How to Create/Promote/Host Workshops

Posted on October 28, 2008 
Filed Under Grow People

How to Create/Promote/Host Workshops

The Silicon Valley Chapter Model

By Chet Harmer

Create:

1.  Determine the training needs of the friends and members of the LDS Church in your geographical area.  You can begin this process by interviewing current members of your chapter or sending out a survey.  Interviewing usually works best.   The workshop topics we cover fall into two general areas:  business skills and life skills.

Included in this document is a listing of workshops that have been done in the Silicon Valley Chapter during 2007-2008 along with the duration of each event.  During each of these years we have completed over 40 workshops.

2.  Based on the needs of people in your area, identify current members of your chapter or local community who have the capabilities to teach the workshops.  Try to collaborate with other organizations who have goals similar to the Management Society.  Two of these organizations are LDS Employment and the J. Reuben Clark Law Society.  LDS Employment has good materials and trainers for some basic courses on how to find jobs, how to do resumes and how to do interviews.  LDS attorneys who have a business practice can also be a good source of workshop leaders.  Other good sources would be local trainers and consultants.

3.  Most of our workshops are provided at no charge as a service to our local community.  If there is a charge we give a discount to members of our Management Society Chapter who have paid their dues.

Promote:

1.  We promote our workshops in two ways:

-emails sent through our Management Society sponsored website

-announcements through our LDS ward bulletins.  Since our main audience

consists of friends and members of the Church, we have found bulletins to be

a good way to advertise.  Each bulletin announcemnt is limited to 3-4 sentences.

2.  We have found it helpful to require the workshop attendees to register for the events

on our website.  This helps us to know ahead of time the number of people who

will be attending.  The website has the capability of giving basic information on

each workshop: what it is covering, where it will be held, the duration and who

to contact if you have questions about the event.

Host:

1.  Identify a consistent place where workshops can be held.  In the Silicon Valley Chapter we have a good relationship with the San Jose Institute of Religion and teach most of our workshops there.  We always invite the students to come to the workshops.  For workshops that have a charge we find a local business with a training room who will provide us the facility for our use.  In exchange for the room we give the business 3-4 slots in the workshop for their employees and/or customers.

2.  The attendance at most of our workshops ranges from 15-30.  We have found that this size gives the workshop leader a better chance of answering questions and teaching his material.

Workshop Listing

                                                                                                                        Hours Duration

Business Skills:                                                                                              Per Session

The Basics of Finding and Successfully Competing for Good Jobs:

1.  How to Find Good Jobs                                                                            2

2.  How to Develop Effective Resumes                                                         2

3.  How to Have Effective Interviews and Then Follow-Up                         2

Advanced Internet Job Search Techniques                                                                2

How to Form, Run and Improve Small Businesses (2 sessions)                                 2

How Leaders Get Extraordinary Things Done                                                           2

Process Improvement Skills:

1.  How to Achieve Your Business Goals and Objectives Through the

Use of Six Sigma Basics                                                                     3

2.  Applying Six Sigma Basics to Your Own Business Problems

(2 sessions)                                                                                          3

3.  The Process Improvement Experience (includes a business

simulation)                                                                                          8

Understanding Income Tax Laws and Managing Your Money                                 3

Life Skills:

Personal Finance Workshop                                                                                        3

Advanced Personal Finance Workshop                                                                      3

The Basics of Estate Planning and Administration (2 sessions)                                 2

Preparing and Organizing Your Personal & Estate Information                                2

Scholarships & Grants for Education; Grants & Loans for Small Businesses            2

What is Your Credit Score and How to Improve It                                                   2

What is Foreclosed Property and How to Purchase It                                               2

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One Page Business Plan

Posted on October 14, 2008 
Filed Under Focus Efforts, Uncategorized

Soon, Joel Deceuster is going to post instructions on how to get started with a One Page Business Plan for your chapters.  Stay tuned!

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BYU Management Society Regional Conferences at Temple Dedications

Posted on October 7, 2008 
Filed Under Uncategorized

Troy Romero suggested that we may want to organize some type of BYU Management Society meeting/conference in connection with temple dedications. They are logical gathering places/times for our constituency and could foster more involvement. Any thoughts?

