We have VAs coming from the following states in Australia:

ACT, NSW, SA, WA, VIC, QLD, TAS – only NT not represented so far (but that could change).  So, if you’re in one of those states and wondering if anyone else is coming, then the answer is yes!

We also have a delegate coming from the US so if you’ve been wondering whether or not to make that trip – the answer is, yes, you can do it too! We would love to see you and after Oprah having showcased Australia the way she did recently, what a great opportunity it would be for you to come and visit us in Melbourne – and add a bit of time to do some touring too!

About one of our speakers – Paul McCarthy:

If you want a presentation that really ROCKS, then look no further than Paul McCarthy. Paul is a rare speaker with the ability to really connect with audiences and compel people to want to reignite their desire to take action. A former professional musician, Paul provides any conference with a unique blend of business savvy and first class entertainment. Whether exploring his unique approach to Rock Solid Marketing, Selling to a different BEAT or any of his compelling keynote presentations, Paul’s down-to-earth, innovative and fun style make for an unforgettable experience.

Paul is a born performer. A former lead singer, Paul can use his beautiful voice to powerful effect to bond and move an audience – or he can draw on his diverse and colourful background to share amazing stories that people instantly connect with. Paul brings humour and flair to every presentation and his natural warmth has made him a hit with audiences everywhere.

When people leave one of Paul’s presentations they know there is no turning back. His compelling message tells people �You can’t change what you’ve done, but you can change what you’ll become�. Now the future is in your hands. If you would like to make your business’s next conference an actionpacked adventure filled with great take-away value, then make sure you book Paul McCarthy to deliver one of his powerful keynotes.

About our sponsors:

The following are supporting our event and we thank them for their involvement which assists in keeping our delegate costs down.

• Virtually Yours Virtual Assistant Network
• Australian Virtual Business Network
• Womens Network Australia
• International Virtual Assistants Association

Please make sure you visit their sites to learn more about them.

Also, we have a fantastic list of door prizes and giveaways being built.  There will be something for everyone and the conference showbags are starting to look very good indeed!  So don’t delay – get your booking in today so you don’t miss out!

Have you checked out who’s coming?

http://australianvaconference.com/registration/whos-attending/

Put the dates of 18-19 March 2011 in your diary now and plan to come to this fantastic event for the Virtual Assistant industry.

It’s great to see the numbers growing for the 2nd annual Australian VA Conference (AVAC). We would love to take this event around the country, with a conference in a different state each year, so the more we have attend and get involved, the better the chances are for that happening.

We have some fantastic giveaways for this event!  How are these for starters?

• Laser printer
• Full year membership to the Step It Up VA Success Circle
• 6 Steps to 6-Figure VA Success System
• 12 month’s membership to A Clayton’s Secretary

Of course, you are only eligible to win one of these items if you are attending the conference in person.  We have other offers coming in, stay tuned!

We are still taking bookings for the trade table and also sponsors for the event. So if you are interested, or know someone who might be, please pass on the information and get them to contact us via the website!

We hope by now you’ve heard about this exciting event, but if not, then it’s not too late to get involved!

We are excited to be putting on a conference for VAs by VAs and we promise you that the lineup will include names well known to many as well as the Virtual Assistant industry. Speakers such as Melinda Brennan SuperWahm, Judith Field Direct Speech, Michael Licenblat Bounceback Fast, Paul McCarthy Business Support Network, and Cris Popp Laughter Works just to name a few. And our wonderful MC from last event, Warwick Merry, will be returning for the whole event in 2011.

Coordinators for AVAC are Kathie M. Thomas from “A  Clayton’s Secretary” and Anita Kilkenny from AKA Virtual PA, along with team members: Sally McIntyre, Karen Nankervis, Maree Carroll, Kylie Short and Charly Leetham.

Tickets are only $299 (inc GST) which includes a choice of sessions, morning and afternoon refreshments, a networking lunch and the chance to mingle with sponsors and speakers.

If you would like to make contact with us, provide suggestions, become a sponsor or want more information, please fill out the contact form at our site and either Kathie or Anita will get back to you very soon.

The links below will give you more information.

• Registrations
• Speakers
• Contact Us
• Speakers
• Program

We are still seeking sponsors for the event so if you are interested, or know someone who would be please visit the  Sponsorship page for details.

I attended the first AVAC Conference in 2010 and it was a FANTASTIC event.  It was such a great opportunity to meet and network with other VAs and I also learnt new skills that I could implement in my business.  Don’t delay, book your ticket to AVAC it’s a great investment in yourself and your business.

