Rhode Island
First Place

by MARK CHESNUT

· Rhode Island may be small, but it ranks high when it comes to firsts. This was the first of the original 13 colonies to declare independence from British rule, the first to debut a Jewish synagogue and the first to open a water-powered cotton mill. Indeed, the Ocean State—whose official name is Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the result of a merger of two former colonies—is a trove of historic sites and interesting stories.

Happenings – Rhode Island

Providence

· The Dunkin’ Donuts Center (401.331.0700; www.dunkindonutscenter.com) completed an $80 million renovation in September. Fresh features include a skybridge to the Rhode Island Convention Center.

· Among the newest venues in Providence is Chace Center (401.454.6500; www.risd.edu/campus_initiatives_risd.htm), which opened in 2008 at the Rhode Island School of Design. The facility includes a student exhibition gallery, a museum exhibition gallery and a 210-seat auditorium.

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Planning in a Tough Economy Webinar
Wednesday, January 27, 2010

In today’s economy you need to plan like your job depends on it, because more than ever, it does! Learn ways to trim your budget without dampening the attendee experience and how to show the savings you gained to the organization you plan for. By employing a few simple cost-cutting strategies from this webinar, you can provide a quality meeting without breaking the bank. In this webinar, Joan Eisenstodt, a premier meetings industry educator and consultant, will let you know how you can make the most with less both for your attendees and the bottom line.
Join Meetings Media for this free webinar Wednesday, Jan. 27, and learn more. There is no fee to register.

Visit MeetingsFocus.com/webinars to register or learn more.

Sponsored by: The Scottsdale Plaza Resort and Glen Cove Mansion Hotel & Conference Center.

Pick Three – Rhode Island

Martha J. Sheridan
President and CEO, Providence Warwick CVB; Providence, R.I.

What are three great ways that groups can incorporate the history of Providence into an agenda?

· Scavenger Hunts: Conduct a scavenger hunt incorporating Providence’s many historic sites, including the John Brown House, the First Baptist Church in America, Benefit Street’s "Mile of History" and the Rhode Island State Capitol building. You can do it on foot or lease vehicles. You break the groups into teams and they’re given a list of stops, and at each stop they have to take a photo or look for something. We have them go to a historic bakery on Federal Hill or go to the historic library to look for Edgar Allan Poe books. It’s a lot of fun.

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