Leader Connection Newsletter (LCN)
This is a free monthly newsletter from ASTD Chapter Services department specifically targeted for chapter leaders highlighting useful news and information.
MARCH 2010
See below for highlights from this month's LCN.
IMPORTANT NEWS
Time is Running Out! Apply Now for a Chance to Win $1000!
Chapter Excellence Award Applications Due March 15
Could your chapter benefit from a $1,000 cash prize? Is your chapter doing great things in the areas of strategic partnerships, advancing the profession through Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) activities, or joint membership?
- The application deadline is March 15. Awards are granted for work completed the previous year and the earlier deadline will help chapter leaders capture the details and metrics of the previous year’s successful program.
- The winning chapters will be announced at Chapter Leader Day during the ASTD International Conference & Exposition and will have the opportunity to present a “Best Practices” session at the 2010 Chapter Leaders Conference.
- For details about the awards categories and how to apply, access the recorded webcast, originally facilitated by Veronica Bruhl, CPLP, National Advisor for Chapters and a member of the original Awards Team.
Click here to visit the CEA website and access the 2010 application.
Welcome New Chapter Leaders!
ASTD welcomes all 2010 chapter leaders to our unique community, one that provides local networking and professional development opportunities for training, HRD, and performance improvement professionals across the United States. New chapter leaders should have received a welcome kit sent via email in February. Click here to access. More than 90 chapter leaders participated in the 2010 Chapter Leader Orientation webcast in February. If you were not able to attend, the entire webcast and slide deck are available for download on the Chapter Leader Community. Click here for a direct link.
Discounted Membership Rates Available
Special national membership discounts are available for chapter leaders and chapter members. Click here for more information. Chapter leaders, click here for the special $119 discounted national membership rate available just for you.
Congratulations to Our Winning Chapter Leaders!
Two lucky chapter leaders won the drawing for OfficeMax business cards, simply because they attended the Chapter Leader Orientation webcast! Congratulations to: Jerry Langlois, vice president of marketing for the Northern New Jersey Chapter, and Sarah Spicci, membership director for the San Diego Chapter. Both will receive a set of 250 business cards. For more information about the discounted print prices available through OfficeMax, visit www.astd.org/discountpartnerships.
Interested in a national leadership role?
Applications for the Chapter Recognition Committee (CRC) and the ASTD Leadership Conference Program Advisory Committee (ALC PAC) are now available. Click here for the committee application, which is due July 31.
Applications for the National Advisors for Chapters (NAC) are available at www.astd.org/nac and are due June 2. Applicants may apply for the NAC and chapter-related committees using the NAC application. For a summary of the three chapter-related committees, click here.
Upcoming Webcasts
Chapter Leader Community Website Overview—Wednesday, March 17, 2 p.m. ET. Hosted by Lisa-Marie Gardner, ASTD Chapter Coach.
Submitting a Chapter Leaders Conference (ALC) Session Proposal—Tuesday, March 23, 3:30 p.m. ET. Hosted by Barry Altland, ALC Program Advisory Committee.
Chapter of the Month and Sharing Our Success—Tuesday, March 30, 2 p.m. ET. Hosted by Lisa Downs, Chapter Recognition Committee.
International Conference & Exposition News and Information
Tony Bingham Has a Special Message for Chapter Leaders
Click here to view this special message from ASTD’s President about the upcoming International Conference & Exposition.
International Conference Discounts and ChIP Commissions
Your chapter members can qualify for the special chapter team discounted rate for the International Conference & Exposition in Chicago, May 16-19, if you have at least five chapter members attending. The special chapter team rate is $900 for national ASTD members and $1,200 for nonmembers. In addition to the discounted registration for chapter members, chapters can earn 10 percent commission (up to $80 per registration) for registrations using the Chapter Incentive Program (ChIP) code. Note: all members of your conference chapter team must be members of your chapter. Chapter teams will be established when at least five registrations from the chapter are received. Once the chapter team is established, subsequent chapter team members may register online. Click here for the conference registration form. The first five registrations with payment should be emailed to chapterteams@astd.org or faxed to 703.683.8184.
Connect with Your Peers at Chapter Leader Day 2010—Registration Now Open!
Chapter Leader Day is Sunday, May 16, at the ASTD 2010 International Conference & Exposition in Chicago. Participation in Chapter Leader Day activities is FREE to attendees registered for the conference; however you must register in advance to participate! Chapter Leader Day activities will include a networking breakfast, lunch, peer discussions, sharing of best practices, and an introduction of ASTD resources available to your chapter. In addition, you are invited to take advantage of the Chapter Room throughout the conference to participate in roundtable discussions and networking with fellow chapter leaders. For more information, visit www.astd.org/cld.
Volunteer at the International Conference and Receive Great Benefits!
