Contents This Week

• Members Tip: Social Media (side bar)
• Professional Package Information (side bar)
• Monthly Comment
• Featured Cause for April: RSPCA
• Professional Development Workshop: Schmooze School
• Young Professional Lifeskills Seminar: Online Marketing Plan in 30 minutes
• The April Schmooze: Members Only VIP event
  
• Business Lunch Club: Living with a Carbon Tax and Other Sustainable Issues
• Meet a Member: Frank Madrid
  
• Member Hosted Event: CRBEC
• Member Hosted Event: The Street Theatre
• Member Hosted Event: Light House Innovation Centre
• Member Hosted Event: Snowy Hydro Southcare
• Member Notice: Link Digital Position Vacant
• Member Notice: Inspired Connections Offer

You'll find more events on our website calendar.

Members can also add their own, by logging in and going to the Add an Event page for inclusion on the website and this enews (which reaches some 1500 people a week now).

April Comment

There is so much going on this month I'm not sure where to start.

If you're near the University of Canberra on the afternoon 11th, they are hosting an inaugural Business Resources Showcase (see their facebook page here) and Schmooze will be an exhibitor, as well as yours truely being one of their guest speakers and running some short workshops on social entrepreneurship. If any members (especially young professional members ) want to pop in and help out on the booth- as well as hand out info about their business, please get in touch with me with this week.

We're delighted to be working with the RSPCA ACT this month as our Featured Cause, it was an easy decision to make when it was suggested by one of our members earlier this year!  We'd love more ideas for later this year of local charities to help promote, so please send your suggestions in.

Also in the works are some refinements to the website (thanks to our lovely sponsors at Link Digital) which will include some new photo illustrations to keep things fresh.

We tend to work several month's in advance in developing our events, and I'll mention that at the end of July we'll be staging a Members Expo. This will be open to the public and held at the National Press Club to showcase the great quality and diversity of our membership. We're in the early stages of planning, and so stay tuned for opportunities to participate- we're aiming to make this a mega- Schmooze event!

Finally, we've another poll on the website to help us plan where to start our third Chapter .... help us out to decide where to go and vote here.

We've a great line up of events, plus some fabulous new member hosted activities, so get out there and get Schmoozing!

Phillip

Founder and Director

Featured Cause for April: RSPCA - ACT

We're delighted to be working with the RSPCA -ACT this month as our Featured Cause of the Month.

We'll be sharing news and stories about them throughout the month of April, as well as take part in the Million Paws Walk in May with our Schmooze mascot, Harry and friends.

RSPCA ACT receives over 8,500 unwanted, neglected and abused animals every year. They respond to more than 1,000 cruelty complaints each year. Animal care centre cares for between 350 and 800 animals on site every day of the year.

They spend more than $3,600,000 annually in the ACT on direct animal care, protection and welfare services. The RSPCA is an independent autonomous registered charity and receive only limited government funding (less than 11% of our annual budget).

They are available 365 days a year and undertake the following activities:

• operation of an animal care centre for companion animals with capacity for up to 500 dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, rodents and chickens
• direct work with orphaned and misplaced wildlife with a view to release back to the wild. We have capacity for 450 native animals and manage more than 100 species annually
• investigation of cases of alleged cruelty or neglect
• raising community awareness of animal welfare issues
• working with governments, stakeholders and the broader community towards ensuring adequate legislation and awareness is in place and
• raising funds to support these functions.

For more information on how you can support the RSPCA and get involved please visit their website.

Professional Development Workshop: Schmooze School

This event is proving very popular- please RSVP soon to confirm your place

This month we cover everything you wanted to know about the art of Schmoozing and more!

Schmooze offers the most unique combination of events, services, professional development and marketing opportunities, we think, of any organisation of its type anywhere.  But how can you make the most of all the opportunities we offer?    Or perhaps you're just curious about us and want to find out more about the organisation and its possiblities for your career or business.

Presented by Schmooze's founder, Phillip Jones and his team, this event will have two parts:

• Expert insights and practical strategies and tips on how to integrate effective networking into your professional, marketing and PR goals in a confident and cost effective manner
• How to leverage all the many opportunities and communication channeks Schmooze offers to promote your expertise, services and create business and professional opportunities.

The event will be fun, interactive, and participants will receive a complimentary copy of the Schmooze Guide to Professional Networking, and is suitable for all levels of experience.

We've designed the evening to be perfect for newcomers to Schmooze, as well as members wanting to ensure they gain the most of their membership.

• Where: National Press Club
• When: Tuesday 12 April from 5.30pm to 7.30pm
• Cost (includes presentations and complimentary drink on arrival): free for members, non-member guests:$55 each (invoices issued when you RSVP)
• RSVP: by 7 April, rsvp@schmooze.net.au

Young Professional Lifeskills Seminar- Online Marketing Plan in 30 Mins

This popular monthly series of seminars is designed for under 30's, that provide practical insights that participants can apply in their professional and personal lives.

