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IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL: Worldwide Meeting Wrap-up from Jim Petersen
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 It's been a cultural clich� that the tune "It's a Small World After All" is one of those catchy tunes that gets stuck in your head and then becomes distracting, if not maybe even a little irritating. Not long ago a visitor at one of the Disney parks was unable to get out of the "It's a Small World" attraction and subsequently arrived at some sort of settlement, calculated at least in part due to mental anguish the visitor claimed resulted from his experience.
The world has, however, become smaller not in the physical sense but in the way that electronic communications, then advances in modes of travel, and most recently the continuous leaps forward in information technology have overcome geography to make it easier to work with those far away from us. Because of these innovations in communications, FCSI is currently going through a transitional year that will decentralize many functions and activities from FCSI Worldwide to the three Divisions. You will recall that back in September we went through a round of changes to the FCSI Worldwide Bylaws, followed by changes to our own Divisional Bylaws to coordinate with Worldwide's. At recent meetings in Shanghai in conjunction with the Hotelex show, Worldwide President Ed Norman and the rest of the Worldwide Board reviewed the current Bylaws and considered additional changes that might be necessary.
Some of these are the result of questions raised by Members of our Division during the September review process, others have (as expected) come to light as the transition has evolved. As soon as the proposed changes have had the necessary reviews by legal counsel they will be presented to the Membership for consideration and debate, then approval. I encourage your involvement, since you may see some of them when we again adjust our own Bylaws.
In addition to the Bylaws, the Worldwide Board and the Divisions will be entering into revised affiliation agreements, which were also discussed in Shanghai. We are a step ahead, since The America Division's affiliation agreement will be the one developed as a standard for the other two Divisions to consider for their own unique circumstances.
So, the world is getting smaller. And if that tune is stuck in your head, I guess my work for today is done.
Best wishes.
Jim Petersen FCSI The Americas - Chair
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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
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SUBMIT YOUR
CEUs ONLINE!
Save time and paper by entering your CEUs online through your FCSI Membership Profile!
Click here, to download instructions for online submissions.
CEUs can still be submitted to Kayla at
Kayla@fcsi.org.
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UPCOMING CEU OPPORTUNITIES
Get a head start on earning your 2013 CEUs by participating in any of the following Education Provider Opportunities:
For questions about these current opportunities or to submit CEUs from previous educational events, please contact Kayla@fcsi.org.
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SUPPORT FCSI
Sponsorship & Advertising
Opportunities
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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
There are a number of opportunities to support the FCSI Mission which may be viewed in these sponsorships:
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ADVERTISING STILL AVAILABLE IN PROJECT SHOWCASE
The new FCSI - The Americas Project Showcase is coming and you need to be a part of it.
NEW Publication Date: Fall 2013
Circulation: 13,000 including 2,000 consultants and operators-onsite and commercial, contract management company reps, hotel companies, casinos, etc.-and an additional list of 10,000 architects and general contractors, property developers, and other construction/facility decision makers.
Various ad sizes and costs are available including a special section for FCSI Consultant member advertisements. For more information, please contact Wade at wade@fcsi.org or Beth Lorenzini at blorenzini@fermag.com
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CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS - DEADLINE EXTENDED
The 2014 Conference Planning Committee is looking for your best, most creative session ideas for FCSI's 2014 Conference.
If you are interested in participating in the conference by organizing and moderating an educational session, complete this PRESENTATION PROPOSAL.The Proposal instructions and forms are included in the above link. If you have any questions, please contact Wade Koehler at wade@fcsi.org |
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MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP: Events & Opportunities to Get Involved!
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NRA NETWORKING BREAKFAST
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Join your fellow SFM and FCSI members at the NRA Show for our annual networking breakfast! Don't miss this unique occasion to network and hear the latest on all SFM is offering in 2013!
May 20, 2013 - 7:30am - 9:00am
JP Morgan Chase Tower
10 South Dearborn Street Chicago, IL
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ANNUAL NRA COCKTAIL & NETWORKING RECEPTION
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The Midwest Chapter has done it again! Join the Midwest Chapter members for the 4th Annual Cocktail and Networking reception.
May 19, 2013 - 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Renaissance Chicago Downtown
1 W Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL 60601
Enjoy delicious food, good drinks and fabulous company! Registration is $20 in advance, and $25 at the door. A cash bar and hors d'oeuvres will be provided.
To register, click here.
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FCSI The Americas 2-day Super Regional program is back this fall! We will be travelling to Vancouver, Hartford and Atlanta bring you these great sessions:
Day 1: Tips, Tools and Tricks for Savvy Foodservice Consultants
1pm-3pm: Your Nerdy Best Friend, Beth Z, will show attendees how to utilize online and mobile apps to streamline and simply business practices. This high-energy session is sure to leave attendees with fun tricks to invigorate and organize their business.
3:30-5pm: What Keeps You Up at Night? This "unconference" session led by FE&S editor Joe Carbonara invites attendees to direct discussion topics based on current business troubles, trends or triumphs. No topics are off limits!
Day 2: Be Prepared for Hands-On Learning!
