The PMI Nashville Chapter has a rapidly growing membership with over 325 members. This reflects positively on our initiatives to educate, increase the awareness and value of PMI in the community, in the industries, in the media, in schools and universities. With this increase comes the need to position the chapter for the future and address the needs of the membership. One such effort has been in developing our policies and procedures.

Recently, the PMI Nashville Chapter Board of Directors released their policy on advertising/marketing. The policy offers organizations an opportunity to advertise via PMI's bi-monthly newsletter and the website. There are approximately 1,100 on the weekly notifications list with various industries represented.

PMI recognizes the challenges organizations face. Some organizational challenges addressed by advertising with the PMI Nashville Chapter include the following:

· Increasing brand recognition for your company, products and services

· Attracting prospective clients to your website to generate sales leads and prospects

· Identifying and utilizing cost effective media to attract business from a specific targeted region or industry

Getting your products and services in front of 1,100 advisors and/or decision makers, or a targeted group of key people from specific industry groups or sectors is critical to your effective marketing campaign. PMI Nashville can help you meet those needs with a tailored program of advertising.

Newsletter advertisers should contact newsletter@pminashville.com and Web advertisers should contact web@pminashville.com.

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Programs

AUGUST
This Month’s Topic	Project Management Paradoxes + Intro to SIGs
Logistics
When	Tuesday, August 19 11:30AM -1PM Program with full lunch and dessert
Where	Holiday Inn Select 2613 West End Avenue (across from the Parthenon)
RSVP	RSVP to Membership at communications@pminashville.com
Cost	$15 Members* Early membership rates. $20 Non-Members See New Fee Structure
Speaker	Mark Chism, PMP and Neil Ashmun
Topic Preview
Abstract: Mark Chism, PMP and Neil Ashmun will discuss the many issues relating to project management. The discussion will include the many paradoxes in which you may find yourself along with possible solutions. ~Mark Chism, PMP, has 13 years experience in project management and is currently acting as the Administrative Director for CCS Data Services. He has been employed by IBM and SunTrust Bank as project manager with projects ranging from $500,000 to $100 million. He is a teacher with the Boston University Project Management training at Athena as well as a speaker at the 2002 PMI Symposium. ~Neil Ashmun, a Division Manager with Gallagher Financial Systems, Inc., is an experienced IT Manager with 22 years IT experience. Since 2000, Neil has helped Gallagher develop and manage a Program Management Office (PMO) that supports their business based on a combination of PMI's PMBOK and Keane's Productivity Management methodologies.

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JULY IN REVIEW
Last Month’s Topic	Project Management in the Information Technology Infrastructure Environment
Speaker	Barney Regen, PMP and Nashville PMI Vice President
Topic Summary
Barney Regen, PMP and Nashville PMI’s 2003 Vice President, provided an overview of project management theory, principles, standards, and practices in the Information Technology (IT) environment. The seminar focused primarily on the application of generally accepted project management principles with typical infrastructure projects. Topics covered during the luncheon included the following: · Project Initiation · Project Planning · Project Execution · Project Monitoring · Project Closure Many attendees requested copies of the presentation, so access to the downloadable files have been made available. You can find the files at the PMI Nashville website http://pminashville.com/. Select the 2003-07 Minutes from the Luncheon Minutes drop-down menu in the Publications section. The files include numerous project checklists, templates, and documents tailored to the requirements of IT projects. The checklists, templates, and documents will assist IT project managers in the performance of risk evaluation and mitigation, system auditing, security analysis, and other IT project-specific issues.

