News from NSA Virginia

A Newsletter for Members of NSA VA

March 2012

In This Issue

What You're Missing...

ProTrack Report

Upcoming Events

Board Members

Quick Links

Register Now for March Meeting

More About Us

Newsletter Coordinator:

Joan Bowling

We appreciate any comments, article submissions and other ideas.

Hello NSA-VA!

Colleen For those who attended the February 17 workshop by Vernice "Fly Girl" Armour, you know we had an amazing time. Vernice not only presented her keynote material, but she also stopped at intervals to explain how she developed each piece of the speech. She was fabulous, and I highly recommend this summer's NSA National Convention because Vernice will be the closing keynoter for the whole shebang!

Next up: Karen Lawson from NSA-Philadelphia! Karen is a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) and she also served on the National Ethics Committee. Karen will teach us to develop our topics, manage our time, and develop our business. And I've asked her to throw in a little about the Ethics of the speaking profession; I've seen her talk on this topic and I was floored about how much I didn't realize was either not legal or not ethical...

Your Board is also gearing up for a Spring retreat. It's time to talk "Succession Planning" and set goals for the upcoming year. If you have any interest in serving, either on the Board or as a go-to person for specific tasks, please let any Board member know - we'd love to get you involved and get to know you better.

See you March 16, and keep on speaking!

Coleen Kenny

NSA-VA President

Growing Your Speaking Biz from the Ground Up

March 16 Workshop

Holiday Inn Norfolk Airport, Norfolk

Click here to register now!

In this highly interactive, hands-on workshop, Certified Speaking Professional, Dr. Karen Lawson, will share her experience and offer tips and techniques for building a successful speaking business from the ground up. Her how-to approach will focus on four key areas:

Topic Development
Sales and Marketing
Presenting and Performing
Managing the Business

You will walk away with specific examples, resources and tools that will help you maximize the pleasures and minimize the pitfalls as you grow your professional speaking business.

Do You Know What You're Missing in Speaker Magazine?

Submitted by Mary Foley

Would you like to...

...know what NSA President Laura Stack says are four keys to success?

...get advice on developing a sure-fire topic or subtleties of a great keynote from a speaking pro?

...learn the one trait ALL highly successful speakers possess according to legendary NSA speaker Mark Sanborn?

Well, duh, who wouldn't if you're in NSA VA and reading this article! You can find all this and more in the January-February issue of Speaker magazine, another content-rich, highly relevant resource produced by NSA. It's yet another reason that NSA national is so great!

With new technology and media emerging all the time, staying on top of your speaking game requires ongoing education. NSA's award-winning Speaker magazine provides you with insight into the art and business of speaking 10 times a year. It's full of latest marketing strategies, tips, information and innovative ideas from top professionals worldwide.

And here's the really great news: Speaker magazine is included in NSA national membership, which is just another reason to qualify and become a member. However, to encourage you on your way to national membership, you don't have to be an NSA member to benefit! You can subscribe to the print version for only $49 for one year or $69 for two years by going online to www.nsaspeaker.org or by calling (480) 968-2552. That's less than $3.50 a month for two years of timely information to make you a sharper, better, more effective speaker. You can also read the magazine absolutely FREE online at www.nsaspeaker-magazine.org! Do you know what you're missing in Speaker magazine? It's time to find out!

Accelerate Your Career at the NSA National Convention

You know, you're worth it. Attend the NSA National Convention Indianapolis July 14-17 for a serious infusion of energy, education and endless ideas to expand your speaking business. Start planning now for your trip. The travel guide www.frommers.com shares some of the highlights the 12th largest city* in the United States.

"Indianapolis is a serious sports town. The Indianapolis 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to each event. The city also justifiably bills itself as the "Amateur Sports Capital of the World" and boasts world-class sports facilities (including the brand-new home of the Indianapolis Colts, the Lucas Oil Stadium). Indy natives rally behind the city's pro franchises -- the NBA's Pacers, the WNBA's Fever, the NFL's Colts, and the Indianapolis Indians.

In its passion for sports, however, the city does not neglect the arts. In addition to a few notable art museums and galleries, the city boasts a number of theater companies. Indianapolis also has neighborhoods worth exploring: the Lockerbie Square district with renovated Victorian homes on cobblestone streets; the shops, restaurants, and art galleries along Massachusetts Avenue downtown; and Broad Ripple Village, a canal-side neighborhood with boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife."

The NSA National Convention will be held at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, July 14-17. Make plans now!

*2010 US Census figures

Monetize Your Message

Passion, success cookbooks, new media ignited all at the Dallas Winter Conference. Well-known speakers scribbled notes next to first timers. Not a sleepy eye in the place. My brain engaged in three amazing days of business self- improvement.

Brian Tracy, CSP, CPAE introduced Lisa Sasevich, the Queen of the Invisible Close. Brian is world known for his own success programs but treated Lisa like his professor. Sitting next to me, Brian's pen raced as fast as mine. The ideas streamed from Lisa. Her point? Anyone can speak for free, as she does. Just learn to convert 4 to 5 out of 10 in back-of-the-room products.