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President's Letters

  • Tue, February 25, 2014 10:23 AM | Carollyn Rock

    Welcome to a new year from the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) San Diego! I’m excited to introduce you to our 2014 Board of Directors and to our upcoming programs and events. Our chapter is centered on providing professional development opportunities and building our ASTD membership community. Because we all work together to help each other, we have a really great thing here in San Diego (and I don’t just mean the weather)!! We can show you how to connect to your community and the worldwide ASTD family. Our theme for this year is Commitment to Excellence!

    Please join me, and our 2014 Board of Directors, at our upcoming events.

    I encourage you to get involved to help shape your ASTD community and commit to being excellent!

    See you very soon, 

    Nancy McMonigal

     

    FEBRUARY EVENTS:

    San Diego Collaboration Event –

    From Compliance to Opportunity

    Feb 28, 2014

    1-5pm, Del Mar Hilton

    Join ASTD and all the fellow Training/HR orgs this Friday for our 2nd Annual Collaboration Event - From Compliance to Opportunity. Learn about new information and application of the laws.

    February 28th, 2014, 1-5pm, San Diego Marriott Del Mar.

    Register on the ASTD SD site: http://www.astdsandiego.org/calendar?eventId=840532&EventViewMode=EventDetails

    Richard Simmons will open the session to help us navigate the various labor matters facing us in 2014.

    - Breakout Session #1 -

    1. Compensation & Benefits Association – SD: Exempt in California – Auditing Your Classifications

    2. San Diego Society for Human Resource Management: Whistleblowers – Roles, Rights & Responsibilities

    Breakout Session #2 -

    1. San Diego Employers Association: Greater Liability for Harassment and Discrimination?  Do What I Say AND What I Do

    2. ASTD / OD Network / Association of Strategic Planning: Change is Hard – Senior Teams Leading the Way

    Register on the ASTD SD site

     

    Plans for 2014:

    Liz Aitcheson and Jacqueline Sirota are in the process for putting our calendar into place for 2014. Plans are shaping up and we’ll begin to announce the details soon:

    • March Roundtable Chapter Meeting to explore Excellence in Instructional Design of your Training Programs
    • April Technology Focus a spotlight on eLearning Trends                            
    • May Chapter BBQ – to kick off the summer
    • June Collaboration Event – 2nd Annual Marketplace Mixer
    • September 22-24, ASTD National Training Certificate Program
    • October Collaboration Event w/SHRM on Leadership Diversity
    • November Performance Excellence and Applied Knowledge (PEAK) Awards
    • November 13-14 ASTD National Project Management Certification Program
    • December Holiday Party

    VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

    Everyone hears the plea for volunteers in a non-profit organization. What makes us different? We are a community committed to helping each other. I could go on and on about the benefits that ASTD has provided me (leadership opportunities, networking, friends, focused work direction, etc.) but I’d rather show you how ASTD can help you!

    Become a member that is involved! Contact me about opportunities.

    MEMBERSHIP

    Visit our website to learn more about ASTD San Diego membership (a true bargain) and ASTD National membership (a treasure trove of industry information).  

  • Mon, January 20, 2014 10:25 AM | Grace Judson
    The job description for the Training & Professional Development Specialist at Customer Service Advantage (CSA) states:

    Join a growing consulting firm as the person responsible for shifting the paradigm and helping others develop new skills. Customer Service Advantage, Inc. needs your help to blossom. This position pays between $17-20/hr to start and is part-time. This position includes travel. This position could become full-time based on the success of the candidate.

    This position is needed for providing classroom training and facilitation focusing on professional development topics and customer service. This person will also be expected to successfully facilitate Kaizen-driven business process improvement events with client organizations. Other duties will include, developing training, administrative work, research, developing evaluations and surveys for program effectiveness and facilitating focus groups. Call center familiarity is preferred. Government experience is a must. Office hours will be divided between office location and candidates own home office. Office hours/location/schedule will change during the course of employment.

    Minimum three years of training experience independently teaching group training classes is preferred. Requires well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to work with people of varying background and cultures by adapting style and tactics to fit the audience. Must be comfortable speaking in front of groups, over the telephone, and communicating via email. Individual must be flexible, work well under pressure, be an active problem-solver, and possess a positive attitude.