Too many businesses start the process of online marketing by choosing the sharpest tool in the shed without even having a game plan in place.

In 30 minutes this workshops will get attendees thinking about how their plan should look, what included and where to start.

• Where to start with your plan and what should considered
• Where does your website, social media and direct marketing fit in
• What comes now, next and later
• The 'get started' online marketing plan

Our Presenter

This seminar is presented by Todd Wright, director of Threesides which is a Canberra based marketing, online and training company that works with clients to develop, implement and evaluate the marketing of their products and services. Specialising in digital marketing, Threesides helps clients to gain and maintain a competitive advantage for their business online.

• Where: Diamant Hotel, New Acton
• When: Monday 18 April from 1730-1900
• RSVP: Reservations are essential- limited to 12 participants. Please RSVP by Friday 8 April via rsvp@schmooze.net.au.  Non-member guests and social members will be invoiced when they RSVP.
• Cost: Free for young professional/professional members (must be under 30 to attend), Social members $35.00/  Non-member guests: $55 includes a complimentary drink on arrival

The April Schmooze: VIP member-only event

This month, its time to channel some Mad Men mojo, dress sharp, and join us for an exclusive and intimate event exclusive to Schmooze members only.

Our hosts are The Push Agency in their stunning new offices in Kingston.

Push is Canberra’s newest and brightest digital agency. Founded by digital industry veteran, Jimi Bostock, and local marketing entrepreneur, Pawl Cubbin, Push is bringing a new level of digital thinking to the marketplace. Push will focus on creating engaging online content, social media, online marketing, and online video.

• When: Wednesday 27th April from 1730-1930
• Where: Push Agency Offices, Level 4, 59 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston
• RSVP: rsvp@schmooze.net.au by 15 April 
• Please note: there is a strict limit of 60 members for this event- and to ensure as many members have an opportunity to attend we request that only one person per organisation attend. 
• This will be a strictly members only event- sorry!

Business Lunch Club: Living with a Carbon Tax and other sustainable ideas!

Following the success of our first sold out lunch, we'll keep the conversation flowing with the very topical carbon tax and related environmental and sustainable policies that can affect the environment business operates in.

Details of our panel will be released soon, but in the meanwhile reserve your place!.

Held on the last Friday of the month, this event will feature three guest speakers who will explore a particular topical issue or theme from their respective sectors viewpoints such as government, not for profit and private sector.

The Business Lunch Club will be limited to 21 people to keep the vibe intimate and personalised and is perfect for business owners and senior managers to meet their peers from a wide range of sectors in a relaxed setting.

• Where: La Scala Restaurant, Civic
• When: Friday 29 April from midday to 1400
• Cost:  Free for members, non-member guests: $55 each including two course lunch and wine.
• RSVP:  to rsvp@schmooze.net.au by April 18th.

Meet a Member: Frank Madrid

Continuing our series of informal chats with our very diverse membership, this week we meet one of Canberra's leading impresario's the very charismatic Frank Madrid!

You can read other member profiles on our website here. 

