CPCUG Entrepreneurs and Consultants SIG
Speakers and Meeting Facilitators
| "I just learned today that we received a new client from the talk
I did last year in DC. Last year, the World Bank contracted Redmon
Group to develop e-learning for them. Only today did I learn that they
found out about us from the talk I did at CPCUG last March.
"Thank you for giving me the opportunity!"
--John Redmon, Redmon
Group Inc., April 2004
|
General Information About Our SIG Meetings
The CPCUG Entrepreneurs and Consultants SIG usually meets the third Saturday of each month, usually at--
Cleveland Park Branch Library, 1st Floor Meeting RoomOur meetings usually run from 1:00 to 3:15 pm (with attendees sometimes staying as long as another hour or so, picking the brains of the speaker(s), talking, networking).
(betweem Macomb and Newardk Streets)
3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC MapLibrary is open on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Meeting room entrance is on Newark St.--at right side of library. Or use main entrance on Connecticut Avenue and go to far right. Room is through last door on left before stairs and exit.
Restrooms--1st floor, at Newark St. entrance, or, from inside of library, on first floor, facing front door entrance, go all the way to the left and up 4 steps
If equipment needs to be set up, speakers should arrive by 12:30 pm. Otherwise, speakers should arrive by 12:45 pm.
What We Expect of Our Speakers
Focus on the Topic
Meeting attendees expect quality content-filled presentations. They attend to learn how to build or expand upon their business knowledge. Attendees do not expect or want a sales pitch for products or services.
Objectivity
We strive to hold meetings with balanced, unbiased presentations.
Ability To Answer Technical Questions
Attendees want speakers with hands-on, practical, relevant experience--speakers who can answer their questions.
Advance Preparation
To insure a successful presentation and meeting, we may request an advance copy of your presentation via e-mail the week before the meeting.
PowerPoint Tips
Jesper Johansson, a senior security strategist and frequent speaker at conferences and custom workshops around the world, offers 14 techniques for avoiding "Death by PowerPoint" on his blog.
Although there is no fee or honorarium for speaking at our meetings, we do publicize our SIG's presentations and speakers in periodicals such as The Washington Post and the Monitor of the Capital PC User Group; on several Web sites including Netpreneur.org; and via related e-mail distribution lists. Several of our meetings have been "spotlighted" on the Morino Institute Netpreneur.org Web site and in that week's Netpreneur.org program e-mail blast to 7,500 subscribers.
To maximize publicity opportunities for the meeting at which you will be appearing, please provide the following information at least 6 weeks in advance of the meeting:
- Presentation description--2 paragraphs, including learning objectives and intended audience, whether beginning, intermediate, or advanced
- Speaker biographical information--1 or 2 paragraphs, including experience with the topic and experience as a speaker
- Speaker company or organization--1 or 2 paragraphs
- Information about any door prize(s) and/or giveaway(s)
Typical Meeting Agenda:
12:30 Check-in
1:00 Welcome
1:05 Announcements
1:15 Main presentation
2:50 Q&A
3:00 Closing announcements
3:05 Informal queries, conversation, networking
Optional Post-Meeting Gatherings
Several times a year a smaller group (usually about 4 to 12) goes to Nanny O'Brien's (3319 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 202-686-9189, 2 pm Saturdays to 2 am Sundays) or another local establishment for continued conversation, networking, and refreshment following the meeting. (Participants pay for their own beverages and food.)
We're flexible about meeting format and can probably tweak the format to suit the needs of our speakers.
Parking: Very small lot, off Macomb St., to left of library.
Metrorail: Cleveland Park Station on the Red Line (on Connecticut Avenue, just 1.5 blocks north of meeting site)
Meeting Room Facilities and Equipment Requirements
Equipment requirements vary from speaker to speaker.
The 1st floor meeting room has a projection screen.
A large table, small table, and chairs can be arranged as you wish in the speaking area.