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BYU Management Society Annual Leadership Conference 2008

Posted on October 7, 2008 
Filed Under Act Professionally, Align with BYU and the Marriott School, Focus Efforts, Grow People, Live the Vision, Meet Purposefully, Think Globally

BYU Management Society

Annual Leadership Conference

October 2-3, 2008

 

            By all accounts, the BYU Management Society Annual Leadership Conference, held October 2-3, 2008 on campus in Provo, Utah was a rousing success.  Over 100 participants from 11 countries enjoyed beautiful weather, surroundings, company and educational and motivational workshops, speeches and seminars.  The vision of the Management Society of “growing moral and ethical leadership around the world” was a focus of the entire event.

 

            The conference began with a day in the mountains at Aspen Grove.  The hills were on fire with the colors of fall in the mountains.  The opening sessions were held in the Emerald Lodge, with a breathtaking view of the Wasatch Mountains through a floor to ceiling glass window about 3 stories high. Gary Cornia, Dean of the Marriott School gave an update on accomplishments at the Marriott School and introduced the Lowell Bennion Award recipient and keynote speaker, former Dean Ned Hill.  Hill recognized the accomplishments of the namesake of the award, Lowell Bennion, reminisced on trips he made over the years to Management Society chapters all over the world during his 10 year tenure as Dean.  He also shared anecdotal experiences to drive home the vision of the Society, “growing moral and ethical leadership around the world.”

 

            Ron Malouf, National Advisory Council member and Chair of the NAC Management Society committee, addressed the importance of service to the community and Management Society members.  Chris Feinauer, Alumni Association Liaison, shared tips on “Board Structure, Recruiting and Use.”  Chet Harmer, new member of the International Steering Committee member over New Chapters, discussed successes in the Silicon Valley chapter, which in the last year included an astounding 96 events and 9,300 participants.  Perhaps more impressive is the focus on service to its members through business workshops which teach people how to get, keep and improve jobs..  Silicon Valley also works closely with the J. Reuben Clark Law Society in calendaring and publicizing events.

 

            A one-hour “Success-o-rama” was then held covering topics such as Golf tournaments, scholarships, breakfasts, employment councils, career fairs, surveys, Young Professionals, newsletters, the new Hispanic Chapter and big company involvement.  Concurrent sessions were then held for chapters at different stages in their development including: new, struggling and strong.  A dinner program featured music by a bluegrass group, “Brushfire,” and keynote speaker, Michael Webb, who addressed how to establish a strong network of business contacts to find a job at any stage in your career.

 

            Friday began on campus in the new Tanner Building addition, with a hot breakfast, a “State of the Society” address by Chair Bill Chapman which reviewed the major events by chapters throughout the world during the last 12 months.  It was announced that the 2009 Regional Conference will be held in Europe at a specific loction to be determined.  Chair-Elect, Troy Romero, then gave a presentation on the One Page Business Plan, a new goal setting program introduced to the Society by Steering Committee member and NAC member, Joel Deceuster, of Silicon Valley.  Concurrent database training seminars were then conducted by Rixa Oman (beginning) and Robert Gardner (advanced).  A panel of Steering Committee members addressed each of the Society’s Cultural Beliefs.

 

            Bradley R. Agle, PhD and Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, led a thought-provoking discussion on a case study on ethics.  A luncheon was organized by region so that chapter leaders could share what they had learned and discuss local issues, unique to each geographic area.  Following the luncheon each country outside of the United States took a turn highlighting events and progress in each of those countries.  Gustavo Estrada next spoke on LDS Employment and networking.  The international and domestic chapters then separated to focus on topics pertaining to each of those types of chapters.  A closing session allowed participants to set goals based on things they learned at the conference, followed by an open discussion on highlights of what was most helpful.

 

            An added dimension to the Conference was a Friday night dinner meeting, first ever for the new Hispanic Management Society, with Elder Pingree giving the keynote address.  Over 100 were in attendance.

 

            A great deal of enthusiasm flowed through from the start to finish of the conference.  Interactive discussions allowed a liberal exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences.  Friendships were made or renewed and a new commitment seemed to be felt by all present. 

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Ideas for Expanding Services and Membership

Posted on October 7, 2008 
Filed Under Live the Vision

Some ideas on the partnership between the BYU Management Society and LDS Employment (Employment Resource Services, ERS):

The intent of the ideas above is not to announce these as policies but to start a discussion. Any comments would be welcome.

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Jeff Chavez, Entrepreneur, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch

Posted on August 30, 2008 
Filed Under Uncategorized

Great YouTube piece on former Orange County friend of mine, Jeff Chavez, who now lives in Austin Texas and works with an angel investor firm. He was on The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch.

