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Volume 1, Issue 1
August, 2006 In This Issue:
Sally Speaks Your NSANT Newsletter Team:
Editor:
Design & Layout: Photographer: Contributors: |
You are receiving this e-mail newsletter from National Speakers Association of North Texas because you requested it. To cancel or modify your subscription, see the instructions at the bottom of this message. To subscribe, send an email to nsantspeaker@madcrouch.com and write subscribe in the subject line. President's Message
We will be meeting the 2nd Saturday of each month August - June (except December) at the Hilton Dallas Park Cities at 5954 Luther Lane. We know how valuable your Saturdays are so we want to bring you educational programs that help build your business and make you a more accomplished speaker. Our programs will be high content and will cover all the areas of the speaking business, i.e. financial, marketing, presentation skills, technology, writing and publishing, and bureau relationships.
Some of the initiatives we will be rolling out are:
Our first meeting is August 12th with Ian Percy, CSP, CPAE. Ian is an expert business development specialist and the perfect choice to kickoff our "Blueprint to Business" year.
August 12th monthly meeting with Ian Percy
Change Your Thinking - Change Your Business
Looking for a "Blueprint" for how to build your business to new heights of influence and revenue? That's a great idea…unless you make either or both of two fatal mistakes.
The first mistake is to assume that having a blueprint is a substitute for thinking. The second is to expect someone to give you such a blueprint. Unfortunately (or fortunately) success in the speaking biz just ain't that easy. This raw, blunt, no-holds-barred session confronts the need for professional speakers to think in new and original ways and to stop looking for "the answer" as though we live in a one-size-fits-all world. You'll learn why the breakthrough you most need right now isn't even in your frame of reference and how to expand the way you think so it is. And you'll learn what it takes to keep your business dynamic and flowing by being in a state of constant transformation.
Stage Director's Word by Robert Menard
A Welcome Greeting and an Invitation
Ad space may be come available in the future.
Categories
We need your help to make this newsletter a valuable service and a resource. Please send an email with your questions, or just drop an electronic manuscript over the transom. Don't forget your publicity photo! The money-saving and convenient "Value Pass"
The Charbonneau MasterTracSM For Advanced Professional Speaking by Ed Peters
What MasterTrac does
Who MasterTrac can help
MasterTrac is designed to accelerate the careers of full-time, part-time speakers, or aspiring speakers. Business professionals and experts engaged in public speaking are welcome, as are trainers, consultants, authors and coaches.
Curriculum
The curriculum accommodates varying skill levels
Educational sessions: (not in order)
Faculty National guest speaker experts, local chapter experts and experts from outside NSA and the North Texas chapter will serve as faculty.
Schedule
MasterTrac meets the 2nd Saturday of each month following regular NSA/NT chapter meetings (except July & December) from 1:15pm-4:15pm at the Hilton Dallas/Park cities. Speaking/critiquing will be scheduled outside the class times.
Enrollment
Enrollment requires a professional or associate membership in the NSA North Texas chapter. Sessions begin in August but students may enroll at any time (and get all 10 sessions in the current and subsequent program year). MasterTrac includes 10 regular chapter meetings.
For tuition information and an enrollment form, go to:
www.speaker.org/MasterTrac/brochure.pdf or contact Ed Peters, Dean at ed@EdPeters4Profit.com
ShowTime - It's Not Just for Cable Anymore! by Robert Menard
As a member service, NSA NT announces ShowTime, a controlled and supportive forum in which speakers can test run their material and obtain immediate feedback from fellow professionals. Our intent is to provide members and associates the opportunity to polish their craft, and enhance membership value to existing and potential members.
Here are some benefits that you can expect from ShowTime:
Hurry - only three slots left, so sign up quickly by emailing Sandi@sandismith.com
When: Wednesday, August 30, 2006, 6:00 - 8:30 pm Leadership Retreat
CSP "Wanna-Be" No More - Don't Duck the Opportunity by Christine Cashen MAEd, CSP
Why the Certified Speaking Professional
What is involved
The CSP process might appear intimidating, but after the inertial resistance, it wasn't as overwhelming as I had feared. Consider these short cuts on your path to CSP.
Begin the CSP journey with the end in mind
Trust me, it is easier to get your ducks in a row in the beginning rather than chase down your darn ducks afterwards. Now get going! Quack.