Claiming your Vanity URL on Facebook is really simple, just follow the steps below:

1. Go to www.facebook.com/username
2. Login to Facebook if you aren’t already
3. Click ‘Set a Username for your Pages’
4. This brings up a drop down menu, select the page you want to create the username for – remember, your page needs to have 25 likes!
5. Enter your desired username and click on ‘check availability’
6. If it’s available, you will be shown some final terms – if you are happy with your choice click ‘confirm’ or select ‘cancel’ and try another option

So what are you waiting for – get 25 likes for your page and claim your vanity URL today!

I am also a member of several Virtual Assistant Forum, on one particular forum a VA raised an issue she was having with a potential client, as the discussion progressed, it was discovered that it actually affected several other Virtual Assistant’s on the list and although I wasn’t affected, I was blown away by the support and advice that other VA’s on the forum gave each other, I am very fortunate to belong to such a great community of Virtual Assistants that support, encourage and inspire each other!

Seriously, Wednesday morning’s breakfast was the highlight, Peter was such a great speaker and imparted such valuable information.

Hope your week has ticked along nicely, what was your highlight?

• You don’t ask, you don’t get
• At some time you have to draw a line in the sand and deal with a problem
• You can change a mindset if you have a vision and stay focused

Building a Brand / Business

1. Start with a Plan (Where do you want to be in three years? How big do you want to be?  What are the barriers to achieve this?
2. You need to have Partners (Business Partners – how are you going to deal with disagreements? Staff – when you get the right people in your team (or on the bus) you will go great places)
3. Build relationships with your Suppliers
4. Develop a ‘Yes’ face – say ‘No’ with a ‘Yes’ face (see the alarm clock as an opportunity clock)
5. Keep learning – use your car as a university (listen to CD’s / audio books while driving)
6. Relationships – get along with people
7. Stop messing with dead things
8. Vision – have a vision, without a vision you will lose focus, visualise your business and what it will be like
9. Marketing – Marketing Pie Chart (get all your collateral together and have a look at what message you are sending to your customers – is your branding consistent?).  Learn to stand out, don’t do what everyone else is doing (Great book, Purple Cow by Seth Godin)

The opportunity to grow in business is usually up to you!

Great way to start the morning and I particularly like thinking of the alarm clock as an opportunity clock!  Have you heard a speaker that really motivated and inspired you?  What was your key learning?

Here is a summary of what was covered:

What is the purpose of a meeting?
The purpose of a meeting is to exchange idea and to obtain an outcome that can be successfully implemented.

Agenda
An effective agenda provides an outline for the meeting, it provides a focus for the meeting.  Be careful not to cram too much into the agenda, there needs to be time for discussion.

Time
Start on time and finish on time, so simple yet SO important.  Try and choose a suitable time for people, if you can please everyone, then alternate the day or time for the next meeting.

Environment
Make sure the room is large enough, has adequate seating.  A u-shape or boardroom setup works best as attendees can all see each other.

Leader / Facilitator / Chair
The leader / facilitator / chair should control the flow of the meeting and ensure it meets the meeting objectives.  The leader / facilitator / chair should be motivated, enthusiastic and be a role model for the other committe members.

Group Members
Group / Committee members should prepare for meetings by reading documents and reports prior to the meeting and then after the meeting, completing any actions assigned to them.

Minutes:

• are a legal document that may be presented as evidence in a Court of Law
• comprise the official record of the organisation
• must include:
• date and time of meeting
• who attended and who put in an apology
• correspondence
• business transacted and decisions made, including the wording of all motions
• actions taken
• time of closure
• indicate action to be taken in relation to the business of the organisation and should identify who will take that action
• should be concise and record important happenings, decisions made and actions to be taken
• must be dated and numbered.  If they are computer generated, a space should be left at the bottom of each page for signature by the chairman or acceptance
• Must record the exact wording of all motions, should be written in neutral language and should only record facts, not opinions

Usually it is the secretary’s responsibility to take the minutes but if the organisation is large and the secretary is particularly busy then it is quite in order to appoint a minute secretary.

Preparing for the AGM
The President, Secretary and Treasurer all have a role to play before the AGM.  These task vary depending on the group or organisation.

The AGM should be chaired by the President and the meeting usually has the following components:

• Welcome and Apologies
• Minutes
• Correspondence
• Annual Report
• Annual Finacial Statement
• Elections
• General Business
• Guest Speaker
• Conclusion

If you would a copy of the notes, please feel free to email me and I would be happy to scan them and send them to you.

It also highlighted how important it is to have your systems and processes well documented, it just makes it so much easier for anyone to complete tasks you would normally do.