New content! In order for any search engine to provide relevant results to their visitors (so their visitors will repeatedly use them) they must provide the best results possible for every search performed on their site.The best website gets more traffic and more traffic means more business - so websites have to be up to date to stay competitive in their market.The big sites on the net, like www.hereschicago.com, who have pagerankings of 5 upwards, obviously serve a ton of visitors per day, provide search engines with a mass of links to follow and index. That’s why search engines go back to the big sites like www.hereschicago.com more often than the little ones.High traffic, very popular sites are visited by the search engine robots more often than sites with little traffic. Some large sites are visited by search engines as much as 2-4 times per month to scan theircontent which makes these sites more visible and higher in the ranks of search engines.How can article marketing increase your search engine traffic?By submitting articles you can get links from these high traffic sites. Furthermore you can optimize your articles with your searchterms to get high rankings for that particular page. This wouldotherwise take weeks on a new site as oppose to a well established onesuch as this.

Each of these sites will have its own resource area, at the end of the article, writers include a bit of Author information on where to findout more about them. Place your website link in here and bob’syour uncle the search engines will find your site through that link.The more articles you submit with your website link in them, the more pages on the net you have pointing to you from high traffic sites and the better your ranking and link popularity.

Start submitting your meetings and events related articles today toour blog. You will be amazed at the results they yield.
If you are interested in submitting an article, please email your article to info@hereschicago.com for consideration.

The Mesa Holiday Inn Express is slated to be demolished and reconstructed as a full-service Holiday Inn. After all is said and done, the property, built in the mid 60’s will become a modern five-story, 115-room hotel with interior corridors, a full-service restaurant and other modern amenities.”The new Holiday Inn will be the first full-service hotel built from scratch in

Mesa in more than 20 years,” said Robert Brinton, executive director of the Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The property will fill a void, as the only full-service property in an area dominated by limited-service hotels between the Arizona Golf Resort and the Marriott in downtown Mesa. The additional room availablity next to the adjacent conference center is expected to be a boon for small meetings and conferences for businesses, associations, religious groups and social organizations, especially with it’s location on Main Street with easy access to shopping and restaurants.

A conference call lets you remain at your desk rather than trek off down the hall–or across the country–to a meeting. It also provides a great opportunity to get the opinions and concerns of the entire team heard as long as it doesn’t disintegrate into a wasteland of wandering discourse. Investing some time and effort up front will ensure that the call works for everyone.

1. Volunteer to set up the call so you can assume the role of moderator. Confirm that everyone has both the dial-in and conference code numbers, as well as the correct time for their zone.
2. Poll the other participants in advance as to the items they want covered in the call. Develop a written agenda with a specific time allotment for each agenda item. Better yet, e-mail the agenda to all parties before the call.
3. Take charge of gathering and disseminating the printed background material, numbering pages clearly and prominently. Nothing creates conference-call chaos faster than a chorus of “Where are we?” or “I don’t seem to have that chart.”
4. Refuse to discuss major agenda items until everyone is on the line. Bringing latecomers up to speed on important issues wastes time and irritates those who were prompt.
5. Monitor the clock closely. Be prepared to intervene with “Excuse me, we have to move on–we’ve run out of time for this topic” or “Let’s discuss this topic at another time and report back to the group.” Stay polite but firm throughout.
6. End the call with a synopsis of conclusions reached and future actions required. Send out a written summary of these conclusions and action items to all participants promptly.
Overall Tips:Use a handheld phone on a land line rather than a cellular phone or speakerphone. Your voice will be clearer, with minimal background noise. Use an office where you can close the door to further reduce noise. If more than two other people are participating in the call, keep a written list of names beside your phone so you can be sure you are getting everyone’s input.

Tips from eHow Users: Focus by eHow Friend

Do not do anything else but participate on the conference call. Answering e-mails, reading papers, etc., are counter-productive to the purpose of the call. And since many people forget to mute their phones, the noises you make will distract from the meeting.

Business meetings may be conducted formally or informally, depending on the company and the circumstances. The following guidelines are based on Robert’s Rules of Order.

Taking Minutes

Steps:

1. Obtain the meeting agenda, minutes from the last meeting, and any background documents to be discussed. Consider using a tape recorder to ensure accuracy.  