    Interested candidates should send resume, references, and letter of interest to info@theCSAedge.com.
  • Wed, December 18, 2013 10:00 AM | Grace Judson

    Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

    I was sorry to miss the closing Chapter meeting of 2013 (I was out of town) - I hear it was an interesting, exciting, and entertaining event. It's always fun and informative to meet our San Diego authors, and if you were able to attend, I hope you enjoyed the experience.

    We are in full-on planning mode (yes, even in the midst of the holidays!) for 2014, and we have some very exciting events on the horizon. I mentioned in last month's President's Letter that we'll be focusing on technology (which I know will interest many of you), as well as looking at how ASTD National's Communities of Practice can inform the topics we choose to emphasize and seeking new ways to engage our audience - which, of course, means you

    And like many people at this time of year, we're looking back at what we accomplished throughout 2013. It's been a year to build foundations within our own organization and developing relationships with "sister" professional organizations throughout San Diego. We anticipate that those relationships will help us help you develop your own networks of professional colleagues and friends, reaching out across multiple organizations and related industries to learn, grow, and become more successful.

    Here's to a great 2013 that was, and here's looking forward to what 2014 will bring!

    Grace Judson
    2013 Chapter President

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Volunteer of the Month - November
    Cindy Nevarez

    Cindy Nevarez is one of those volunteers who just keeps showing up and doing what's needed.  She's been a consistent support to our Programs Co-Directors, and went above-and-beyond in her help with the November Chapter fundraiser event for Wounded Warriors. And she's also been a big help to the Mentor/Protege committee.

    Please join me in a big "thank you!" to Cindy Nevarez, our November Volunteer of the Month!

    Volunteer of the Month - December
    Kevin Mayfield

    Kevin Mayfield is a past Board member who has remained active in his support of Chapter activities.  He was a key player on this year's Mentor-Protege program committee, and did a fantastic job of leading the Graduation Ceremonies at our December Chapter meeting.

    Please join me in thanking Kevin Mayfield for all his work on behalf of the Chapter!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Upcoming Events
    January 9th ... February 13th - Human Performance Alliance mastermind

    Join members and guests of San Diego leadership organizations for an informal evening of conversation, networking, and masterminding.  Click here to learn more and register for the January meeting, and click here to learn more and register for February.

    January 28th Chapter Meeting:  Crafting a Culture that Engages and Empowers - an experiential forum

    Using the Genius Forum Platform (based on Open Space Technology) we will explore how to create cultures of engagement. Picture yourself participating in the most innovative, transformative, crowd-sourced event for groups!

    Click here to learn more and register for this exciting event.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Wounded Warriors Fundraiser Update

    Did you attend the November Chapter Fundraiser event for the Wounded Warriors?

    It was a great evening at the San Diego Air & Space museum, with moving and inspirational speakers and a lot of wonderful items donated for the silent auction.

    Carol Sheckler and Liz Aitcheson, our Programs Co-Directors, have asked that we offer a special thanks to the volunteers who put in a lot of time and energy making sure the event ran smoothly.

    Mary Mogk (who did an amazing job collecting donated items!)
    Jacquie Fine Urielle (a take-charge organizer who kept things straight in the midst of chaos)
    Cindy Nevarez (a backbone of the Programs team and our November Volunteer of the Month)

    With their efforts and the generosity of our donors and auction bidders, we raised a total of approximately $2,700.  Thank you all!

  • Thu, November 21, 2013 10:33 AM | Grace Judson

    Greetings, and happy Thanksgiving to you all! 

    On Monday, I chaired my very last ASTD-SD Board meeting as President.  (We don't meet in December.) It's bittersweet in so many ways to be coming to the end of my term!

    At that meeting, I thanked everyone who has been part of my Board of Directors for this year. I want to thank them all again here. It's been an interesting year for all of us, with a number of wonderful success stories as well as some inevitable bumps in the road. Of course it's obvious that without their support, we wouldn't have had the successes, nor been able to navigate the bumps. 

    And in many situations they went above and beyond, dedicating their time, energy, and effort to our volunteer organization.

    So - big, big thanks to the 2013 Board of Directors!

