Special Events

Spencer Educational Foundation Events

Spencer Educational Foundation has several fundraising events planned for RIMS 2008. View the schedule at www.SpencerEd.org.

Building a Stronger Chapter Workshop (BSC)

Saturday, April 26, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Discover the tools that can take your chapter to the next level! Come together with RIMS professional staff and fellow chapter leaders to discuss the essentials of effective chapter management: recruiting volunteers, organizing a productive meeting, communicating effectively with members, managing the books and more. Explore the resources offered by RIMS and meet a network of chapter volunteers who share similar goals. All RIMS chapter officers are encouraged to participate!

RIMS 2008 Community Service Day

Sunday, April 27, 2008 8:00 am – 3:00 pm (Buses depart from convention center at 9:00 am to project site)

Proudly Supported by

We invite you to share your time and talents to see how a few hours can make a world of difference to those in need. RIMS Community Service Day is a chance for you to step into a San Diego neighborhood and participate in a hands-on, community service project. For more details about the event, go to www.RIMS.org/CommunityService.

RIMS First Timers Orientation

Sunday, April 27, 4:15 pm – 5:15 pm

Monday, April 28, 10:15 am – 11:15 am
San Diego Convention Center

Between the sessions, exhibit hall and special events, the RIMS Conference can be quite daunting! Work it like a pro with this orientation. Learn the tools necessary to guide you through the conference experience without feeling overwhelmed. Join members of the RIMS conference programming committee to learn how you can make the most of your RIMS 2008 experience!

RIMS Opening Reception

RIMS Presents: "Aquatic Odyssey"
Sunday, April 27, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
San Diego Convention Center, Upper Level Terrace

Go ahead, dive right in! Join us as we kick-off the conference in style. You'll enjoy good cuisine, live entertainment and great company. This is the first of many opportunities to reconnect with your peers and build new relationships at RIMS 2008. Please pick up your registration materials prior to the opening reception. Full Conference Pass and Monday Pass registrants will be admitted plus one guest aged 21+.

RIMS General Session

Monday, April 28, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom 6

Start the day with RIMS leadership and hear about the state of the risk management industry and the Society. Listen as Janice Ochenkowski, President of the Society, discusses the latest projects and initiatives RIMS has planned to help make you move from a "good" risk manager to a "great" one. Also, see who wins RIMS highest honor—the 2008 Goodell Award—for outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of risk management. This will be followed by Christopher Gardner's inspirational "rags-to-riches" story. In his keynote presentation, the man behind the book "The Pursuit of Happyness" will share with you how he overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles on his road to success.

Christopher Gardner
Author

Breaking Cycles
Christopher Gardner is the head of his own successful brokerage firm—but just 20 years ago, Gardner was homeless, carried all his possessions on his back, and lived—on occasion—in a bathroom at a Bay Area Rapid Transit station in Oakland, California. A true testament to the perseverance it takes to make it from "rags-to-riches," Gardner tells his story of overcoming obstacles, "breaking cycles" and the motivation it takes to make your own success. Listen as he recounts his fears of failure, exhaustion of pursuit, and sweet success of overcoming life's hardships. You've seen the movie, now hear the story first-hand as Gardner captures the audience and lights up the room with his humor.

RIMS Awards Luncheon

Monday, April 28, 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm
San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom 6

Join us as we celebrate the achievements of our industry's shining stars. Find out which chapters are leading the way and what individual members are doing to forward RIMS and the risk management profession. After the awards have been presented, enjoy a performance by "the clown princes of rock and roll."

The Coasters
The Coasters successfully straddle the line between music and comedy. Their engaging and infectious combination of musical talent and witty, well-crafted arrangements made them one of the most popular early R&B/rock & roll acts, as well as one of the most consistently entertaining doo wop/vocal groups of all time. Sing along with old favorites "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," "Along Came Jones" and "Love Potion No. 9."

Tuesday Risk Leadership Keynote Luncheon: Risk Management Belongs in the C-Suite

Tuesday, April 29, 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom 6

Risk managers are a stakeholder advisor to the C-suite. But what is the C-suite's take on managing risk in a large public entity, and how does enterprise risk play into operations? Hear Lauralee Martin, CFO and COO of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated, discuss risk management from the C-suite perspective of a leading global real estate and investment management firm that has 160 offices worldwide, operates in more than 450 cities in over 50 countries and employs some 30,300 people globally. Martin will explore managing risk as it pertains to profitability and operational cost, examine the implications of S&Ps risk-based standards on a public entity and share best practices at Jones Lang LaSalle. This is your chance to hear straight from the C-suite—it's one keynote address that you won’t want to miss!

Exhibit Hall Wine and Cheese Reception

Tuesday, April 29, 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm San Diego Convention Center Exhibit Halls A, B, C and D

Proudly Sponsored by

Enjoy a glass of wine at the end of a busy day of sessions and mingle with exhibitors at this exclusive Exhibit Hall event.

Exhibit Hall Networking Luncheon/RIMS 2009 Orlando Kickoff

Wednesday, April 30, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
San Diego Convention Center
Exhibit Halls A, B, C and D

Get excited about RIMS 2009 in Orlando while lunching in the Exhibit Hall! This is your chance to focus on finding new products, network with your peers and get a sneak peek at the attractions for next year.

Wednesday Evening Entertainment - RIMS Presents "Cirque Dreams"

Wednesday, April 30, 8:00 pm - 9:15 pm
San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom 6

Immerse yourself in a musical adventure that highlights mystery and suspense and combines comedy and dance with some of the most amazing acrobatic feats ever performed on stage.

Keynote Speaker Breakfast

Thursday, May 1, 8:00 am – 9:30 am
San Diego Convention Center, Ballroom 6

Gert Cruywagen
Author

Jungle Risk Management – Risk Lessons from the African Bush
Ever think the saying "it's a jungle out there" related to your organization? See if you can spot any similarities during this fascinating and amusing presentation. Author Gert Cruywagen will keep you entertained with anecdotes, stories and images of how animals in the African bush manage their risks (or not) to avoid becoming prey. See how your organization compares when relating the risk strategies from the jungle to corporate risk strategies.