Volunteering at the conference offers you a way to attend the premier learning and development event of the year at a steeply discounted rate! When you volunteer you are making an investment in your own professional development and positively impacting your peers, your community, and your profession. For more information, go to www.astd.org/volunteers.
Promotional Downloads for the ASTD International Conference & Exposition
Promote the upcoming ASTD conference during your next chapter presentation or on your website! Simply download the full-color logo slide from the Chapter Leader Community page and promote the conference—and chapter teams—to your members. Click here to visit the Chapter Leader Day webpage and download website banners and slides. Remember: Chapters earn ChIP commission on registrations made with the chapter ChIP code on the ASTD online store!
CORE Corner
CORE Update
ASTD chapters had a record-breaking year on 100 percent CORE achievement in 2009. Out of 124 active chapters, 119 chapters completed the survey (96 percent), up from 92 percent last year. As of the January 31st deadline:
- 104 chapters (84 percent) achieved 100 percent in all 18 elements, up from 82 chapters last year (64 percent). This is up considerably from 31 percent in 2005!
- 15 chapters (12 percent) achieved less than 100 percent, down from 31 chapters last year (28 percent)
- 5 chapters (4 percent) did not submit any information, down from 15 chapters last year (13 percent).
ASTD's 10 largest chapters are:
Chicagoland - 792
Twin Cities - 650
Los Angeles - 570
Cascadia - 542
Greater Atlanta - 451
Central Indiana - 364
Metro DC - 360
Greater Philadelphia –354
San Diego - 352
Dallas - 347
A complete CORE summary will be available by the end of March at www.astd.org/core. Stay tuned!
Chapter Leaders Conference (ALC) News and Information
The 2010 ASTD Chapter Leaders Conference will be held in Arlington, VA, September 30-October 2. Complimentary conference registration is available for conference facilitators. If your chapter has programs or initiatives in place that could benefit other chapters, consider submitting a proposal to present a session.
- Review the Request for Proposals link and gather information to submit your proposal before May 31.
- Designate members of your chapter leadership board to attend the webcast “Submitting an ALC Proposal” on March 23, hosted by the ALC selection committee. Register here.
2010 ALC Chapter Planning:
- Your chapter should budget for this conference! Make sure your chapter has ALC earmarked as a line item in your 2010 chapter budget. Conference registration is $195, and the preconference is $99.
- Stay on track and plan for ALC! Click here to review January and February’s ALC Chapter Planning Questions.
Tools for Chapter Success
Deadline to Participate in Group Form 990 Filing: March 15
All ASTD chapters are responsible for maintaining their records and complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including tax laws.
A chapter that is a subordinate organization under the ASTD Group Exemption letter may elect to participate in the IRS Group Form 990 filing if a series of conditions are met (the primary condition being the chapter has gross receipts of $25,000 or more for the year). National ASTD must receive a request for inclusion in the 2009 Group Form 990 filing no later than March 15. Click here to find out if your chapter qualifies for the group filing and download a sample letter.
Small tax-exempt organizations that previously were not required to file returns are now required to file an annual electronic notice, Form 990-N. Organizations that do not file the notice may lose their tax-exempt status. The deadline to file Form 990-N electronically is May 15 (or the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of your tax year).
Ten Ways to Connect with Other Chapter Leaders
1. Start a discussion on the Chapter Leaders Group on LinkedIn
2. Attend Chapter Leader Day at the International Conference & Expo
3. Log on to the Chapter Collaboration Portal to view the chapter leader directory and share documents with your peers
4. Join the Chapter Leaders Group on Facebook
5. Register for a free webcast in the chapter leader webcast series
6. Participate in a discussion on the Chapter Leaders Yahoo Group
7. Apply to serve on an ASTD chapter-related committee
8. Facilitate a session at the Chapter Leaders Conference
9. Attend the Telling Ain’t Training Conference in Las Vegas, NV: March 15-16
10. Participate in area calls with your National Advisor for Chapters (NAC) advisor
Are you currently using Twitter?
If so, then please join a chapter leader Twitter chat, Using Social Media in Chapters, on Wednesday, March 17, from 9-10 p.m. ET. This chat will be hosted by Cindy Huggett @cindyhugg, Chair, National Advisors for Chapters, and Erick Taft @Erick1970, Past President, Northwest Arkansas Chapter. The hashtag will be #astdchapters.
If you’ve never participated in a Twitter chat before, check out the guidelines for another learning-related chat (#lrnchat) http://lrnchat.wordpress.com/. We’ll follow the same basic guidelines.
New SOS Submission Form
For added convenience, chapter leaders may now submit a Sharing Our Success (SOS) best practice using a new SOS Submission Form in Microsoft Word format that chapters can download, complete, and send to sos@astd.org. Print copies of this form and provide to new board members so they can begin submitting best practices. Chapters may still use the online form as well.
Chapter Joint Membership Challenge—Thanks for Participating!