    Nancy McMonigal - President-Elect
    Constantine Bautista - CFO (retiring)
    Mary Jane Riccardi - Secretary
    Gaby Alvarez - Professional Development (retiring)
    Carol Sheckler - Programs (retiring)
    Liz Aitcheson - Programs
    Gregg Fasbinder - Membership (retiring)

    The year may be coming to an end, but our planning process is gathering momentum. Nancy (incoming President) facilitated our Board Transition meeting a few weeks ago and did a fabulous job. I found myself taking notes on all the things I might have done but didn't, and I suspect I'll be doing that throughout 2014 ... as I sit back and enjoy being Past President!

    So stay tuned for what's coming! 2014 will include more joint activities with our sister organizations throughout the county, fewer "lunch and a speaker" events, and more panels, round-tables, and other opportunities for real hands-on experiential learning.  

    I can't wait!

    Grace Judson
    2013 Chapter President

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Volunteers of the Month: PEAK Award Judges

    Kathy Box, Sarai McMahon, and Marianne Hamilton

    Judging the submissions for our annual PEAK (Performance Excellence and Applied Knowledge) is never an easy task. The applications are always top-notch (of course), and selecting the winner is a rigorous and exacting process

    As always, our judges step up and take on the responsibility with dedication and aplomb.

    So big thanks to them, our Volunteers of the Month!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Upcoming Events

    December 11th Chapter Meeting: Let's Celebrate a Year of Learning!

    We're packing a lot into our December meeting! First,you'll have a chance to acknowledge the achievements of this year's participants in our award-winning Mentor-Protege program - and then you'll have a chance to meet and talk with some of our San Diego community's Local Authors:  David Berke, Jeff Toister, Denise Lee Yohn, and Tom Leech will all be there.

    Click here to learn more and register.

    December 12th ... January 9th Human Performance Alliance Mastermind

    Join members and guests of San Diego leadership organizations for an informal evening of conversation, networking, and masterminding. Click here to learn more and register for the December meeting, and click here to learn more and register for January.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Focus for 2014:
    technology, communities of practice, and engagement

    As mentioned above, we have some intriguing plans unfolding for 2014.

    Nancy McMonigal, 2014 Chapter President, is looking to ASTD National's Communities of Practice to help guide our topic selections and panel discussions.

    And our Events Directors, Liz Aitcheson and Jacqueline Sirota, are already making plans for more technology workshops in the upcoming year.

    All these plans are designed for all of us in the San Diego Learning & Development community to expand our professional development and our networking.

    This means we need you - your full engagement. We rely on volunteers for everything we do - event planning and execution, our website, financial management, assisting our members, communicating our value to the San Diego community - anything you can think of, we need your help with.

    Are you ready to get involved in 2014?  We're ready to work with you to accomplish great things together!

  • Thu, November 07, 2013 10:09 AM | Grace Judson
    The job description for the Training Coordinator at Rady Children's Hospital states:

    This position conducts needs analysis and facilitates training of technology and computer applications throughout the hospital in order to ensure that organizational technology training needs are addressed. Provides design, development of training materials. If software certified, maintains certification/proficiency in appropriate technology(s)/application(s); includes basic-level of skills in planning and analysis. This position works closely with other Trainers, Instructional Designer/CBT Developer, CIS, IS, and staff in corresponding departments and clinics. Collaborates with others to ensure that mechanisms are in place to maintain effective technology training based on identified needs and priorities. The IS Training Coordinator position is responsible for the support and implementation of IS projects within the department and the organization. Assigned projects range in scope from facilitation of on-going programs to specific, targeted program review plan logistics of events, to create and/or edit correspondence, establish, maintain, and revise record keeping/filing systems, be available for on-site events/programs, support staff with program registration, offers ideas to enhance programs.

    For the full job description and contact information, click here.
  • Tue, October 29, 2013 11:41 AM | Grace Judson

    It's been a busy month for ASTD San Diego!

    First, I want to offer a big round of applause and congratulations to our PEAK (Performance Excellence and Applied Knowledge) award finalists, Mission Federal Credit Union and the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

    I talked with some of the judges, and I know it was a tough decision between the two! And CONGRATULATIONS to Mission Federal Credit Union, the 2013 PEAK Winners.  

    You can read more about both of their initiatives at our PEAK Awards page.

