13th Annual Southern Proposal Accents Conference (SPAC) a Success

This year's theme was helping proposal professionals survive the...

"Little Shop of Proposal Horrors"

With more than 120 attendees and exhibitors, the 2009 SPAC Conference was a resounding success. Co-hosted by the Carolinas, Georgia Chattahoochee, and Florida Sunshine chapters, SPAC has become one of APMP's premier fall conferences.  This year it was held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, GA, on Friday, October 30, 2009. 

For More Details, Pictures and Reviews of This Year's Conference, please visit us here again soon...

If you or your organization wish to participate in the next SPAC, be sure to visit us or the SPAC website in late spring 2010 for more details.

da Bulls ...

Hello Chapter Members and Friends,

Since we had such a good time last year, the Carolinas Chapter of the APMP is once again holding a member appreciation night at the Durham Bulls. So, clear your calendar for the night of May 13, and join us for a great time at the ballpark. We'll have a private seating area, an all-you-can-eat buffet, and a great view of the game. You’ll be able to catch up with APMP friends, meet some new ones, watch a ball game, and enjoy a nice May evening at the ballpark. Best of all, it’s FREE for members and only $5 for guests, so feel free to bring the family or a friend. Details below:

When: Wednesday, May 13 at 7:00 p.m. We will stand outside of will-call with everyone's tickets from 6:15 p.m.–7 p.m.

Where: Durham Bulls Athletic Park (follow this link for directions: http://durhambulls.com/stadium/directions.html)

Cost: FREE TO MEMBERS. Members may bring guests (coworkers, family, friends) for a nominal charge of $5 per guest. Also, you non-members don’t need an invite from a member (I’m inviting you now); you can come for the $5 price as well.

What: Each attendee will enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet (hot dogs, fried chicken, mac & cheese, potato salad), cash bar, a ticket to see the game in our own private picnic area, and plenty of room for socializing. You can watch the game, network, hang out with your APMP friends…no pressure, just a good time.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Patrick.Doerr@rtp.ppdi.com by May 5 so we can make sure we’ve purchased enough tickets. When you RSVP, please let Patrick know if you plan to bring any guests, and if so, how many.

Thanks, and we hope to see everyone at the ballpark.

Feb 17 Dinner Program

Hello Chapter Members and Regular Guests,

We will hold our first dinner program of the year on February 17. Back by popular demand, John Blackshear, Ph.D., will be speaking with us about interpersonal communications. Join us for what is sure to be an illuminating and entertaining evening as we welcome Dr. Blackshear back to talk about communicating in the typical proposal management environment.

WHERE: Radisson Governor's Inn, Highway 54, Research Triangle Park, NC

WHEN: Tuesday, February 17; 6:00 p.m. Cocktails and Networking; 7:00 p.m. Dinner; 7:30 p.m. Program

TOPIC: Interpersonal Communication in Dotted Line Environments
John Blackshear, Jr., Ph.D., has spoken to APMP members on many occasions, and in various forums (including the annual SPAC conference). Dr. Blackshear provides engaging, informative discussions on interpersonal communication. His topics include the types of communicators we meet in our everyday lives, how to identify them, and strategies to deal effectively with them. Members have found his talks so useful that we have invited him back several times to continue or expand on previous lectures. In this program, he'll talk to us about managing responsibility without authority and dealing with difficult teams.

Dr. Blackshear received his doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Georgia State University in December 2001, and his undergraduate and master's degrees from Florida A&M University, where he was a member of the renowned Florida A&M Marching 100 Band.

Currently, Dr. Blackshear is employed at Duke University where he is the Clinical Director of the Academic Resource Center and the Ombudsperson through the office of the Provost. He also works as a licensed clinical psychologist at Therapeutic Strategies in Raleigh and facilitates group psychotherapy for various groups, including women with eating disorders and students on long-term suspension from the Wake County Public Schools. Dr. Blackshear teaches courses in psychology at Shaw University and serves as an expert witness for capital murder cases in North Carolina.

CASH BAR: Arrive at 6:00 pm and enjoy the company of fellow APMP professionals.

COST AND RESERVATIONS: Costs include dinner: $25 for APMP members; $30 for non-APMP members. If you need a vegetarian dinner, please indicate that in your reservation reply (see below).

MEMBERSHIP: If you join the APMP at the meeting (first-time, renewal, or after a lapse in membership), you'll receive a $5 discount courtesy of our chapter.

REGISTRATION: For registration, please contact Janet Herzog (janet.herzog@nortel.com), 919-905-2907, and then pay at the door. Please RSVP by NOON on February 13.

PLEASE NOTE: We are required by the hotel to guarantee a minimum total for dinner. If you make a dinner reservation and will be unable to attend, please notify us prior to the meeting. Otherwise, you will be asked to reimburse us for the cost of your dinner if you made an advanced reservation without payment.

Kicking off the New Year..

We are currently planning our next dinner program for February. Stay tuned.

October Program Announcement

Hello Members and Guests!

It’s been a little while, but we’ve got a great program lined up for Wednesday, October 15. This month’s program will feature LaBrita Cash-Baskett. She will talk with us about how to use feedback effectively. Read below for the full announcement, and make sure to RSVP right away.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Carolinas Chapter, Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP), invites you to attend our next chapter meeting.

WHERE: Radisson Governor's Inn, Highway 54, Research Triangle Park, NC

WHEN: Wednesday, October 15; 6:00 p.m. Cocktails and Networking; 7:00 p.m. Dinner; 7:30 p.m. Program

TOPIC: Proper Use of Feedback

The real tragedy behind the mountains of trash we produce is that a lot of what we throw away can be reused or recycled. Not every idea in the proposal development process is recyclable, and some ideas are more reusable than others. What exactly can be recycled in proposal development? Almost anything!

One of the most important tools for maintaining control and developing people is the proper use of feedback. Learn how to use feedback to enhance team effectiveness. This interactive and fun presentation provides guidelines, principals, and strategies for effective feedback.

LaBrita Cash-Baskett has over eight years of progressive experience in the field of speech- language pathology and organizational communication in the areas of leadership, communication and interpersonal skills development. She provides consultation and training to help proposal managers maximize potential and add value to organizations through effective communication.


CASH BAR: Arrive at 6:00 pm and enjoy the company of fellow APMP professionals.

COST AND RESERVATIONS: Costs include dinner: $25 for APMP members; $30 for non-APMP members. If you need a vegetarian dinner, please indicate that in your reservation reply (see below).

MEMBERSHIP: If you join the APMP at the meeting (first-time, renewal, or after a lapse in membership), you'll receive a $5 discount courtesy of our chapter.

REGISTRATION: For registration, please contact Janet Herzog (janet.herzog@nortel.com), 919-905-2907), and then pay at the door. Please RSVP by NOON on October 10.

PLEASE NOTE: We are required by the hotel to guarantee a minimum total for dinner. If you make a dinner reservation and will be unable to attend, please notify us prior to the meeting. Otherwise, you will be asked to reimburse us for the cost of your dinner if you made an advanced reservation without payment.