Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking  Ability

We wear many hats in property management, and one of them is making verbal presentations. Most of us would gladly go to the dentist instead, if it meant getting us out of a public speaking situation because talking in front of an audience – even of only a few people – can be so stressful. But at the same time, each of us has been inspired by those whose words made a positive impact on our lives, and we all enjoy the opportunity to listen and learn from a good public speaker. So here are three tips to help you give a better talk and be more comfortable while doing it.

1. Lower Your Own Expectations and Stress Levels.
Keep in mind that your audience wants to hear what you have to say and is willing to give you its undivided attention. But don’t make the mistake of raising your own expectations too high, or you will get unnecessarily nervous and self-conscious, so just relax. You’re not competing in the Olympics.

This doesn’t mean you should not prepare beforehand. It just means that you should not try to work yourself into an anxious state by worrying too much and thinking you have to deliver the talk of the century. Your talk will be much more convincing, genuine, and easy for you to remember if you relax, choose words that sound natural & comfortable to you, and try to just be yourself.

2. If You’re Nervous, Slow Down and Talk to Only One Person.
It is perfectly normal and natural to be nervous when you are speaking in public, so if you feel jittery, try not to focus on the entire audience; a big crowd will make anyone shy. Rather, focus on one particular person. If a friend of yours is in the crowd, look and speak directly to that person until your nerves calm down. We can all have a chat with a friend without feeling nervous, so try to do that from the podium.

One of the things that happens when we are nervous is that we tend to speak quickly—the way we might speak to the police on the phone during an emergency—and our voices become high and squeaky. To counteract these tendencies, slow down your speech. The slower you speak, the calmer your voice will be, so concentrate on each syllable of each word as if the sentences in your mouth were pieces of chocolate and you were trying to taste every bite slowly to enjoy the flavor.

3. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare.
Give yourself time to train. Many people need to set aside a great amount of time to read, research, write, and revise a speech, and to practice it out loud until it is committed to memory as best as it can be.

You wouldn’t try to run a marathon without practice, and you should not stand up to give a talk without first preparing for the experience. The more you prepare, the more confident and self-assured you will be. It will also help you to overcome nervousness and allow you to give a more interesting, informative speech that you really believe in and feel good about delivering.

Always read your speech aloud before you give it; sometimes words that look right on paper don’t come out the same way when spoken. By reading them out loud, you can smooth out the rough patches and find words that are similar to your everyday speech rather than those that sound too big, lofty, awkward, and pretentious. That is a big word for me.

Don’t forget to slow down and breathe. Breathing deeply calms the entire body, and it also helps give power and energy to your voice. Then, get up there and enjoy the unique feeling that comes from successfully connecting with an audience in a way that leaves them applauding for more.

Happy chatting!

Pedro

 National Apartment Association  Designate of the Year

The National Apartment Association awarded IREM Central Florida Chapter member Nancy Lovell, CPM, CAPS, CAM, as its “Professional Designate of the Year.” It was given at the NAA Education Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas, June 28-30, an event that recognizes the apartment industry’s top executives, owners, employers, affiliate programs, and communities.

 IREM Mourns Member Bette Fears

We are deeply and profoundly saddened to report that Bette Fears, ARM, an honored member of our IREM community, was killed Wednesday, August 8, by an allegedly disgruntled tenant, while performing her duties as the manager of Park Place Apartments, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The tenant then took her own life.

IREM President Robert Toothaker, CPM, mourning Fears’ "senseless and tragic death," called her "one of our organization’s most passionate and enthusiastic members, a distinguished professional, and a role model for everyone who knew her." I know that she will be sorely missed by her IREM colleagues and others whose lives she touched. We all extend our deepest sympathy to Fears’ husband, Lonnie, and other family members.

Fears, 67, lived at the Park Place Apartments, which is managed by Tomlinson Black Management, Inc., AMO, in Spokane, Washington. She was the resident manager of that community for over a decade. Tomlinson Black executives speak of Fears as a consummate professional who received broad recognition from her professional colleagues for her commitment to best practices in the workplace and in the industry. She earned recognition twice as IREM’s "Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) of the Year," and served nationally as a member of the IREM Foundation’s Scholarship Committee and several others. She was also an active member of our Inland Northwest Chapter, No. 49; is credited with motivating numerous colleagues to earn their ARM credential; and was a primary organizer of some of the chapter’s social service and community outreach activities.