    Second, another big round of applause and congratulations for our newly-elected 2014 Board members. Please join me in welcoming Carollyn Rock (Technology), Bryan Lubic (Marketing), Jacqueline Sirota (Programs), and Dawn Schultz (CFO) to the ASTD San Diego Board of Directors.  (And please join me in a sad farewell to our retiring Board members Carol Sheckler (Programs), Gabriela Alvarez (Professional Development), Gregg Fasbinder (Membership), and Constantine Bautista (CFO).)

    We're nearly at the end of the year ... and we have some fabulous events still to come. Our annual Fundraiser is on November 20th this year, and will be at the San Diego Air & Space Museum - see below (or click here) for more details.  And our December event will be a Local Authors Round Table, at which you'll be able to meet San Diego authors and participate in round-table discussions with them about their books' topics. Click here for details and to register (authors will be added as we obtain their commitment to attend).

    Last - but far from least - we have two exciting additions to our ASTD San Diego website.

    The first is our new Resources Library, where you'll find information about past Chapter meetings, including links to resources provided by the speakers and the opportunity to share insights and hold conversations about the meeting topics. 

    And secondly, for those who are Members, you'll see two new fields in your Member Profile:  "Ask me about" and "I'm interested in learning more about."  These fields give you the chance to make your areas of interest or specialty known to fellow Members, and also tell your fellow Members what you might be doing research on or be interested in knowing more about.  I encourage you to visit your Profile and update those fields - and do make sure that you set the permissions so that other Members can see what you've entered.  (Need help? Just email me!)

    With that, I'll wish you a happy Hallowe'en! Enjoy! and I hope to see you at the November fundraiser.

    Grace Judson
    2013 Chapter President

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Volunteer of the Month: Bryan Lubic

    The PEAK Awards are an important, signature event for ASTD San Diego, honoring the best of the best of our local organizations' Learning & Development initiatives.


    It's important that we have a committee and a committee chair who have the commitment to make this event the success it deserves to be, and Bryan Lubic, as the 2013 PEAK Committee Chair this year, did exactly that.  Thank you, Bryan!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Upcoming Events

    November 14th: Human Performance Alliance Mastermind
    Join members and guests of San Diego leadership organizations for an informal evening of conversation, networking, and masterminding.  Click here to learn more and register.

    November 20th Chapter Meeting: Fundraiser for Wounded Warriors
    Our annual Fundraiser benefits over 350 military heroes through the Career Development Services of the Wounded Warriors Battalion West.

    Even if you can't attend, please consider donating an item or service to the silent auction - or sponsoring a military hero to attend the event.

    Click here to learn more and register, donate, or sponsor a military hero.

    December 11th Chapter Meeting: Local Authors Round Table
    Come meet local authors, hear their ideas, and engage in discussions with them about their work.  And we'll also be celebrating this year's Mentors and Proteges - it's graduation time for the program! Click here to learn more and register.

    December 12th: Human Peformance Alliance Mastermind
    Join members and guests of San Diego leadership organizations for an informal evening of conversation, networking, and masterminding.  Click here to learn more and register.

  • Mon, September 30, 2013 12:40 PM | Grace Judson

    Greetings, and happy Autumn to you all! 

    (Yes, it's really hard to believe, but the year is officially 3/4 over...)

    And that means ... Chapter Members, it's time for you to vote for the 2014 Board. It only takes a moment - so please click here to register YOUR vote.

    Are you a marketing expert - or do you know someone who is?

    We're seeking an experienced marketing consultant who knows how to help nonprofit professional organizations reach a wider audience and demonstrate the value we bring to our community.  Click here to download the RFP.  And please forward this information on to any marketing experts you may know, in San Diego or elsewhere.

    Did you know that many Chapter members get jobs and business... by being involved in the Chapter as a volunteer?

    We're putting together teams and committees to help in many areas through the end of this year and into 2014. There are opportunities in many areas - Membership, Marketing, Events - and all of them provide valuable experience you can include on your resume or in your website bio.

    Interested? Send me an email and we'll talk about what options will fit best with your goals!  (grace@svahaconcepts.com)

    See you in October at the PEAK awards!

    Grace Judson
    2013 Chapter President

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Volunteers of the Month: The YTTL Conference Team

    As you know, we chose not to have a Conference this year.


    Yet we had a dedicated team of volunteers working almost up to the last moment. I can safely say that, because of their hard work, it would have been a great conference.

    Please join me in thanking them for their hard work!

