Board Meeting - September 8, 2008

1. Ethics

2. Goals

- Increase Membership

- Increase Revenue

- Support Tools

3. Chapter Records

4. Member of the Year

5. Positions & Responsibilities

- President / Kristen Kaleal

- Vice-President / Erica Torres-Dudziak

- Treasurer / Brian Lipstein

- Secretary / Amanda Levy

- VP Membership / Tonya Woods

- VP Education / Michelle Pratt

6. Education Weekend

7. Planning Ahead

8. Chapter Survey

9. Notes

Board Meeting - 7/29/08

Brief History of Chapter

GOALS

Grow & sustain membership

Increase profitability from meetings and

Education Weekend (August 2009)

DUTIES

All

Participate in AICI counterpart calls 2-3 times a year

Attend quarterly board teleconference

Learn to utilize the chapter blog (need a Gmail account)

President – Kristen Kaleal

Main contact

Marketing & Communications officer

Vice-President – Erica Torres-Dudziak

Education Weekend point person

Plan & promote quarterly board meetings (week before or week after meetings)

Manage Member of the Year program

Treasurer – Brian Lipstein

Fiduciary contact

Budget

Secretary – Amanda Levy

Books venue for Ohio meetings

Records chapter meeting and board meeting minutes

VP Education – Michelle Pratt

Coordinate speakers and programs for events

Lead Education Committee (Jennifer Betts and Kathy Callan)

VP Membership – Tonya Woods

Create and manage prospect database

Send welcome note to new members

Member/prospect surveys

Check our chapter email and respond to requests

2008 Member of the Year

Congratulations to our 2008 Member of the Year, chapter president Kristen Kaleal!

Cool Careers You've Never Heard Of - Image Consulting

From MSN Careers

Image consultant
Image consultants advise people with discretionary income how to make positive impressions -- through appearance, wardrobe, etiquette and communication skills -- in order to get ahead in their careers and social lives, and boost their self-confidence. You don't need a college degree, but organizations such as the Training Institute School for Image Consultants (http://www.newyorkimageconsultant.com/) in New York City offer course work in color analysis, wardrobe and style analysis, and personal shopping.

Want to make this your dream job? Join the Association of Image Consultants International (http://www.aici.org/) and see if you can work as an apprentice to someone who has already established herself in the field.

New Member Training Course

If you are planning to participate in the new member training course, here is some info you will need.

- Training will be via conference call and will be two 45-minute sessions per month for three months. (Cell minutes or normal long distance rates will apply.)

- Teleclass sessions will be on Tuesday evenings, 8-8:45pm (that is the only evening I have available on a regular basis).

- You will need to order the text we will be working with:

Looking Good: A Comprehensive Guide to Wardrobe Planning, Color & Personal Style Development by Nancy Nix-Rice. It is a standard text in the industry and touches on almost every aspect of style and image. Amazon.com has them new and used.

- Any AICI OH/PA member is welcome to participate in any of the sessions. If you are not yet an AICI member, we ask that you join the organization before April 15^th if you would like to be a part of this course.

- If you have been an AICI member for under a year and participate in at least 5 of the classes and complete all of the assignments, you will receive a certificate of completion.

- Having this course under your belt will be a great foundation for your business and will get you off to a strong start. In addition, if you wish to sharpen your skills and build on your knowledge base, this is a great (and free!) resource we're providing for our members

SYLLABUS

Session 1 May 6 Intro to Image Consulting

Session 2 May 20 The Basics of Color

Session 3 June 3 Personal Style Evaluation/Fashion Personality
Session 4 June 17 Working with Clients – Wardrobe Evaluation
Session 5 July 8 Working with Clients - Shopping

Session 6 July 22 Marketing & Business Basics

About the Facilitator – Kristen Kaleal
I am a full-time image consultant and personal stylist. I present seminars to corporations, colleges and women's organizations on the topics of professional image and personal style. My personal clientele include television personalities, professional athletes, business people, and women looking to improve their self confidence.

I trained with a former Hollywood wardrobe consultant and at the London Image Institute under Lynne Marks, one of the seven Certified Image Masters in the world.

I teach fashion consulting at Virginia Marti College of Art & Design and am an online and print columnist. I am regularly featured as an expert in the local media. My newsletter goes to over 16,000 people on 6 continents.

Future Leaders Conference Call - March 11

AGENDA

Advantages to serving on the Board

What to expect in the next Chapter year

Meeting Attendance

Surveys

Monthly Conference Calls for Chapter Board

Support – International Board, Intl. conference calls

Broadcast emails and posting archives to the blog

Education Weekend - Summer 2009

Position Descriptions
Below are the best descriptions we have of each position. Please understand that since we are a small chapter, we sometimes need to be “jacks of all trades.” Some of the duties listed are simply what has worked for us in the past.

President

Acts as chief communication officer

Establishes meeting agenda, leads meetings

Promotes certification process to members

Coordinates marketing efforts aimed at media and prospective members

First contact point for prospective members – passes to VP Membership to start recruiting process

Oversees Chapter blog and archives

Vice-President

Supports president in Chapter initiatives

Chief Researcher

Oversees Board positions

Co-leader of meetings

Ensures compliance with Corporate (Chapter Accord, Bylaws, etc)

Secretary

https://www.aici.org/membersonly/kit_sec_duties.asp

Keep accurate the history and records of the association.

Send out minutes within one week of meeting.

Schedules meeting room locations, food service, room set up

Record all minutes from:

Annual Membership Meetings

All Board of Director’s Meetings

International Board Conference Call meetings

Strategic Planning Meetings (SPM)

Treasurer

https://www.aici.org/membersonly/kit_treasurer_duties.asp

Act as chapter financial manager and advisor; ensuring that proper accounting procedures are established and accurate financial records are maintained.

Act as liaison to AICI Headquarters and the International Treasurer for chapter financial business.

VP Membership

https://www.aici.org/membersonly/kit_vp_membership_duties.asp

Leads recruiting activities

Create and maintain Membership Database (ongoing duty)

Welcome new members on behalf of Chapter Board

Receive updated membership lists from President who receives them from International Board

Follows up with prospective members

VP Education

https://www.aici.org/membersonly/kit_vp_education_duties.asp

Plans programs with Board approval

Determines budget with goal to be at least self-sustaining

Books speakers

Has CEU credits approved

Leads Education Committee in planning of Education Weekend (Summer 2009)

Communicates with International VP Education to brainstorm ideas and ensure compliance for CEU’s

Sends thank you letters to presenters

Education Committee

3 Chapter members plus Board members who wish to participate

Supports VP Education in planning Educational programs, Education Weekend (Summer 2009)

Participates in quarterly conference calls to plan Education Weekend (calls will become monthly an then weekly, leading up to the event)

Researches speakers, CEU-approved programs

Meeting Minutes - March 2, 2008

Attended: Kristen Kaleal (President), Erica Torres-Dudziak (Vice-President), Arnita Nina Kindle, AICI, Kristie Burnett, Shawn Ozoglu, Jocelyne Walker, Clarissa Stevens

Introductions
The meeting started with introductions of the AICI members and non member visitors. Kristen gave an overview on the history of our chapter and we welcomed Nina Kindle as our newest member (previously a member of the Chicago chapter). Some of the visitors are looking to get into the image industry where as others have been in the industry for several years.

Lunch and Networking
During lunch a large portion of our conversation was on the topic of Color. As color always remains a popular subject Kristen suggested how it would be great to have someone come in and do a workshop on the foundational basics of color theory. We all agreed that having an idea of your personal colors is what disciplines you when you are shopping for yourself and your clients.

Great Tips & Sharing
Clarissa Stevens, previous AICI chapter member, shared the idea of her CBS check; starting with identifying a client’s Color, Body Analysis, and Style. She also mentioned she had been suggested to use a cigarette case to hold your business cards: large enough to carry your cards and other people that you meet with a design to camouflage any scratches.

Conference Call
We will be having a conference call on March 11^th at 8:00 p.m. to discuss our chapter’s upcoming leadership openings and involvement. You have to be a member to participate on the board. We will be nominating for the following positions: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, VP’s of Education, Marketing and Membership, as well as adding an education committee which the VP of Education will lead.

Reasons to get involved in the Chapter Board include looking more established in the industry (even if you're green), increased access to those making things happen in our chapter, increased visibility to the International Board and among high-ranking experts in the image field, and an opportunity to shape the future of the chapter through our decisions and activity.

Member of the Year Award
Last year we started the member of the year award with our chapter. To qualify you must be a member of our chapter and criteria was based on participation and recruitment effort. We will be voting in early April and the winner will be announced at conference this year in Tampa, in our next chapter newsletter, and win a $50 gift card and plaque.

Education and Training
We discussed the idea of having a mentorship program for new members to gain insight into the field and be better prepared as an entrepreneur. The idea would be for them to be paired with an experienced member and have unlimited email contacts and one to two phone conversations per month. This could be accomplished with a drawing to create random pairings. More to come on this. Job shadowing was also suggested by a visitor.

Erica will follow up with the international board to see if it is official that members can put AICI after their name and those who have passed the FLC can put FLC after their name.

We are looking at having the next summer retreat in Pittsburgh in 2009.

The page of links for AICI-approved training programs can be found here:

http://www.aici.org/resources/index.htm

Be sure to seek out the best training that fits your needs. Connect with the trainers and ask questions!

Books were brought in and shared as great ways to get more information on the field and get started with your business:

a. “What’s my Style” by Alyce Parsons
b. “Dress for Success” by John Malloy
c. “Color me Beautiful” by Carole Jackson
d. “Looking Good” by Nancy Nix-Rice
e. “Guerilla Marketing” by Jay Conrad Levinson
f. “Guerilla Publicity” by Jay Conrad Levinson
g. “How not to look old” by Charla Krupp

Ideas to get you noticed by the public

• Letters to the Style Editor-introduce yourself
• Woman Networking Organizations
• Meetup.com-networking
• Fashion week

Workshop

Nina Kindle AICI, OH/PA chapter member, did a workshop for us on Image and Diversity. The group participated in a conversation about what diversity is and how important this topic is in relation to what is going on with our country and its current presidential elections. We discussed how diversity can play an impact on internal communication with coworkers as well as external communications with customers. Nina discussed the Primary Dimensions of Diversity (Age, Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Physical/Mental Ability, Ethnicity/Nationality, Religion, and Class) as well as the Secondary Dimensions (Education, Income, Family Status, Organizational role, Geographic location). She stated that as humans, it is the Secondary dimensions we want to be known for.

All of us enjoyed and appreciated the “Paradox of Diversity” statement she shared with us:

-We are each unique and like no one else
-We are each like some other people and unlike other people
-We are each like all other people

The workshop ended with a discussion on how to manage diversity in our lives.

- Submitted by Erica Torres-Dudziak

Quarterly Columbus Meeting Agenda - Mach 2, 2008

Welcome & Introductions

Lunch & Networking

Chapter News

Presentation

Nina Kindle, AICI ~ Image & Diversity

Break

Leadership & Involvement

Future leaders conference call March 11^th

~ Member of the Year

~ New Chapter Positions

Membership & Marketing

Education & Development

~ Training Sources

~ Mentorship Program

Panel Discussion for

New & Prospective Image Consultants

~

2008 Meetings

June 15, Sept. 7, Nov. 9

AICI Conference - May 15-19, 2008 - Tampa, FL

Meeting Minutes - Philadelphia

Monday, February 04, 2008

Meeting Started at 6pm

JoJami Tyler and Dana Persia began with a joint presentation on PR - Dana handed out a packet with lots of examples and information - key topics below

Reviewed what PR is- radio, print, TV, internet

Prepping a Press Kit/Media Kit - suggestion: "spend $ on a professional photo" Sara recommended Milton Perry in Philly