The end of 2009 brought the chapter joint membership challenge to an end. Many chapters initiated programs in 2009 to reach the goals of this challenge. Final results will be announced this month.
“Power of 2” National Membership Rate Remains $169 for 2010!
ASTD announces that the “Power of 2” membership rate will remain unchanged—at $169—for 2010. Be sure to place this announcement in your upcoming chapter newsletter and website so your members can take advantage of this special offer. Chapters with more national members have a larger leadership pool. Remember: Chapters earn ChIP commission on national memberships when the ChIP code is used for ASTD online store membership purchases!
Speaker Resource for VP of Programming
Looking for a speaker for your big event or next meeting? National ASTD recently launched a new, free resource for chapter leaders to identify speakers for chapter programs and meetings. The ASTD speakers bureau is a repository of speakers connected to the workplace learning and performance profession. To download the user’s guide or search for a speaker, visit the website at www.astd.org/speakersbureau.
News from National
Workforce Investment Act—Reauthorization Update
ASTD staff recently went to Capitol Hill to meet with legislators to advocate for the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The legislation, originally passed in 1998, streamlines and coordinates workforce training programs at the federal level. Reauthorization efforts have failed previously, but current efforts to reauthorize WIA now appear to have some bi-partisan support.
ASTD suggests several key points be considered in the legislation: streamline Workforce Investment Boards so they are smaller, more flexible, and responsive to the needs of employers; ensure that training and workforce development programs are measured by comprehensive performance metrics; and ensure better coordination and collaboration with partners in the system to provide worker preparation and training services. To learn more about WIA and ASTD’s efforts supporting reauthorization, be sure to read the April 2010 issue of T+D magazine.
CPLP 2010 Testing Schedule—Registration Is Now Open!
The ASTD Certification Institute built the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) credential to provide a way for learning and development professionals to prove their value to employers and to be confident about their knowledge of the field. Click here to view the 2010 CPLP test date schedule.
Do You Work for the BEST?
Do you work for a company that takes learning and development seriously? Applications for ASTD BEST Awards are due March 31. The ASTD BEST Awards recognize companies of all sizes, both public and private sector, that demonstrate enterprise-wide success as a result of employee learning and development. Winning organizations use the learning function as a strategic business tool to get results. If this sounds like your company, apply to be recognized. Applications can be found at www.astd.org/best.
ASTD Professional Partner Program
The ASTD Professional Partner Program is a new initiative designed to increase training professionals’ awareness of the many tools and resources available to them that help to advance the profession, and encourage employee learning and development in organizations.
The ASTD Professional Partner Program connects the ASTD community with companies that are dedicated to helping organizations improve their performance. ASTD Professional Partners have made a commitment to provide service and content to ASTD members and learning professionals. ASTD Professional Partners will be featured in T+D magazine, online at ASTD.org, and at various ASTD events throughout the year.
News You Can Use
Below are links to the press releases national ASTD distributed through March 5, 2010. You can post these on your chapter website and share them with you members.
Content to Go Provides Easy Access to Learning Resources
ASTD is a resource-rich association that brings practical tools and information to its members. One of the most useful resources is the Content to Go offering that puts some of the most current literature from the profession literally a click away. If you haven’t used this resource yet, check it out by clicking here.
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Februray 2010
IMPORTANT NEWS
Help for Haiti: Read Carefully
The devastation in Haiti has inspired many organizations to donate money and goods to relief efforts. There are special considerations for 501c(3) nonprofits. Click here for important information concerning any efforts your chapter may be undertaking with regard to relief efforts (Important Updates Tab).
Deadline to Participate in Group Form 990 Filing: March 15
All ASTD chapters are responsible for maintaining their records and complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including tax laws.
A chapter that is a subordinate organization under the ASTD Group Exemption letter may elect to participate in the IRS Group Form 990 filing if a series of conditions are met (the primary condition being the chapter has gross receipts of $25,000 or more for the year). National ASTD must receive a request for inclusion in the 2009 Group Form 990 filing no later than March 15. Click here to find out if your chapter qualifies for the group filing and download a sample letter.
Small tax-exempt organizations that previously were not required to file returns are now required to file an annual electronic notice, Form 990-N. Organizations that do not file the notice may lose their tax-exempt status. The deadline to file Form 990-N electronically is May 15 (or the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of your chapter’s tax year).
Chapter Excellence Awards: The Benefits of Winning
Has your chapter excelled at building strategic partnerships, advancing the profession, or membership growth? Did you receive SOS recognition in 2009? You should submit an application for the 2010 Chapter Excellence Awards! The deadline for submission is March 15. Why should you enter? The benefits are plentiful:
• $1,000 cash prize to use towards: Employee Learning Week, ALC registration for chapter board members, or a speaker for your next chapter event.
