 July is Freedom From Fear of Speaking Month.
Public speaking doesn’t have to be scary — it can even be fun.
Here are the 10 Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes from Toastmasters.org:
Top executives often fall flat on their faces as speakers.
How come intelligent, business-savvy people end up boring their audiences? They fail to recognize that public speaking is an acquired skill that improves with practice and honest feedback. Speaking for 20 minutes before the right group of people can do more for your career than spending a year behind a desk. Rob Sherman, an attorney and public speaker in Columbus, Ohio, says in an article in the Toastmaster magazine to avoid these mistakes:
• Starting with a whimper. Don’t start with “Thank you for that kind introduction.” Start with a bang! Give the audience a startling statistic, an interesting quote, a news headline – something powerful that will get their attention immediately.
• Attempting to imitate other speakers. Authenticity is lost when you aren’t yourself.
• Failing to “work” the room. Your audience wants to meet you. If you don’t take time to mingle before the presentation, you lose an opportunity to enhance your credibility with your listeners.
• Failing to use relaxation techniques. Do whatever it takes – listening to music, breathing deeply, shrugging your shoulders – to relieve nervous tension.
• Reading a speech word for word. This will put the audience to sleep. Instead use a “keyword” outline: Look at the keyword to prompt your thoughts. Look into the eyes of the audience, then speak.
• Using someone else’s stories. It’s okay to use brief quotes from other sources, but to connect with the audience, you must illustrate your most profound thoughts from your own life experiences. If you think you don’t have any interesting stories to tell, you are not looking hard enough.
• Speaking without passion. The more passionate you are about your topic, the more likely your audience will act on your suggestions.
• Ending a speech with questions and answers. Instead, tell the audience that you will take questions and then say, “We will move to our closing point.” After the Q and A, tell a story that ties in with your main theme, or summarize your key points. Conclude with a quote or call to action.
• Failing to prepare. Your reputation is at stake every time you face an audience – so rehearse well enough to ensure you’ll leave a good impression!
• Failing to recognize that speaking is an acquired skill. Effective executives learn how to present in the same way they learn to use other tools to operate their businesses.
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 Casey Cotton
Associate Director of Sales
Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott
Casey Cotton has been a member of MPI THCC for three years and considers the members the best part of his THCC membership. He says that there is an unselfish and giving spirit within the organization that he truly enjoys. He says he’s a kid trapped in a man’s body. We say he’s a nice guy with a warm, welcoming smile every time we see him.
Now, let’s get to know Casey!
Current Job?
Associate Director of Sales at Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott – almost 3 years now
Previous Job/s?
I started in the hospitality industry 1989 at the Cheyenne Mountain Conference Resort in Colorado Springs. My G.M. took a job in Austin & I followed him. In 1993 I stumbled across Dell and worked in Sales, Sales Management and Learning & Development. The last four years I was at Dell I managed L&D for the Americas specifically in the areas of new hire sales training and sales effectiveness. I rode the Dell wave until 2005.
Now that I am back in the business that originally brought me to Texas, I draw upon my Dell experience daily. I view each customer through a different lens in that they are holding meetings to drive specific results within their organizations to serve their customers better. More importantly they are developing their number one asset… their people.
Your biggest professional milestone?
Leading L&D teams in Round Rock, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Panama City, Panama, and Bangalore, India that helped create a sustainable and scalable training curriculum: Dell New Hire Sales Training and RSM University. Both are still being used today.
Your biggest personal milestone?
My beautiful bride of almost 14 years and my children
Something unique about your business?
Horseshoe Bay Resort sits on 7000 acres on beautiful Lake LBJ. What makes us unique is that we are truly a destination resort, a term that is used fairly loosely. We own all our amenities from the Marriott Hotel, to the 3 Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf courses, 16 tennis courts (6 red clay) to the Yacht Club and Marina. We own one of the largest private airports in Texas, 6000ft runway with full service FBO and Jet Center.
Something about you nobody knows?
I won the Junior Olympics in the 25 yard freestyle in 1970 at age 6. I’m serious! J
Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?
St. Francis of Assisi who was the ultimate servant, my four deceased grandparents I never knew and my wife and children.
