Welcome to Speakers & Sponsors

LIKE our new Facebook page to enter the exciting world of sponsorships, creative fund raising or join our consortium of distinguished speakers.

If you're seeking sponsors . . .
There are plenty of opportunities for acquiring sponsors to fund your event. Understanding the rules of engagement is key. Just like applying for a job with a targeted resume, sponsorship value propositions must match regulatory, business and marketing requirements of potential sponsors.

If you're a Sponsor seeking community causes or events . . .
iPower Global Solutions is specialized in helping companies achieve bottom line results by solving the problem of finding sponsorees who are the right fit.  Realizing the highest impact for marketing reach is iPower Global Solutions focus.

If you're a Speaker seeking opportunities to share knowledge . . .
LIKE our page to find out the next steps of joining our speaker network.

Read More

Arts Managers Invited to Apply for 2011-12 Kennedy Center Fellowship Program

The Kennedy Center Fellowship Program annually provides comprehensive study to up to ten arts managers at the Washington, D.C.-based John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with coursework in strategic planning, marketing, and development; three practical work rotations in center departments; and a series of professional development seminars.

The program emphasizes excellence, creativity, economic problem solving, strategic planning, internationalism, and a commitment to new technologies. Fellows are provided with hands-on work opportunities, a structured blend of independent and collective learning experiences, and the opportunity to work closely with experienced arts professionals in one of the busiest and most artistically diverse performing arts centers in the United States. Fellows are expected to attend performances and educational events, as well as complete significant projects within the context of the Kennedy Center.

The paid fellowships are full-time and last nine months, from September through May. Fellows receive an annual stipend of $20,000 to help defray their housing and transportation costs. Course materials and reimbursement for health insurance are also provided.

The Kennedy Center welcomes applicants with disabilities. Applications must be written in English or have a certified translation.

Visit the Kennedy Center Web site for complete program guidelines, application procedures, and information on previous program participants.

photo courtesy of: ipkitten.blogspot.com

Read More

Recipe for a Happy New Year

   


   Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.
    

  Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.
    

  Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest, prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution.
    

  Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of silliness, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Author Anonymous

Read More

"10 Things to Help Your Business When Sales Are Slow During the Holidays"

1. Evaluate your virtual team and make changes if necessary.
Are administrative tasks taking up most of your time and keeping you from working ON your business? Then hire a virtual assistant. Are you paying too much in taxes? Meet with your accountant to talk about getting more aggressive with write-offs. Remember your virtual team can include payroll processors, lawyers, and Excel wizards -- anyone who can lighten your workload, so you can focus on big-picture strategizing.

2. Learn how to get more business via your Web site.
Would you like to generate business leads and sales 24-7? Then look at how your Web site could be working better for you. Scope out some new websites that specialize in writing copy that sells. Or, do a Google search for free reports on hot topics like traffic generation, list building, and social media.

3. Revamp your ezine or launch an ezine.
Remember that having a ready list of warm prospects is your goldmine, and having an ezine positions you for more sales on a regular basis and for the LONG-TERM. The beginning of the New Year is the perfect time to release your first issue!

4. Clean out that e-mail inbox once and for all!
Unanswered e-mails, people to follow up with, information not recorded or filed in the proper places -- when does it end? Vow to get a handle on your inbox. Delete e-mails that are more than a few months old. Set up e-mail folders to help you stay more organized in the future. And if your program allows, set "rules" to automatically sort incoming e-mails into those folders.

5. Clean out your filing cabinet, bookshelf, desk, etc.
Is your office a fire hazard? Will your spouse not even enter the premises? Put on some good music, start digging, and make piles. Make sure to have plenty of trash bags and cardboard file boxes on hand. (And a good glass of wine always makes it more fun!)

6. Upgrade or clean up your computer.
Your computer probably holds most of the information that's crucial to your business, so take care of it! Upgrade your operating system (do you STILL have Windows 95?), get rid of unnecessary files, archive old files to an external hard drive, add more disk space for all those downloads, and do system maintenance. Not sure how to go about this? Find a geek-for-hire to come and help you out.

7. Let your clients know how much you are thankful for their business.
Whether you choose to send holiday cards or thank-you notes, this is a good practice for both your business and you. Letting the universe know you're grateful for what you have will only bring you better things in the future.

8. Plan an upcoming teleseminar.
For a quick cash-flow boost, plan a paid teleseminar! Phone-based events are easy to do and can be very effective income generators. Either host it yourself on a topic you're qualified to talk about, or invite a special guest to interview. To encourage holiday signups, offer special pricing for those who register before the New Year.