    Jane Gredvig & Teresa Hanley - conference co-chairs

    Megan Chappell
    Rebecca Gibson
    Michelle Hafford
    Norma Hernandez
    Kimberly Pettiford
    Keri Ross
    Alisa Shorago
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Upcoming Events

    October 10th: Human Performance Mastermind Alliance
    Join members and guests of San Diego leadership organizations for an informal evening of conversation, networking, and masterminding.  Click here to learn more and register.

    October 21-23: Designing Learning Certificate Program
    Presented by ASTD National, this three-day Designing Learning Certificate program is intended for those new to instructional design, and is an end-to-end workshop for designing outcome-based training. Please remember to use our Chapter code CH8024 when you register on National's website so we get proper credit for your attendance!  Click here to learn more and register.

    October 22: PEAK Performance Awards
    If you've attended the PEAK (Performance Excellence and Applied Knowledge) awards in the past, you know they're a fabulous opportunity to learn best practices from the best practitioners. Using a rigorous evaluation process, we select the top three from all the submissions we receive - and then you learn the winner on October 22nd, AND learn about the learning & development initiatives that got those three into the running. Click here to learn more and register.

    November 20:  Annual Fundraiser at the Air & Space Museum
    Our annual fundraiser is an evening event this year - at the Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park!  Mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 20th, 5:30 - 9:00, and join us for appetizers and a Silent Auction benefiting Wounded Warriors.
  • Thu, August 29, 2013 11:38 AM | Grace Judson

    Greetings to you!

    Can it really be almost August? My calendar says so. The weather says so. But my mind can't quite wrap around how fast the summer has gone.  (Whisper it ... but this means it's only three months to Thanksgiving. Yikes.)

    We have a big announcement for this newsletter. 

    After much discussion and weighing of many pros and cons and risk factors, we have decided that we will not have an annual Your Turn to Learn Conference this year.  The reasons are multi-layered and many, far too many to go into here, and the further we get from the decision point the more confident we are that it was in fact the right decision.

    HOWEVER:  Mark your calendars! We ARE having a September Chapter event, and Jim Smith Jr. WILL be coming to San Diego to talk to us. The date is the same - September 24th - and it will be a lunchtime meeting. Specific location is still under consideration.  Of course you'll get an email with all the details. You can read more about Jim at his website, http://jimsmithjrintl.com/.

    PEAK AWARDS: If you've even been considering whether or not to apply, I urge you to email Bryan Lubic (blubic@mail.sdsu.edu) and let him know.  He or one of the PEAK committee members will be glad to talk you through the application process. There's no time left for delay, however, because the application deadline is Friday!

    BOARD ELECTIONS: The hard work has paid off: Nancy McMonigal, our next-year's President, has put together a wonderful slate of Board candidates for her 2014 ASTD San Diego Board of Directors.  Voting starts on September 11th, and you can vote online by logging in at our website and following the link on the home page to the voting area.  If you are a Chapter member, please be sure to vote!  If you'd prefer to vote in person rather than online, there will be paper ballots available at the September meeting.  (And of course you were coming to that because it's Jim Smith Jr., right?)

    I sincerely hope that you all had a wonderful summer, and are looking forward to the rest of the year. 

    Grace Judson
    2013 Chapter President

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Volunteer of the Month: Melanie Proshchenko

    Melanie is one of our long-term members of the Chapter, and has been involved in many ways over the years. She's currently the Chair of the Mentor-Protege program committee, and everyone on the Board is grateful for her calm, cheerful leadership of this important program.

    Mel has also been instrumental in helping Nancy McMonigal, 2014 Chapter President, plan her strategy and recruit her Board.  

    Please join me in a big thank you to Melanie for her consistent willingness to pitch in and help!

    Upcoming Events

    September 12:  Human Performance Alliance Mastermind

    Join members and guests of San Diego leadership organizations for an informal evening of conversation, networking, and masterminding.  Click here to learn more and register.

    September 24:  Join us to hear Jim Smith Jr. of JIMpact!

    Save the date!  Even though we aren't holding a Conference this year, Jim Smith Jr. will still be in town to talk with us about performance improvement, inside-out "no excuses" leadership, and personal power. It's a great opportunity to hear one of our industry's leading speakers and trainers!  (Email announcement with details coming soon.)

  • Fri, July 26, 2013 9:24 AM | Grace Judson

    Greetings, and I hope you're enjoying the summertime! 

