and-painted for the program by a local artist. There were stuffed bears and other animals, native artifacts and tepees, Indian chiefs and Mounties, a Native American dance troupe, 15 Calgary fiddlers, and strolling backwoods musicians. The group dined on buffalo stew, caribou, goose, salmon, wild-boar sausage, and rabbit.

Whether it's celebrating a corporate milestone, rewarding employees, or promoting teambuilding, the successful event is one that will be talked about with enthusiasm and, hopefully, be remembered for years. Otherwise, the audience, whether customers, channel partners, or employees, will regard it as just another occasion they're obliged to attend to "show the corporate flag."

Reprinted with permission from The Sales Marketing Network at http://www.info-now.com.

Andrea Graham, a freelance writer who specializes in covering the meetings industry, contributes to such publications as Corporate Meetings & Incentives and Physicians' Travel & Meeting Guide.