A Message From the President

Happy Holidays ISES LA!

In November I had the privilege of attending the ISESWestern Regional Conference on board Carnival's cruise shipEcstasy. It was a great opportunity to get to know the International President of ISES, Steve Kemble, our RegionalVice President, Robyn Hadden and members from throughout theregion. The education line up was an excellent array of speakers who offered valuable insight on achievingexcellence. I thoroughly enjoyed the great comradery, exchangeof ideas and discussion during the cruise.

A special applause for the Los Angeles members who werenominated for outstanding events:

Best Social Event under $25,000: Bravo Productions

Best Wedding under $25,000: Good Gracious Events

Best Allied or ISES Team Event Over $100,000: Bravo Productions

Best Entertainment Production Over $100,000: BravoProductions

Best Tabletop Design: Event Design Studio

Most Creative Invitation or Menu Card: The Event Wizard

Best Special Effects or Lighting: TLC Creative SpecialEffects

Best Theme Decor under $25,000: ISES Greater Los Angeles

Plans are in the works to hold the next conference in SanFrancisco. I encourage you to plan on taking part of thisworthwhile exchange and networking opportunity.

I think you all should get to know all the fabulous memberswe have on our ISES LA Board of Directors. I will introducethem to you one-by-one. This month our star is Monica Antola,ISES LA Secretary, one of our new members of the Board, so besure to read all about her below!

Have a safe and exciting holiday!

Ilona Hobbs
President, ISES-LA

Monica is an Account Executive with EventWorks,Inc. here in LA and has an extensive background in the specialevent industry and specializes in sales and on-site eventmanagement. She currently serves as Secretary on the Board ofthe Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the International SpecialEvents Society. In 2002, Starwood Hotels and Resorts askedMonica to speak about "What's Hot in Events" to theirDirectors of Catering and Convention Services during theirSales Rallies throughout the US and Canada. Additionally, shehas been quoted in numerous trade magazines with regards toher industry experience. Besides her years of work in salesfor EventWorks, a trailblazer in the special events design andproduction industry with a history spanning more than twodecades, she has supplied on-site management as an independentcontractor for a Los Angeles-based production company with afocus of providing special events for the entertainmentindustry. Prior to returning to Los Angeles in 1999, Monicawas a Program Manager for a premier Destination ManagementCompany based in Denver, where she juggled everything frommeet and greets and transportation logistics, to sales andon-site management. Thanks for your hard work on the ISES LABoard Monica!

Here's wishing all of our members a healthy, happy andprosperous holiday season! And just to give you something tolook forward to after the holidays, ISES LA is going to throwyou a party like you haven't seen in a while! That's right,we're talking TOGA PARTY!!! On January 21st, grab a sheet outof your linen closet, tie it around yourself, and head on downto Show Biz Studios, where 20th Century Props is going to turntheir sound studio into a very cool college fraternity party!We'll see you there...!

An Evening at the Ebell Club, Long Beach

By Brian Leslie, Visionsinlight.com

November's mixer brought us to the Ebell Club in LongBeach. When the time comes to book a venue in the Long Beacharea, the Ebell Club should be on your location list. TheEbell is a Spanish style, old fashioned hall that is inviting,accommodating and offers a broad canvas for eventprofessionals to be creative.

After a successful discussion panel with EntertainmentSpecialists discussing their range of services, we mixed andmingled over cocktails and ice sculptures and anxiously waitedfor the unveiling of the dining room presentation! We weremore than impressed with the extraordinary dinner from Spaghettini Catering, tastefully presented in a beautifulsetting of rich colors, a high ceiling and wood floors. Thebuffet was extensive and presented food faire for everypallet, which brings me to the butternut squash ravioli andParmesan crusted sea bass...they were worth the trip alone!.Sounds of culinary delight were heard from table to table.

This venue is a stones throw from other popular Long Beachattractions including The East Village Arts District, the LongBeach Convention Center and Shoreline Village.

Here are the wonderful November showcasers:

Venue - The Ebell Club
Catering - Spaghettini Cateringand Event Planning
Rentals - Signature PartyRentals
Linens - Wildflower Linen
Florist - EnchantedFlorists
Ice Decor - Ice Magic
Entertainment - DwightKennedy's Le Jazz Hot Dance Band
Valet - American ParkingControl
Photography - HM&P Digital Event Photography.

For more great photos from HM&P Photography, check outthe monthly gallery on the ISES LA website www.ises-la.com!

A fun time was had by all as we enjoyed the beautifulambiance of the new ballroom at the Luxe Sumit, greatnetworking with our fellow Angelinos, an incredible steak andsalmon dinner and fantastic broadway style entertainment byMarilyn and Randy Tichauer!

Here are the generous December showcasers:

Venue, Catering - The Luxe Sumit Hotel Bel-Air
Rentals -Classic Party Rentals/The Korman Group
Linens - GBS Linens
Centerpieces - Los Angeles Party Designs
Lighting- Neptune Productions
Entertainment - Rodeo DriveProductions
Chocolates - Signature Chocolate
Teddy - RonRubin Events
Photography - HM&P Digital EventPhotography.

Showcase Your Venue Contact Ryan Zynger at rzynger@cscmail.org

1/21/04 Monthly Mixer-Show Biz Studios
2/18/04 MonthlyMixer
3/17/04 The 2004 Fun Fundraiser!
4/21/04 MonthlyMixer

If you have information you would like to share with ISESLA members please contact Bill Hodge, ISES Ezine Editor, at whodge@hmp-photo.com orcall (562) 596-8999.