personal use – check your privacy settings!) and you will be on the road to making a professional online first impression.

Technology, you move to fast!

Now the question came up from an audience member: how do you learn about all this new technology flying out into cyberspace? Her answer: techy blogs! Sites such as mashable.com and techcrunch.com offer information on the latest trends in technology. The latest thing according to Liz? RFID.

My new favourite tool? Word clouds.

From Student to Industry

A common theme of things to make sure you have when entering the workforce is experience. Thankfully, Liz considers education experience! Students are always wondering how to nail down that dream job even though they have no industry experience. Liz’s advice is always be learning. Although having an education and learning as much as you can is important, it’s not always what you know, but who you know.

Making connections is vital in business and easier to make than you may think! Networking and volunteering are two great ways to meet great people. Meeting them is half the battle, it’s very important that once you’ve met them you:

• Follow up!
• Add them on LinkedIn with a PERSONALIZED message.
• Ask them to meet for coffee. 

Now is the perfect time to play the student card and learn as much as you can from industry members willing to share.

The MPI BCIT team would like to thank Liz King for chatting with us and we hope to hear from her again!

Want to learn more about Liz? Check out her company page: http://lizkingevents.com

Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

New York Comes to BCIT

Liz King, who is much more than an event planner, is coming to BCIT all the way from New York with the help of fancy high tech video streaming capabilities!! MPI BCIT is honoured and excited to have Liz King speak at our February General Meeting. 

Liz started her first company in 2010 in the midst of the down economy. By sharing content on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog, she gained expertise in the event planning industry and has become a leader and influencer. Named on Connect Magazine's list of 40 Under 40 Up-and-Coming Event Planners in 2011 and #Eventprofs Most Thought Provoking Blog and People's Choice Award created a platform for Liz to build her business and strong brand even further.

Working with clients on events like Green Drinks NYC and S.H.E. Summit Week, Liz helps entrepreneurs integrate technology to better engage their attendees. In addition, she also hosts her own events. As the founder of The Planner Collective and Co-Founder of PlannerTech and Event Alley Show, Liz is dedicated to educating her fellow event professionals as well on how technology can enhance events.

Check out her website here: http://lizkingevents.com

Our GM will be Monday February 4th at 4:30pm - 5:30pm in room SW3 2620 at the BCIT Burnaby Campus!

Tourism Professionals Party in Gastown

MPI BCIT has had various fundraisers to contribute to the BCIT Student Endowment fund, which will help a student in need obtain an education. During the end of January, MPI BCIT hosted a fundraiser at the Lamplighter Public House in Gastown, Vancouver. The event consisted of time to mingle with other attendees, play pool and enjoy the bar’s atmosphere and amenities. The committee’s goal was to have 20 attendees and exceeded that goal with a final attendee count of 30 people. The fundraiser allowed MPI BCIT to further contribute to the BCIT Student Endowment fund. The event was a lot of fun and attendees, both MPI members and not, said they’re looking forward to the next MPI BCIT event.