April 2008 News Flash
In this edition:
- President’s Message from Alan Rigg
- NSA-Arizona April 12 Monthly Meeting
- Meeting Sponsor for April
- Upcoming NSA-Arizona Programs
- New NSA-Arizona Bylaws Voted In
- New NSA-Arizona Members
- Living Room Forum
- NSA-Arizona Speaker Lab
- NSA National Updates
- Learning from NSA Greats
- Word Trippers from the Platform
- About This Newsletter
President’s Message from Alan Rigg
A Pinch of Comedy–A Dash of Technology
What happens when you mix comedy with technology? You get an NSA-Arizona meeting!
What is the importance of comedy to a well-crafted speech? Let’s answer this question by considering a few additional questions:
- How do you get an audience to become truly ENGAGED with your speech?
- What is the best way to help an audience REMEMBER key points from your speech?
- How does delivering an enjoyable audience experience impact your chances of being ASKED BACK for repeat speaking engagements?
If you think your speech could benefit from an infusion of comedy, you will enjoy…and learn from…our April main stage speaker, Karyn Ruth White, and her program, “Craft Like a Comic, Sell Like A Speaker.”
What can you mix with comedy to produce a well-rounded NSA-Arizona meeting? How about a dose of technology? At the April meeting, you will have two opportunities to hone your technological skills. VOE Dave Barnhart will explain “Why Your Business Should Have a Blog” and during the Business Building Session, Ron Cates will discuss “E-Marketing Excellence.”
So, what’s your preference, comedy or technology? Can’t make up your mind? You don’t have to! Join us for the April NSA-Arizona meeting and enjoy some of both!
Alan Rigg, NSA-Arizona President 2007-2008
NSA-Arizona Monthly Meeting – April 12, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon; networking 8:30 a.m.; Business Building Session 12:15 p.m.
Location: NSA Conference Center, 1500 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, AZ
Prepaid registration (by 5 p.m. Wed., April 8): $30/members, $45/guests
At-the-door registration: $40/members, $55/guests
No refunds after the early registration deadline.
Please notify us if you require any special needs for the meeting.
Craft Like A Comic, Sell Like A Speaker ™ with Karyn Ruth White
VOTED ONE OF THE TOP 10 SESSIONS AT 2007 NSA CONVENTION
Don’t you love the way great comedians fully engage your attention? Would you like to have the same effect on your audiences? Join Karyn Ruth White who has performed as both a professional comedian and a professional speaker for the past 20 years.
In this session, she shares unique insights on how to overlap the two crafts. She will dissect excerpts from her hilarious keynote program “Laughing In The Face Of Stress”© to demonstrate how you can:
- Anchor your point with humor
- Never be a hack!
- Speak conversational comedy
- Master the art of planned spontaneity
- Tighten your talk with humor
Karyn Ruth White holds an undergrad degree in communications and, after two decades as a comedian, humorist, and speaker, she’s been awarded a honorary masters degree in humor from the University of “Been There Done That.” With all that schoolin’, she’s found it’s a breeze to help people gain more control over stress and use humor as a powerful life skill.
Karyn Ruth is co-author with Jay Arthur of Your 7th Sense; How to Think Like a Comedian©, a book that models comedy techniques to help Average Joes create laughter from everyday experiences. Her program “Laughing in the Face of Stress” has been repeatedly televised in her home state of Colorado.
VOE: Why Your Business Should Have a Blog with Dave Barnhart
Do you want to be known as an authority in your field? Do you want to leverage the most cost-effective means for boosting your business’s image, exposure, and revenue? Are you wondering if a blog could boost your revenues?
Blogging has evolved into a cutting-edge marketing tool that is immediate, personal, and engaging. It can improve your image, exposure, reputation, and revenue. Best of all, it’s within the financial reach of everyone.
Dave Barnhart says that, with a well-done blog, a small company can get results that large firms spending millions of dollars on marketing would be hard-pressed to achieve.