    Although we were "dark" in July, with no Chapter meeting, there's still a lot going on at your ASTD San Diego Chapter.  

    First: the PEAK Awards application deadline is approaching fast.
    August 15th is right around the corner.  We have a team of volunteers ready to help you put your application together, or if you know someone who should apply our volunteers will connect with that person and help them.  Click here to read more, or email Bryan Lubic (blubic@mail.sdsu.edu) for more information or to suggest a nomination.

    2014 Board Selection
    The big summertime effort for your Chapter Board of Directors team is always focused on selecting Board members for the upcoming year - because in just a few more weeks, you'll all be voting on the people we're talking with, interviewing, and nominating for your Chapter leadership.

    You know, of course, that our Chapter is run almost exclusively by volunteers - and you're probably all too familiar with my repeated request for your volunteer help!

    But if you've ever appreciated anything that we've done as a Chapter (and I assume you do appreciate at least some of what we do, or you wouldn't be reading this), please always remember that it's brought to you through the work of our volunteers, from the person who spends time each month helping at the Chapter meeting registration table or at an HPA event to the Committee Chairs for our conference, PEAK Awards, and Mentor-Protege program, and of course our Board members.

    As the Chapter president, I have a bird's-eye view of all the different areas in the Chapter where work is going on and things are happening.  And it's always humbling to me to see how many people put their time, effort, and energy into making our Chapter a success.

    So, a big thank you from me personally to all our volunteers.  I encourage you to thank the volunteers you meet as you participate in Chapter events.  And volunteers, please let your Committee Chairs and Directors know if you're interested in supporting the Chapter as a Director! 

    And of course I also encourage you to volunteer, if you're not already.  It really is the best way to get the most out of your Chapter membership.  

    In other interesting news ...
    This week I attended the second monthly meeting of a coalition of San Diego-area professional organizations.  Leadership from the local chapters of ASTD (that would be us!), SHRM, NCPA, SDHRRoundTable, the SDCoachesAliance, ODNet, and many more are all gathering to discuss how we can collaborate and support each other's efforts.  

    There will be more joint events next year as well as more support of each organization's individual events so that topics started by one group can be picked up and expanded on by other groups.  We are very excited by the direction this is taking, and again - big thanks to the volunteers from other organizations for their hard , especially Natasha Sandrock, SD-SHRM President-Elect, who is leading the effort.

    YTTL 2013
    And of course this collaborative work is right in line with the theme for our 2013 Your Turn to Learn Conference:  Collaborate, Integrate, Engage!  Registration is OPEN at the early-bird rate.  Read more and register here.

    See you in August!

    Grace Judson
    2013 Chapter President

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Volunteer of the Month:  Carollyn Rock

    Carollyn began her volunteer journey on our Programs Committee; you may have met her at the Chapter meeting registration table, or as part of the team at last month's Ultimate HR Marketplace.

    When she heard we needed help with Technology, she jumped right in.  Our website, event, and membership management tools aren't always the most intuitive (what complex system is?), and she's been terrific at digging in, learning, and just quietly getting things done.

    We appreciate Carollyn's responsive help so much that we've talked her into applying for Technology Director on the 2014 Board of Directors - so we'll all be seeing more of her and continuing t orely on her.  

    In the meantime, please join me in thanking Carollyn for her expertise and willingness!

    Upcoming Events:

    August 8:  the Human Performance Alliance

    Join members and guests of San Diego leadership organizations for an informal evening of conversation, networking, and masterminding.  Click here to learn more and register.

    August 20:  the Bottom Line on ROI (a one-day workshop)

    Led by Patti Phillips, PhD, from The ROI Institute, this one-day workshop will teach you what you've always wanted to know about calculating Return on Investment (ROI) on hard-to-measure programs.

    The ROI Institute is the thought leader on measuring ROI and the best ways to present the resulting statistics.  

    This is NOT limited to training and development programs.  The process evaluates many levels of organizational performance metrics and seeks to connect human performance with organizational performance.

    Click here to learn more and registe
    r.

    August 21 - Chapter Meeting:  L&D Measurement - What's New?

    Jeffrey Berk, COO of Knowledge Advisors, gives us a look at emerging measurement practices.  You'll hear about the latest trends and challenges and glean insight into your current and future learning analytics strategies.  (Attend the ROI Workshop and then join us for this meeting for different perspectives on what you've learned!) 

