March/April 2012
 

Dear NACE Member,
 

NACE’s proud history began in 1958 as the Banquet Managers Guild.

Since then the catering business has changed profoundly. As personal incomes and the standard of living increased, catering services were more in demand by the general public. In the 1980’s we became the National Association of Catering Executives to reflect these changes and, we quickly became a forum where people from hotels, restaurants, off premise, club caterers and their suppliers could network and continue their education.

Today we again find our industry, and our association, in the midst of growth and change. Our members provide catering services, and so much more: working in all the disciplines of event planning and providing all the services that event professionals have to offer. That is why the board of directors voted during its recent meeting in Las Vegas to recommend that we change our name to the National Association for Catering and Events.

Of course, this change will not be made without the consent of the membership. A vote by the delegates to approve the board’s recommendation, and by doing so update the organizations articles of incorporation, will take place at the Experience! conference in New Orleans in July.

As you all know, NACE is a strong community because we have been so inclusive, and the board believes this change will make it easier for all of us to explain what NACE is to people who may not understand the value, and invite them to join. We also know that it will spark new questions. I will attempt to anticipate and answer some of them in the following document, and I also seek your patience, as many of these details are still unfolding.

Over the next few months we will have ample opportunity for all your questions and at the same time we looking at all the ramifications of the change. To better serve you, we hope you take a moment to review the Questions and Answers on this exciting news. If you’d like to share your thoughts with us on this matter, please contact us at brand@nace.net.

With change can come great opportunity and I look forward to taking this journey will all of you, it is an exciting time for NACE and for our industry!