In this VOE session, he will show you:
- What a blog is
- How it works
- Why blogs are so effective
- How to get started
Dave is an avid gourmet chef who started a food and cooking blog, The Fumbling Foodie, as a laboratory for leveraging the marketing power of the blogosphere. As a result, The Fumbling Foodie has been quoted on the CBS News website and its posts rank in the top 10 for Google searches, returning over a million hits.
The founder of Business Blogging Pros, Dave shows business owners and entrepreneurs how to start blogs and develop good blogging strategies. He also enjoys being a personal blogging coach, helping his clients connect with prospects, customers, and employees through blogs.
Stephanie Angelo stephanie@hressential.com heads the Program Committee 2007-2008.
REMINDER: Fill out your program evaluations and your name goes into a drawing for a free meeting registration. Congratulations to Linda-Ann Stewart and Matt O’Brian, guests at our February and March meetings.
Business Building Session
E-Marketing Excellence: How to build deeper business relationships through email marketing
with Ron Cates
This Business Building Session starts promptly at 12:15 p.m. and ends at 1:30. All morning attendees are welcome.
Online marketing whiz Ron Cates highlights how to ensure your company’s email newsletter rises above the flood of inbox messages.
Email has emerged as one of the best retention and referral tools available. However, Spam is causing consumers to demand that commercial emailers use more professional standards.
In this presentation, Ron shows how to find and keep quality subscribers with their permission, get more emails opened and read, and entice readers to take action. He also shows how to track email responses to build deeper relationships with clients and customers, while complying with regulations and consumer preferences.
An award-winning business leader, Ron has developed solutions for marketing professionals, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen customer and donor relationships. As a presenter, his topics include developing email marketing strategies, designing effective email communications, and maintaining powerful relationships with stakeholders.
Dave Sherman dave@connectionspro.com and Dr. Michelle May mmay@amihungry.com head the Candidate Committee 2007-2008.
Prepayment Procedures: To streamline check-in at our monthly meetings, please prepay for your meeting attendance. Members and guests save $10 when they prepay by 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before the Saturday meeting. Registration at the door (available as space allows) is $40 for members and $55 for nonmembers.
Note from Executive Director Gwen Henson: We’re happy to keep your credit card on file for meeting payments but it’s not an automatic service. Please specifically ask us to do that.
To register for this meeting and save $10, follow these prepayment procedures.
Three ways to register:
- Online: go to Registration
- By email: send name, company, and number of attendees to Gwen@nsa-arizona.org
- By telephone: call (480) 968-7443
SUPPORT OUR MEETING SPONSOR
Wendy N. Kenney, Arizona Financial Associates
Did you know the number one concern of people who have earned wealth is losing it?
With over 40 years of experience in financial planning, Wendy Kenney’s team has the skill, knowledge, and experience to structure financial plans so your money lasts as long as you do. Her services include fee-based planning, investments, and insurance. Through her broker-dealer, her company provides an array of products from top-rated companies including AIG, Fidelity, American Funds, and more.
Wendy is as passionate about your financial future as you are. Call 480-242-5219 for your confidential consultation. NSA members receive $500 off of Financial Planning Fees. For information, visit her website at www.wendykenney.com.
Hilari Weinstein hilari@highimpactcommunication.com heads the Sponsorship Committee 2007-2008
Upcoming NSA-Arizona Programs
May 10
30th Anniversary Special Presidents Event
BB Session: The Business Side of the Speaking Business with Carolyn Brown
June 14
Chris Clarke-Epstein
VOE: Robin Craig/Norma Ory, “Do you know your FIQ™ (First Impression Quotient)?”
BB Session: (TBD)
- Online: go to Registration
- By email: send name, company, and number of attendees to Gwen@nsa-arizona.org
- By telephone: call (480) 968-7443
New NSA-Arizona Bylaws Voted In
At our March 8, 2008, meeting, the Professional Members of the NSA-Arizona Chapter voted in a new set of bylaws by majority vote. The new bylaws were updated as a result of direction from NSA National on how they want Chapter bylaws to be written, to accommodate a trend in how bylaws are structured that move much of the “policy-related” information (i.e., membership classes, committee names, etc.) out of the bylaws and into a policy manual, and to make the bylaws simpler to read and easier to understand.
