March 2005 News Flash

March 2005 News Flash



  • President’s Message
  • March 12 Meeting
  • Living Room Forum March 30
  • Upcoming NSA-Arizona Programs
  • Future NSA Programs
  • Speech Development Lab
  • Business-Building Bulletin
  • Word Trippers
  • Website Wisdom
  • Worth Repeating
  • About This Newsletter


NSA-Arizona President’s Message from Ted Rogers

If you attended the Winter Workshop in Burbank last month, I hope you had a chance to see Victoria LaBalme do her one-woman act. I’m reminded of a statement she shared… about how “being busy” has become a badge of honor for many. We fill our calendars with so much, yet it seems like we never get anything done. Distractions surround us 24/7. Having cell phones, pagers, Blackberries, and all the other technologies designed to make our lives easier, it’s amazing we accomplish anything!

After the NSA conference, I went to a friend’s home for a Super Bowl party–a wonderful chance to get away and relax. She had just purchased a beautiful little bungalow in Hollywood. Yes, it cost as much as Italy’s GNP, but what a wonderful home with its beautiful wooden floors, beamed ceilings, and a lush, peaceful backyard. Twelve of us shared in amazing food, lively conversation, and lots of stories. We even watched some of the football game! It was a wonderful time to just be with friends!

In this column last month, I spoke about resolutions and the fact that they seldom achieve results or successes. But I must make a confession. For 2005, I did make a resolution. I have a client who is a wine maker in Napa, California, and we’ve had the pleasure of sampling some amazing champagnes during our relationship (after hours of course!). My resolution: to drink more champagne. And I mean the good stuff! Now, don’t get me wrong; I don’t drink that much to begin with. What I really mean is that I resolve to be more engaged with the moments, the relationships, the achievements, and the wins in life–like we did at the Super Bowl party. I want to celebrate them all. And I want to celebrate these moments and achievements more often. Much more often.

When we are fully engaged and present, when we work with clarity and celebrate what’s really important, then our businesses and our lives take on a different meaning. Fulfilling, happy lives of great joy!

Celebrate your blessings, opportunities, friends, clients, and the meaning of family. Don’t only get caught up in the busy stuff. Celebrate the really important stuff! Yes, this year I will drink more champagne (the good stuff!). And that’s a resolution I can live with! To your journey of inspiration and achievement. What a great time to get on board!

Ted Rogers, President
NSA-Arizona


NSA-Arizona Monthly Meeting March 12, 2005

Update on Marketing, Technology and Life Balance for Speakers with Terry L. Brock, MBA, CSP
Find out what is happening today in the business of professional speaking. See how the industry is morphing so you can meet the demands it requires in your own practice. Come and get the information you need from this productivity and relationship expert. In this session, you’ll learn:

  • Marketing Today: What successful speakers are doing that makes money and provides a quality lifestyle.
  • Recording your presentations–See some of the latest and best technologies to make it work for you today!
  • Producing audio and video for your website to bring you profits–Which is best for you, Real, Windows, QuickTime, Flash or something else? Find out what works!
  • Website marketing–how to do it without being a techie and without spamming
  • Technology to boost profits and productivity–see the latest and best
  • Using the “Global Village” to make money while you sleep
  • Maintaining balance while crafting this profession to suit you. It’s more than just money. Learn about blending necessary balance into your own life.

As a bonus, Terry shares some of the latest technology to help generate a smoothly running, efficient marketing operation. This is one you don’t want to miss. Take your business to the next level learning about technology, marketing, and living a life!

Saturday, March 12, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; 8:30 Networking

Voice of Experience - The Collaborative Birth of The Public Speaker’s “Not So Secret” Rule Book
Steve Tyra will talk about the book he and Ed Scannell wrote and published together–the lessons they learned, and especially how they collaborated and coordinated with each other while on the road speaking.

Candidates Program–Developing Effective Speaker Marketing Materials
Starts promptly at 12:15 p.m.

Raleigh Pinskey, author of 101 Ways to Promote Yourself, will present how to develop an effective demo video, information packet, and speaker website (with a “media room”). She’ll show how to use these tools to support your PR and marketing efforts.

Date: Saturday, March 12, 2005, 9:00 am - 12 noon; networking 8:30 am
Location: NSA Conference Center, 1500 S. Priest Dr., Tempe, AZ
Prepaid registration (by 5 p.m. Wed., Mar. 9): $25/members, $35/guests
At-the-door registration: $35/members, $45/guests

To register for this meeting, please follow these prepayment procedures.
Prepayment Procedures: To streamline check-in at monthly meetings, the board now requires that you prepay for your meeting attendance. Members 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 at the full rate of $35 for members and $45 for nonmembers. Thanks for your cooperation with these new procedures.

