The Nashville Chapter of PMI has just scheduled its 6th Annual Symposium for September 20-21, 2010 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Cool Springs. We encourage you to mark your calendars for this informational and educational event. It will provide a great opportunity to mingle with fellow project managers from different industries, network, and log credits needed to maintain (or earn) certification. Look for more information as it becomes available at www.pminashville.com. If you have an educational presentation and would like to submit a proposal for consideration, visit www.pminashville.com. The Call for Papers ends June 18, so make sure you get your submission in as soon as possible.

In late April, representatives of the chapter traveled to Tampa for the annual Region 14 meeting (includes chapters from TN, FL, SC AL, GA and the Caribbean) to learn about what other chapters are doing. The group had many great takeaways, including insight into PMI Global from PMI Executive VP and COO, Mark Langley, and an increased emphasis on volunteer development. The theme of the meeting was clearly around leader development and sharing best practices across chapters. The 2010 strategic goals established earlier this year by the PMI Board support the PMI Global theme and will result in expanding our PMI leadership team, providing more opportunities for PDUs and diversifying these options, increasing our focus on customer satisfaction, and shifting our focus to strategy.

In addition to the PDUs offered, we will further diversify by possibly holding a charity golf tournament and starting a mentoring program pilot with volunteers this summer. Steve Yeager (Director, Career Networking) is looking to organize the tournament, and has already engaged a sponsor for a car giveaway. A volunteer to head up the mentor pilot has been identified, and is working to put a design together. If you are interested in volunteering for either endeavor, send an e-mail to volunteer@pminashville.com (and/or fill out the form found on the website). Look for more in the weekly e-mails from Mike Denison (VP, Comm.) or on the website in the coming weeks.

The board is considering a registration and pay policy change for events. Over the past couple of years, the chapter has subsidized luncheons, but each month, there is a significant number of no-shows, adding to the overall cost. As a result, the board is looking to better shepherd your money by emphasizing online registration and mini- mizing cash at the door to lower costs and losses. The price of the former will not change, but there will likely be an increase on the pay-at-the-door. This is not an easy decision, but it is one the board feels will make the entire registration process smoother for luncheon attendees.

Hope all is well with you and yours. If you have any questions, comments or con- cerns, please feel free to reach out to me at president@pminashville.com.

Charles Lebo President, PMI Nashville