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JUNE IN REVIEW
June’s Topic	An Overview of Risk Management and Risk-Driven Scheduling
Speaker	B.J. Safdie
Topic Summary
In a perfect world, project managers have an easy job because projects always go exactly as planned. Unexpected events never arise and all projects finish on time and on budget. Sadly, our world is far from perfect. Consequently, much of the work of project management is directed toward establishing and maintaining predictability - ensuring that actual effort and cost are in line with estimates, and managing any variance. Most project plans include a very detailed WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) that outlines precisely the expected flow of events. They often also contain built-in contingency time, or padding to allow for some element of variance. But, what about the truly unexpected? What about those elements of the project that make project managers and team members uncomfortable from the "get go?" How do you plan for these things - the unknown or unexpected? Risk Management is an invaluable tool that helps management and project teams to identify and deal with the unexpected. While no one can identify every possible risk to a project, the Risk Management discipline allows teams to systematically plan for, and authoritatively communicate, issues or events which may threaten the plan. Risks are identified, evaluated, and mitigation plans are created and executed. Risk Management is a planning tool and a continuous process practiced all throughout the project. Risk-driven Scheduling takes high-risk items and moves them forward in the project schedule to help eliminate or identify "show-stoppers" early - minimizing any loss. ~B. J. Safdie has been in the software industry for over 18 years. He worked his way up though the ranks in his career, holding positions from programmer to manager to Vice President of Engineering to CTO of Services for a $150 million software company. He has been focused on organizational leadership and software process improvement for more than 12 years, and has presented at events including the Managers' Technology Forum in New York and Networld+Interop. He is currently Principal Consultant for MetaManagement Solutions (www.MetaManagement.com), and Program Chairman for the Central Tennessee Section of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).

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UPCOMING PR OGRAMS – Mark Your Calendar Now
Date	Topic	Location
September 16, Tuesday	PMP Panel Discussion & PMP Recognition	Holiday Inn Select 2613 West End Avenue (across from the Parthenon)
	Date	Location
	October 28, Tuesday	Holiday Inn Select
	November 18, Tuesday	Holiday Inn Select
	December 16, Tuesday	Holiday Inn Select

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Professional Development

Growing Your Leadership Skills

1 PDU earned upon completion

Instructor: Kathy Arnold, PMP – DSIG Vice President Programs

The PMI Diversity Specific Interest Group (DSIG) will be holding a Webinar, Thursday, August 28 on the topic, Growing Your Leadership Skills. Participants will learn tips on guiding, directing, teaching and delegating as a project manager. They will also explore ways of bringing out the best in others and getting people to work together while maintaining a positive team spirit.

The instructor, Kathy Arnold, PMP, is a Sr. Project Manager for WorldCom. In addition to her duties at WorldCom, she has taught two-week project management courses to new hires and new project managers for WorldCom employees as well as WorldCom customers in Tennessee, Florida, New York, Atlanta, and the UK. Her course is recognized and registered with PMI.

The one-hour Webinar will begin at 1:00 PM CST. DSIG members will receive a discount. More information can be found on the PMI Nashville Chapter website at www.pminashville.com. Information can also be found at the DSIG website: http://www.pmidsig.org.

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Professional Development Seminar 2003 – Central Alabama PMI Chapter

8 PDUs earned for entire day

The Central Alabama PMI Chapter proudly presents the 2nd Annual Professional Development Seminar 2003. The one-day seminar will be held September 12.

The seminar, Enhancing The Mind, Body and Spirit of the Project Manager, will be held at the Gardendale Civic Center in Birmingham (Gardendale), Alabama from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The five featured speakers and their respective topics are as follows:

· Joan Knutson (Opening Keynote Speaker) - "The Age of Project Mentoring"

· Len Krapcha - "Keeping Your Project Afloat with Float"

· Bettina Byrd-Giles - "Introduction to Intercultural Communication"

· John Gravitt - "Killer Kickoffs to Cosmic Closeouts"

· Roy Brewer (Closing Keynote Speaker) - "Can You Read Me?"

Early-Registration Deadline, August 15 (5:00 p.m.):

CAPMI Members - $100.00

Non-CAPMI Members - $140.00

After August 15:

CAPMI Members - $120.00

Non-CAPMI Members - $160.00

Note: Onsite registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

Cost of the one-day seminar is less than $25.00 per PMI National speaker, including breakfast, lunch, and seminar materials. Other seminar benefits include executive body massages and door prizes.

