There are no get out of jail free cards in meeting planning. How do you follow government ethics rules, attract government guests to your event, and also protect yourself and your organization from potential scrutiny and legal ramifications? If your organization employs registered lobbyists, what impact does that have on your event? What sort of receptions and food events can you offer? Join us for timely advice on the complicated world of government ethics rules, as they relate to meetings. Learn how to utilize pre-negotiated contracts, with approved government vendors, to obtain the best pricing for unique events—while complying with the ethics rules and still making your attendees and organization happy. Whether you are a beginning meeting planner or have worked with government guests in the past, with the changes over the last year, you are certain to learn something new from this session.

1. An Ounce of Prevention:
Government Ethics,
Transparency, and Contracting /
Planning Successful Events
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2. Laura Hudson, CMP
Manager, CES Projects
Consumer Electronics Association
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3. Elizabeth Perrin
Director, Consulting Services
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4. Agenda
• Ethics Rules
• Who Can Plan Meetings
• Event Types ~ Does it Matter?
• GSA Scheduled Vendors
• Contracting
• It’s Time To Party
• Questions?
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5. What do Ethics Rules Mean?
• What Groups Have Rules? EVERYONE!
– U.S. Senate
– U.S. House of Representatives
– Government Agencies
– Meeting Planners working for the government
– Third Party Groups planning meetings
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6. Ethics
• First Place to look if you have questions:
– Federal Acquisition Regulations
• Definitions of Words and Terms
• Improper Business Practices and Personal
Conflicts of Interest
• Administration
• Contracting
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7. Additional Questions?
• Each Department May Have Additional
Regulations
– Internal Ethics Officers/Counsel
• Contact your Internal Ethics Officers or
outside Legal Counsel
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8. Who Can Plan Meetings?
• Contracted to the Government Planners
• Employed by the Government Planners
• Private Companies and Associations
• Lobbyists?
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9. How Different Events Matter
• Local - Widely Attended Events
• Privately Sponsored Travel
• Government Only Events
• Internal Meetings
• Sponsored Events
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10. Get the Most for Your Money
• Pre-Negotiated Contracts
• Approved Government Vendors
• Package Deals
• Best Pricing
• Group Rates vs. Government Rates
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11. Sourcing
• Federal Space
– Understand the Risks
• GSA Scheduled Vendors
– Pre-Approved/Pre-Negotiated Pricing
– All Inclusive or Al-a-Carte Pricing
• Full and Open Bids
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12. It’s Time to Party!
• What can I serve?
– Breakfast, lunch and dinner?
– Drinks
• What sort of entertainment can we have?
– Can I give them tickets for a show?
– Can we have a band or DJ? Performers?
• What can I give away?
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13. Questions?
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14. Contact Us
• Laura Hudson, CMP
Manager, CES Projects
Consumer Electronics Association
Lhudson@CE.org
• Elizabeth Perrin
Director, Consulting Services
Courtesy Associates
eperrin@courtesyassoc.com
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