Association of Career Professionals International

Tennessee Chapter

11:30 a.m. � 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Millennium Maxwell House, Nashville, Tennessee

Attendees:

Dan Aronoff, FranNet

Lisa Beaty, DBM

Jim Bellar, Middle Tennessee Career Center

Gary Boling, Belmont University

Tanya Evrenson, Middle Tennessee Career Center

Gina Greenlee, Middle Tennessee Career Center

Amy Herr, Career Insight/Shahan & Associates

Patricia Jacobs, Belmont University

Matt LeBlanc, NGP

Lori LeBleu, Belmont University

Charlsie Matthews, Belmont University

Meg Milam, Middle Tennessee Career Center

Mike Shaughnessy, Career Resources

Michael Sweeney, Career Consultant

Kristen Tompkins, Vanderbilt University

Guin Tyus, Middle Tennessee Career Center

Kristen Tompkins, ACP President, greeted the members and guests.

NEW BUSINESS

Kristen Tompkins, ACP President, introduced new guest Dan Aronoff from FranNet.

Meg Milam, Treasurer/Secretary, informed the group that our chapter�s treasury balance is $1445.98.

Kristen Tompkins, ACP President, announced the 2006 ACP Board nominations � President: Jim Bellar, Program Chair: Meg Milam, Public Relations and Membership: Lori LeBleu, Treasurer/Secretary: Lacy Nelson, Board Members at Large: Gary Boling and Lisa Beaty.  A motion was made to accept these nominations as the new Board Members for 2006.  It was seconded, and approved by the ACP members.  Kristen congratulated the new Board.

Door prizes were donated by the Nashville community (see attached list of donors).  Names were drawn, and the prizes were given.

Patricia Jacobs announced an upcoming Strong Interest Inventory workshop from CPP.  The workshop will be held January 6, 2006, at Vanderbilt University for $45.00.  For more information, please visit the CPP website.

Program:

Mike Shaughnessy, ACP Board Member, introduced our speaker, Elisa Negroni.  Elisa is well known for her Speaking Circles groups and workshops in Tennessee, including several six-week "Be With" Groups, which studied the principles of the Speaking Circle concept. She received her training directly under Lee Glickstein, founder of Speaking Circles International. Elisa has 15 years experience in Community Relations and Family and Marriage Counseling and received her SSW in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She also has several years experience in Sales and Event Planning and Coordinating.

Through individual consultations, small group workshops and Speaking Circles, Elisa will guide you on your path to Authentic Presence.

More information on Elisa Negroni�s business can be found at www.power2speak.com.

Elisa Negroni began by stating that in presenting yourself before an audience, there are basic, simple things that will make that connection with your listener powerful and impactful.  She proposed that she would like the group to practice some basic exercises that will start us on the road to having the desired connection with our audience.  This connection is gained through relational presence � allowing space where a relationship/connection can occur between you and your listener(s).  She asked us to close our eyes, and to imagine a place where we are �not trying� � not trying to relax, not trying to stop thoughts from coming, simply not trying.  When we found that place, we were instructed to raise our hands.  Then, we were asked to imagine that we were sitting face-to-face with another human being � still not trying, not judging.  Ms. Negroni requested that we now open our eyes, and be in this place with her.

Relationship Presence is developed by having �available eyes.�    The idea is to have a conversation with one person at a time � your words must be making a connection with your listener.  In the next exercise, we were directed to face our partner.  For 15 seconds, we were instructed to look at our partner with a soft neutral gaze � no nodding, talking, judgment, etc.  At the end of the 15 seconds, Ms. Negroni asked how it felt to have �available eyes.�  The group mentioned feelings of discomfort, weirdness, etc.  Ms. Negroni explained that we, as speakers, are not used to having available eyes, and that it takes practice to have that availability, the relationship presence.  We repeated this exercise with slight alterations � gazing for 30 seconds, and then having one partner talk for one minute while the other presents available eyes (the object was for the listener to practice neutrality, maintaining a soft gaze with no judgment, no talking, no nodding, etc.).

The eyes are the key to making the connection with your listener.  Speakers must try to maintain a soft, neutral gaze that is free from judgment and threat. 

Ms. Negroni graciously accepted and answered questions at the end of her presentation.