In a recent MICE Talk 360 podcast episode, host Wayne Wallgren chats with Hasan Dinc, Managing Partner, ODS Turkey.

Wayne (from SITE Texas) and Hasan (from SITE Turkey) are no strangers to the Chapter Excellence Awards, with SITE Turkey the most recent Chapter of the Year recipient after SITE Texas received the same honor the previous year.

SITE Texas was also awarded Excellence in Virtual Engagement and Excellence in Special Event at this year’s awards ceremony in Dublin, Ireland, during the 2022 SITE Global Conference.

With applications for the 2022 Chapter Excellence Awards open until September 30, 2022, this is a great time to highlight some of the standout moments of Wayne and Hasan’s conversation. We hope it inspires members and leaders in all of our fantastic chapters as they prepare submissions that we’ll celebrate together in New York City at Global Conference 2023!

Everything to gain

The Chapter Excellence Awards provide a perfect opportunity to reflect on what this industry gifts us all, muse Wayne and Hasan.

As Hasan specifically notes, from friendships, to “wealth and health,” many industry professionals can quickly list the benefits they’ve gained from being part of SITE, that are also the reasons they choose to give back as members of their chapters.

Wayne agrees, observing that even small things can mean so much to people — with lots of little details and smaller successes often serving as the building blocks that help chapters work toward even bigger, better wins.

Members powering a comeback

Wayne and Hasan are also quick to demonstrate how their chapter wins were collective efforts.

Wayne reflects on how SITE Texas’ Chapter Excellence Awards demonstrate how the chapter has embraced the opportunity to grow and change over time. It’s through membership coming together, he says, and getting people engaged, involved, and excited about what they’re part of that makes a real difference in a chapter’s success. 

Coming together as a community

Hasan also reflects on the turbulent-at-times path SITE Turkey took to its ultimate Chapter Awards achievement.

SITE Turkey came back from near-collapse in the early 2010s, Hasan explains, but elevated its activities to entirely new levels leading up to and through the COVID-19 crisis. Hasan is confident that the chapter’s efforts to engage every single member during this period, enthusiastic participation in all SITE campaigns, and their local give-back efforts all contributed significantly to winning Chapter of the Year.

Everything’s bigger in Texas — and in Turkey!

Ultimately, suggests Wayne, winning a Chapter Excellence Award or earning any kind of recognition for your work is bigger than just a single celebratory moment onstage.

Coming together, whether as award winners, or as colleagues sharing an excellent conversation, is about the enthusiasm and love we share for our industry and inviting others to embrace that shared passion, too.

Taking the long view, evaluating opportunities, and picking a path that is best for everyone are keys to creating success we’ll all enjoy, agree Wayne and Hasan in closing.

It’s the openness, friendliness, and “better, stronger together spirit” that the Chapter Excellence Awards — and winners like SITE Texas, SITE Turkey, and our future 2022 recipients — truly celebrate.

Chapter leaders — applications are open until September 30, 2022 for the 2022 SITE Chapter Excellence Awards. More information about this year’s award categories and application process is available via our team - reach out to site@siteglobal.com.