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 CMP Study Groups Resume in Austin and San Antonio
The CMP Study Groups in Austin and San Antonio prepare for another season of valuable and fun study sessions! Area professionals wishing to pursue their Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification may join this exciting group for weekly presentations that wrap up with a Study Weekend and Mock Exam experience.
These power-packed study sessions will give CMP candidates the edge they need to improve their chance at passing at the January 8, 2011 certification exam.
Sign up now to attend the Orientation and Application Review Session. In San Antonio, the orientation is on August 3, 2010, at 5:15pm. in the Conference Room of the newly renovated Administrative Offices of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. In Austin, the orientation is August 2, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. at the Norris Conference Center.
Click here for Austin’s general course information, details of the program and the proposed course syllabus information or here for San Antonio’s. If immediate assistance is required, feel free to contact any of the committee chairs for the Study Group at the contact information provided below:
San Antonio:
Anne Moses, CMP annemoses2002@me.com
Al Lomas, CMP, CMM, CFE alfredolomas@sbcglobal.net
Elias Aguirre, CMP eaguirre@therkgroup.com
Brenda Teichroeb, CMP bteichroeb@therkgroup.com
Austin:
Lisa Gallo, CMP lisa.gallo@horizonmeetings.com
Debbie Farnum, CMP debbie.farnum@tasb.org
 Play to Your Strengths: Dream…Learn…Lead
The 2010 Summer Educational Alliance, hosted by GaMPI, will be held at the newly opened, world-class Secrets St. James located in Montego Bay, Jamaica from Thursday, August 26 – Sunday, August 29, 2010. Add these dates to your agenda and make plans now to attend this exceptional conference.
You’ll experience premier professional development, an exquisite destination and meaningful, leisurely networking opportunities. The registration website will open in mid-June. For more information, click here or visit www.gampi.org.
We can’t wait to see you in majestic Montego Bay for SEA 2010. We invite you to play to your strengths: dare to dream…learn to lead…shape the future.
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THCC Welcomes
Our New Members:
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SUPPLIER
Darlene Kirk
CMO
LogoStoreUSA
CMO
10004 Wurzbach #259
San Antonio, TX 78230
210 232-8687
darlene@logostoreusa.com |
SUPPLIER
Jennifer Branam
Event Sales Manager
Buca di Beppo
3612-B Tudor
Austin, TX 78759
512 342 8462
jbranam@bucainc.com |
STUDENT
Elynna Garcia
8100 N Mopac Expressway, Apt. 183
Austin, TX 78759
elynna_garcia@yahoo.com |
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 Austin Noontime Network@Night (Happy Hour)
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Cover 3
2700 West Anderson Lane
Austin (map)
(512) 374-1121
www.cover-3.com
Click here to register!
On-site fees:
Member = $20.00, Non-member = $30.00
All "no-show" or cancellations received after the cut-off date (July 7, 2010) will be charged. A credit card must be provided to register for MPI THCC events.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
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Chapter Meeting:
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio |
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Chapter Meeting:
“Shields Up – Protect Yourself, Your Company and Your Family When You Do Business on the Internet”
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
University of Texas Club
Sponsored by the Waco CVB |
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Texas Education Conference (TEC)
November 4-5, 2010
Lakeway Resort & Spa
Contact Dayne Sullivan or Karen Krull, CMP if you’re interested in joining the committee |
Visit www.mpithcc.org for more information on these events and more!
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Press Release FYI
If you would like to send a press release, there is now an easy form available on the web. Just access it, fill it out, and send to the PR Committee, and you've got news!
Have Breaking News? MPI-THCC is proud to help spread the word about our members/industry. We want to hear from you.
Send your news to: commteam@mpithcc.org
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Happy Anniversary!
Joe Bedsole is celebrating his one-year anniversary in his Austin office! Thank you to the Arlington Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for giving us Joe.
Come on, THCC members, we know more of you have awesome news to share! Send your dirt to commteam@mpithcc.org.
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Reach Out!