Thanks to Joan Koerber-Walker for her help with bylaw language and Steve Allen who made sure the document is in compliance with state and federal laws.
Please direct any questions on the new bylaws to Neil Dempster, President-Elect of NSA-Arizona.
New NSA-Arizona Members
Welcome to our newest Professional member Lori Silverman.
Our new Candidate members are Todd Davis, Treva Kimbrough, Marlene Sumpter, Geoff Tanham, and Linda White.
Please check out NSA-Arizona’s website for bios and contact details.
NSA-Arizona Living Room Forum–April 23
How to Think Big in the Training Business
Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Neil who . . . well, he thought little thoughts . . . he made little plans . . . he set up little training deals for his little training company. And, what a surprise! He got little results. But the little results caused this little boy big frustrations and he decided to make big changes.
Daniel Burnham, a prominent American architect of a century ago, once offered this advice: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir the blood.” If you’re stuck in a onesy-twosy business model and want to generate the magic to leap into the big leagues, don’t miss this Living Room Forum.
Neil Dempster will facilitate a discussion that will show how to:
- Differentiate yourself so you have little or no competition in your focus area.
- Get your customers to do the selling for you within their respective organizations.
- Start landing sizable, long-term training contracts.
A self-proclaimed business alchemist, trainer, and keynote speaker, Neil constantly studies the behavioral components of achieving peak performance. His clients have come to count on his uncanny ability to simplify the complex human behavioral aspects of work and life. http://www.NeilDempster.com
This forum takes place on Wednesday, April 23 from 7 pm to 9 pm in north Scottsdale, hosted by Neil Dempster. RSVP at http://www.nsa-arizona.org or call Gwen (480) 968-7443. Cost: $15 members, $25 Guests. Registration and payment are required in advance; no refunds. You’ll receive directions when you register.
Only one month left!!
June Cline is facilitator and host for Humorists on Wednesday, May 28.
Kitty Wiemelt kitty@kittywiemelt.com and Kathy Marcil kathy@kmarcil.com co-chair Living Room Forum, 2007-2008
Join Us at the NSA-Arizona Speaker Lab
The Speaker “Lab” is the ultimate opportunity to test new material or refine/improve existing material. The Lab is offered exclusively to members of the “Elite” NSA-Arizona Chapter–the only chapter nationally to offer this unique service. Speakers are allotted 30 minutes to present and receive feedback. Forty-minute slots are also available on request. Guests are invited to visit the Lab twice at no charge.
The AM Speaker Lab is held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month.
Location: NSA Headquarters, 1500 South Priest Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281
Time: 9:30 a.m. Networking / 9:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. LAB
April 8th – all speaking slots are filled.
April 22nd – there are no speaking slots available.
Don Thoren and Maggie Hunts co-lead the AM Speaker Lab.
Contact Maggie Hunts regarding open speaking slots/scheduling.
Maggie Hunts, MaggieHunts@ItsaSweetLifeNow.com
or 602-315-7788
Contact Don Thoren for Speaker Lab questions and feedback.
Don Thoren, CPAE, CMC, Dthoren@cox.net
or 480-838-7406
The Evening Speaker Lab meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month.
Location: Best Western Inn Suites, 1615 E. Northern Ave. (SE Corner of Northern & 16th St.)
Please note this location is for evening meetings only.
Time: 6:15 p.m. Networking / 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. LAB
April 15th – all speaking slots are filled.
Contact: Eileen Proctor, topdog@speaktopdogspeak.com
or 602-867-3647
Evening Speaker Lab WILL take place on Tuesday, April 15, even though it is tax deadline day. All presenter spots are filled, but contact Eileen to be put on the wait list, and be sure to be there for audience participation and feedback!
The Lab coordinator term is 6 months (12 meetings) and is an excellent way to build and strengthen relationships at NSA while learning from others. To get involved, contact Speaker Lab President Larry Colbert 480-894-2639 or larry@drivingvision.com.
