Consumers or Contributors? May 2009 PSASA Presidential Posting by Gustav Gous

The Presidential Posting by Gustav Gous
Contributors – not only consumers

I’m sitting in a pizzeria in Camps Bay, experiencing the typical life of a professional speaker: Life in the fast lane (plane?), with the odd break to smell the roses or the sea breeze.

I’m glad to be a member of the PSASA because I’ve experienced in the past 14 days once again the best of camaraderie and input the association can offer.

From attending the debrief of the Singapore Professional Speakers meeting with Scott Friedman (who introduced me abundantly to business partners there) to experiencing the professionalism Haydee Antezana shared at the Johannesburg Chapter meeting, to seeing the brilliant tools shared by Jurgen Tietz at the Pretoria Chapter meeting, to sitting in the first board meeting of the year with the chapter presidents in Durban... What a life!

Congratulations to Lars Löfstrand, who is now the Vice-President of the PSASA, and automatically next year’s president. Lars and Andy Brough will help put together the 30 April to 2 May 2010 PSASA National Convention at Emperors Palace (next to the Johannesburg International OR Tambo Airport). Please diarise that. A call for speakers will go out soon.

Marlene Ward will take responsibility for the PSASA Academy again; Richard Mulvey will oversee the 2010 Awards; Robin Wheeler continues to do the newsletter; and Dr Fritz Holscher will promote mastermind groups.

Please volunteer to make your professional talents available to the above project leaders and your local Chapter presidents. This will make us even more of a thriving association of go-givers, who are contributors not only consumers.

Congratulations to past PSASA president, Billy Selekane, who was awarded the highest honour for a non-toastmaster: The Leadership and Communication Award, an honour he shares with amongst others Desmond Tutu and FW de Klerk.

Remember to get a feel for what’s happening internationally by clicking on the logos of the PSAs in other countries. Why not nominate yourself to speak at their conferences – we as South Africans have a lot to offer!

Remember to make 2009 the year of the ear, where you listen with two ears and talk with one mouth. It will help us to customise content better!

Gustav Gous
President: PSASA 2009 / 2010
drgous@iafrica.com