    Click here
    to learn more and register.

    September 24:  Your Turn to Learn Annual Conference

    Collaborate, Integrate, Engage!

    A stellar lineup of speakers, a growing list of interesting and helpful vendors, and an opportunity to network with peers ... yes, it's the annual Your Turn to Learn conference.

    Registration is OPEN for attendees:  click here to see the schedule and sign up.

    We are welcoming inquiries from SPONSORS and VENDORS.  Email me directly (grace@svahaconcepts.com), or click here to see the program and download the sponsor/vendor flyer.

    We are also seeking RAFFLE DONATIONS.  If you or your organization would like to donate an item for our Raffle (you and/or your organization will be credited, of course), please email me (grace@svahaconcepts.com).

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Suggestion Box

    What would you like us to do more of, or do differently?  How can we improve as a chapter?

    When you renew your membership, you'll be asked to fill out a survey.  But we don't want to limit your ability to make suggestions to just once a year.

    So if you have ideas for us, recommendations for speakers, suggestions for events - please email any of the Board members, or drop me a note directly: grace@svahaconcepts.com.

  • Mon, June 24, 2013 2:00 PM | Grace Judson

    Happy Summer!

    We have lots to talk about in this newsletter, so please be sure to at least scan all the headlines so you don't miss anything.  And for sure check out the announcement of an ROI Workshop in August that's down below in Upcoming Events!

    If you attended our Ultimate HR Marketplace a few weeks ago, you know it was a great success.  It seemed that everyone, from the exhibitors to the attendees, was very happy with the event, so we're even more hopeful that it's the First of many Annual occurrances.  Thanks to all who worked very hard to make this such a great event!

    It's PEAK Awards Nomination Season!

    Do you know someone who's been part of an innovative and successful Learning & Development project?  

    Maybe it's you - maybe it's a friend or colleague - maybe it's a project you completed for a client - maybe it's an internal project within your organization or an organization you're familiar with.  All these are great candidates!

    You can nominate someone or apply on your own behalf.  Public, private, and nonprofit organizations of any size are eligible.

    This is a prestigious prize recognizing the top Training & Development initiatives within the San Diego community.

    To nominate someone (other than yourself), please email our PEAK Awards Chair, Bryan Lubic, at blubic@mail.sdsu.edu.  We want to hear about who's doing interesting, successful T&D projects.  We'll follow up with your nominee to encourage them to apply for the award.

    To take a readiness assessment to help understand the program and see if your program or project might be a winner, click here.

    To apply, download the application form:  click here.

    And to learn more, visit the website:  click here.

    Or contact Bryan (his email is above) for more information.

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    VOLUNTEERS!  Your Chapter needs you!

    We need  help in the following roles:

    • The 2013 Mentor-Protege program still needs MENTORS.  Email Kevin Mayfield at mpprogram@outlook.com if you're interested.  (Very time-sensitive - email today!)
    • The 2013 Your Turn to Learn conference needs a Post-Conference Happy Hour coordinator.  Email the Conference Co-Chairs at 2013yttl@gmail.com.
    • Our Chapter as a whole needs assistance with Marketing expertise.  Email me if you're interested.

    And we always have places open for anyone who wants to help with Event Registration (staffing the welcome/registration tables), staging the various events and programs we put on each month, and Membership initiatives.

    The best way to meet your goals for networking, learning, and personal/professional development is always to get involved!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Are you a current volunteer interested in being on the Board of Directors?

    We have several positions open, with the term starting on January 1st 2014 (though all Board members will participate in the turnover process following the election cycle).  

    If you've been a volunteer at any time in the last few years and are interested in helping to set the direction of the Chapter, please contact our 2014 President, Nancy McMonigal:  nancy@locusmedia.com.

    Open positions include CFO, Professional Development, Marketing, Membership, and Programs Co-Chair.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Last month I introduced half of your ASTD-SD Board members.  Here's an introduction to the rest of us.

    CFO

    Constantine Bautista is a veteran at this position, having very graciously agreed to stay on for a third year (Board positions usually have two-year terms).  He brings a calm voice of reason to our Board, always asking us to stay focused on what's most important.  