• Positive publicity for your chapter builds positive energy among chapter members, within the community, and among board members.
• Positive publicity can lead to more members and greater participation by members.
• Chapter board members can recognize CEA accomplishments on their resume.
• The winning chapters will be announced at Chapter Leader Day during the ASTD International Conference & Exposition and will have the opportunity to present a “Best Practices” session at the 2010 Chapter Leaders Conference.
For details about the awards categories and how to apply, access the recorded webcast, recently facilitated by Veronica Bruhl, CPLP, National Advisor for Chapters and a member of the original Awards Team, on January 27. Click here to visit the CEA website and access the 2010 application.
Attention CPLP Designing Learning Work Product Submitters!
A correction was made to the Designing Learning Work Product materials (Chapter 4) in respect to the questions on Form B.
Question #7 was incorrectly listed under the Core Component category of Output and in fact should have been listed under Outcomes. This error has been rectified and the corrected Chapter 4 information is now posted. The corrected information can be found on page 4 (Table 1) and on page 21 (Form B – question 7).
Please be sure to use this updated information in your submission. If you have questions in regards to this information, please contact Pat Byrd at pbyrd@astd.org or 703.683.7258.
Interested in a national leadership role?
Applications for the Chapter Recognition Committee (CRC) and the ASTD Leadership Conference Program Advisory Committee (ALC PAC) are now available. Click here for the committee application, which is due July 31.
Applications for the National Advisors for Chapters (NAC)are available at www.astd.org/nac and are due June 2. Applicants may apply for the NAC and chapter-related committees using the NAC application.
For a summary of the three chapter-related committees, click here.
CORE-NORE Corner
Chapter Operating Requirements (CORE)
The deadline for submitting the CORE survey, 2010 board roster, member roster, and 2009 operational plan was January 31. Thank you to all chapters that completed this important submission. Results will be published in a future issue of the Leaders Connection Newsletter.
If you have any CORE-related questions, please contact your chapter coach or send an inquiry directly to CORE@astd.org.
Chapter-National Affiliation Agreements— Has Your Chapter Signed?
Congratulations to all chapters that made their affiliation with national ASTD official! Chapters that signed an affiliation agreement now have a clear definition and understanding of the responsibilities of national ASTD, the resources national ASTD will provide to the chapter, and a means by which to hold national ASTD accountable. All chapters should have submitted a signed affiliation agreement to national ASTD by January 31. If your chapter has not signed an affiliation agreement, contact your chapter coach immediately—they are here to help!
Chapter Leader Survey
Thank you to all of the chapter leaders who provided input by completing the annual Chapter Leader Survey. The valuable feedback and suggestions will help ASTD chapter services create programming, partnerships, and resources to support continued chapter success. A summary of the results, National Operating Requirements (NORE) scorecard, and action plan will be available on the Chapter Leader Community website in Spring 2010.
Congratulations to Kimberly Frederickson, VP of Professional Development for the South Central Wisconsin Chapter, who won an ASTD Handbook for Workplace Learning Professionals from the drawing of survey participants.
Upcoming Webcasts
2010 Chapter Leader Orientation What every 2010 chapter leader needs to know to get started!
Thursday, February 18, 2 p.m. ET
All 2010 chapter leaders are strongly encouraged to attend this orientation. This session is crucial for any first-time chapter leader or returning chapter leader who would like to update their knowledge of national ASTD resources and chapter leader responsibilities. A few of the topics include the Chapter Leader Community website resources, Chapter Operating Requirements, joint membership marketing materials, and an introduction to the National Advisors for Chapters and chapter services team members. Bob Zimel, Mid New Jersey Chapter and National Advisor for Chapters, will present the webcast. NOTE: Every chapter leader who attends this webcast will be entered into a drawing for a free set of business cards from OfficeMax!
International Conference & Exposition News and Information
International Conference Discounts and ChIP Commissions
Chapter team discounts are available if your chapter has at least five members attending the International Conference & Exposition in Chicago, May 16-19. The special chapter team rate is $900 for national ASTD members and $1,200 for nonmembers. In addition to the discounted registration for chapter members, chapters can earn 10 percent commission on registrations (up to $80 per registration) by using the Chapter Incentive Program (ChIP) code. To set up your chapter team, send at least five conference registrations with payment to chapterteams@astd.org or fax: 703.683.8184. Chapter teams will be established when at least five registrations from the chapter are received. Once the chapter team is established, subsequent chapter team members may register online.
Connect with Your Peers at Chapter Leader Day 2010
Chapter Leader Day will take place on Sunday, May 16, at the ASTD 2010 International Conference & Exposition in Chicago. Participation in Chapter Leader Day activities is FREE to attendees registered for the ASTD International Conference & Exposition, but you must register in advance! Chapter Leader Day activities will include a networking breakfast, lunch, peer discussions, sharing of best practices, and an introduction of ASTD resources available to your chapter. In addition, you are invited to take advantage of the Chapter Room throughout the conference for additional networking and roundtable discussions. Registration will be announced soon at www.astd.org/cld.