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Professional Development Day 2003 – Memphis PMI Chapter

7 PDUs earned for entire day; 3.5 PDUs earned for the morning or afternoon sessions

Instructor: Frank Saladis, PMP

The Memphis, TN PMI Chapter announces their annual Professional Development Day (PDD). The one-day symposium features four different sessions September 12.

The symposium will be held in Memphis at the Memphis Homebuilders Association on Germantown Road. The four sessions are as follows: Session 1: Your Future as a Project Manager; Session 2: I was Just Assigned My First Project; Session 3: Managing Difficult People; Session 4: Project Management in the Movies.

More information can be found on the PMI Nashville chapter website at www.pminashville.com. To register, online access the Memphis website at www.pmimemphis.org. John Schmitt, PMP at 901-434-7492 or Greg Hausmann, PMP at 901-224-9708 will answer your questions.

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PMP Certification Workshop

16 PDUs earned upon completion

Instructors: Mark Chism, PMP; Allyson Shumate, PMP; Craig Hardy; Jennifer Crum, PMP; Barney Regan, PMP

A two-day workshop designed to prepare you for the PMP exam using the 2002 PMI Guidelines, will be held September 18 and 19. The team of PMP professionals have both extensive education and business expertise in each of the PMI knowledge areas.

The workshop will be held at the BellSouth Tower in Nashville (333 Commerce Street). PMI members will receive a discount. Cost of the two-day workshop includes lunch and snacks each day.

More information can be found on the PMI Nashville Chapter website at www.pminashville.com. To register, please contact our chapter’s Director of Education and Training, Brenda Coons, PMP at 615-271-3794 or via email at Brenda.coons@eds.com. Registration must be made by August 31.

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Preparing For an IT Manager Role

8 PDUs earned upon completion

Instructor: Mike Sisco – MDE Enterprises, CEO

PMI Nashville invites you to attend a one-day seminar Friday, September 26. The informal training seminar, Preparing For an IT Manager Role, will help you position yourself for an IT Manager role by discovering the traits that are important for success. You will also gain insight into the steps to prepare you for the job. PMI members will receive a discount.

Mike Sisco, a former IT Manager and CIO with more than 20 years experience, will be the instructor. Becoming an IT Manager is more easily facilitated if the candidate has a good idea about how to manage technology resources and exhibits managerial traits. Most young managers take the job understanding little of what managing an organization is about. Project Managers are excellent candidates for an IT Manager role and this class provides focused insight specifically to help the Project Manager prepare for and position himself or herself for an IT Manager position.

The seminar will be held in LaVergne, Tennessee at Square D (295 Tech Park Drive, Suite 100). Cost of the one-day seminar includes lunch, class-break refreshments, and course materials including one of Mike Sisco’s books, IT Management-101: Fundamentals to Achieve More. Remember, PMI members receive a discount.

Registration is limited to 30 people, so please register by September 12, 2003 to ensure your place. More information can be found at PMI Nashville’s website www.pminashville.com. You may also contact our chapter’s Director of Education and Training, Brenda Coons, PMP at Brenda.coons@eds.com or 615-271-3794.

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IT Manager Development Institute

40 PDUs earned upon completion

Instructor: Mike Sisco – MDE Enterprises, CEO

PMI Nashville brings you a dynamic five-day project management seminar October 13 through October 17, 2003. PMI members receive a 20% discount!

Mike Sisco will teach this IT MANAGER DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE seminar. He has managed IT organizations at all levels including 20 years as a CIO. Seminar participants will gain the knowledge to be successful IT Managers and will receive many examples and tools that will help him or her implement the concepts quickly and easily.

The seminar will be held in Nashville. Remember, PMI members receive a 20% discount when members mention the discount code “PMI”. Cost of the five-day seminar includes lunches and two class break refreshments each day. There is also a special dinner banquet Thursday night.

More information can be found at this website www.mde.net/institute. You may also contact Mike Sisco at 931-490-6932 or mike@mde.net.

