March/April 2005 Volume 1, Issue 1 |
IN THIS ISSUEAnnouncementsFrom the Board - Embracing Change CONTEST! PRIZES! About Our Newsletter Mentor's Corner Who Are We? From the Editor:We would like to encourage anyone to submit articles to the new ICCA Greater Boston Chapter newsletter. If you know of anyone interested in free publicity, ask them to write an article of any size or topic pertinent to our organization for submission in the next issue of our newsletter. The good news is the smaller the article, the better, since long articles are hard to read on-line.We are very open to ideas and suggestions regarding article topics in all sections of the newsletter, including: Local or Chapter Announcements Articles Member-to-Member Spotlights Member-to-Member News Mentor's Corner Submit ideas or articles to:Kim ReddingtonDirector of Communications kreddington@ deluxetechnologies.com Next Deadline:April 27, 2005 for the April/May Issue |
Free Food! Free Meeting! Contest! Welcome to the new ICCA Greater Boston Chapter Newsletter. This newsletter is in need of a catchy name!!! We could just call it Greater Boston Chapter Newsletter, but that would be just way to boring for us, don't you think? Computer Consultants can be very creative. Let's show the world what we are really made of!!To get you all motivated, the Board of Directors has decided to hold a contest! The prize will be admission to one ICCA meeting for free food, free advice, and free networking.
You may submit as many names as you wish!! Name submissions should be sent to: Kim Reddington Director of Internal Communications of ICCA-GBC Chapter kreddington@deluxetechnologies.comAt our last meeting we had elections for our new annual board of directors. Some of the directors stayed on with the same title, some chose to try out a new position, and three new member joined the board. Check out the new BOD list at the end of the newsletter. A great thank you goes out to all who ran!! Embracing ChangeAs we begin a new fiscal year, this organization faces some difficult challenges. Events beyond our control are reshaping computer consulting in the Greater Boston area. Fundamental changes have taken place and there are no signs that we'll ever return to the hot 90's.Consider these points: 1) Outsourcing to offshore locations appears to be a long-term and irreversible trend. 2) The major computer suppliers (eg. IBM and HP) are increasingly in direct competition with our members. 3) The big consulting shops (eg. IBM, CSC, EDS) are taking over corporate IT operations and making buying decisions for them. 4) There are an increasing number of mid-sized service providers satisfying all the IT needs of small businesses. Where does this leave you, the independent computer consultant, and how does the ICCA fit in? Our challenge is to adapt to the new landscape. We can't fight change. We need to embrace it. Understand it. Leverage it. Your newly formed Board of Directors is committed to helping you traverse this new landscape and thrive as an independent small business. The ICCA must change and adapt to the new reality. Our National organization is re-visiting our bylaws to make us more responsive. Your local chapter is working on a mission statement and set of goals to better position us. We are considering significant changes to our monthly dinner meetings to make them more interesting and useful to our members. Change is always unsettling and we don't claim to have all the answers. The ICCA Boston Chapter has a proud and vibrant history. We are financially strong with an energetic membership. The future can be better and brighter both for the organization and for your business. We simply need to be willing to embrace change and use it to our advantage. We welcome your ideas and any help you care to offer. Vin D'Amico, Vice President of the ICCA-GBC Chapter Damicon, LLC - http://www.damicon.com I would like to give everyone an introduction to our newsletter. I will be continually looking for articles and submissions to each of the sections of the newsletter and encourage members and non-members alike to contribute. Contributing is a great way to get your name in print and help other members to learn what you are all about. Currently the issue is scheduled to come out every other month. The deadline for the next issue will always be published in the preceding issue. Here is a brief explanation of what I am proposing for each section. Any article idea that is entertaining and/or informative will be a great asset to the publication. Sections and their description:
Director of Internal Communications of ICCA-GBC Chapter Deluxe Technologies - http://www.deluxetechnologies.com How To Obtain More Clients, Part 1: ReferralsDo you want more clients? In this issue, we examine the method consultants typically find the most valuable: Referrals. In upcoming issues, we'll cover additional ways.The best source of new clients for most consultants is referrals. From whom, you may be thinking? There are many sources:
Referring your clients to consultants in a complementary field is common (as an alternative to partnering or subcontracting). Web site designers and graphic artists frequently refer clients to each other. What's the best way to encourage referrals. Give referrals. In December 2003, I received a phone call, "Norman, this is Chuck from Some Consulting, Inc. in Chicago. We're looking for a consultant with in-depth knowledge of the Health Level Seven Reference Information Model. Mike Henderson suggested you're that person." I had given Mike (a fellow consultant in my field) a referral in the spring of 2002 that resulted in a good contract for him. While Mike knew several other consultants with that expertise, I suspect he gave me the referral to repay the favor. How else can you encourage referrals?
Consider rethinking your referral strategy to increase your client base! Do you have any additional suggestions related to referrals? Email them to NormanD@DaoustAssociates for consideration for inclusion in the next issue. Norman Daoust Past President of ICCA-GC Chapter Daoust Associates - http://www.DaoustAssociates.com Founded in 1976, the Independent Computer consultants Association (ICCA) is a national not-for-profit organization of independent computer consulting firms sharing the highest ethical and professional standards. The ICCA offers great services and benefits to its members including business and health insurance, marketing programs, a National Conference, standard form consulting and subcontracting contracts, and many discount programs. For additional information regarding the ICCA or to search the National Membership Directory, visit the national website http://www.icca.org or the Boston website http://www.icca-boston.org Board MembersPresident - Vin D'Amico - president@icca-boston.orgVice President - Mike Spanos - vicepresident@icca-boston.org Treasurer - Michael Stiefel - treasurer@icca-boston.org Secretary - Peter Dwyer - secreatary@icca-boston.org Director of Programs - Gordon Corzine- programs@icca-boston.org Director of Internal Communications - Kim Reddington - newsletter@icca-boston.org Director of External Communications - Bob Goodearl - extcomms at icca-boston.org Director of Membership - Jim Connell - membership@icca-boston.org Past President - Norman Daoust - pastpresident@icca-boston.org Legal StuffThis message comes to you via the Chapter Members list of the Greater Boston Chapter of the ICCA.If you believe it has reached you in error, or if you do not wish to received further messages from this list, visit the following URL and follow the instructions there: http://secure.commercestreet.com/icca-boston/ChapterMembers.asp Alternatively, you can send a message via US Mail to: ICCA, Greater Boston Chapter Attn: Chapter Email List Unsubscribe 11131 South Towne Square, Suite F St Louis, MO 63123-7817 Publisher: Greater Boston Chapter of the Independent Computer Consultants Association, www.icca-boston.org Copyright &#copy 2005, Greater Boston Chapter of the Independent Computer Consultants Association This newsletter may be distributed without charge as long as it's distributed in its entirety. Individual sections and portions may be distributed with permission. |