It’s about what a small firm that has faced a natural disaster should do to bounce back but applies to any company at any time. You can find it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxSBbsvQZno

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Emma Smith Movie - Huge Success for Silicon Valley

Posted on July 27, 2008 
Filed Under Live the Vision

Due to the energized efforts of our past chapter president, Chet Harmer, the Silicon Valley Chapter sponsored two viewings of the new movie, Emma Smith - My Story.  Plus we sponsored the executive producer Michael Kennedy and his wife in a fireside the night before.  The fireside was standing room only with hundreds attending. 

Chet agreed to use our chapter’s event calendar and web site registration tools to organize the event.  All 550 seats were sold our within a couple weeks.  Demand was so great as a results of our publicity that the theatre owner decided to extend the movie for two more showings.  We raised a few thousand dollars for the Joseph Smith Jr Family Foundation. 

 Chet is now meeting with Candelight Productions to negotiate our ability to sponsor future films as fund raisers for the Management Society here in Northern California.  We’ll certianly keep everyone posted about his meeting in case you may be interested in doing the same thing in your chapter.

 The strategic by product of this experience is the expanded awareness that so many now have of the BYU Management Society and what we stand for.  We’ve added hundreds of names to our email contact list and will be inviting them to future events.  This event built our repuration and awareness amongst many who never knew we existed. 

This is just one example of how one person can make a huge difference by creatively organizing and utilizing our resources.  A big thank you to Chet Harmer and his wife Marilyn who helped make this such a success. 

And by the way, the movie was excellent as was the fireside.  If you have a chance to hear Michael Kennedy be sure to do so.  He is the first direct decendent of Joseph Smith to hold the priesthood in this dispensation.  The purpose behind this film is to reach out to the Joseph Smith Jr Family and express the great love the Lord and his Church has for them.  Michael’s conversion story is fascinating as is the great mission with which he has been charged by the brethern of the Church.  If you have questions you can direct them to Chet Harmer  chetharmer@sbcglobal.net   

Joel Deceuster - Steering Committee Member/Silicon Valley Chapter

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Using the “New Media” To Get Our Message out

Posted on July 26, 2008 
Filed Under Uncategorized

I think Facebook will be a great way for us to stay in touch and expand our membership. I know that many of us have little to no experience with Facebook and it is just one more thing that we do not have time to learn. However, it is the wave of the future and undoubtedly our children are already there.

It will be a way to reach the students and younger generation to get them involved with the BYU Management Society. To the graduating classes of both BYU-Hawaii (Saturday, December 15, 2007) and BYU-Idaho (Friday, April 11, 2008) Elder Russell M. Ballard, of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, called upon the graduates and their guests to use the Internet to take our message to the world. On 21 April 2008 Elder Ballard was honored for his life-time achievement by the Brigham Young University Management Society in Washington D.C. where he addressed the group which included such notable people as Senators Harry Reid, Orrin Hatch, Robert Bennett, and Gordon Smith and raised the same plea. (Transcript of his address to the Washington, DC chapter of the BYU Management Society.) The cover story of the July Ensign, also written by Elder Ballard, was on this same topic.

If you have not already done so, I suggest you create an account on Facebook (it only takes a few minutes to enter the minimum information and you can expand it later). Then, as a separate step, join our Facebook group, “BYU Management Society.” Also, as indicated in the last post, some chapters are forming their own Facebook groups on the chapter or other levels. Then you will have greater access to information about events, people, news, etc. Please post any comments you might have on this topic either pro or con.

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BYU Management Society Facebook Groups

Posted on July 25, 2008 
Filed Under Uncategorized

We now have a Facebook group, “BYU Management Society.” We already have 49 members and counting but we need you to join and invite your friends to join. This is a Facebook group for all BYU Management Society members and friends worldwide. (You do not need to be an alumnus of BYU or a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to belong but we do adhere to the standards of those organizations.)

Also, we have set up groups for individual chapters or interest areas, including:

We encourage chapters everywhere to create a Facebook group for their chapter.
If you are not a member of Facebook, please sign up and join our group. It is the best way to stay up to date on everything that is going on and stay in touch with other Society members worldwide. We would especially like to see people uploading pictures and videos of chapter events around the world. Wouldn’t that be cool?

We are going to have a workshop at the Annual Leadership Conference October 2-3 on how to use social networking to assist us in our vision of “growing moral and ethical leadership around the world” through the BYU Management Society. Please post your comments on how you think we can use these Facebook groups to achieve our goals.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing all of you that the Annual Leadership Conference!