Would you like to reach the MPI-THCC membership right at their desktops? Sponsor Hill Country Spotlight! Click here for information about advertising, or call Jeff Rasco at 512.847.1122
We have lots of advertising opportunities on the website, and a great special on ads and enhanced membership directory listings. Contact Jeff for the scoop!
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 Cowboys Stadium tour guide reaches milestone
Posted Wednesday, Jun. 23, 2010
ARLINGTON -- Have a question about Cowboys Stadium? Ask Barry Browning.
On Wednesday, Browning conducted his 500th guided tour -- exactly one year after he took his first group of visitors around the world's largest domed stadium. To celebrate, Browning, one of the stadium's first tour guides when it opened, had his picture taken on the team's star on the 50-yard line and bought his fourth pair of walking shoes.
"We go through them pretty quick," he joked.
Browning estimates that he's guided nearly 20,000 people and walked nearly 700 miles, which has helped him drop 22 pounds. He's given tours to Blue Angels pilots and their crew and even Dallas Cowboys players.
Visitors usually ask about ticket prices and the giant video board -- which weighs as much as a Boeing 747 jetliner -- dangling over the field, but Browning said he will never forget one woman's question.
"A lady asked me where the yellow line on the field was. It was all I could do to keep my composure," he said. "I said, 'Ma'am, that is a television-generated line to show fans where the first-down marker is.'"
Browning's next goal: to reach 2,500 tours.
 Hurricane rescued turtle in Texas named Alex
AP Texas News | Chron.com
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas — A green sea turtle that's missing a flipper is recovering after being tossed onto a Texas beach by the hurricane whose name it now carries. Turtle lover Mary Ann Tous of South Padre Island was home last Wednesday as Hurricane Alex kicked up surf and rain before making landfall in northern Mexico.
The Valley Morning Star reports a law officer knocked on her door to say a turtle was in trouble. Tous says her husband accompanied the officer and retrieved the battered turtle. Tous contacted Sea Turtle Inc. and offered to keep newly named turtle Alex overnight, until the hurricane subsided. Zoologist Adrienne McCracken says Alex has since been cleaned, measured and put into isolation, with a goal of releasing the estimated 2-year-old turtle back into the wild.
 Following flood, a disappointing holiday weekend on Guadalupe River
kvue.com | KVUE News | Austin, TX
by MARTIN BARTLETT / KVUE News
NEAR NEW BRAUNFELS -- Businesses along the Guadalupe River hoping a busy Fourth of July weekend would help make up for some of the losses caused by last month's flash flood, were disappointed by a lackluster weekend.
"Normally it's our best or one of the best besides Memorial Day. This year I'd say it was of 50 or 60 percent at least," said Brian Foerster of Roy's Rentals.
Foerster blames soaking rains from Hurricane Alex for dozens of last minute cancellations.
"In Houston and Dallas area it was raining still. Our weather here turned out good, but word just didn’t get out,” he said.
It is the same story at tube rental businesses up and down hard-hit River Road.
At Riverbank Outfitters, Greg Nunn also estimated sales are down big. "Well, it’s been slow compared to Memorial weekend for sure,” he said.
Businesses along the Guadalupe have spent a lot of time and a lot of money trying to get areas ready for business on what should be one of their busiest weekends of the year. Tubers came expecting crowds, too. Instead, they got a tranquil trip.
"It’s been nice to enjoy each others conversation and you kind of have the river to yourself,” said Justin Halliburton of Austin.
For people working along the river, the conversation centers on business. They hope the flow of tourists can catch up with the flow of the river before the season runs out.
"Little by little, we're getting back going, but we just got to have the people come back out,” Foerster said. "Let the weather cooperate and hopefully nothing else happens and hopefully we can still make a good year."
 2010 Conquer the Coast
No Hitters and No Quitters!
Corpus Christi, TX (July 8, 2010) Training and preparations are underway for the 7th Annual Conquer the Coast cycling event, this year paying homage to Texas icon Nolan Ryan. The event takes place Friday, September 24 and Saturday, September 25, and offers some of the best cycling courses in the Lone Star State. Riders have a chance to take a short 25-mile cruise along the Corpus Christi shoreline or ride the 65-mile course that takes you along the scenic views of the Coastal Bend and the chance to cycle with dolphins!