• Name: Frank Madrid, Director, FAMA Services
• Are there particular influences or role models in your work? The nature of what we do is very eclectic as we are involved in festival programming, broadcasting, touring and marketing of international artists. Brett Sheehy, Artistic Director of the Melbourne International Arts Festival is a real inspiration because he is always keen to challenge his audience though intelligent programming but ensuring that the event is profitable and attractive to sponsors.
• As broadcaster, I look up to those who can conduct an interview as if was happening in their living room or at their dinner table, people like Rove or the American Jon Steward. When it comes to touring artists I admire the work of Peter Noble in Byron Bay who is able to identify those who will totally capture the imagination of tens of thousands.
• Is there such a thing as an ideal project or client for you?  Definitely! An ideal project is one that offers a good fit between the needs of the client and the expertise that our company offers. Helping our clients achieving their goals is our best marketing tool as word of mouth is pivotal in our industry. You are as good as your last gig! This is more likely to happen when we understand and share the vision of our clients.
• Working with the Molonglo Group is a perfect example as the Efkarpidis guys are interested in transforming Canberra using the arts as a tool. They believe that Canberrans are a discerning group of people who take pride in their city and we share those feelings. They are not afraid of pushing boundaries and neither are we so when we plan a project it becomes a very exciting adventure where enjoying the journey matters.
• What prompted you to start your company? I was very lucky to find a mentor who was happy to share his knowledge and expertise but at the same time was keen for me to spread my wings. After several years establishing a name in the industry, my mentor, Justin Macdonnell, moved overseas to take up a post as director of a major arts centre. His departure created an opportunity and he encouraged me to take it up. My company developed its unique personality, driven by my taste and vision and found a niche market. Now that my mentor is back in Australia is wonderful to know that our operations are complementary and I am thrilled to continue to have access to his expertise.
• Do you have a Schmooze story you'd like to share? FAMA has worked very closely with Silver Sun Pictures and it all started to happen after casual schmoozing. After a lively conversation with Rohan Taylor about music, cinema and more I walked away convinced that it would be fun to work on a project with him and a couple of months later an opportunity came up for us to record a live performance of Carmina Burana by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. Having a choice of companies to call I instinctively knew that the guys from Silver Sun Pictures would be professionals but, more importantly, fun to work with.
• Tell us something about the vision for FAMA?   Fifteen years ago we set up to position ourselves nationally and internationally as an effective link between Australia and Latin America in relation to cultural exchange and a catalyst for Australian audiences to discover artists outside their sphere of knowledge. We are very proud of our achievements in regards to our first goal and can proudly say that we have delivered some of the best Latino artists who have performed at major festivals and venues throughout Australia in the last decade.
• We have also opened up platforms for Australian artists overseas. As for the future, I am really enjoying programming festivals and am very encouraged by the recent success of Viva la Gong, where more than fifteen thousand people in The Wong celebrated their love for their city. I am about to embark upon a new adventure, Tropicalia, the first truly international Latino Festival ever staged in Australia.
• The upcoming visit to Canberra of Brazilian Japanese songstress Fernanda Takai to perform at the Playhouse on April 19 will give you a taste of what the festival will be like. Her show is a good example of our vision for FAMA, bringing the best from Latin America to Australia!
• Your website for more information: www.famaservices.com.au

Member Hosted Event:Networking Breakfast

Join Robyn Henderson of Networking to Win and hear:

• How to take the fear out of attending networking events – business and social.
• What makes a great conversationalist and how you can engage people within seconds of your opening line?
• How to approach total strangers easily and effortlessly

• Where: Airport International Motel, 57-73 Yass Road, Queanbeyan NSW
• When: 5 Apr 2011 - 6.45 am to 8.30 am
• More information, cost and Registration on the CRBEC website

Member Hosted Event:Café Rebetika

A story of love, music and defiance.

Music, theatre and dance unite in Café Rebetika!

A passionate and uplifting production that tells a dramatic story set in the slums of 1930’s urban Greece during the rise of rebetika, the “Greek blues”.

‘A great story of tolerance and resilience in hard times. Uplifting!’ THE AGE

‘Sensational! One of the best things I have seen in a long time. It should play the world.’ ABC RADIO NATIONAL

The season runs from April 7 to 16th and for more information and to book tickets  please visit the Street Theatre's website: http://www.thestreet.org.au

Member Hosted Event: Brilliant Idea 1st Anniversary

Schmooze members are warmly invited to celebrate one year of Brilliant Idea, the innovative micro-credit program for women in the ACT.

• Where: Questacon
• When: April 13, 10am to 1230pm
• More information on our website here
• RSVP by April 8
• About Brilliant Idea on their website

Member Hosted Event: Snowy Hydro Southcare Gala Ball

Get your glam-rags and bling ready.... May 7th 2011.

With an Out of Africa Theme for 2011 at the National Convention Centre. Tickets are $180 pp or $2,500 for a table of 10 (includes signage, speciality wine package and donation).

To register for this event, please contact Show Pony Events on P: (02) 6166 2329 or E: jillian@showponyevents.com

Member Notice: Digital Account Manager

Link Digital is a multi-award winning digital design and development agency who is seeking to fill a permanent role for a Digital Account Manager in our Braddon, ACT based studio.

The digital account manager is responsible for increasing revenue from the accounts they are managing by ensuring all clients receive quality outcomes and quality customer care.

They manage all aspects of assigned digital projects, from estimating costs, managing budgets, allocating resources and writing reports for both clients and the studio team. The digital account manager cultivates a good working relationship with all parties involved in digital projects, organises and facilitates meetings to progress work and coordinates activities between animators, designers, programmers and copywriters.

For more information about this role, members please log-in and visit the Notices page

Member Notice: Introductory Offer

• Would you like to improve your organisation's outcomes by energising the dynamics of its people?
• Would you like to step up as a leader in your personal and professional life?
• Would like to ease the process of going through a change in your personal life or in an organisation, transforming your pain and fear into certainty and strength?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions; we can help you find the right solution that will meet your goal.

For a limited time only, Inspired-Connections is offering exclusively to Schmooze members a 10% discount on our comprehensive coaching/mentoring programs for both individuals and organisations.

For more information, please log-in and go to the Notices page.