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Church News Cover Story on BYU Management Society

Posted on July 24, 2008 
Filed Under Uncategorized

The Saturday, July 12, 2008 issue of the Church News cover story was devoted to the BYU Management Society.  For those of you who did not see it,  it is reprinted below.  We encourage everyone to has a few minutes to e-mail the author, Jason Swenson,  jswensen@desnews.com, and thank him for covering this story.

BYU Management Society enters fourth decade promoting business ethics

Saturday, July 12, 2008
LDS Church News

Corporate integrity

BYU Management Society enters fourth decade promoting business ethics

By Jason Swensen
Church News staff writer

Sobering tales of bad business behavior and fraud are easy to find. Simply unfold the finance pages of your daily newspaper or enter “corporate scandal” on an Internet search engine. The stories will file across the page like crime suspects in a police line-up.
Indeed, high-profile allegations of business fraud have transformed corporate brands such as “Enron” into synonyms for avarice. Meanwhile, local papers tell of senior citizens scammed of their life savings by fraudulent men and women they once trusted.
Sometimes the con artist and victim are members of the same congregation of various religious faiths. Since Latter-day Saints are not exempt, some will find they are in the same ward or stake— fellow members and friends.
Earlier this year, the First Presidency urged members to be wary of fraud and expressed concern that “there are those who use relationships of trust to promote risky or even fraudulent investment and business schemes.”
Locating accounts of ethical, moral business practices is a bit trickier. Conducting honest business is typically transparent. It goes unnoticed. When was the last time you called your mechanic and thanked him for correctly repairing your transmission at the estimated cost?
Still, Church leaders have long said that morality and ethics are essential in business. In his October 1987 general conference address, Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve said free societies are built upon foundations of moral values.
“Only in an atmosphere of freedom and trust could values like honesty and integrity truly flourish and thus encourage others to pursue their rights to liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
So it’s alarming, he added, when daily media accounts detail the corrupting influence of dishonesty — from “small-time” stealing and cheating to major embezzlement, fraud and misappropriation of money or goods.
Despite the many stories of corporate malfeasance, many members insist the term “business ethics” is not an oxymoron. Entrepreneurial Church members, they say, can adhere to a strict moral code and make a go in the business world.
An organization dedicated to ethical and moral corporate leadership has drawn LDS businessmen and women together for more than 30 years. In 1977, Elder Merrill J. Bateman — then dean of Brigham Young University’s College of Business — founded the BYU Management Society.
The society was designed to bring together business professionals who shared a desire for high ethical standards even as it helps develop corporate leaders worldwide via networking and mentoring. Today, the society includes some 6,000 members doing business in 40 cities in 10 countries.
As it enters its fourth decade, the need for an ethics-anchored business society remains, said William Chapman, chairman of the society’s international steering committee.
“We feel that there is a crisis in the world in (areas) of morals and ethics,” said Brother Chapman, a California attorney and bishop.
By utilizing its many chapters throughout the world, society officials hope to regularly drive home ethical and moral practices in businesses of all sizes. Society chapters meet regularly, allowing LDS professionals to interact with fellow members and discuss ethical issues they may be facing. Speakers at those meetings often focus their words on moral business leadership.
The society also hosts an annual leadership conference at BYU during the week of the October general conference. Again, ethical and moral leadership anchors their message.
BYU Management Society’s Executive Director Rixa Oman is familiar with the anecdotes of members who might separate their “church” life from their “work” life.” The society, she said, is committed to “connecting the values with what we do on Sunday and what we do every other day.”
Besides its work in the chapters, the society also performs a mentoring role by supporting the BYU’s Marriott School of Business, said Sister Oman. Included in the school’s curriculum are several courses that focus on business ethics.
Despite its obvious connection to BYU, the management society is not exclusive to graduates of the school or even Church members. Ethics-minded business professionals of all backgrounds are welcome to join.
Brother Chapman said the society’s influence extends beyond LDS business professionals and students. For example, a local newspaper regularly covers the seminars sponsored by a local chapter in Orange County, Calif. Perhaps weary of “businessmen behaving badly” stories, the editors of the paper were eager to include coverage of members of the business community dedicated to moral business practices.
“All we can do is continue to talk about (ethics),” Brother Chapman said.
As the society grows, its leaders hope to realize the challenge extended by Elder David B. Haight:
“We need members of the BYU Management Society to help build the moral base of our communities. You have standards, ideals and values that will not only lead you to success, but will bless and strengthen this nation and all the world.”

E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com

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