Say “Yes” to
Volunteering
Every year I create vision boards with pictures and key words to help me stay focused on my goals and objectives for the upcom- ing year. In 2009, I had
“Say Yes” on my vision board in big,
bold, colorful letters. My goal was to
be open to experiences, people and
opportunities. So, when I received a
phone call after a speaking gig from
incoming NSA President Kristin Arnold
asking if I would be willing to serve as
the editorial advisory chair for Speaker
magazine during her term, I remembered my commitment to “say yes” and
agreed. To this day, I wonder if it was
my vision for the year that influenced
my decision or if I was simply still
“high” on post-gig endorphins.
The best way to get the most out
of your membership in an association
is to volunteer in some capacity. This
has been true of my role as the editorial advisory board chair. There are
many benefits that come from serving
as a volunteer, such as connecting with
some very cool and intelligent people.
The speaking profession is about
relationships. People and connec-
tions can make all the difference. By
serving, you can expand your profes-
sional network, have access to more
resources to help solve dilemmas, and
gain support from peers who actually
“get it.”
My editorial advisory board was
composed of Janelle Barlow, CSP, June
Cline, CSP, Don Cooper, Mary LoVerde,
CPAE, Mandi Stanley, CSP, and Kelli
Vrla, CSP. I thank them for their hard
work, vision and wisdom. While we
did feature a
few non-NSA
members in
the magazine,
the vast majority of our cover
stories, features
and columns
came from our
members.
The quality
of our content
and the quality
of the editorial
staff at NSA
means that
Speaker magazine is again
award winning. It was honored with a
gold award for “General Excellence”
in the 2011 Association Media &
Publishing Annual EXCEL Awards
competition, which attracted more
than 1,100 entries nationwide in 12
categories. General Excellence encom-passes the content, writing, design
and overall packaging of the magazine. This award is due, in large part,
to the board’s editorial vision and the
efforts of Barbara Parus, “editor in
chief extraordinaire,” and her graphic
design team.
Another tremendous benefit of
serving is an opportunity to practice
what you preach. As a communication
skills expert, there were times when I
really had to hold myself accountable to
the standard I share with my audiences.
Many speakers are “solo-preneurs” or
only work with one staff person (often
remotely), so serving gives you a chance
to learn valuable leadership lessons and
teaches you about your own strengths
and weaknesses. I discovered how
important it is to manage expectations,
that systems and processes are vital, and
that humor is very subjective.
These lessons and opportunities are
available, regardless of the level you
can serve, chapter or national. I’m
happy that Kristin Arnold asked me to
serve as editorial board chair because it
has been a very rewarding experience.
I’m also glad that Monica Wofford,
CSP, said “yes” for the 2011-12
term. She will do a fantastic job in
keeping Speaker magazine as a valuable
resource for members.
Pamela Jett, MA, CSP
2010-11 Editorial Advisory Board Chair
Speaker Magazine
Pamela Jett, MA, CSP,
speaker, author, and
communication skills
expert