Editor's Note: Christine Cashen earned the CSP designation in 2005 and was honored at the 2006 Orlando convention.
We are very proud of three members who represent our chapter by volunteering at the national level in NSA.
Linda Swindling, CSP, continues to serve on the Board of Directors and is currently incoming Secretary. Hot stuff, Linda! Way to go!
Randy Pennington, CSP, is serving on the NSA Board of Directors in addition to his service as Chair of the NSA Foundation Board of Trustees. Randy is completing his second year as Chair of the NSA Foundation Trustees. Randy previously served on the NSA Board of Directors in 2000. His past committee responsibilities include member of the NSA Finance Committee, Chair of NSA's Professional Development Council, Chair of the NSA Foundation Scholarship Committee, and Chair of several national level task forces. Excellent, Randy!
Lorri Allen will be a regular contributor to Voices of Experience this year. You will hear her interview experts on the “Certified Speaking Professional” designation. Kudos, Lorri!
When you see these hard-working members, please congratulate and support them in their efforts and accomplishments.
If you are working at the national level, please let us know so we can acknowledge your awesome contribution.
We said goodbye to six individuals who have finished serving their time on our board (at least for now?). Susan Gatton, Eloise Owens, Gary Rifkin, Tim Durkin, Max Jaffe and Maura Schreier-Fleming. They provided tremendous service and countless hours for our chapter. We will miss them on the board, but know we can count on them to help in any capacity.
The new board was sworn in by Michael. We then said farewell to Michael and presented him with his gift. The old board performed a song written by our very own, Gary Rifkin to honor Michael for his year of service.
We recognized three special people at our last meeting.
Lorri Allen is our 2005-2006 Member of the Year. Lorri took it upon herself to start the Joseph J. Charbonneau Speaker Academy. This was a great addition to our chapter. She volunteered her facility at Family Net and gave selflessly to the academy during the year.
The Academy had 11 students this past year. It was a very successful program and Lorri is deserving of this honor.
Gary Rifkin was presented our chapters most prestigious award, the Joseph J. Charbonneau. Susan Gatton our previous Charbonneau winner presented the award to Gary. He was very surprised. Not only was he not expecting to get the award, but he had no idea that his entire family and many friends had flown in for the occasion and we had them hiding out until the big moment. As Susan said, "Gary is someone who when on the platform clients just love. His charisma and energy explodes. He has given year after year to this chapter as well as to National. He works behind the scenes doing jobs that no one wanted to do, who has been member of the year, president, and program chair. We are so proud of Gary and his contributions to our chapter.
One of our very own, Christine Cashen was given the honor of CSP at the national convention in Orlando. We recognized her at the June meeting with a "temporary" medal. Please read Christine's article this month about CSP. The Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, established in 1980 by the National Speakers Association (NSA), is the speaking profession's international measure of professional platform skill. CSP is conferred by the US-based National Speakers Association and by the National Speakers Association of Australia only on those who have earned it by meeting strict criteria. The letters CSP following a speaker's name indicate a speaking professional with proven experience who understands what is required and knows how to deliver client satisfaction. Less than 10% of the speakers who belong to the International Federation for Professional Speakers hold this professional designation. The membership of the International Federation for Professional Speakers is comprised of professional speaking associations worldwide. CSP is the international standard that these associations agree represent competence in the speaking profession. We are so proud of Christine!!
Robert Menard has been an NSA NT member since 2003, but a full time professional speaker since 1996. His first book, You're the Buyer - You Negotiate It, was published by Brigitte-Media-US in 2004.
The Platform NSA folks hear advice from all quarters on writing, publishing, marketing, and sales of books. What advice did you take?
Menard Most of the advice from NSA sources was valuable, but nearly all of it came after the book was in the publication tunnel. For instance, I learned more about self publishing, major houses, literary agents and the like after the book was in print. The best advice, and it is universal, is "just do it". By happy mistake, it turns out that the page count of 144 is the amount Dan Poynter, the publishing guru of NSA, cites as optimum.
TP Why did you write it?
Menard Three reasons compelled me:
TPHave the results been what you expected?