 Southeast Regional Leadership  Conference

The conference this year was held in New Orleans in the famous French Quarter. Our chapter had four members, Pedro Vermales, Kevin Grail, Robin Stinson, and Meridythe Kanaga, who attended, along with about 100 total participants. This conference prepares present and incoming leaders on how to guide their chapters in fulfilling all of their goals for the next year. Besides having a keynote speaker, they were able to network with other chapters of like sizes and share ideas with them to make IREM the first choice of real estate owners, investors, managers, and their companies.

 Maitland Promenade II Wins  Commercial Real Estate Industry’s  Top Honor

The commercial real estate industry recently honored the Maitland Promenade II in Maitland, Florida with The Office Building of the Year (TOBY) Award in the 100,000 to 249,999 square foot category. The trophy was presented at the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International North American Commercial Real Estate Congress® and The Office Building Show, held July 21-24, 2007, in New York City.

The International TOBY Award recognizes excellence in office building management and operations worldwide. The Maitland Promenade II is managed by Jane G. Bullock, CPM, of Triple Net Properties, and is owned by Maitland Promenade, LLC.

To win the international award, the office building first won both local and regional competitions. Judging was based on community impact, tenant/employee relations programs, energy management systems, accessibility for disabled people, emergency evacuation procedures, building personnel training programs, and overall quality indicators. A team of industry professionals also conducted a comprehensive building inspection.

 Hot off the Press!

Two New IREM Key Reports
IREM has just released two new IREM Key Reports covering these hot topics: pandemic flu and business development.

• IREM Key Report: Preparing for Pandemic Flu,by Robin Stinson– Learn about the current state of the H5N1 influenza virus, its risks to the real estate industry, and proven strategies that will keep your business going in the event of a pandemic. Order now.
• IREM Key Report: Insider’s Tips to Operating a Successful Property Management Company,by Richard F. Muhlebach, CPM, SCSM, and Alan A. Alexander– Whether you aspire to start your own company or strengthen your existing owner/client relationships, this key report will show you how to realize your goals. Order now.
  
  Order both key reports and receive an extra 10% off!

 Congratulations New ARMs!

At our recent ARM Breakfast we had at the Altamonte Lofts, we presented the ARM certification to Sonia Coleman and Judith Houlious from the Ocala Housing Authority. Mae Francis Davis from the Daytona Beach Housing Authority has also earned her ARM certification. Congratulations on a great achievement, ladies! 

 IREM Friends List

 Calendar of Events

 Discover the Top 10 Benefits of  Success Series 2007!

10. Talk real estate with more than 1,000        prospective business partners.

9. Forge new relationships.

8. Initiate deals.

7. Learn something new from 30 sessions on      today’s most popular topics.

6. Meet Steve Forbes.

5. Be inspired by Nido Qubein.

4. Improve your bottom line through prevailing      technology.

3. Reminisce with the top 40 hits of
     Mickey Thomas and Starship.

2. Take advantage of the latest products and      services from Success Series sponsors.

1. Make money!

Register by September 5 and save $200!


Register Now. Benefit Later.
You’re invited to join your CCIM and IREM colleagues this fall in San Antonio for Success Series 2007, the encore event to the hugely popular Success Series 2006! Success Series 2007 is theone and only fall conference of the CCIM Institute and the Institute of Real Estate Management.


Success Series Testimonial
"Make it a point to invest in Success Series 2007. IREM and CCIM have developed a great program again this year. Quite simply, Success Series delivers high impact, high value, and high return."

Lou Nimkoff, CCIM, CPM
President
Brio Properties
Winter Park, Florida
 

 Congratulations Julie!

Congratulations to Julianne Miller, CPM on receiving her CPM Emeritus status at our September luncheon.

In Connecticut during 1959, Julie Miller started working for her mother, Viola Madorno's, commercial real estate company. Her mother Viola, was also the first woman in Connecticut who was a licensed real estate professional.

Julie joined IREM in 1969 while she was with the Keyes Management Company and in 1972 became our third Chapter 60 President.  Julie was one of only 12 women in IREM.  Currently, Julie is retired, but she does do some consulting here and there for CVS drugs stores.  Julie has stayed an IREM member for all these years because she has always felt that IREM was a very professional organization.