9am-11am: Autoquotes and KCL CAD will lead this "hands on" workshop to educate attendees about how their tools interact with REVIT systems. Not to be confused with a sales pitch, this session will offer actual examples and demonstrations to increase your REVIT efficiency and knowledge. 11am-12pm OurFCSI REVIT expert will conduct a hands on "Q &A" session about creating foodservice documents in REVIT. This is a unique opportunity to learn from an industry colleague who understands the demands and requirements of generating a project using REVIT.
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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
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In April, Robert Rippe and Associates President,
Next month, 18 FCSI The Americas Consultant members will showcase their skills at the annual Ask the Design Experts attraction at the NRA Show 2013.
FCSI The Americas and its management team are delighted to be recognized as being among the best of the best in the tradeshow and events industry at the EXPO's annual E.X.C.I.T.E. awards. This is national recognition for the society's Ask the Experts attraction, which was staffed by nine FCSI The Americas' consultant members during the 97th annual International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show in New York City last November.
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IMMEDIATE PR OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
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Foodservice Equipment & Supplies is seeking design consultants' advice and tips to help properly specify equipment and to overcome common purchasing mistakes. The article is part of the magazine's bi-annual Product Knowledge Guide that will be published in July.
If you are willing to share advice and tips, or if you would like further details, then contact our PR consultant, Pete Wiltjer, (petew@pwmginc.com) and he will be glad to help coordinate a telephone interview for you with the editor that is handling this piece. Areas that the magazine is seeking consultant expertise on include:
Safety and Sanitation Equipment
Cooking Equipment
Preparation Equipment
Storage and Handling
Tabletop and Smallwares
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UPCOMING CALIFORNIA / NEVADA CHAPTER EVENT
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The California/Nevada Chapter is looking forward to hosting another great chapter event during the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo in August!
BUT, WE NEED YOUR HELP to make it a success!
Chapter leader, Bill Watts, is requesting educational topics and ideas for the upcoming event. Please email Bill suggestions for presentations, speakers or discussions at commkitchen@ckd-design.com.
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HOW TO NAVIGATE THE NRA SHOW: Tips from fellows ICONs
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The NRA show can be a bit overwhelming due to the sheer size and breadth of the show. It is beneficial to know who and what you want to see in advance so that appointments can be made and the right booths can be visited. Lastly, come to the FCSI Central Chapter networking event and catch up with all of your fellow FCSI consultants!
- Eric Norman, FCSI
I consider the NRA show my "client" show. I set up appointments on Monday with customers who are going to attend and take Sunday to review the show on my own so I know what is on display. The next day I show my customers the new equipment options we have discussed at meetings which gives them a chance to kick the tires and ask questions of the manufacturers while I am present. Really great to make the "cutbook" come alive for key pieces they want to see.
- Christine Guyott, FCSI
It is important to know what you want to accomplish in advance. Prioritize all of your tasks and attach times to those priorities. It is important to watch the clock because time can easily get away from you at these shows! Also, don't forget to allot extra time in your schedule for bumping into friends and business associates, as you are likely to run into several on the show floor!
- Greg Christian
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WELCOME TO FCSI'S NEWESTMEMBERS
We are proud to share the names of the following FCSI members who successfully completed the Senior Associate Membership Process:
Julie Deane
JDeane Resataurant Services, Inc.
Paul Francella Entertainment Venue Partners
Terry Pellegrino
Robert Rippe & Associates
We are delighted to recognize new members for their dedication to furthering their careers in the Foodservice Industry.
Please help us to congratulate them on this achievement!
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NEW MEMBER BENEFIT FOR PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS
FCSI is happy to announce a new partnership with Design Opportunities Newsletter beginning in May 2013.
The newsletter is produced monthly by the National Building News service and features proposed projects that have not yet selected an architect or designer. The newsletter will provide our Professional members with several new project leads each month.
In addition, FCSI TA will feature eight (8) ads in the newsletter per month that will reach out to over 100 architectural firms in the United States and Canada. These advertisements will boost the number of project leads received by FCSI The Americas' headquarters.
We would love your feedback after the first couple issues. |
BUSINESS BUZZ
Let FCSI Help You Grow Your Business
Each month we will post links to articles, webcasts and blogs that will help you enrich your consulting business.
6 Ways Consultants Get More Clients with a Consultant Facebook Page
You may already have a personal profile on Facebook, but to tap into true marketing opportunities present on Facebook, you must have a fan page. Fan pages have advanced features...
10 Referral Strategies to Grow Your Consulting Business
In almost every case, referrals are the least expensive source of new clients. That is, the direct cost to acquire them is low...
Get More Consulting Clients Using Partnerships
When Consultants Get Too Close To Their Clients
Conventional wisdom says that you're better off if your client is your friend. It's true that most of the time, people tend to purchase from who they like...
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JOB SEEKER:
E.Syam Mohan
E.Syam Mohan is Senior Management Professional with diversified industry experience and work exposure of more than 20 years.
View his resume and see if he's a right fit for your team! E.Syam Mohan Resume/CV
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Special Thanks to our Direct Connection Sponsors:
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FCSI The Americas Headquarters | www.fcsi.org | 5004 Francesco Lane Bloomington, IL 61705 |
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