ALC News and Information
The 2010 ASTD Chapter Leaders Conference will be held in Arlington, VA, September 30-October 2. ASTD's top chapter leaders attend ALC—make sure you're there!
Your chapter should budget for this conference!
Is ALC earmarked as a line item in your 2010 chapter budget? Conference registration is $195, and the preconference is $99. Keep reading to find out how you can receive complimentary registration.
2010 ALC Chapter Session Facilitator Planning:
• What programs or initiatives does our chapter have in place that other chapters would like to hear about?
• Which of our chapter board members would make a good session facilitator for ALC?
• What can I do to encourage our board members to submit a session proposal?
• Should I submit a session proposal?
• Would our chapter benefit by receiving complimentary conference registration? (Conference facilitators receive complimentary conference registration.) Preconference registration is $99. The Request for Proposals will be available in March.
Stay on track and plan for ALC! Click here to review January’s ALC Chapter Budget Planning Questions
Tools for Chapter Success
Chapter Coach and National Advisors for Chapters Resource
Your chapter coach is your designated contact on national ASTD staff for any assistance you might need. To find out who your chapter coach is, visit www.astd.org/chaptercoaches.
The National Advisors for Chapters (NAC) are distinguished past chapter presidents who volunteer to assist and advise chapter leaders. To learn more about how the NAC can help your chapter and to find out which Advisor will be supporting your chapter in 2010, visit /nac.
New SOS Submissions and SOS Submission Form
For added convenience, chapter leaders may now submit a Sharing Our Success (SOS) best practice using a new SOS Submission Form in Microsoft Word format that chapters can download, complete, and send to sos@astd.org. Print copies of this form and provide to new board members so they can begin submitting best practices. Chapters may still use the online form as well.
The Central Iowa and Upstate South Carolina chapters recently received SOS recognition for their efforts. View their best practices and those of other chapters on the Sharing Our Success – “Success Stories” page.
Chapter Joint Membership Challenge – Thanks for Participating!
The end of 2009 brought the chapter joint membership challenge to an end. Many chapters initiated programs in 2009 to reach the goals of this challenge. Final results will be determined once all chapters have submitted their membership rosters with CORE. Stay tuned for a list of winners!
“Power of 2” National Membership Rate Remains $169 for 2010!
ASTD announces that the “Power of 2” membership rate will remain unchanged—at $169—for 2010. Be sure to place this announcement in your upcoming chapter newsletter and website so your members can take advantage of this special offer. A recent survey of joint national and chapter members found that joint members have a high intent (86%) to renew their chapter membership! Growing joint membership within a chapter can help chapters maintain a strong membership and financial base. For tools and resources to grow joint membership, visit www.astd.org/thepowerof2.
Newly Elected Chapter Leaders: Order Business Cards Online!
ASTD has partnered with OfficeMax to offer online ordering and low pricing (under $15 for 250 business cards) to all ASTD chapter leaders. OfficeMax also offers special pricing for your chapter’s printing and office supply needs including letterhead, note cards, and envelopes. To order online, use this link: www.corpez.com/astd.
To place an order via telephone, contact Kenneth Hammond, Strategic Account Manager, OfficeMax Impress at 703.863.9931 or KennethHammond@officemax.com.
ASTD chapter members also may enjoy discounted rates on other printing needs and supplies at OfficeMax by presenting their discount card in local stores. Orders can be placed at the Print and Document Services counter. Click here to download an OfficeMax discount card and visit your local OfficeMax.
Speaker Resource for VP of Programming!
Looking for a speaker for your big event or next meeting? Check out the ASTD speakers bureau, a repository of speakers connected to the learning and development profession.To download the user’s guide, search for a speaker, or sign up as a speaker, visit the website at www.astd.org/speakersbureau.
News from National
ASTD Issues New White Paper on the Skills Gap
Bridging the Skills Gap: New factors compound the growing skills shortage is the new white paper from ASTD’s research department. It includes updated research from organizations in a variety of industries, and data about skills gaps from a recent ASTD poll of nearly 1,200 companies. The paper examines recent economic challenges that have forced public- and private-sector organizations to execute their strategies with more precision than ever before and do it with fewer resources. It includes case studies from eight leading companies and shares best practices on identifying and managing a skills gap within an existing employee base. The paper includes an action plan for taking charge of a skills gap.
Special Announcement - TechKnowledge ® 2010 Virtual Conference
If your chapter members could not attend our ASTD TechKnowledge ® 2010 Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas last week—don’t worry we’re offering TechKnowledge ® 2010 to you virtually. The virtual conference launches February 8 and concludes March 8. You can access Tony Bingham’s general session speech about social media’s impact on learning, and view select educational sessions and exhibitor interviews. For more information, click here.