9. Write down your 25 best accomplishments for this past year.
This simple exercise is extremely powerful. I start by lighting a candle and writing down my 25 accomplishments. Then, taking each one in, I read them aloud. After the last one, I blow the candle out, and then IMMEDIATELY make a list of 10 goals for the New Year. (After truly acknowledging all the amazing things you did this year, you'll feel incredibly powerful and set even higher goals!)

10. Actually enjoy the holidays!
In the past, I ran around like a nut every December, and the next year would always hit me before I could even blink. I’d be back to the grind shortly thereafter. But, as a business owner, it’s crucial that you give your body and soul a rest.

So now, I do things differently, and I think this new way is much more balanced: Remind yourself what the holidays are for -- to take a step back and appreciate what you have, to enjoy your family and friends, to give to others, and to be good to yourself. So take that walk in the snow, go to that tree lighting with your kids, get that massage, and plan a leisurely shopping day during the week. You’ll be back to work before you know it.

Remember, we only have so many Christmases in a lifetime.

© 2010 Ali International, LLC

Self-made entrepreneur and Inc. 500-ranked CEO Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow profitable businesses that make a positive impact.

Read More

Free Press Release for Supporting Breast Cancer Walk

No Family ever really recovers when a member is lost to cancer.  So additional research can be performed to prevent more family separations, we ask for your support me as we participate in the 5^th Annual Breast Cancer Walk.

 We walk together to help find a cure so that we will never have to say goodbye to someone we LOVE because of this horrible disease. Please help support this cause  by clicking here to make a quick donation.  Any amount is greatly appreciated. 

For any donation over $100, iPower Global Solutions will write and distribute a free press release for you personally or your business ($500 value).  A press release is a high impact tool for branding and marketing.  Thousands of dollars in advertising costs are saved by distributing a press release. With so many businesses and hiring managers using Google to get additional information about people, a press release provides excellent publicity, including career professionals in the job market.  Beyond a resume or brochure, a press release augments your skill/service offering in being recognized as an expert in your field.
================================

Read More

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York - Board of Directors

Position Title: Member of the Board of Directors

Function:  Board Member
Position Type: Board (Unpaid)
Posted On: 9/30/2010

Job Description: The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York seeks to recruit members for its Board of Directors, which is the governing body for the chapter.  The current board is comprised of 18 high-performing members with significant access, influence and giving capacity in the New York market who help the organization achieve its strategic goals and widen the network of people and resources to help the chapter realize its ultimate aspiration: reaching and serving all medically eligible children.

Board recruitment is a strategic priority and the organization seeks to recruit 10 new members over the next two years.  The ideal candidate should be able to help deliver increased access to the New York community at a higher level of influence for board recruitment, fund raising, and identification of Gala honorees.  Diversity (age, gender, ethnic, and industry diversity) is highly desirable as we look to serve a multi-cultural market.

The strategic intent of the board recruitment initiative is to help the Foundation achieve its true mission potential and close the gap between wishes granted annually (531 last year) and the number of children newly diagnosed each year with qualifying illnesses (more than 800 children) by elevating the influence and fund-raising capacity of the organization and increasing the diversity of its members. Qualifications: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York

BOARD OF DIRECTORS REQUIREMENTS FOR 2010-11

Attendance Requirements:
•Attend 3 of 4 business meetings (call-in option available when out of town)
•Attend annual social meeting

Financial Requirements:
•Raise, or cause to be raised, $30,000 annually
•As part of this commitment:
(1) Provide introduction to your company for workplace giving and other support
(2) Participate in the identification/cultivation/solicitation of Wish Sponsors and other major donors
(3) It is recommended that Board members include Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York in their will

Other Major Initiative:
•Pledge a meaningful gift to the Wish Fund that meets or exceeds the Board’s leadership giving (average Board pledge was $102,000 in FY10; range of gifts is $80-170,000; average pledge payment period 3-5 years)
•In the future, participate in any other major organizational initiative that requires full Board participation

Participation Requirements:
•Attend and support the Annual Gala as a title sponsor or table sponsor and/or identify 2-3 prospects with the capacity to contribute at least a table sponsorship
•Support at least one other fundraising event and one cultivation event annually

Committee Requirements (Choose one of two options):
•Actively chair or serve on a Committee or
•Develop a high-level fundraising activity that is expected to raise an additional $100,000 or more (e.g., create an industry-wide event or cause marketing campaign or agree to be an honoree at Annual Gala)

Identification of Prospective Volunteer Leaders:
•Identify annually at least one qualified candidate for the Board, Advisory Board or New Leadership Council

Other:
•Lend talents and expertise as needed
•Participate in annual round table and other Board evaluation/assessments
•Mention involvement with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in bios

Benefits: The Metro New York Board is the most influential board within the national Make-A-Wish network network of 65 chapters.  Board members are associated with one of the most trusted nonprofit brands in America and fellow board members are distinguished business leaders in New York.

