Year-End Reflection. A few thoughts about the year to come:

• The future is much like the present, only longer. (Dan Quisenberry)

• Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future. (Niels Bohr, Danish physicist)

• The future, according to some scientists, will be exactly like the past, only far more expensive. (John Sladek)

• The future ain't what it used to be (Yogi Berra, baseball player, coach, & manager)

• The future will be better tomorrow (Dan Quayle, Republican politician)

Summary of Last Month's Program. "Mastering Your World: Secrets of an Executive Coach" -- In the frenetic environment of consulting today, we need practical strategies to take back our work and our life. We learned how we can increase our personal and professional power, effectiveness, and well-being, and move from incremental to breakthrough thinking. We explored how we can fit executive coaching as a value-added service into our own offerings to our current and prospective consulting clients.

Register online now for this month's program »

NOVA Breakfast Network Group. Baltimore is a huge success, so we are starting another networking group to meet the growing need. Stay tuned for the Northern Virginia group to start up next month. Let new member Frank Schmidt know if you plan to attend.

Baltimore Network Group. The Baltimore Network Group will hold a special holiday breakfast meeting (this time with free food!) on Friday, December 17, 8:00-9:30am, in Room 230 of the ILB building on the campus of Howard Community College in Columbia. We're lining up a great series of speakers for 2005 on all aspects of starting and running your independent consulting practice, and to celebrate we will gather for some great social networking and a special activity called "Feedforward," designed to get you off and running on your personal business challenges in the New Year. If you plan on attending, please contact Beth Bloomfield (beth@bloomfieldassociates.com). See a map of the campus, showing ILB and adjacent parking area.

Small Group Insurance. While IMC USA continues to work with insurance carriers to see how we can offer health insurance fro members (we are making progress, member Susan Hahn reports that during the month of December most major insurance carriers are honoring open enrollment for anyone who is self-employed, with coverage beginning January 1, 2005 (at least in Maryland, but we are not sure about other states). Presumably (and check with your agent), any carrier who provides coverage under small group reform (2 - 50 employees) will be open to applications from individuals. You will need to provide a copy of your 2003 1040 and Schedule C tax forms as part of your application. If you have additional information about this issue, please contact Mark Haas, VP of Membership and Member Services

I want to join IMC or I know someone I'd like to introduce to IMC (membership@imcdc.org) »

The Power of a Good Question. Asking a stumper of a question of a prospect, client, or a colleague is a certain way to make a powerful connection with them. Although this may require some effort on your part to get the right question for the right person, it shows you have something to offer as a thoughtful management advisor. See Are You Asking Provocative Questions? by Jill Konrath in a website by the Concept Marketing Group. These are the kind of articles we are looking for to post by members on the new IMC NCR website in 2005.

Doing Business with the Department of Homeland Security. On December 7, 2004, from 1:00 to 2:15pm EST, Sandra Long, former Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, will host an audio conference on how to do business with the DHS, including learn how to win a portion of the $33 billion dollars that DHS is looking to spend in 2005, mostly first-come, first-served for much of that business. See for more information and to register. Member Mark Haas has already registered for this audio conference, so if any IMC NCR member would like to participate (join him on the call, since the fee has already been paid), let him know at (301) 320-5889.

See additional marketing resources on the IMC NCR website »

Thanks Are in Order . . . The chapter is as vigorous and productive as it is because of the efforts of our chapter officers and volunteers:

• Dave Rogers (president)

• Bob Dennis (programs)

• Barb Halpern (marketing)

• Karen Buehler (continuing professional development)

• Mark Haas (executive VP, membership, website, newsletter)

• Roy Steel (treasurer)

• Mallory Starr (mentoring)

• Beth Bloomfield (speaker and Baltimore Network Group)

• Bernard Robinson and John Haecker (speaker's bureau)

• Mel York (at Large Director and Workshop instructor)

• John Strawhorn (Fundamentals Workshop instructor)

• Joan Cassidy (speaker and Fundamentals instructor)

• Harry Feely (certification)

• Harold McDonald (social events)

• Tony Anikeeff (Lawyers' minute)

Many other members helped throughout the year with these activities, and several IMC NCR members hold prominent national offices (sincere apologies to those who were not mentioned).

IMC USA Core Values. Created almost 20 years ago and adopted by the Institute, they apply no less today: We believe...

• ...In the American free enterprise system - and the right of anyone to practice as a management consultant.

• ...In the professionalism of management consulting, and in the obligation of those who practice to strive for excellence and to adhere to the code of ethics of their profession.

• ...That certification should be rigorous and a mark of the very best in our profession and that certification carries the obligation to continually strive for self- development.

• ...That the Institute must represent and serve a broad spectrum of professional management consultants through resolute and selfless leadership whether or not these professionals are members of the Institute, and that this leadership must be exercised in concert with, and respect for other associations in our professional community.

• ...That the future of our profession rests on the shoulders of those coming after us, and on our commitment to cultivate the art and standards of management consulting in their practice.

• ...That the value the Institute has to its members is directly related to the involvement, participation, and contribution of each of its members.

• ...That the health of the Institute depends on the frequency, openness, and effectiveness of our communications with each other.

Click here if you have news to share or would like to be featured in this newsletter (president@imcdc.org) »

• Interactive calendar with event registration

• Searchable consultant (members only) directory

• Threaded discussion lists to address practice management or client service needs

• Integration with content from GroupMind Express

• Member-posted content (published)

• Professional development and marketing resources for members only

• The capacity to more widely market IMC NCR and its members to prospective clients.

You can see a mockup of new IMC NCR website redesign.

For Members Only. PD materials continue to be posted on the member's only area of the IMC USA website. Send an email to Megan Renner if you forgot your user name or password.

Who Knew? In 2001, the largest single employer outside the government was not McDonald's or GE. It was Manpower, the Milwaukee-based temp agency. In 2002, it was Wal-Mart. No surprise there right? Then raise an eyebrow at this: the largest single employer in 2005 is projected to be "self." (Source: Americanexpress.com/open)

Looking for Speaking Opportunities? If you are interested in finding out where you can present the results of your research, a case study of your latest engagement (with client permission, of course), or you have an interesting take on trends in your specialization or industry, PapersInvited is a way to locate those opportunities. It caters to the academic and research community and is designed to be the world's largest database of calls for papers/posters for conferences or publications. There is no fee to list conferences (as IMC USA now does), but only a $60 per year fee to subscribe to see all opportunities to speak at conferences. A free trial is available to see if the kinds of opportunities you need for your business are available.