ASTD in the Headlines
The following is a list of press releases ASTD issued in the month of January. Feel free to share this information with your members and post these to your website.
• Learning Executives’ Confidence Stabilizes in 4th Quarter of 2009
• New Book Released! 10 Steps to Successful Customer Service
• The Public Manager Spotlights Obama Administration and Performance Management in the Winter 2010 Issue
• ASTD Issues Action Plan to Take Charge of the Skills Gap
• New Book! Talent Management: Strategies for Success from Six Leading Companies
Content to Go Provides Easy Access to Learning Resources
ASTD is a resource-rich association that brings practical tools and information to its members. One of the most useful resources is the Content to Go offering that puts some of the most current literature from the profession literally a click away. If you haven’t used this resource yet, check it out by clicking here.
January 2010
Chapter Recognition
Chapter of the Month
Congratulations to the January 2010 Chapter of the Month: The ASTD-Research Triangle Area Chapter!
SOS recognition this month goes to the following chapters: Baton Rouge, Central Florida, Central Iowa, Eastern Pennsylvania, Upstate South Carolina, and Utah.
Mark Your Calendar With These Dates:
Bridging the Skills Gap webcast: January 20
Talent Management Focus Group webcast – January 25
ASTD TechKnowledge Conference & Exposition: January 26-29, Las Vegas, NV
Chapter Excellence Awards webcast: January 27
CORE submission deadline: January 31
2010 Chapter Leader Orientation webcast: February 18
Deadline to participate in Group Form 990 Filing: March 15
Chapter Excellence Awards applications deadline: March 15
Telling Ain’t Training Conference in Las Vegas, NV: March 15-16
2010 Chapter Leader Key Dates Calendar
January 2010 Leader Connection Newsletter
See below for highlights from this month's LCN. To read the full LCN, click here.
CORE-NORE Corner
Chapter Operating Requirement (CORE) Reminders – Survey Due 1/31/2010
• The deadline to submit the CORE survey, along with your board roster, member roster, and operational plan is January 31. The CORE survey link was sent to your chapter’s designated CORE contact December 3, 2009.
• Send in your 2010 board rosters to core@astd.org. If your chapter is not on the Chapter Administration and Membership Program (ChAMP), you must also submit your membership rosters to the same email address as part of the CORE requirement.
• You can calculate your joint membership percentage yourself by requesting a national member list by state from your chapter coach. Chapters participating in ChAMP can calculate their joint membership percentage directly from the ChAMP membership report.
• Click here to access the CORE workbook, and remember additional resources are available at www.astd.org/core.
• If you have any CORE-related questions, please contact your chapter coach or send an inquiry directly to CORE@astd.org.
65 Chapters Have Signed Affiliation Agreements -- Has Yours?
As of today, 65 chapters have signed affiliation agreements. All chapters should have a signed affiliation agreement on file with national ASTD no later than January 31. To see which chapters have already signed, visit www.astd.org/affiliationagreements. If you have questions, contact your chapter coach immediately—they are here to help!
IMPORTANT NEWS
CPLP Work Product Submission Updates Affect March 2010 Candidates
Updates have been made to the Candidate Bulletin regarding the work product submission phase of the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) certification process. While most of the updates are informational in scope (simply providing additional clarification and directional support to the guidelines) there are a few new requirements. A summary of the updates was distributed to current candidates via email in mid-December and the revised Candidate Bulletin Chapters are now posted on the CPLP website. Please pass this information on to others who you feel need to know this information and as always please refer individuals directly to Certification Institute staff if they have questions about program policy, procedures , guidelines or instructions. Contact Information is as follows:
• Jennifer Naughton - jnaughton@astd.org or call 1.703.683.7257
• Pat Byrd - pbyrd@astd.org or call 1.703.683.7258
• Diane Daly – ddaly@astd.org or call 1.703.683.8139.
REMINDER! Change to Chapter Excellence Awards Deadline to March 15
In response to feedback from chapter leaders, national ASTD is revising the Chapter Excellence Awards (CEA) timeline. The deadline for submitting an application to be considered for a CEA is March 15. Awards are granted for work completed the previous year and the earlier deadline will help chapter leaders capture the details and metrics of the previous year’s successful program. The winning chapters will be announced at Chapter Leader Day during the ASTD International Conference & Exposition and will have the opportunity to present a “Best Practices” session at the 2010 Chapter Leaders Conference.
Chapter Excellence Awards webcast (January 27, 1 p.m. ET)
Is your chapter doing great things in the areas of strategic partnerships, advancing the profession through Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) activities, or joint membership? If so, your chapter could win a Chapter Excellence Award (CEA) and a $1,000 cash prize! For details about the awards categories and how to apply (deadline is March 15!), join us for a webcast facilitated by Veronica Bruhl, CPLP, National Advisor for Chapters and a member of the original Awards Team. Visit the CEA webpage at www.astd.org/cea for additional information.