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Professional Development Symposium – North Alabama PMI Chapter

7 PDUs earned for entire day; 1 PDU earned for each session

Join the North Alabama Chapter (NAC) of PMI at the first annual Professional Development Symposium on October 24. Participants will further their knowledge of the project management discipline and understand the bottom-line value that well developed project management principles add to project and program performance.

The symposium, “Using Project Management to Improve Business Performance,” will be held at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Symposium attendees may choose up to six, fifty-minute seminars from twelve project management topics. One PDU will be awarded for each session attended. The luncheon activities include keynote speakers and an informational forum for business and government leaders. The Keynote Speakers are Colonel Bob Birmingham, US Army (Ret) and Jay Ress, PMP, TMA Seminars and member of PMI Nashville Chapter. Dr. Ed Hoffman and Mr. Tony Maturo of NASA Headquarters and Directors of NASA’s Academy of Program and Project Leadership invite you to a special one-hour presentation.

Register by October 1^st:

Seminars, Luncheon, and Keynote - $225

Luncheon and Keynote Speakers - $25

Note: That’s lunch and 7 PDUs for $32 each

After October 1^st:

Seminars, Luncheon, and Keynote - $250

Luncheon and Keynote Speakers - $30

Note: That’s lunch and 7 PDUs for $36 each

In addition to the seminars, vendors will be exhibiting and available to demonstrate a variety of products and services of interest to project managers.

For details and online registration, click on www.pmi-nac.org/pds2003.

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Did You Know?

What’s All the Fuss About?

If you haven’t visited the new PMI Nashville Chapter website, then you may not know what all the fuss is about. The new website officially launched on June 17 and has already received over 23,000 hits. Visitors to the site will notice a new look and feel; improved usability; improved site performance; home page advertisement for sponsors; fast access to information from the home page; and the ability to customize font size.

Work on the new site began last year under the leadership of Julie Moore, Director of Web Administration for the 2002 Board of Directors. Both Julie and Kim Nichols, Director of Web Administration for 2003, worked with two volunteer developers – Brandy Beasley and Kyle Thomson. You can read Brandy and Kyle’s interview in last month’s newsletter by going to http://pminashville.com/ and selecting the May/June 2003 newsletter from the Publications section.

Advertise your products and services on the new and improved PMI Nashville website. See the article on the advertising/marketing policy.

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PMBOK Tune Up Workshop a Success for Nashville Chapter Members

Jay Ress of TMA Seminars conducted a three-hour "PMBOK Tune Up" Workshop for members of the Nashville Chapter of the Project Management Institute on June 4. Richard Singletary, AVP-IT&S at HCA hosted the event and provided a first-rate facility for the twenty-five people in attendance.

The workshop presented the PMBOK in a logical sequence, focusing on themes and knowledge that will help PMI members pass the PMP Certification Exam. Jay also shared some strategies for taking the exam. Spirited audience participation yielded a number of helpful study suggestions and resources. Overall, all but two of the attendees "Agreed Very Strongly" that they would recommend this seminar to others (the other two "somewhat agreed").

A few quotes from Seminar Evaluations included:

·

Jay Ress, PMP

"Very informative. I highly recommend that this seminar be repeated."

· "Thank you so much. You have opened my eyes to new information, mind set,

Left to right: Brandy Beasley and Kyle Thomson – volunteer web developers

and hope for a successful endeavor with the PMP."

· Instructor was "...excellent - his knowledge of subject; ability to understand participant's questions; assessment of audience and their needs and excellent communication skills made attending this seminar worthwhile and a pleasure."

· "Good; a worthwhil

Project Management Paradoxes + Intro to SIGs

Topic Preview

Barney Regen, PMP and Nashville PMI Vice President

An Overview of Risk Management and Risk-Driven Scheduling

B.J. Safdie

October 28, Tuesday

The Central Alabama PMI Chapter proudly presents the 2nd Annual Professional Development Seminar 2003. The one-day seminar will be held September 12.

Note: That’s lunch and 7 PDUs for $32 each