NSA National Updates
Submit Proposals for Upcoming Conferences by April 2
Are you a presenter who focuses on helping your audience get results? If so, NSA National wants you to be a part of new and different conferences coming up at NSA. Mark your calendars for:
NSA’s Fall Conference – Nov. 20-23, 2008; NSA’s Winter Conference – Feb. 12-15, 2009
Organizers are looking for presenters who are audience-focused with content-rich programming that can help participants to transform their businesses. Click here for more information. The deadline to submit a proposal is Wednesday, April 2. Don’t delay!
NSA Jam Session: Presentation & Performance Lab - April 11-13, 2008
Whether you are a new speaker or a seasoned pro, The “Ultimate Performer” Jam Session will enable you to drastically increase your entertainment value. In Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, an unbelievable team of experts will share their unfiltered knowledge and vast stage experience.
Prepare to Jam in Las Vegas at Golden Nugget Hotel! Details at nsaspeaker.org
Learning From NSA Greats: Ideas for Speaking without Notes
The speaking industry has become what it is today because of a few individuals who had a vision of the industry and the passion to make it come alive. Many lessons were learned along the way.
This is the second in a series that shares lessons from NSA Greats. They are contributed by Bill Johnson, CSP, a charter member and NSA’s first executive vice president.
The learning never stops!
Many early speaking heroes of NSA spoke without notes, which seemed like magic to those early audiences. Almost every speaker had his or her own special way of remembering. The most popular method was creating the speech in “modules” for each topic or story. The modules formed stand-alone parts of the speech. Usually the opening and closing modules were the most important. Different “modules” could be put in when time and mood seemed most appropriate. Dr. Charles Jarvis was the best practitioner of this skill I knew. He was known as the king of humor, a past “rock star” of NSA.
Here’s how the module approach works. As you structure a speech or a story within a speech, think of the Past, Present and Future or PPF process, which also works great for creating a quick impromptu talk. As you talk about the past (a set up), your mind had time to describe the present (what’s happening now) and then you follow with your desire or goal for the future (your closing).
These three steps will help you with the PPF process.
(1) On a legal pad turned sideways, write your key points across the top of the sheet as column headers. Below each point, write key words to help you remember points inside a story. (A sample of this is posted at speakertools)(2) Practice the speech by putting your key words from the “speech board” on “post-it notes” at eye level along a wall. Stick them on the wall in order, left to right. As you move along saying your speech out loud, you’re literally talking to the wall.
(3) Use a small hand-held recorder to record it. Then go back and listen and check your time. Voila! You can listen to a practice talk and improve your speech.
Using this PPF approach, you tell stories and describe pictures as they play in your mind. Isn’t this the way we share stories with our friends? And we can surely do that kind of storytelling without notes!
Bill Johnson, CSP
* Bill will be offering a CD or streaming audio of one of Dr. Jarvis’s speeches at no cost. If interested, go to Bill@SpeakerTools.com
Word Trippers from the Platform
Pay special attention to these featured Word Trippers that are so commonly misused, it’s easy to mistake them for correct.
Censor, censure – A “censor” is an official who examines literature, TV programs, movies, etc., for the purpose of deleting objectionable parts. It also means to act as a censor. “Censure” is a strong expression of disapproval, a reprimand. As a verb, it means to criticize in a harsh manner. “The official censor not only censored the scene in the film but also censured its director for including vulgar language.”
Childish, childlike – When adults are “childish” they behave immaturely or foolishly; when they’re “childlike” they behave with the wonder, creativity, and innocence of a child. “Their complaints about the service sounded childish given the overcrowded conditions at the restaurant.” “The team’s childlike approach to brainstorming gave us many creative ideas.”
Continual, continuous – “Continual” means recurring frequently; “continuous” means without interruption. “It’s been a continual push to keep my business moving.” “The river flows continuously in the spring.”
Word Trippers are featured in The Door Opener, a newsletter on persuasive writing to open doors to your dreams. Subscribe at www.barbaramcnichol.com or send an email to editor@barbaramcnichol.com
About This Newsletter
Email your News Flash announcements to editor Barbara McNichol at editor@barbaramcnichol.com or call 520-615-7910 by 15th of each month.
To view back issues of the newsletter, Click on Newsletters in the menu at the right and select the edition you wish to view.
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