Speaker - July/August 2010

REALITY CHECK
Putting a fine point on the speaking industry
Around the
World in 365 Days

What do Africa, Australia, Kuala Lumpur and New York have in common? Probably very little from an individual speaker’s standpoint. On the other hand, you might be surprised how connected we all are through NSA.

It’s been an interesting and educational year serving as your NSA president. Since April 2010, I have had the privilege of representing NSA at international speakers conventions in Australia (Gold Coast), Johannesburg, South Africa (PSA), Singapore (APSS) and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (MAPS).

Of course, my presidential travels also took me from sea to shining sea within the borders of the United States, visiting more than two dozen NSA chapters. My final chapter visit was in New York in late May.

For your information, NSA currently has more than 3,100 members in the United States, with more than

1,900 additional
speakers claiming
membership in
one of the other
Global Speakers
Federation
member asso-
ciations
scattered
around the
globe. The
e
professional speaking pie continues
to grow in America and beyond. As a
result, opportunities abound for each of
us to learn from and connect with the
growing global community of profes-
sional speakers.

Looking Forward

As exciting as the future of profes-
sional speaking around the world is,
NSA continues to deal with ongoing
challenges currently facing the speak-
ing industry. As this issue goes to print,
the 2010 Convention team is finalizing
high-content educational program-
ming for the NSA Annual Convention
in Orlando. NSA staff members—
along with our beloved volunteers who
make everything possible—are working
tirelessly to maintain excellence
throughout our association.
Let’s face it. We cannot wish
our way to a brighter future,
but we can all certainly work
our way there. That has been
my leadership team’s commit-
ment to all NSA members
this year—to provide
timely educa-
tional tools and
techniques,
appropri-
ate intellectual
stimulation
and support,
and meaningful
opportunities for
connection and
camaraderie.
As my pres-
idential term

comes to an end, I look forward with anticipation to passing the presidential gavel to my friend and colleague, Kristin Arnold, MBA, CPF, CMC, CSP, who is obviously a woman of letters! Please join me in supporting Kristin and her team as they work to advance NSA and the cause of professional speaking in America and beyond.

I look forward to seeing you at the NSA Annual Convention in Orlando, July 17-20. If you see me in the Convention halls, please take a minute to introduce yourself and tell me what’s on your mind. It’s through your unique comments, ideas, perspective and, yes, even complaints, that we are able to institute needed change and introduce new programs. As the French expression goes: Vivé la différence. Or as my Kentucky brothers and sisters like to say: Imagine the possibilities!