PHIP's Meeting of the Minds™️ WEBPAGE

Gulf Shores, AL - the PHIP Board members have boarded their Sunday flights home from the little town with a big beach after three days of meetings. Here’s what you need to know about Meeting of the Minds. 

1. Although not the leading vote getter, it became clear with recent developments that “Where the Smiles Have Been” was the most appropriate choice for theme for the 30th MOTM. Most votes cast for “Second Wind Kicking In” were cast prior to the news of the coming changes, and the “Second Wind” theme will be perfect for one of the next two years. 

2. The opening of registration has been set for March 17. The previously set tentative date was not feasible after a freeze on MOTM business in connection with the upcoming host hotel remodel, which Hilton was ultimately persuaded to delay until after MOTM22. 

3. This year’s event will be expanded to include nearly a full day of music Wednesday, November 2, open only to MOTM registrants. That means registration begins Wednesday 11/2 at 9 am. It also means that Wednesday is a “buyout day” for the Casa Marina - a day in which non-registrants are not allowed to reserve a room and a day for which we are contractually obligated to full occupancy. This means that priority will be given to registrants reserving a minimum four-night stay including Wednesday through Saturday. Based on their projections and analysis of historical data and current trends, PHIP’s crack staff of MIT-endorsed forecasting analysts are estimating that the Casa Marina Resort is going to sell out “pretty damn quick.” Room rates at the Casa, Registration prices and details, VIP options, and MOTM headliners will be announced in the coming weeks prior to registration opening. 

4. The PHIP Board has appointed a new “Chair Apparent” - an apprentice chair-in-training to complete the MOTM22 team that also includes Rob Hill, Senior Chair, Jed Johnson, Junior Chair, and Bill Connolly, Consulting Past Chair. The appointed apprentice will be on track to be MOTM Junior Chair in 2023 and Senior Chair in 2024. The selection will be announced and introduced with appropriate fanfare and celebratory balloons and confetti in a separate announcement. 

5. In light of Hilton’s announcement that Casa Marina will be unavailable to host MOTM 2023 and with no commitment for 2024, The PHIP Board has initiated an MOTM site selection committee to be assigned the task of investigating the feasibility of MOTM remaining in key west for 2023 and beyond as well as alternative host venues and cities in the event that it cannot. The Committee will include the current trio of MOTM Chairs, PHIP President Bill Brehm, and additional members to be selected by these committee members. Although the Board has determined that its priority is to keep the event in Key West if possible, the exploration of alternative sites must happen concurrently in order to ensure that there is sufficient time to plan MOTM 2023 at an attentive location in the event that a Key West event next year is impractical. 

6. To inform the committee about the sentiments, needs and preferences of the membership, there will be a survey posted in the coming days which will appear on the nw MOTM website and will be linked in emails to club leaders and past MOTM attendees as well as various social media channels. This survey is not a “vote,” but rather a way of identifying the elements of MOTM that are most important to members and their reasons for coming or NOT coming in the past. To reiterate, although the committee will be exploring alternatives to Key West, the Board has made the preliminary decision that its preference and priority to keep MOTM based in Key West if that is practical. 

The MOTM team and PHIP Board are grateful for your patience and understanding. Stay tuned in the days to come for announcements of a blockbuster 30th Meeting of the Minds.