New this year is also a shorter, 10-mile cruise designed for beginner and younger riders, that will follow the same route as the 25-mile ride along Shoreline and Ocean Drive. The 7th Annual Conquer the Coast will also give riders an opportunity to own a special keepsake from this year's ride, a commemorative Nolan Ryan number "34" rider jersey that honors the Hall of Fame pitcher's record 7-no hitters during his magnificent 27-year major league career.
"Throughout Nolan's entire career he committed himself to be in great shape and to get the most from his body," said Ryan Sanders Baseball Executive Vice President J.J. Gottsch. "I'm sure he's just as proud to have his name associated with an event that encourages everyone from beginner and younger riders getting started with the smaller rides, all the way up to those that want to ride 65 miles and truly Conquer the Coast."
The connection to Ryan and South Texas runs deep, as Nolan was born in Refugio, and the family now spends much of their time at their ranch south of George West or at the beach on Mustang Island. Ryan is also one of the primary owners in Ryan Sanders Baseball, the owner/operator the Texas League Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros-Double A). The Hooks play their home games at Whataburger Field, the North American Minor League Venue of the Year in 2008 and 2009. The stadium will serve as the start/finish for Conquer the Coast for the third straight year.
The Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce and Epic Sports & Entertainment are offering cyclists four total course selections. The 10-mile and 25-mile cruise along Corpus Christi shoreline, the 65-mile course ride through several cities plus the "Toughest 18 miles in Texas" and for the avid competitor, the Criterium, also known as the Crit will place rider against rider reaching high speeds of course racing.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide another exciting experience for all cyclists during this year’s events,” said Event Chairman and Chamber of Commerce Board Member Sean Murphy. “Regardless of age or expertise, from beginner to casual cyclist to professional, there is a ride for everyone.”
The 10-mile, 25-mile cruise and 65-mile ride will start at Whataburger Field, located at 734 E. Port Ave. in Corpus Christi on Saturday, September 25. For those choosing the 10-mile and 25-mile cruise, the rides take cyclists along Shoreline to Ocean Drive and back with the constant view of the Corpus Christi Bay and spectacular homes. The 65-mile ride will take cyclists across the Harbor Bridge to Portland, through Ingleside, Aransas Pass and Port Aransas and onto the Port Aransas ferry for a chance encounter with a dolphin or two and continues through Upper Padre Island and then to the beautiful view along Ocean Drive and back to Whataburger Field. Also, during the 65-mile ride, cyclists have an opportunity to compete in the Toughest 18-miles in Texas Time Trial along their route.
Local cycling team, ALS C3, has teamed up for the 2010 Conquer the Coast Criterium which will take place both Friday and Saturday, also at Whataburger Filed. Friday's Crit takes place from 5pm - 10pm, and Saturday's crit takes place from 9am - 2pm, with prize money given on both days.
“Fast and aggressive are the two things that come to mind when I think of last year’s inaugural CRIT, not to mention the excitement of getting to race under the lights,” said Trevor Hadley from Team ALS C3. “Everyone left the event happy and excited to come back again this year.”
Proceeds generated from the event support the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Tarpon Foundation, STARRS (South Texas Area Runners and Riders), and ALS Association.
For more information on the 2010 Conquer the Coast, log on to www.conquerthecoast.org for details about registration, schedule, criterium, and maps. Become a fan on Facebook, visit us at www.facebook.com/conquerthe coast or www.twitter.com/conquerthecoast.
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 WEC—2010: When you attend, you’ll change the world.
Change isn’t coming; It’s here. And with it comes new challenges for you and your organization. From pharma to fundraisers, from the midwest to the middle east, and whether you’re a corporate, independent or association planner, the demands for proving the value of your events isn’t just increasingly important—it’s vital. Fortunately, uncharted change breeds unprecedented discovery and opportunity to guide you into a new era.
By attending, you will:
Increase your professionalism, advance your career, demonstrate value and build a network of collaboration.
Utilize the latest trends to design innovative and successful meetings.
