January 2009 News Flash
In this edition:
- Message from President Neil Dempster
- NSA-Arizona Monthly Meeting January 10
- Meeting Sponsor for January
- Meet the Board
- Candidate Program
- Living Room Forum
- New NSA-Arizona Members
- Speaker Labs
- Upcoming NSA-Arizona Programs
- NSA National Updates
- Bravo Corner
- Word Trippers from the Platform
- About This Newsletter
President’s Message from Neil Dempster
What a party! Those of us who attended the Holiday Party at Kathleen and Don Thoren’s home were treated to a wonderful opportunity to relax a little and get to know our friends and colleagues better. And what a venue! Our hosts made everyone feel like honored guests and their newly-renovated home was magnificent. They even arranged for perfect weather so we could enjoy the outdoors on their lakefront property. Thank you, Kathleen and Don. A big ‘thank you’ also to Hilari Weinstein and the Holiday Party Committee who worked tirelessly to make the event a huge success.
And, speaking of people who have been instrumental to NSA Arizona’s success, I am very excited to announce that Kitty Wiemelt has been elected by your Board of Directors to the position of Vice-President. Kitty brings strong leadership skills, the ability to build collaborative teams, and a passion for personal and professional development. Please take a moment to thank Kitty for her commitment to the chapter.
As we start to count down the remaining few days in 2008 and prepare for this special time with family and friends, let me wish each of you a Happy Holiday and an Amazing New Year! See you in 2009!
Sincerely,
Neil Dempster, MBA, CSP
NSA-Arizona President 2008-2009
Meet the Board—Kitty Wiemelt
This month, Neil Dempster interviews Kitty Wiemelt.
To help answer your questions about what your Board is up to, we’re introducing a monthly segment that profiles a single board member in an informative interview format. This month features Kitty Wiemelt, a long-term Board Member, co-Chair of the Living Room Forum, and the chapter’s new Vice-President.
Neil: Kitty, the Living Room Forums are an incredible value-add for our members. What changes have you implemented this year?
Kitty: Bonnie Mattick and I co-Chair the Living Room Forum. This year we decided to survey the members to find out what their specific needs were. The outcome was that we exchanged three of the previous segments for subjects that would better address current needs. Technology was one of them with emphasis on social networking, like blogging and Facebook. Stanley Bronstein facilitated that meeting. The other addition was keynotes and motivational speaking. Both of these segments were just jam-packed with information and people . . . there was standing room only. We’re very excited about how many people are showing up for our events.
Neil: I was able to attend the keynotes and motivational speaking Living Room Forum and you are right; it was jam-packed.
Kitty: That was with Bill Johnson; it was a really good session. We still have five more Living Room Forums to go. We really appreciate members who have been so willing to open up their homes and to share their expertise to make this whole thing successful.
Neil: Congratulations! The changes you have made have obviously been well received. Kitty, you have been on the Board for a couple of years. What has given you the most pleasure during that time?
Kitty: I think the wonderful part is being able to strategize with so many talented individuals–people that I have known on the peripheral but until now I haven’t really gotten to know well. I just love being part of that planning and behind the scenes development of our chapter.
Neil: I love that as well. Last question . . . what advice do you have for our members so that they can get the maximum benefit from their membership with NSA Arizona?
Kitty: I think the key to growth–both personally and professionally–in any organization, but especially NSA, is to get involved. I suggest that they volunteer in every area that they can and especially attend all our functions. That’s the way you get to know people and be part of it. Always put the second Saturday of the month on your calendar and make it a priority. You learn so much from the main part of that day but then there’s also the Business Building segment afterwards; that’s not just for Candidates, it’s for all of us. We all go through so many phases in our businesses that I think every bit helps. For example, this year Michelle May has been running the Wealthy Speaker program for Candidates, but it’s really open to everybody. So my advice is to just jump in with both feet and keep your nose to the grindstone until you get where you want to be. NSA people are so generous and hard-working; they are so willing to share their knowledge. By really being involved, you grow, your business grows and, of course, our Arizona chapter will continue to be the best chapter around.
Neil: So it sounds like you’re saying, “don’t just be a member . . . get involved!” Great advice, Kitty. Thank you!
NSA-Arizona Monthly Meeting- January 10 2008
Time: 9:00 am – 1:30 pm; networking/breakfast 8:00 am
Location: NSA Conference Center, 1500 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, AZ
Prepaid registration (by 5 pm Wed., Jan. 7): $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.
Al Walker: The Sweet Secrets of Success in Speaking
Success in the speaking business is found in not being all things to all people, nor is it found in doing a bunch of things all at the same time. The secret lies in doing a few simple things on a consistent basis, and doing them well.
Al Walker will share his secrets for developing and maintaining a vibrant professional speaking business. It’s impossible to hear Al speak and not get more excited about your own business. His outspoken, direct and humorous delivery is as powerful as his message. Most of all, he’s effective.
Al is president of Al Walker and Associates, Inc., a firm that specializes in results-oriented training programs. They have conducted over 1500 training clinics, workshops, seminars, and programs for organizations from the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Al is nationally recognized for his unique, fun-loving, humorous approach to speaking, a past president of NSA, a Cavett Award recipient, and member of Platform Professionals.