We may be able to reserve a small lectern and an easel tripod (without paper) for the meeting room--speakers should let us know of these needs in advance.
We will need to make arrangements to bring in the additional equipment and supplies you will need.
Please let me know which option(s) meet your needs:
(1) Speaker brings laptop and high-resolution projection equipmentNote--when audiovideo equipment is to be used, meeting facilitator should bring--
(2) CPCUG brings high-resolution projector and cable (to connect to a laptop computer the speaker brings--we need to know whether PC, Mac, or both)
(3) CPCUG brings laptop computer (with Sprint card for wireless Internet access)
(4) CPCUG brings overhead projector for transparencies
(5) CPCUG makes reservation for small lectern and/or tripod
(6) CPCUG brings blank transparencies and markers
(7) CPCUG brings easel paper and markers
(8) CPCUG brings chalk (for 2nd floor greenboard only)
(9) We need to know about plans for using live Internet in advance so that the necessary equipment and accessories are available
- Multisocket electrical outlet strip
- Long extension cord
- 3-prong to 2-prong electrical outlet converter
The CPCUG equipment options and limitations are described in the following paragraphs.
If a different meeting room must be obtained, the "Meeting Planning Checklist for Potential Meeting Rooms" may be of help in making a selection.
CPCUG has portable equipment to help support SIG meetings:
- Two high-resolution projectors (SIGs must reserve a high-resolution projector well in advance through Karen Courtney, and arrange for pickup and return.
- One laptop computer (SIGs may reserve the CPCUG laptop computer through Barbara Conn).
- Overhead projector for transparency viewing (reserve through Barbara Conn).
CPCUG has two NEC LT155 high-resolution projectors.
A copy of the instruction manual for each NEC LT155 high-resolution projector is stored in the pocket of each case. Persons responsible for setting up the projectors, who have not used them previously, are advised to read the directions ahead of time. To protect the bulb ($400), be sure to observe the warmup and shutoff procedures.
For additional information:
Case component checklist | Virginia SIG projector | Operation summary
CPCUG gratefully acknowledges the very generous donation of funds for these projectors by Mario Morino, the Morino Institute, and the HillGang.
CPCUG Laptop Computer
Note: CPCUG is planning to purchase a new laptop sometime after the arrival of Windows 7 (estimated date for Windows 7: October 22, 2009)
Hardware
- Processor: Genuine Intel Pentium III
- Clock Speed: 700 MHz
- Random Access Memory (RAM): 512 Mbytes--max (original: 128 Mbytes)
- 3.5-inch Floppy Disk Drive [A:]: Generic NEC Floppy Disk
- Hard Drive [C:]: Generic IDE Disk Type 01; 40 Gbyte
- Compact Disk (CD) Read Only Memory (ROM) Drive: Toshiba DVD ROM SD-C2502
- Modem: LT Win Modem
- Screen Resolution: Current setting, 1024 x 768 (max: 1280 x 1024)
- Wireless DSL Card From Sprint--Automatic connection (works wherever Sprint wireless phones work) and unlimited downloads and connect time
- Mouse, 2 button
- Keyboard, enhanced
- Microsoft Windows XP Pro SP3
- Adobe Acrobat Reader 9
- Adobe Flash 9.0.16.0
- Apple Quicktime V7.1.0.210
- Corel WordPerfect 9 (from WP Office 2000)
- J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 7
- Lavasoft AD-Aware SE Personal
- Macromedia Flash Player 8
- Microsoft Access 2003
- Microsoft Excel 2003
- Microsoft Intellipoint 5.5
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Media Player 10.00.00.4036
- Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1 & 2.0
- Microsoft Outlook 2003
- Microsoft Outlook Express
- Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 (SP1)
- Microsoft Windows Defender Beta 2
- Microsoft Word 2003
- Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.5
- Norton System Works 2005
- Novatel Wireless CDMA Communication Manager, includes High-Speed RAS
- RealPlayer Basic V10.5 Build 6.0.12.1483
Ports and Connectors
- Serial
- Parallel
- PS/2
- USB: 2
- Video
For additional information:
Case component checklist (detailed) | Operation summary
CPCUG gratefully acknowledges the very generous donation of funds for this new Dell laptop by Mario Morino, the Morino Institute, and the HillGang.