*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. *

Three ways to register:

  1. Online
  2. By email: send name, company, and number of attendees to Gwen@nsa-arizona.org
  3. By telephone: call (480) 968-7443

Living Room Forum on Humor March 30
The March LRF on Humor will be held Wednesday, March 30 at the home of Tim Davis in Chandler. Look for further details closer to the date.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming Forums:
Apr. 26 — Michelle May, Seminar/Workshop
May 25 — Bill Johnson, Consultant/Coach

Three ways to register:

  1. Online
  2. By email: send name, company, and number of attendees to Gwen@nsa-arizona.org
  3. By telephone: call (480) 968-7443


Future NSA-Arizona Programs 2005

April 9, 2005 — Dick Bruso, Branding
May 14, 2005 — Jane Atkinson, Promoting Your Business
June 11, 2005 — Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE

Order NSA-Arizona Program Tapes
Couldn’t attend our fabulous meetings featuring Creamer, Paulson, Poynter and Poscente, Labalme and Leblanc, Calloway, Sanborn and McKain, Friedman and Sjodin, Burgett and Godek, our own Steve Tyra and more? Order their presentations (starting with Aldonna Ambler in January 2002) on audiocassette for $10.00 each. Send an email to Gwen@NSA-Arizona.org to request the order form. Additional charge for shipping.


Future NSA Programs 2005

The Global Speakers Summit, “Internationally Speaking–A World of Possibilities”
March 31-April 2, 2005
Hosted in Singapore by the International Federation for Professional Speakers
International Federation for Professional Speakers is comprised of the National Associations of Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, United States, and soon to include Singapore.

Join professional speakers from all over the world to explore platform excellence, international business opportunities, multi-cultural protocol, and the latest technology for speakers and trainers.

The Global Speakers Summit kicks off on Thursday, March 31 with a look at the global speaking market and the many different business models that support it. Learn the latest trends and what you need to do to capitalize on them. The second day celebrates April Fool’s Day with the funniest of the funny. The event continues with a wide range of timely topics all geared to boost your business beyond the borders. With the Asian economy being the fastest growing in the world and international business booming, this is the perfect time to think universally, speak internationally, and sell globally.

If you want to develop world-class content for culturally diverse audiences, Singapore is where you want to be! You can:

  • Attend the Global Speakers Showcase introducing you to top literary agents and vendors for international publishing, licensing agreements and worldwide distribution networks.
  • Meet with international seminar promoters and agents to discover how to launch new markets for your products and services along the Pacific Rim.
  • Discover the latest learning resources and technology to disseminate your intellectual property globally.

To register, please click {{http://www.asiaspeakers.org/online_registration.html GSS>

The NSA Humor Lab: Putting Funny in Your Pocket
April 29 - May 1, 2005 — NSA Headquarters, Tempe, AZ

Do you think your presentations are funny? Guess what? They could be funnier…after you attend a weekend retreat with seven of NSA’s top “fun guns” for a Humor Lab on developing and delivering humorous material.

Here’s what’s in it for you:

  • Five incredible sessions full of techniques to improve the humor in your material;
  • An opportunity to interact with the faculty to apply the information to meet your specific needs;
  • A weekend at NSA Headquarters in Tempe, AZ;
  • An opportunity to present your material and have the faculty and other participants make it funnier;
  • Small group discussions where you can brainstorm and discuss the topics with one of the faculty and other participants;
  • Networking opportunities;
  • A chance to kiss the ring of NSA President Scott Friedman;
  • The eternal gratitude of Lab Chairs, Ron Culberson, MSW, CSP and Mark Scharenbroich, CSP, CPAE.

Sign up today at {{link http://www.nsaspeaker.org NSA>

NSA’s National Conference
July 9-12, 2005
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia

Look for details in future issues of News Flash and at


**Speaker/Speech Development Lab **

Join the NSA Speakers Lab every second and fourth Tuesday morning from 9 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at NSA Headquarters in Tempe. Here’s your chance to try out new material, revise current material, practice delivery, and receive feedback from NSA speaking colleagues at this Lab. It’s open to both regular and candidate members. Fees for participation are $75/year for those expecting to attend half of the meetings or more; $20 per meeting for those who drop in randomly; $50 for random attendees who want to perform and receive feedback only on the day they attend.