    Of course it's crucial for any organization to have clear awareness of the day-to-day financial picture.  In a volunteer organization where the Board members change so rapidly (at least 50% turnover each year as terms expire), it's even more important to keep an eye on the financials and make sure we know where our money is coming from and where it's going.  Constantine has been outstanding in this role for us.

    Secretary

    Mary Jane Riccardi, sometimes known as MJ, is a familiar face on the Board because she's already served a two-year term as Programs Co-Director.  We enticed her back onto the Board as Secretary this year, and we're very glad to have her keeping us on track with commitments and making sure that we dot the proverbial I's and cross the T's. 

    The Secretary's role is crucial in that regard.  For instance, MJ is responsible for auditing our contracts process and that we have the proper agreements in place - obviously not a small thing.  MJ's attention to detail and calm good humor help keep all of us focused and paying attention to what's necessary for the good of the Chapter. 

    President-Elect

    The President-Elect role is the most flexible of any Board position.  The primary responsibility here is to prepare for the Presidency year upcoming.  Nancy McMonigal as been outstanding in her willingness to jump in and help in every area across the Board (pun intended ... sorry!).  She is an outstanding communicator and forms not just networks, but real relationships with a wide range of people, and this has helped her add significant value to our Chapter this year.

    Nancy is gearing up to be an amazing President in 2014!

    Office Manager

    As I mention above, the Board is a constantly moving picture.  At least half of the Board rolls off every year, which means at least half of the Board is new every year.  

    Many of you know Shannon Hoolihan, our long-term (and probably long-suffering!) Office Manager.  As the only paid position in our Chapter's organizational structure, she's the consistency and backbone behind the Chapter's processes. I can't imagine what we'd do without her.  She's always good-natured and always willing to take on something extra even when it's outside her defined role.  And I frankly don't want to imagine how often she must be asked the same questions over and over again by each new Board member, but somehow she always has a patient answer for us. Thank you, Shannon!

    Grace Judson
    2013 Chapter President

    Standout of the Month:  Shannon Hoolihan

    Shannon Hoolihan, our Chapter Office Manager, is truly an integral part of our organization.  Patiently answering questions, responding to Board members' requests for immediate help, making sure the ongoing day-to-day administrivia is attended to, Shannon is always willing to help. 

    As a Board member, I know how many times I've relied on her experience with the Chapter, yet I also suspect that we as a Board don't always appreciate her as much as we should.  

    So, Shannon, here's to you:  thank you so much for all you do! 

    Upcoming Events:

    July 11 & 12:  Consulting Skills Certificate

    A two-day Consulting Skills certificate presented by ASTD National here in San Diego.

    This program demonstrates the behaviors and processes for effective internal consulting, including the actions to take to achieve desired outcomes, establishing goals and managing expectations, guiding clients through the process, building credibility to influence decision-making, and overcoming obstacles and resistance. 

    Register on the ASTD National website:  click here

    July 11:  Human Performance Mastermind

    Join members and guests of San Diego leadership organizations for an informal evening of conversation, networking, and masterminding.  Click here to learn more and register.

    August 20:  The Bottom Line on ROI - a one-day workshop

    Have you ever been asked to demonstrate the Return on Investment (ROI) for a learning initiative or training program?  Have you been frustrated by how difficult this can be?

    The ROI Institute is the acknowledged leader in this challenging area of expertise, and they're coming to San Diego in August.  We are very fortunate to be co-sponsoring a one-day ROI workshop led by Patti Phillips, PhD, the President and CEO of the ROI Institute.

    Space is limited to just 20 attendees.  Click here to learn more about the workshop and to register.

    September 24:  Your Turn to Learn Annual Conference

    The web page for our Conference is being built even as I type this.  We have a great lineup of speakers, including Jim Smith Jr. of JIMpact as our keynote, and a range of wonderful breakout sessions based on our theme of Collaborate, Integrate, Engage.  

    Be sure to mark September 24th on your calendar for this year's Your Turn to Learn conference.

    How can your ASTD San Diego Chapter help you?

    Now you know who we are as a Board.

    Tell us about you!  What one thing could we do as a chapter to support you in achieving your professional goals?

    We're always ready to talk with you and we're eager for your suggestions.

    Email me - or any of our Board - and let us know how you feel about your chapter.  What's working, what's not, and what can we do to be the resource you need?

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