Reminder: Chapters may not submit applications for the same program in consecutive years. Chapters may submit applications for a different program in the same category, or for different categories entirely. Click here to visit the CEA website and access the 2010 application.
Upcoming Webcasts
Bridging the Skills Gap: New Factors Compound the Growing Skills Shortage
Wednesday, January 20, 2 p.m. ET
Hosted by Jennifer Homer, ASTD Vice President of Communications and Member Relations. When was the last time you assessed the skills of your workforce? Does your workforce possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to move your organization to the next stage of success? This webcast highlights key findings from an updated white paper from ASTD about the impact of the skills shortage.
Talent Management Focus Group
Monday, January 25, 1 p.m. ET ASTD research on trends indicates that talent management continues to be a hot topic—one that is talked about a lot but defined differently by many. The ASTD Talent Management Advisory Committee recently refined the ASTD definition of talent management and would like chapter leader feedback and input. If your job entails talent management or if you’re just interested in this subject, please join us for this one-hour focus group conference call/webcast. The ASTD definition for discussion and optional background reading materials will be emailed to registered participants in advance. The focus group will be facilitated by Kella Price, CPLP, National Advisor for Chapters, and Pat Galagan, ASTD Talent Management Advisory Committee liaison. To register: http://talentmgmt.eventbrite.com
Chapter Excellence Awards webcast
Wednesday, January 27, 1 p.m. ET
Is your chapter doing great things in the areas of strategic partnerships, advancing the profession through Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP) activities, or joint membership? If so, your chapter could win a Chapter Excellence Award (CEA) and a $1,000 cash prize! For details about the awards categories and how to apply join us for this webcast facilitated by Veronica Bruhl, CPLP, National Advisor for Chapters and a member of the original Awards Team. Visit the CEA webpage at www.astd.org/cea for additional information.
2010 Chapter Leader Orientation What every 2010 chapter leader needs to know to get started!
Thursday, February, 18, 2 p.m. ET
All 2010 chapter leaders are strongly encouraged to attend this orientation. This session is crucial for any first-time chapter leader or returning chapter leader who would like to update their knowledge of national ASTD resources and chapter leader responsibilities. A few of the topics include the Chapter Leader Community website resources, Chapter Operating Requirements, joint membership marketing materials, and an introduction to the National Advisors for Chapters and chapter services team members. Bob Zimel, Mid New Jersey Chapter and National Advisor for Chapters, will present the webcast.
International Conference & Exposition News and Information
International Conference Discounts and ChIP Commissions
Your chapter members can qualify for the special chapter team discounted rate for the International Conference & Exposition in Chicago, May 16-19, if you have at least five chapter members attending. The special chapter team rate is $900 for national ASTD members and $1,200 for nonmembers. In addition to the discounted registration for chapter members, chapters can earn 10 percent commission (up to $80 per registration) for registrations using the Chapter Incentive Program (ChIP) code. Note: all members of your conference chapter team must be members of your chapter. To set up your chapter team, send Jeannette Lindsey at least five conference registrations with payment (jlindsey@astd.org or fax: 703.683.8184). Chapter teams will be established when at least five registrations from the chapter are received. Once the chapter team is established, subsequent chapter team members may register online. Click here for the conference registration form.
Mark your Calendar for Chapter Leader Day 2010
Chapter Leader Day will take place at the ASTD 2010 International Conference & Exposition in Chicago on Sunday, May 16. During this event, chapter leaders attending the International Conference can network with fellow chapter leaders and learn about available resources. In addition, chapter leaders can take advantage of the Chapter Room throughout the conference for additional networking and programming. Participation in Chapter Leader Day activities is FREE to attendees registered for the ASTD International Conference & Exposition; however you must register in advance to participate! More details on how to sign up will be available later this month.
ALC News and Information
The 2010 ASTD Chapter Leaders Conference will be held at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, VA, September 30-October 2. Make plans to join us for another great event as we share best practices and network with ASTD's top chapter leaders!
Don't miss this event! Make sure your chapter has ALC earmarked as a line item in your 2010 chapter budget. Conference registration is $195, and the preconference is $99.
2010 ALC Chapter Budget Planning Questions:
• How many chapter leaders will we send to ALC?
• Will our chapter pay for conference registration, preconference registration, hotel accommodations, travel, and/or meals?
• Will our chapter offer a fixed amount of reimbursement or pay for the costs in advance?
• Will any of our chapter leaders potentially facilitate a session? (Session facilitators are offered complimentary conference registration. Preconference registration is $99. The Request for Proposals will be available in March.