 Habitat for Humanity

Come join your fellow IREM members for a day of productive fun on Saturday, September 29, from 8:00 AM- 2:00 PM, as we work together to build a house for Habitat for Humanity. Last year was such a success, we decided to adopt the project and make it a regular program for our chapter. All members and their families and friends are invited to participate as long as they are at least 16 years old. Although it is a bit early to know exactly which house we will be working on or what will be asked of us, it is certain to be fun for all, as we roll-up our sleeves and show-off our various construction skills.  

We will be provided with all of the necessary tools and materials for our jobs. We are asked to wear closed-toe shoes and to bring our own drinks and lunch. At this point, we need to know who will be joining us so we can coordinate the details with Habitat for Humanity. Space is limited, so please sign-up no later than September 15.

 Consult Your Peers and Trade Advice  Wherever You Have Internet Access

As an IREM member, your fellow members are some of the best resources you have available to you. TheIREMFIRST Message Boards/
Online Communities were specifically designed to facilitate member-to-member connections, so you can easily exchange advice with your peers wherever you have an Internet connection.

How exactly do these community tools work? Here’s a real-life example; a member recently posted an inquiry about resume-writing services on the “Human Resources”IREMFIRST Message Board, and another member responded within 48 hours, directing him to www.best10resumewriters.com, a Web site that reviews and ranks the top resume writing services. Take advantage of this extraordinary resource for members only. Post your own questions today on theIREMFIRST Message Boards/Online Communities.

 It's Back-to-School Season.

Don’t fall behind on your real estate education! Take advantage of all the benefits of IREM’s online education:

• Convenient and flexible; complete coursework at any time, day or night, over four weeks, wherever you have Internet access
• Access to your qualified IREM instructor, plus discussion forums and chat rooms
• Fulfill your ARM, CPM, or Accredited Commercial Manager education requirements or gain general knowledge about the real estate management industry.

The following courses will be offered during the September 5-October 17 online session:

Financial Operations and Asset Management

• Investment Real Estate: Financial Tools (FIN402)
• Investment Real Estate Financing and Valuation: Part One (ASM603)
• Investment Real Estate Financing and Valuation: Part Two (ASM604)

Human Resources

• Human Resource Essentials for
  Real Estate Managers (HRS402)

Marketing and Leasing

• Marketing and Leasing: Office Buildings (MKL406)

Maintenance Operations and Risk Management

• Maintenance Operations: Fundamentals (MNT201)
• Property Maintenance and
  Risk Management (MNT402)

Site Management

• Successful Site Management (RES201)

NEW! Common Interest Developments: Managing Condominium Association Properties (CID201)

Get the latest information on the fastest growing segment in real estate management today: Common Interest Development (CID) Management. This course will provide industry-leading training, focused specifically on the unique and complex challenges of the CID management market, covering issues, such as:

• Relationship management
• Governance
• Legal and risk management
• Financials
• Maintenance management

If you manage Common Interest Developments, including residential and office condominiums, co-ops, and PUDs, or if you are a CID developer or service provider, such as an attorney or general contractor, CID201 will prove to be a learning tool to help your business succeed.


Read complete course descriptions, sample online learning and register for courses conveniently online!

 Important Links

IREM, Central Florida Chapter #60,
Important Links:

 Just Some IREM Facts…

• 8,671 CPMs
• 2,289 Candidates
• 3,763 ARMs
• 1,764 Associate Members
• 532 AMO Headquarters
• 606 AMO Branches
• 89 Chapters: 81 U.S. and 8 International

 Membership Numbers

CPM
CPM Candidate/Pending
ARM
AMO HQ
AMO Branch
Associates
Friends
Students
TOTALS

12/1/06
111
45
37
6
17
28
9
1
254

10/1/07
109    
59
43
6
17
31
6
3
274

 IREM Newsletter Information

Published by IREM Chapter 60 Newsletter Committee
Monica Perez, Chairperson

Administrative Office
IREM Chapter 60
2755 Border Lake Road, Suite 101
Apopka, FL 32703-4885
Attn: Meridythe Kanaga, CPM, LCAM

admin@irem-centralfl.org

Tel:  407.862.2292, ext. 1004
Fax:407.862.1819

©2007 IREM Chapter 60.
Design by G&G Advertising.