VOE: Dr. Pat Gangi: Speaker Ethics
“I can show that Doonesbury cartoon in my PowerPoint presentation. After all, I’m not getting paid for this talk.” Are you sure?
To help you build your career on a firm ethical foundation, we’ll take a light, practical look at the NSA Code of Professional Ethics and explore the top five ethical complaints lodged against NSA members. We’ll also discuss how to move from compliance to congruence in your commitment to business ethics.
Patricia Gangi, Ed.D. is an advocate for ethical champions in the workplace. Owner of Cornerstone International Training and Consulting, Dr. Pat helps employees develop an ethical commitment through a focus on “reflective ethics” and social/emotional intelligence.
Talent Triage Panel: Kathy Kerchner, Les Taylor, Don Thoren
Experts on this panel answer questions on the speaking profession. Be sure to submit your questions to nsaquestions@gmail.com
Kathy Kerchner helps clients make the most of every media interview by teaching them how to confidently deliver their key messages. Before starting her company, Master Your Message, Kathy won seven Emmy awards during her 15 years as a TV News anchor and reporter.
Don Thoren is a former NSA National President and a CPAE. This legend in NSA will share his secrets for speaking success.
Les Taylor is a speaker, consultant, and author in the areas of performance improvement and management development. Two questions he’s frequently asked are: What’s the secret for improved performance and productivity? Did your consulting come from speaking or did your speaking lead to consulting?
Business Building Session: Insider Secrets to Creating a Purposeful, Profitable Info-Product Empire with Stephanie Frank
This session provides tools for building your speaking businesses. All professional members, Candidate members, and guests attending the morning sessions are welcome.
Have you ever wondered why some speakers seem to find endless sources of ideas (and profits) from information products while you’re still trying to decide what to publish first (or next)? Do not create or market your next book, ebook, blog, newsletter, e-course, quiz, special report, audio, video or any other information products unless you want to lose more money and waste more time.
In this powerful session, Stephanie details the formula she uses to leverage teaching principles into a simple model. This models helps you create products and services that can quadruple your business revenue, solidify your message, and instantly dissolve your info-product marketing frustration. Learn strategies used by the pros to create purposeful, long-lasting info-products.
Stephanie Frank works with organizations and professionals who want personalized success systems that pump up their profit. She is the author of the best-selling book The Accidental Millionaire and founder of the Institute for Success IQ, specializing in personal success and productivity.
Congratulations to Dan Ferguson who won a free meeting attendance by completing his evaluation form at November’s meeting. Submit your evaluations at the January meeting to participate in a drawing for a free meeting.
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 are happy to keep your credit card on file for meeting payments but it is 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: Exhibit Experts
Stand out from the crowd! Elevate your professionalism on stage. Increase sales in the back of the room.
How? With a creative banner, featuring you on it, at the entrance to your workshop to greet guests. Along with that, have an attractive tabletop display with dramatic graphics that elevate your products and you’ll project a memorable, professional image at your next presentation.
Susan Ratcliff of Exhibit Experts at http://www.ExhibitExpertsaz.com (602-437-3634) will match you with the perfect displays to meet your special needs. Mention NSA and get a special discount.
Susan Ratcliff Susan@exhibitexpertsaz.com heads the Sponsorship Committee 2008-2009.
Candidate Program: Ready, Aim, Fire!
Candidates are continuing their Wealthy Speaker series, Ready, Aim, Fire.
Aim: Marketing to Reflect Positioning and Benefits
The next live event is Jan. 17, 8:00am-12:00pm at Jobing.com
During this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn about, develop and/or critique your speaker marketing materials. Plan to bring your current copies (or ideas and drafts) of your:
- Bio
- One-sheet
- Screen shots of your website
- Demo video
Watch for registration and additional details coming soon!
Michelle May heads the Candidates Program for 2008-2009.
Living Room Forum – January 28 Adding Humor to Your Presentations
Join Linda Henley-Smith and learn to add humor to your speeches. Insights include:
- The 3 Ps…..Personality, Props and Pizzazz!
- What to do When You’re Not Sure Your Audience Members Have Pulses!
- Humor Action Plan…Building a Humor Library
- Giving Yourself and Your Life a Humor Makeover
- Encouraging Audience Participation
- Avoiding the “snorer” meeting; remember, when they snooze, you lose!
Linda Henley-Smith is a speaker, author, and founder and of The Willow Connection who presents programs on attitude and humor. Linda doesn’t often say she received a Nobel Prize and has won beauty contests in all 50 states—because they’re not true. She speaks nationally, internationally, and sometimes at family gatherings if she can get a word in edgewise (she’s the mother of two and grandmother of six). Her family is not perfect, but neither have they been guests on Jerry Springer.
This forum takes place on Wednesday, January 28, from 7 pm to 9 pm at the home of Janet Miller. 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.
Note: LRF meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month September through November (third Wednesday) and January through May.
Kitty Wiemelt kitty@kittywiemelt.com and Bonnie Mattick bonnie@bonniemattick.com chair the Living Room Forum for 2008-2009.