Menard Yes, the major goal was to create a work of value. Judging by the reception from my corporate training clients, my primary audience, that expectation has been met. Another goal was establish myself as an expert in my field with prospects. The time honored practice of "send them your book, not a business card or brochure" works as well as ever. That goal has been exceeded as I can attribute a huge boost in training and speaking engagements directly to the book. It also helps to have a coherent marketing plan. That marketing plan has put me in contact with agents, distributors, and retail outlets that will become the next revenue stream, but that strategy is a work in progress.
TP Given your success thus far, what are your plans for future book ventures?
Menard To cite a child hood hero, Yogi Berra, "You'd be surprised what you can see just by looking." My eyes have indeed been opened, and now I can see so much more. The next ventures will be e-books, more like booklets, on focused topics like partnering. I will also do more with the sales markets as my purchasing and negation programs have great appeal to sales pros - they demand to hear the Voice of the Customer instead of another re-treaded sales training program. I am also developing on line educational products with a strategic partner to serve our profession and advance the Certified Purchasing Professional TP You also have CDs and MP3s available on your site. How does that complement your business?
Menard These products generate greater revenues and far more profitability than do books. They also serve a huge market sector that prefers audio or media to books. DVDs are in the future plan as well.
TP Thanks for the tips. What other advice can you offer to our NSA brethren?
Menard It's all about that universal advice made famous by the Nike commercial, "Just do it!"
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National Speakers Association, North Texas,
14070 Proton Road, Suite 100 LB9,
Dallas, TX 75244 USA
Copyright NSANT 2006 |
Welcome to NSA/NT 2006-2007. I'm Sally Baskey, your new Chapter President. This year we are celebrating
25 years in the North Texas Area (1981-2006). We have seen many changes in this business in those 25 years. Stop and think what you were doing 25 years ago? Many of us were not even in this profession. I am so excited about next year and some of the new initiatives we have in store for the chapter. Our theme is "NSA/NT: Your Blueprint to Business." Our goal is to have our chapter provide the framework for making your business more successful.
This edition of The Platform, the NSA-North Texas newsletter, inaugurates our monthly online publications for chapter members, friends, and colleagues. We welcome and invite your submissions on the regularly scheduled categories below. If your story does not fit into any of the categories, submit it anyway. Interest and value to members are the prime selection criteria.
Editorial decisions are the responsibility of members of the newsletter committee and the NSA-NT board of directors. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for content, accuracy, style and space limitations. Stories of "how to" tips and general interest are favored.
Back by popular demand! This annual pass gets you into all of our meetings for one price. Not only will you receive 10 meetings for the cost of 8. Once you have your Value Pass, all you will need to do is go online and register your attendance. The biggest reason for becoming a Value Pass member is the special "event". As a Value Pass Member you'll be invited to a special event which will only be open to Value Pass members. In the past our guest speakers for those events have been Jane Atkinson and Amanda Gore. You can purchase a Value Pass for only $280.
The North Texas chapter of the National Speakers Association (NSA/NT) proudly announces the 2006/2007 Charbonneau MasterTrac for Advanced Professional Speaking, an innovative educational program for emerging, experienced and expert speakers.
ShowTime will be offered periodically, depending upon demand. Join us at the first is scheduled for August 30, 2006 at the Hilton. In addition to an audience of professionals, we are very fortunate to have obtained the services of guest coach Ken Bradford, founder and president of the Leaders Course. Ken has coached thousands of people on their presentation skills and will provide five minutes of feedback for each presenter. Sandi Smith is your emcee and event organizer. Presenters may arrange for videography at their own expense. For A/V, a screen and data projector will be provided.
On June 2, 2006 the new leadership of NSA/NT met for our retreat. It was a great meeting. The following ideas came out of the retreat:
Whenever the topic of earning the CSP designation would arise at NSA meetings, I soaked up the inspiration. And it took buckets of inspiration to sort through the paperwork, collect the letters of recommendation, attend the NSA events and conquer my own self-imposed obstacles. Were it not for the persistent persuasion and support of Linda Swindling, CSP, I would still be sitting at the CSP wanna-be table. More than once, I even considered ducking out, but decided that to succeed in this business for the long run (that is the plan) I want to earn the highest designation of excellence the profession has to offer.
Editor's Note: This is the first in a regular series of Book Corner articles that spot light the creations of NSA NT members and guests. Please submit your articles in any format to