Overhead Projector for Transparencies (housed at E&C SIG in Washington, DC)
Apollo Concept 2250 Deluxe
Stage size: 10 by 10 inch
4,000 lumens--suitable for medium to large rooms
Lamp changer with 2 lamps
Replacement Lamps: FXL (Staples item no. 829754)
Portable, with dust cover (firm side covers staging area)
Instruction booklet for setup and takedown
CPCUG Equipment Use Etiquette
CPCUG equipment is available for official CPCUG events as needed. (SIG chairs make reservations for the equipment and arrange for its pickup and return.)
The overhead projector has two bulbs installed. If an overhead projector bulb burns out while you have the equipment, however, please let the SIG chair or meeting facilitator know, so the bulb can be replaced before the next meeting at which the equipment will be used.
High-Speed
Wired high-speed Internet access is not available for our use at Cleveland Park Library.
Wi-Fi is available for our use at Cleveland Park Library, but it is shared with library patrons and slow. A range extender needs to be reserved and brought to the event.
With adequate notice (minimum of a week), we may be able to arrange the use of the CPCUG laptop with its Sprint card for mobile Internet access. Note: This Internet access is slow by today's broadband standards. Speakers are advised to download as much as possible to their laptops in advance of presenting.
Note: CPCUG is considering adding a portable Novatel MiFi Hotspot device, and will probably do so the next time the Internet is integral to a speaker's presentation in a facility without acceptable Internet access in its meeting room(s). This must be arranged well in advance.
Dialup
Extralong phone cord (as long as 200 feet) would be required (there is only one analog jack in the building).
To use dial-up networking in a Cleveland Park Library meeting room, insert a "9" (without the quotation marks) in front of the access phone number (area code plus phone number) to complete the dial-up networking process. (At NIH Lipsett, insert a "9,".)
Attendance at our SIG meetings varies widely, usually from 30 to 100 (in April 2001 we had 107), depending on topic, speaker(s), weather, and whatever else is competing for the time and attention of potential attendees. I ask those planning to attend to RSVP, and I make a guesstimate of the final number.
Are you planning to provide a handout(s)? When would you need to have an audience size guesstimate? (Even when we announce a topic and speaker 4 months in advance, many of the RSVPs roll in the Thursday and Friday just before the meeting.) If helpful, I can give you a preliminary count on a day you choose and then update that number the Friday afternoon just before the meeting.
Meetings are free and open to all.
As considerate guests, we follow the Rules for DC Public Library Meeting Room Use.
http://comm.cpcug.org/weather.html
Policy As Applicable to CPCUG's Entrepreneurs and Consultant SIG Meetings at the Washington, DC, Cleveland Park Library
If DC public libraries (including Cleveland Park) are open, CPCUG E&C SIG can meet.
Official DC Government Closures Web page:
http://www.dc.gov/closures/index.htm
If the Cleveland Park library will be open, but you as the speaker have concerns about the weather and your safety or the safety of attendees in getting to and from the meeting, contact the SIG chair or meeting facilitator between 8:00 and 9:30 am on the morning of the meeting to discuss the situation and possible postponement.
If weather or other issues cause postponement, speakers will be notified by the SIG chair or meeting facilitator immediately. E-mail notices of postponement will go out as soon as possible to meeting registrants and CONENT-L e-mail distribution list subscribers. If at all possible, a notice of postponement will be placed on the the E&C SIG Web site by 11:00 am on the morning of the meeting as well.
Want To Make a Presentation? Have Questions?
Barbara Conn, e-mail, SIG Chair
Return to the home page of CPCUG's Entrepreneurs and Consultants SIG.
July 2, 2009