Consulting SIG Bulletin August 2008

For the Consulting SIG you might think that our success is measured by the number of members served. Or, the number of programs delivered. Good metrics, but these only give us part of the picture. Your Board is more focused on those programs, and service and support offerings, that retain membership. We feel that if we retain a member, then we are providing something of value to our community. This core measure is inescapable. Where you choose to spend your time, energy and effort is directly reflected in how that single number shifts.

The challenge we face, and I have noted this challenge in this newsletter before, is in trying to build community where none physically exists. Our membership is global. We are geographically dispersed. We often find ourselves living our work lives far from our home communities at client sites. With this in mind, our mission on the Board has been to provide a forum for:

Our current technology is incapable of supporting our mission. A challenge with which we have struggled for the better part of two years. That doesn't mean that we haven't done our level best to add value, but we know that we could create so much more if only we had access to a collaborative technology platform to support the connections necessary to foster a vibrant online community.

This situation is going to change. In 2009 the Board feels we will have access to the technology that will be instrumental in supporting the creation of an online community of practice that not only retains members, it will provide opportunities for active connection and collaboration that will foster community growth.

Look for an increasing stream of communication in the coming weeks and months as we plan for the future of our PMI Consulting Community. In the meantime, please avail yourself of the opportunities for professional development identified here in Connections, as well as on our website at www.pmiconsultingsig.org. We thank you for your continued membership and look forward to your active involvement and feedback as we chart a new course. For our truest measure of success will be in what you find through participation.

Our annual PMI Consulting SIG general meeting is coming up in October. We will be meeting Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2008, in Denver, Colorado. Watch the next issue of Connections for more details concerning specific meeting times and location.

If you are in the Denver area, or will be attending the PMI Global Congress, North America that week, please save time to meet with your Consulting SIG colleagues.

The Consulting SIG continues to have one of the fastest growth rates of all the SIGs and remains one of the largest SIGs. We are experiencing a tremendous growth of new members.

As of early August 2008, the Consulting SIG is comprised of 4480 members. This represents a growth rate of 50% in the past year.

Thank you for your membership! We are very pleased that you are part of the Consulting SIG community. As many of you are new to the Consulting SIG, you likely have a question, comment or would like to contribute in some way. We want to hear from you! Do you have a story to share, a consulting experience worth noting, a burning question, or something else. I would like to hear from you and learn a bit more about you; please feel free to contact me at membership@pmiconsultingsig.org.

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Register today to attend PDD 2008 and join us in the celebration. We know you will enjoy great hands-on project management interactions and gain in-depth project management skills and knowledge during this exciting event.

Risk SIG and France-Sud Chapter to Hold Risk Management Symposium

November 3-5, 2008 • Nice and Monte Carlo

The RiskSIG, in collaboration with the France-Sud Chapter, are excited to celebrate the climax of its 10th anniversary year with a Risk Management Symposium to be held in Nice and Monte Carlo, November 3-5, 2008.

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Registration Now Open for the 2008 Professional Development Summit

November 6-8, 2008 • Honolulu, HI

Please go to the PMI Honolulu Chapter website to find all the details – and register. Click on the link to the 2008 PDS, then click on the registration tab to register. You may also download a registration form and mail to PMI Honolulu Chapter.

PMOSIG to hold "Advancing the PMO" Symposium 2008

November 9-11, 2008 • San Antonio, TX

With over 20 sessions, attendees will become engaged in important PMO issues, share insights and participate in Q&A forums. PMOSIG Executive Chairman, Art Drake, announced "…the symposium will fill an important void for all Program Management Office professionals to engage in many sessions by industry focused practitioners." Mr. Drake also emphasized "attendees will be able to gain insight facing PMOs from different industries and different levels of maturity…whether you're considering starting a PMO or already working in an established PMO. This is the premier PMO event for 2008 where attendees can earn up to 19 PDUs."

Register online

CSIG Partners with the MetSIG to Offer Free Webinars

The MetSIG will soon offer a webinar series on ”Measuring for Project Success with Proper Organizational Governance” by Steve Rollins MBA, PMP, PMOC. Watch for more details.

If you missed the live webinars of the 2008 MetSIG Online Congress, archived webinars are now available for download. PMPs earn 1 PDU for each 1 hour webinar.

MetSIG Chair Steve Rollins, PMP recently delivered a series of 10 live, one-hour webinars on the topic of
"PMO and the Portfolio: Measuring Towards Value." PMPs earn 1 PDU for each 1 hour webinar.

Webinar are free for CSIG members, just enter promo code CUSMET7.