Tools for Chapter Success
National Advisors for Chapters Resource
The National Advisors for Chapters (NAC) are distinguished past chapter presidents who volunteer to assist and advise chapter leaders. To learn more about how the NAC can help your chapter and to find out which Advisor will be supporting your chapter in 2010, visit /nac.
Deadline to Participate in Group Form 990 Filing: March 15
All ASTD chapters are responsible for maintaining their records and complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including tax laws.
A chapter that is a subordinate organization under the ASTD Group Exemption letter may elect to participate in the IRS Group Form 990 filing if a series of conditions are met (the primary condition being the chapter has gross receipts of $25,000 or more for the year). National ASTD must receive a request for inclusion in the 2009 Group Form 990 filing no later than March 15. Click here to find out if your chapter qualifies for the group filing and download a sample letter.
Small tax-exempt organizations that previously were not required to file returns are now required to file an annual electronic notice, Form 990-N. Organizations that do not file the notice may lose their tax-exempt status. The deadline to file Form 990-N electronically is May 15 (or the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of your tax year).
New SOS Submissions and SOS Submission Form
For added convenience, chapter leaders may now submit a Sharing Our Success (SOS) best practice using a new SOS Submission Form in Microsoft Word format that chapters can download, complete, and send to sos@astd.org. Print copies of this form and provide to new board members so they can begin submitting best practices. Chapters may still use the online form as well.
The Baton Rouge, Central Florida, Central Iowa, Eastern Pennsylvania, Upstate South Carolina, and Utah chapters recently received SOS recognition for their efforts. View their best practices and those of other chapters on the Sharing Our Success – “Success Stories” page.
Chapter Joint Membership Challenge – Thanks for Participating!
The end of 2009 brought the chapter joint membership challenge to an end. Many chapters initiated programs in 2009 to reach the goals of this challenge. Final results will be determined once all chapters have submitted their membership rosters with CORE. Stay tuned for a list of winners!
“Power of 2” National Membership Rate Remains $169 for 2010!
ASTD announces that the “Power of 2” membership rate will remain unchanged—at $169—for 2010. Be sure to place this announcement in your upcoming chapter newsletter and website so your members can take advantage of this special offer. When ASTD members join both the national organization and their chapter, they choose to be knowledge leaders in the learning and development profession and affect change in their communities as well. This is the “Power of 2”—belonging to both national ASTD and the local chapter. Chapters with more national members have a stronger leadership pool, and joint members tend to be more engaged in the chapter.
Order Chapter Business Cards Online as low as $13.80
OfficeMax, and ASTD partner, offers special pricing for your chapter’s printing and office supply needs. OfficeMax has your chapter’s logo on file, allowing you to conveniently place online orders for the following items:
• business cards (as low as $13.80 for quantity 250)
• letterhead
• #10 envelopes
• note cards and envelopes
To order online, use this link: www.corpez.com/astd. To place an order via telephone, contact Kenneth Hammond, Strategic Account Manager, OfficeMax Impress at 703.863.9931 or KennethHammond@officemax.com.
ASTD chapter members also may enjoy discounted rates on other printing needs and supplies at OfficeMax by presenting their discount card in local stores. Orders can be placed at the Print and Document Services counter. Click here to download an OfficeMax discount card and visit your local OfficeMax.
More Than 50 Speakers Now in New ASTD Speakers Bureau
National ASTD recently launched a new, free resource for chapter leaders to identify speakers for chapter programs and meetings. The ASTD speakers bureau is a repository of speakers connected to the workplace learning and performance profession. More than 50 speakers are now registered with the bureau. To download the user’s guide, search for a speaker, or refer a speaker, visit the website at www.astd.org/speakersbureau.
News from National
Employee Learning Week Success—Share Your Story!
Did you do something to promote Employee Learning Week (ELW) in your chapter or company? If you did and have not yet sent an email telling us about it, please do it soon. The ELW website will be updated in January with the 2009 Champions of Learning, and Champion of Learning certificates will be distributed to those who told us what they did for Employee Learning Week. Email your story, and a company logo or event picture, to elw@astd.org. Thanks for your support of employee learning! If you want to mark your calendars: Employee Learning Week 2010 will be December 6-10.
T+D Highlight: Engaging in the Public Workforce System
Engaging in the public workforce system can benefit both you and your organization. You can create partnership opportunities to ac¬cess additional training funding for your organization that can help you grow and develop your talent. Consider partnering with local institutions of higher educa¬tion (community colleges or universities) or not-for-profit organizations (such as Goodwill) that can apply for training grants. To learn more about the public workforce system and how you can participate, click here to read an article by Michael Ferraro in the January issue of T+D.
Content to Go Provides Easy Access to Learning Resources
ASTD is a resource-rich association that brings practical tools and information to its members. One of the most useful resources is the Content to Go offering that puts some of the most current literature from the profession literally a click away. If you haven’t used this resource yet, check it out by clicking here.