Streamline and improve your work, your personal brand, your meeting design and attendee’s experience utilizing the latest learning methods and technology.
Articulate the value of meetings and events to the C-suite, and demonstrate ROI. Learn from industry experts and the best thought-leaders in the business.
That opportunity is MPI’s World Education Congress 2010. This year, we’ve made it our mission to build a conference that gives you more efficient practices, top-notch networking and ROI that’s clear and measureable. When you bring this valuable knowledge home, everyone in your organization reaps the rewards.
Why Attendance is Critical for Success
By arming yourself with the latest the industry has to offer, you’ll not only stay effective; you’ll be indispensable. Businesses that invest in their people have the advantage over their competition.
WEC will enable you to develop performance-based objectives, relationships and new ways to do business. Through collaboration with the top industry minds, you’ll discover where the future is taking us and how to not only be smarter, but to work smarter. And through strategic meeting management and corporate responsibility practices we’ll demonstrate how events can shape business—and leave the world in better shape.
We look forward to you joining us in Vancouver for WEC where big ideas will happen and where you’ll have the opportunity to create relationships that last a lifetime. Because change is now, and now is the time for your events to change the world.
REGISTER FOR WEC TODAY (Early bird registration good through July 23, 2010)
The following resources are available to help you prove the effectiveness and the value of meetings and business events. Utilizing these business tools and research will help you play a more strategic role in your organization and communicate that Meetings Deliver.
White Paper
Meetings drive sales and profitability for business and enable organizations of all kinds to deliver on key strategic objectives, serving as a catalyst for education and professional development, motivation, behavior change and concrete action. And for the hundreds of local economies that rely on the meetings economy, conferences create jobs and tax revenues wherever participants gather. Meeting professionals have known this for years. Now they can prove it.
With recent research from the likes of the U.S. Travel Association, the National Business Travel Association and MPI, the data exists to back up an industry that has long strove to prove its return on investment. But, the research to back up an industry that strives to prove its ROI is numerous and widespread – until now.
MPI presents the first white paper to succinctly and thoroughly present data recent studies in a single document, allowing each and every meeting and event industry professional easy access to the numbers that prove their worth and the worth of the entire business event sector. Take these numbers to your boss, your clients, your CEO and make the case for events—not just for you and your career, but as a strategic imperative that has now proven a harbinger of business success.
How-to User Guide
The public backlash against meetings affects everyone whose job depends on face-to-face gatherings, and anyone who really understands the value that meetings deliver to the organizations that host them. This User Guide is your guide to help raise local awareness on the value and impact of meetings.
PowerPoint Template
Use this PPT with pre-populated slides and notes to deliver the message that meetings deliver. You’ll find details about the research findings provided in the white paper. Present to your local chapter and help members join the campaign.
Webinars
Watch and listen to Roger Rickard present a Meetings Deliver Webinar titled The Business Value of Meetings and Events . This presentation utilizes the PowerPoint template and notes that we have provided so that you can present this same presentation to your clients, your boss, your CEO, your MPI Chapter and send everyone the message that meetings deliver.
 MPI Foundation's "Value of Meetings" Research Alliance with AIBTM
In MPI Foundation's continuing drive to provide innovative career-building thought leadership development, the MPI Foundation, along with a major investment from Reed Travel Exhibitions through AIBTM, is focused on studying and understanding the appreciable business value of meetings through key research finding. This will culminate at AIBTM 2011 in Baltimore, June 2011.
This alliance will produce several deliverables over the upcoming three years. At MPI's World Education Congress (WEC 2010), this alliance brings you the following confirmed session content:
Political Intelligence – David Bancroft Turner
Advocacy session – Roger Rickard
CSR as a Business Strategy – Mariela McIlwraith
Meetings Deliver – Roger Rickard
Measuring the Impact of Meetings - Terri Breining
 Training to Accelerate Your Career
MPI's Global Training Program provides what you need to prepare you for your CMP certification, accelerate your career and gain a competitive edge in the workplace. Courses in Florida, Hong Kong or Bad Honnef begin in August.
Click HERE to learn more
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MPITHCC PO Box 49135 Austin, TX 78765-9154
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