2. Sit beside the chairperson for convenient clarification or help as the meeting proceeds.  

3. Write “Minutes of the meeting of (exact association name).”  

4. Record the date, time and place of the meeting.  

5. Circulate a sheet of paper for attendees to sign. (This sheet can also help identify speakers by seating arrangement later in the meeting.) If the meeting is an open one, write down only the names of the attendees who have voting rights.  

6. Note who arrives late or leaves early so that these people can be briefed on what they missed.  

7. Write down items in the order in which they are discussed. If item 8 on the agenda is discussed before item 2, keep the old item number but write item 8 in second place.  

8. Record the motions made and the names of people who originate them.  

9. Record whether motions are adopted or rejected, how the vote is taken (by show of hands, voice or other method) and whether the vote is unanimous. For small meetings, write the names of the attendees who approve, oppose and abstain from each motion.  

10. Focus on recording actions taken by the group. Avoid writing down the details of each discussion.    

Tips:You do not need to record topics irrelevant to the business at hand. Taking minutes is not the same as taking dictation.Consult only the chairperson or executive officer, not the attendees, if you have questions. The person taking minutes does not participate in the meeting.    

Transcribing Minutes

Steps:

1. Transcribe minutes soon after the meeting, when your memory of the event is still fresh.  

2. Follow the format used in previous minutes.  

3. Preface resolutions with “RESOLVED, THAT…”  

4. Consider attaching long resolutions, reports or other supplementary material to the minutes as an appendix.  

5. Write “Submitted by” and then sign your name and the date.   6. Place minutes chronologically in a record book.    

Tips: Write in a concise, accurate manner, taking care not to include any sort of subjective opinion. No matter what type of minutes you take, focus on capturing and communicating all important actions that took place.    

Tips from eHow Users:Handout notes by eHow Friend
I find it very helpful to make notes on the back of my set of handouts.That way, what was discussed about the items on that particular handout is on the back of the actual sheet.    

Follow up by eHow Friend
Make sure action items are clearly marked on the notes.When they are disbursed they can serve as reminders for those in attendance.

1. Is High Speed Internet Access offered? Once you determine high-speed availablility you need to consider what you are trying to accomplish. For example, Fairmont offers the equivalent of a T1 connection to the Internet at all properties, so webcasts, VPN connections, checking email and basic surfing are all easily done. If the group needs more bandwidth or its own connection, determine the necessary lead time (generally 6-8 weeks but will vary with regional provider).

2. What type of network is it run on? Hotels will advertise high-speed Internet connections but what are you connecting to? Ask, as you may be comparing apples to oranges. Fairmont has partnered with Cisco to provide a premium, networked infrastructure. The alternative could be a hodgepodge of different makes and models that are sub par, unstable, and generally provide a poor Internet experience.

3. Is the Internet easily accessible? Ask how guests or attendees connect. Fairmont offers a ”plug & play” solution and requires no configuration on the part of the guest - or guests can access via a wireless connection in many public areas of the hotels.

4. Will VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) run in the hotel? If you are concerned about attendees connecting to your office through a VPN, a key question to ask is if your attendees need to share a unique IP address. Fairmont provides all connections with a fully-routable IP address with no restrictions by firewalls, proxy servers or network address translation (NAT). The unique public IP address means guests are unlikely to run into software usability issues, a characteristic more typical of low-quality HSIA offerings that share banks of public IP addresses across users.

5. What do attendees need to access their computers? It’s important to remind the conference attendees to check that their equipment is configured to connect to the Internet and bring any equipment that is specific to their laptops, in particular their own power supply. Laptops and computers will need a working Ethernet card (NIC) for wired connections and a wireless card to connect to the wireless network.

6. Who controls the entry points for Internet access? Having a third-party vendor providing the Internet service adds another level of complication to planning your meeting. If there are problems, will you need to contact the vendor to troubleshoot the problem?

7. Can kiosks/cyber cafes be set up? Cyber Cafes are an easy way of providing attendees a way of checking email and staying up-to-date during a conference.

8. Is wireless access available and where? If the meeting includes attendees not staying in the hotel, wireless allows them to stay up to date. Fairmont has partnered with Intel to provide Centrino mobile technology-verified hotspots in public areas of all our properties.