Sara Canuso and JoJami both suggested the book and online course - "Book yourself solid" - Michael Ports (www.bookyourselfsolid.com)

JoJami - suggested using Sabina at www.redbranchpr.com - she does an inexpensive press release jumpstart kit

Writing a Press Release - create a "buzz" - have a "hook"

Key Points - be an expert - write an article (start small with local newspapers/mag)

JoJami - have 5 key talking points ready for interviews

Brian - has a PR person - Megan Smith www.brownstonepr.com

Topic of Color

There is a lot of interested from all present to get certified in color - Chris Baeza will contact Donna Cognac of Essential Colors to inquiry if she would come to Philly for training.

Meeting Ended just before 8pm

Presentation and discussion was done by 7:30 with time for more networking

In attendance: Donna Dixon, Sarah Canuso, Nicole Green, Brian Lipstein, Fatiha Occhialini, Dana Persia, JoJami Tyler, Chris Baeza

-Submitted by Chris Baeza

New & Prospective Members Conference Call Minutes

(Thanks to Erica for typing these up)

CONFERENCE CALL FOR NEW & PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS

MEETING MINUTES - 1/29/08

General Information

• AICI is an international organization with around 1200 members.
• Our chapter started in Ohio and had recently branched out with a sub chapter in Philadelphia.
• Intro of our board (KK and ETD were the only ones on the call)
• We get together every quarter to have a discussion with other image consulting professionals on things going on in the field. We generally meet in Columbus as a general mid way point.
• We had our first retreat in Cleveland this past summer but there is talk of hosting the next one in Pittsburgh in 2009.
• AICI members and affiliates come from a variety of backgrounds
• Some image consultants go by the name: Personal Shopper, Stylist, Etiquette Consultant, Branding Expert, Wardrobe Consultant, Media Consultant, Visual Communications Expert, etc.
• Start up cost in the industry: The largest part of start up is training. Most training is held outside of Ohio although there are some online trainings available (available on the resource page of the AICI website) The particular online training mentioned on the call was Joyce Knudsen’s www.imagemaker1.com
• Susan Abrams, International VP of Membership will email a list of questions to ask/interview a potential trainer to Kristen Kaleal so that it can be distributed to those on the call (See below)

Membership/AICI Information

• You can get a discounted rate for joining AICI as a student from an accredited university/institution and majoring in something related to the image consulting field
• You do not have to have started your own business or be in a student status to join AICI
• Currently the FLC exam is given once a year at conference in the United States and AICI tries to hold it out of the country to reach its international members at other times of the year
• AICI is currently trying to hold another FLC exam in the states and that may be announced at Conference 2008
• If you cannot make conference most of the audio tapes are available for purchase through the AICI website

Benefits of joining AICI

• Learning more about the field/Learn from other consultants
• Getting and bouncing ideas off of other professionals in the field
• Motivation, support, and friendship with other professionals in the field
• Ethical basis and accrediting agency
• Educational opportunities – international conference (Tampa, May 2008) and on the chapter level.
• Resume builder/credibility to your clients
• Marketing from AICI website (potential clients can find a consultant in their area from the AICI site)
• Opportunity to get on the board and enhance your credibility
• Advocate the image industry as a business, as opposed to a hobby

**It is your due diligence to call and interview training companies. Here are some sample questions:

- Will the course cover the core skills required for taking the AICI FLC exam?

- Do the trainers hold certification (AICI, CIP or CIM) with AICI?

- What is the duration of the training course?

- What subjects are covered?

- Does the course include training in marketing and business development?

- What is the size of the class?

- Are there additional costs to the training? (i.e. equipment, drapes, cosmetics etc.)

- What, if any, is the consultant's contractual obligation to the company after training?

- Does the company have an after-training support system for consultants?

- Are opportunities available for further training?

- Does the company provide lists of their consultants to the public on request?

- Does the company have a product line and if so, what is the profit margin and/or potential income from this?

- Is it possible to speak to one or two previous trainees?