Stewardship is embedded in the organization's culture, and the Metro New York chapter meets all Standards for Charity Accountability of the Better Business Bureau and has received Charity Navigator's highest rating: 4 stars.  The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York was named one of the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work for in 2010 by the Nonprofit Times. Salary: Unpaid Board Position Posting Expiration Date: 3/30/2011 How to Apply Application Instructions: Interested candidates should contact Pat Clemency, President and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York.  (212) 505-9474 or clemency@metrony.wish.org

A volunteer leadership application, three references and a background check will follow the intial meeting with the CEO.  Once the paperwork and background check are completed, qualified candidates will be invited to a prospective member breakfast to meet several members of the Board of Directors. Organization Information Hiring Organization: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York Domain: Human Services Budget $3M - $10M Mission Statement: The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

The chapter is one of 65 chapters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, and is a separately incorporated 501 (c) 3 charity serving the five boroughs of New York City and Nassau County.  The Metro New York chapter was formed in 1983 and has granted more than 8,000 wishes for local children.  In 2011 alone, the chapter expects to grant 540 local wishes and play host to an additional 250 children from Make-A-Wish chapters across the country and affiliates around the world whose wish takes place in New York. Web Site: www.metrony.wish.org City: New York City State: New York Postal Code: 10019 Country: United States

Read More

IBM International Foundation Awards $10 Million to Help Small Businesses

The IBM International Foundation has announced a grant of more than $10 million to establish a free, public Web site designed to help small businesses sell goods and services to global companies.

The funding is part of a commitment by IBM, AT&T, Bank of America, Citigroup, Pfizer, and UPS to standardize and simplify the application process required of small and midsize U.S. suppliers to compete for the nearly $150 billion in contracts collectively awarded by the companies each year. To be created and maintained by IBM, the Supplier Connection Web site will provide users with a single, streamlined electronic application form. Small vendors need only complete the application form once to become potential suppliers to the participating companies, enabling vendors to more easily connect with opportunities to sell their goods and services in the almost two hundred countries where the participating corporations operate. The site is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2011 and eventually draw a number of additional participating businesses.

According to a recent study by the Center for an Urban Future, small businesses often experience a dramatic increase in revenues and significantly increase their workforce after becoming a supplier to a large corporation. But the application process for small businesses hoping to supply large companies can require significant investments of time, money, and expertise.

"Everyone says that small business is the engine for economic growth. We believe opening up new markets for goods and services — in the billions of dollars spent by large companies — can be the fuel that will allow those small businesses to grow," said Stanley S. Litow, vice president of corporate citizenship and corporate affairs at IBM and president of the IBM International Foundation. "I liken the mechanism we're unveiling to a universal college application, which simplified the way in which students could spend less time filling out redundant forms and focus more on academic excellence. That's what we're trying to do here — let small businesses do what they do best, grow their businesses, and not get bogged down in red tape."

“Six Large Corporations Aim to Boost Economy With New Supplier Program.” IBM Press Release 9/14/10.

Read More

Request For Proposal - We Can Change the World Challenge

K-12 Students Invited to Tackle Environmental Issues for the Third Annual Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge

The Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, and the National Science Teachers Association have announced the launch of the third annual Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge, a program designed to educate, empower, and engage students and teachers across the United States to become "Agents of Change" in identifying and solving environmental problems.

Now expanded to include high school students, the third year of the challenge encourages all students, from kindergarten through grade 12, to team up with their classmates to create replicable solutions to environmental issues in their schools (grades K to five), community (grades six to eight), and world (grades nine to twelve).

Teams will be judged on both their ability to create a positive, measurable solution to a local sustainability issue or challenge using scientific methodology and their ability to explain how the solution can be replicated by other communities. Student and teacher/mentor prizes, which vary according to grade level, include savings bonds and school grants.

Teachers, students, and mentors can visit the program's Web site for complete application information and resources, and to register for the challenge.

http://www.wecanchange.com

Read More