Do you have a great idea or experiences that you want to share with your training colleagues? Submissions by chapter members to this newsletter are always welcome. To submit an article, please contact Dan Roberts [dan@telosinteractive.com] or Matthew Feiertag [mhfeiertag@earthlink.net] 

October Members Meeting

Wednesday, Oct 15th 5:30 pm Networking, 6:00 pm Presentation Room 108, Washoe Professional Building, 75 Pringle Way

Join Allison Ittershagen, Trainer, Dale Carnegie Northern Nevada for "Memory Tips and Tricks"

Your memory plays a critical part in the effectiveness of your training. Do you remember your participants' names easily? Do you remember the flow and content of your presentation without having to continually review your notes? Do you remember the funny stories and tidbits that can add humor and insights to your core content? If your memory is slipping from constant use like mine, please come join us for a unique and fun presentation on "Memory Tricks & Tips".

Allison Ittershagen will share several time proven techniques from the Dale Carnegie course on how to fine tune your memory skills especially in training situations. You will be amazed as to how Allison's memory strategies will bring an immediate benefit to you in your next training session.

	Get Involved! Vote
Once again it is time to vote! At the October Membership Meeting we will be casting our votes for the 2004 slate of Sierra Nevada Chapter Board of Directors. We're happy to say, we are making it easy for you: there is only one candidate to vote for in each position! Of course all candidates are eminently qualified to serve you, our members, in 2004! The slate for 2004 is as follows: President-Shelley MacDonald, President-Elect/ VP Marketing-Chris Champagne, VP Administration-Jeanne Underwood, Treasurer-Julie Lamoureaux, VP Membership Recruitment-Beth Blackwood,VP Membership Retention- Carol Lopez, VP Programs-Sue Churchill, Webmaster/ VP Newsletter-Dan Roberts,Directors at Large-Tom Goss and Kurt Frohlich In addition, this year's President, Patricia Tuecke, will still be taking an active role as Past President. It looks like we have a great balance of "seasoned" Board members as well as "new blood." Pat, Shelley, Chris, Beth, Tom and Kurt are returning Board members, and Jeanne, Julie, Carol, Sue, and Dan are the new kids on the block, although Dan is already assuming his new duties, and Sue has been very active on the programs committee throughout this year. So, come to this month's membership meeting to hear about Memory Tips and Tricks, something we can all use, and to vote for and support your 2004 Board! See you there!

	Letter from the President
I got a call today from a client wanting my help in planning a meeting between two departments. The departments need to work together to serve customers in a seamless way. Up to now, there had been no effort to do so. There is a sense of "we" do our job, but "they" mess up their job which causes us grief in our job. When things go "wrong" there's lots of finger pointing and complaining. This is the first time the two department managers have made an effort to get the staff together to address critical issues. The question to me was, "How can we let people identify and address critical issues and keep this meeting from being a bitch session?" The client knows the two managers don't have the skill to hold a meeting that will enable a different outcome. Does your company have situations like this? How do you solve them? MORE »

	Membership Update
What Kind of Training Professional Are You? A recent study by a major California Institute of Higher Learning (the one with the really good football team) has projected there are only three types of Training Professionals now practicing in North America. Click the link below to take our tongue-in-cheek survey to see which species of training professional you are. Make sure that you are not a "Homo-Clueless Extinctus Soonest." I guarantee you will be rewarded with new insight, as well as a chuckle or two...(ed.) See you at the October meeting! Beth Blackwood MORE »

	Coming Up in November
"ASTD Wine and Networking Event!" Wednesday, November 19th, at The Grill Fish Restaurant Come join us for our annual membership kickoff as we celebrate a great past year and gear up for 2004. Sign up for your 2004 membership and enjoy the evening at no cost! Otherwise, the evening is a bargain $15. Please bring guests and if they join that night they also have the evening at no cost. And don't forget your spouses and other friends that would just like to sip wine, eat great food and chat with our ASTD members. When: Wednesday, November 19th, 2003 Where: Grill Fish (located at the old Hardy House) 442 Flint St, Reno (corner of Flint & California) Phone: (775) 322-4555 Time: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm Membership continues to be the same great value again this year: Basic membership at $45 per year ($10 per meeting) or Full membership at $110, which includes your annual fee and attendance at meetings.

	Training Seen as Top Perk by Shelley MacDonald
According to a 2003 survey by global management services company Lee Hecht Harrison, employees are more interested in practical benefits, like training and flex time, that will enhance their employability or work- life balance, rather than the flashy perks, like health club membership or company cars, that were preferred in the late '90s. The survey asked employees what perks they wanted most from their employer. Not only were training opportunities what they wanted most, almost twice as many wanted such opportunities compared with employees surveyed four years ago. The percentage of employees wanting training opportunities leapt from 41% in 1999 to 76% in 2003. Other perks desired by employees included the following: 73% wanted flextime,71% wanted access to cell phones, laptops, and other technologies,69% wanted outplacement services,and 53% wanted tuition reimbursement.The least-desired perks were health club memberships, use of a company car, and employer- provided child care. Bernadette Kenny, Executive VP of Lee Hecht Harrison, finds it notable that respondents want and expect ongoing training opportunities, not just one-shot seminars or e-learning programs: "Employees today recognize that training should be continual. The common goal is skill development that enhances life long employability."

	Training Motorcycle Riders by Matt Feiertag
I have been riding motorcycles for over 30 years, and have been doing teaching and training for almost as long. So, I guess it was natural for me to finally combine 2 of my passions. In June, I took a comprehensive training course, designed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to making motorcycle riding a safer activity), to become a certified "RiderCoach". The course was put on by the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, and taught by 2 of the certified Lead Instructors. It consisted of long hours of classroom participatory training, as well as many hours on the training range, where we first learned to do the exercises, then peer taught them, and finally taught them (as well as classroom instructed) a class of neophyte students. MORE »

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