Many Big Thank You’s
Thank you to Kathleen and Don Thoren for opening their home to us for our Holiday Party. Also thanks to everyone who donated to our silent auction and volunteered to make the a roaring success. The auction raised $3,755 and proceeds will benefit Fresh Start Women’s Resource Center and NSA-Arizona. Fresh Start is a center for women seeking information, resources, and assistance in gaining emotional and financial independence.
New NSA-Arizona Members
Welcome to our newest Professional members: Dr. Carrol McLaughlin, Michael Miller, Donna Hickey
Welcome to our newest Candidate members: Gwyn Nichols, Jane Poynter
Please check out NSA-Arizona’s website nsa-arizona.org for bios and contact details.
Join Us at the Speaker Labs
The Speaker Lab is the ultimate opportunity to test new material or refine/improve existing material. The Lab is offered exclusively to members of NSA-Arizona, 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.
AM Speaker Lab is held 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
Evening Speaker Lab An enhanced Speaker’s Lab experience continues on the second Tuesday at our new location, Jobing.com headquarters. NSA members, Candidates, and guests are welcome to see the value NSA offers. One or more CSPs or CPAEs will be present to give feedback.
Location: Jobing.com, 4747 North 22nd Street, 2nd floor
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Time: 6:15 p.m. Networking / 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. LAB
To participate in either lab, please contact Maggie Hunts for open speaking slots/scheduling. MaggieHunts@gmail.com or 602-315-7788
For Speaker Lab questions and feedback, contact Don Thoren, CPAE, CMC, Dthoren@cox.net or 480-838-7406
Speaker Lab Chair for 2008-2009 is Larry Colbert, 480-894-2639, larry@drivingvision.com
Upcoming NSA-Arizona Programs
- February 14, Willie Jolley, CPAE, CSP
- March 14, Carl Hammerschlag, CPAE, MD
- April 11, Roxanne Emmerich, CPAE, CSP, CMC
- May 9, Alan Zimmerman, CPAE, PhD, CSP
- June 13, Tim Gard, CPAE, CSP
NSA National Updates
Mark your calendar for these fabulous NSA events:
- 2009 Winter Conference – Feb. 12-15, 2009 in Orlando, Florida
- 2009 NSA Convention – July 18-21, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona
- 2009 Fall Conference – November 19-22, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona
- 2010 Winter Conference – February 11-14, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee
- 2010 NSA Convention – July 17-20, 2010 in Orlando, Florida
- 2011 NSA Convention – July 30-August 2, 2011 in Anaheim, California
For more details, go to the NSA website at http://www.nsaspeaker.org
Bravo Corner
Dr. Eileen Borris received Arizona Psychological Association’s Distinguished Contribution to the Practice of Psychology Award. She was also featured in the Arizona Republic – Living Section, Oct 2, 2008 in an article titled “A Force for Peace: Valley psychologist works to bridge conflicts, foster forgiveness”.
Marcia Reynolds, CSP, will be holding her annual Keynote Retreat January 15-18 for eight speakers who would like to create a new or liven up an old keynote. She covers themes, stories, formatting, and even a little marketing. Contact Marcia at Marcia@covisioning.com or 602-954-9030 for details.
Stephanie Angelo has been selected for the 2009-2010 NSA Conferences and Conventions planning team in the role of vice chair for the 2009 Fall Conference planning Mega, Intensive and Concurrent Tracks.
Top Dog Eileen Proctor recently garnered a bi-weekly spot on AZTV Channel 13′s The Chat Room to share her top tips with animal enthusiasts. See videos of her appearances at her pet-centric website http://www.FURventlySpeaking.com on the “In Action” page.
Take a peek at our NSA-Arizona feature speakers Al Walker for January 10th and Willie Jolley for February 14th on page 6 of the October SPEAKER Magazine.
Word Trippers from the Platform
By Barbara McNichol editor@barbaramcnichol.com
Improve how you use words on the platform! Don’t let these pesky pairings trip you up.
Junction, juncture – A “junction” is a place where two things (especially roads or tracks) meet, come together. A “juncture” is a critical point in time; the line or point where two objects intersect. “The old station building near the railway junction has become a safety hazard; at this critical juncture, we must either preserve it as a historic site or tear it down.”
Miscreant, recreant – “Miscreant” is an adjective meaning depraved, villainous, and base; a noun meaning a vicious or depraved person. “Recreant” is an adjective meaning cowardly, unfaithful, disloyal, and traitorous; a noun meaning a coward or renegade. “Today’s horror movies feature miscreants who like to torture and dismember people.” “The recreant deserter fled before the battle and joined the other side after it won.”
Pallet, palette – A “pallet” is a small makeshift bed or straw mattress; a low, portable platform goods are stacked on for storage or moving (as in a warehouse). A “palette” is a thin board used by painters for holding and mixing colors; also, the range of colors used by a particular artist. “The medieval artist rose from his pallet at dawn, took up his brush and palette, and began to paint.”
Sign up for Barbara’s Word Tripper of the Week at http://www.BarbaraMcNichol.com and receive a complimentary ebook of 300+ Word Trippers. Barbara is your perennial NewsFlash editor.
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.
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