Questions? Contact Don Thoren, CPAE, at dthoren@cox.net or Eileen Roth at EileenRoth@aol.com


Business-Building Bulletin
This bulletin publicizes events of interest to NSA-Arizona members and to announce member accomplishments. When more announcements are sent in, you’ll receive dedicated Business-Building Bulletin issues in addition to News Flash.

New Professional Member
Congratulations to Jennifer Scott our newest Professional Member to graduate from Candidate status.

Voice Mail Tip from Lois Creamer, our guest presenter in February
How effective are your voice mail messages? If you’re not sure, leave yourself a message and see how you sound! For example: “I’m sorry I missed you. This is Lois Creamer with Book More Business at 314-822-8225. I work with organizations just like yours who want to develop top-notch selling skills. I’d love to send you some information about my programs, but want to make sure it would be welcome. Could you please call me at _____ and let me know if I can put something in the mail?”

Leave your name and number twice, and if they don’t call you back, follow up, and keep following up if you think they might be good prospects. Remember, the key to being effective is practicing and qualifying your prospects well!

Larry Colbert’s New “Insightful” Book
Larry Colbert has recently released his first book Insights from An Out-Of-Sight Guy. In it, he shares the story of his deep personal struggle with blindness and the fear that kept him from embracing change. He provides practical insights for everyone learning to cope with constant change, and managing the ideas, emotions, and attitudes that affect us all.

Authors and Speakers Roundtable
Authors and Speakers Roundtable, sponsored by Arizona Small Business Association, meets the third Wednesday of each month. All are welcome between 11:30 am to 1 pm. Bring your own lunch if you choose; drinks are provided. Each month features an author who tells about his or her authorship journey and the challenges along the way. Great information! 4130 E. Van Buren, Phoenix 602-265-4563. http://www.asba.com. Monthly meeting is no charge for ASBA members ($125 for annual dues); $20 for guests. This community of Arizona Small Business Association is chaired by Bill Johnson, CSP. It’s advisory board is made up of NSA-Arizona members Sue Shipman, Robert Kelly, Suzy Allegra, and Rich Hamilton.

Speaking and Presentation Skills Seminar Here and on a Cruise Ship
Bill Johnson, CSP, is conducting an evening series on Speaking and Presentation Skills in a small group setting. Attendees will have a chance to “drill down” into the nuances of speaking, marketing and product creation. The series is each Monday evening 5:30 to 7 p.m. beginning February 28th. He is also conducting “Seminars at Sea” as a four-day Baja Mexico Cruise sailing from Los Angeles May 23rd. For full info, call 602-870-3333 or Bill@BillJohnson.com.

What business-building events of interest to NSA-Arizona members are coming up? What new books and tapes will you launch soon? Send your announcements to Barbara at editor@barbaramcnichol.com


Word Trippers from the Platform This feature from Barbara McNichol helps you find the exact word for your presentation or written piece.

Rein, reign — As a noun, “rein” is a leather strap used by a rider to control a horse. As a verb, “rein” (often used with in) means to control, restrain, hold back. “Reign” refers to a period in which a monarch rules as well as the action of dominating and ruling. “At the end of the king’s reign, the prince tried to rein in support so he could reign from behind the scenes.”

Repel, repulse –“Repel” means to ward off, resist, reject, fight against. “Repulse” means to drive away, spurn, reject brusquely, cause feelings of disgust. These words can be interchangeably, though “repulse” carries more emotion. “I repel your efforts to show me affection. You repulse me with your crude way of talking.”

Respectfully, respectively — “Respectfully” means to show politeness or deference; “respectively” pertains to each of a number of persons. “The family members at the memorial service respectfully honored their dead father as they respectively (one-by-one) said a few words.”

Word Trippers are featured in The Door Opener, an ezine that helps you open doors to your dreams through the written word. Subscribe at http://www.barbaramcnichol.com or send an email to editor@barbaramcnichol.com


Website Wisdom

Keep in mind the “little things” from webmaster Kendall Summerhawk> that can make your website support your business more effectively.

Tip: When was the last time you looked at each page on your website? If your visitors have spent more time on your site lately than you have, then now is the time to review each page. Is it still accurate? Does each page reflect the strength of your message? Don’t put off reviewing and updating your website–it’s easier than you think and well worth the effort!


Worth Repeating

Editor’s note: Here’s a quotation I wish I’d said at my recent VOE talk: The Cure for the Reluctant Writer. Feel free to send me quotations that you like to use in your presentations editor@barbaramcnichol.com

The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man. Nothing else that he builds ever lasts. Monuments fall, nations perish, civilization grow old and die out, but in the world of books are volumes that have seen this happen.
– Clarence Day, 1874-1935


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.