9. Is the staff knowledgeable and does hotel offer tech support? This may impact the level of sophistication of your program. Fairmont has technology staff dedicated to helping our sales and conference service teams make functions a success. In addition, guests can access the 24/7 Virtual Assistant for complimentary tech assistance, via an 800-line manned by Fairmont IT staff.

10. How will the group be charged? Options include setup charges, daily rental fees and fees per room or event. Fairmont will be launching a new service that allows planners to bundle the costs in the guest room, meeting room and wireless, allowing attendees to seamlessly move within the hotel and stay connected without multiple prompts for payments. Finally, discuss the goals of the function in addition to the technology needs. Often, by giving the Conference Planners and Sales Team background on the meeting, they can make suggestions for technology applications never even imagined - such as wireless breakouts in a garden - definitely a breath of fresh air to attendees!Ask Fairmont First, and call 1(866) 662-6060, a dedicated toll-free number for meeting planners. Visit us online at www.fairmont.com for information about local sales offices or to submit on online proposal.
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a collection of world-class resorts and city center hotels that enjoy unrivalled prominence in the communities where they are located. Operating 42 properties throughout six countries,

Fairmont is committed to providing guests with exceptional service in distinctive surroundings

Do you announce a meeting and find either no one shows up on time, they come with their own agenda, or the meeting goes on and on? If this is true in your case, then worry no more. Here are six steps to help you develop successful meetings:

1. Establish a realistic and specific objective. Ask yourself, ‘What do I want to accomplish?’ or ‘Why am I calling people together at this time?’Do I want:to solve problem(s). * to inform. * to gain feedback. * to orient.to motivate. * to reward. * to buy. * to sell.Then decide the best mode to accomplish your objective. Ask yourself which best suits your needs:a conference with a panel(s) of speakers?
a half-day workshop? Or a full-day seminar?
a staff meeting that includes your immediate staff?
a staff meeting that includes your department or division?
a staff meeting that includes everyone from all levels of the entire organization?

2. Create a well-developed agenda. Review your agenda before announcing your meeting. Make sure it avoids:spending too much time on details technical subjects. (It puts people to sleep and does not communicate with them.)failing to specify the starting and ending times. (Employees need to know when to be there, when it is expected to start, and when it is expected to be finished so that they can reschedule their other duties and responsibilities.)adding irrelevant topics. (Doing so only lengthens the meeting time and serves to anger people or put them to sleep.)having speakers or presenters who are known to ramble. (One of the surest ways to put your audience to sleep is to have a boring meeting with speakers or presenters who talk on and on. This is especially true in cases where the agenda covers technical or scientific material.)crowding the agenda with too many subjects. (It is better to have a question and answer period during the meeting than to try to cover everything.Now review your agenda and make sure you have included:a chairperson or Master of Ceremonies to move topics along without rushing the presenters, or allowing them to ramble.general logistics before hand, such as restroom locations, break times, and telephone or walk-in interruptions.a priority system so that the most important topics or pressing matters are covered first.

3. Assign particular responsibilities. Be sure to select responsible people to carry out the responsibilities of your meeting. Also be sure:to match the topics and tasks with competent presenters.to give them clear, complete, and specific instructions including assigned time to complete their presentation.to gain the concurrence of your key participants.to have a clock in clear view of the presenters.to start on time, regardless. (This is perhaps the most important aspect of running a successful meeting.)

4. Establish a positive meeting environment. Take the time to plan your meeting. Perhaps the most important aspect to consider is the environment where you will hold your meeting. To insure its success, be sure you:create an environment that is conducive to effective communication.set start and ending times that are conducive to all.
develop the environment around a theme.consider the objective of the meeting when selecting the room.
consider decorating the room, if this is warranted.arrange and test the audio-visual support before hand.
arrange the seating of participants and attendees, depending on the estimated number of attendees.arrange the seating plan for optimal effect.

5. Plan all the activities. Take the time to plan and plan again all the events, people, places, and things related to the objective and theme of the meeting. Be sure to: gather input where relevant.
take notes where necessary.
prepare adequate quantities of handouts.
prepare to post adequately the announcement of the meeting along with its agenda, times, participants, and any other relevant information.
prepare backup materials.
prepare post-meeting evaluations, where necessary, and summary handouts.
Remember: When you maximize your potential, every one wins. When you don’t, we all lose.

© Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW