Rebecca to take New Years by Storm..

Pieta House, Ireland's only centre providing a therapeutic service for the prevention of suicide and self-harm has announced the extension of its opening hours to cope with demand for its services. Suicide rates in Ireland have increased by 42% this year according to the CSO and similarly demand for Pieta House’s service is up by 120% on this time last year. It will now open four nights a week and on Saturdays to meet this demand.

Joan Freeman, CEO, Pieta House attributes this rise in its service to socio-economic factors that have caused an increase in suicide and self-harm rates throughout the country. Commenting on Pieta House's extended opening hours, Joan Freeman said: "We are inundated with new assessments at the moment and we definitely attribute this to the financial situation many people now find themselves in. We expect this to increase further in the New Year as financial difficulties deepen after Christmas. However, Pieta House, like all charities, is also struggling financially. We are now finding that demand is outstripping supply and we urgently need help to continue our work in 2010."

To help Pieta House fund its suicide prevention service into 2010 and raise awareness of suicide and self-harm in Ireland, Pieta House has launched an extensive Christmas campaign.

The Christmas campaign will include extensive fundraising activity, including a New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner at the Stillorgan Park Hotel in Dublin with international singer and star of ‘Blood Brothers’, Rebecca Storm.

For details & ticket information on the New Years Eve Dinner & Show please contact the Stillorgan Park Hotel on 01 2001800 or email Christmas@stillorganpark.com or visit http://www.stillorganpark.com/

For full details of Pieta House or to make a donation, visit www.pieta.ie.

Pictured above:
Daragh O'Neill, General Manager, Stillorgan Park Hotel

Rebecca Storm

Joan Freeman, CEO, Pieta House

Marian Keyes Captivates the Audience on Friday Nights Late Late Show

The ladies at the Talbot Hotel Group are very excited to get a copy of Marian Keyes latest book “Brightest Star in the Sky”, which is sure to be another bestseller. After publishing many outstanding novels, Marian Keyes continues to keep her audience captivated with her quirky wit and relatable stories & is one of Ireland’s best loved female icons. Don’t take our word for it… check out her thoroughly entertaining interview with Ryan Tubridy last Friday on the Late Late Show at http://www.rte.ie/tv/latelate/index.html and click on “Marian Keyes”.

Let us know what you think!

Top 10 Tips for Planning the Perfect Meeting

Ensuring every detail fits into place is the hallmark of planning the perfect meeting. Attention to details and perfect planning also makes delegates feel that you have made them a top priority.

1. Know why you are Meeting;
Knowing the purpose of your meeting is a vital element of success. It determines the environment that will be needed for the event, the time that needs to be allocated to achieve your goal, the technical and equipment requirements required. For example if you are organizing a training session, will desks & computers be required for each person?
2. Budget for the Event;
Factors to take in to consideration when deciding on your budget will be the number of attendees, logistics of the event, catering & equipment requirements.
3. Know your Requirements;
When you know the type of meeting, you then have to plan the logistics. Assigning one person to look after the planning of the meeting and communication with delegates is recommended. Clear & Concise communication with the meeting venue and delegates is vital in ensuring you are providing exactly what your delegates require. Your requirements will be tailored around the needs of your delegates and what they expect.
4. Determine the Event Logistics;
Room Setup is a crucial factor in planning the perfect meeting. The room setup style depends on the type of meeting being held. Eg: Would you delegate require theatre style for a lecture? Or would a U shape setup suit better for your meeting? A useful tool in deciding is to ask the advice the venue’s conference coordinator as he/she will can recommend and advise. Next, think about the technology and equipment required, will you have guest speaker requiring a Podium and Mic? Will you require a projector for a presentation or internet access?
5. Catering Requirements;
Catering is another factor you have to take into consideration, this will depend on the number of breaks that you intend to take during the day, dietary requirements & menu preferences.
6. Choose the Right Location;
The location applies to all successful meetings. Off site meetings can be a way to encourage creativity & brainstorming. Consider the travel time to the event and how accessible the location is from all routes. Does it provide sufficient Car parking? Does it provide WiFi for your delegates? Are these elements complimentary or will a charge be incurred? What business service will be made available to you such as printing, copying, computer use and faxing? How easy is it to work with the facility? Are their staff as dedicated to achieving your goal as you are? If delegates are travelling from abroad or outside of the city, research and inform your delegates of available airlines, ground transport, routes & directions to the meeting location. Providing your delegates with a map will prove useful for them as they may not be familiar with the area.
7. Plan the Meeting Logistics;
Remember you are not only planning for the day of the meeting but also the pre-meeting & the day after also. Use checklists to ensure nothing is left out on the day and plan a debriefing with your venue coordinator, planners and your company to ensure all elements of the day have been looked after appropriately.
8. The Agenda;
The agenda is the key element to a successful meeting. This tells you when to start, who will speak, allocated break times, and when the meeting ends. You could also allocate someone to take the minutes of the meeting and results of brainstorms for future discussion.
9. Communication;
If your event runs over multiple days it is advisable to meet with your staff and the site coordinator to go over the running order for the day perchance details need to be changed or times need to be revised.
10. Conclude the Meeting on a Positive Note;
It is important that all delegates leave the meeting enlightened and looking forward to attending future meetings. Feedback is a good way of determining the delegate’s impression of the meeting and will give an indication if particular details that could be changed for the next meeting.