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OK, so going back to the week before Memorial Day when the blog pooped out, I was planning on posting this the same night as I attended my first MCA-I meeting. Yes I am on the International Board of Directors and I had never been to an actual chapter meeting as I am the sole member in Buffalo, NY.

No, Connie Terwilliger, I will not be forming a chapter in Buffalo as I have quite enough to do already with my own businesses and two small children.

So I went to the Central Carolina MCA-I meeting and had a blast. Tom Morse and his leadership team really have their act together and it was a very fun meeting screening some short films that members had recently produced.

Even better on the voice over side of things, at the meeting were Wade Holloway and Jamee T. Perkins (pictured with me above) & Deb Stamp who lives in Raleigh, NC now but made her home and started her broadcasting career in Western New York.

Thanks everybody for a terrific evening.

Tags: commentary, mca-i, voice talent, voiceover, voiceover meet-ups by peter o'connell voiceover
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Last December, I was elected to the board of directors of Media Communications Association – International (MCA-I). MCA-I members are over 700 media communication professionals around the world who provide the vital connection between the creative methods and technology. This describes me and about 70% of my client base.

I joined the association in August after having spoken about the group with Connie Terwilliger – a friend, a wonderful professional voice talent and herself a past-president of MCA-I.

There are 25 chapters across the country with another 150 members like me who are (as I call it) unchapterized. As far as I know I AM the Buffalo chapter.

That’s right. I serve on an international board of directors of an association to which the only meetings I have attended have been virtual (except now I’ve personally been to a leaders meeting in New Orleans). Why would I do such a thing?

Well yes I am crazy but that has nothing to do with this!

The business of media in which I have been a professional (read: paid) practitioner since 1982 is a virtual business. Certainly in-person meetings take place often but fully 80% – 90% of my customers I’ve never met. If one is going to run a global business like mine (which “sounds” a lot more impressive than it is) you quickly have to come to grips with that business reality.

So belonging to an association in which my interaction is either phone or web-based is not at all problematic. And all the other benefits of belonging to a professional association (save for the in-person meetings) still apply….and that INCLUDES programming, education, cost-saving programs and networking (think Facebook and Linked-In as to one way that might work). And if your city HAS a chapter in it, all the better for you!

As I am also the MCA-I Membership chair, I am not above offering this infomercial for YOU to join MCA-I too…especially since I’ve created a membership recruitment drive now through April 30, 2009 and if you list my name on your on-line membership application as the referring member, I would enjoy the bragging rights! I can’t win any of the prizes as I oversee the promotion.

And very seriously, if you have any questions about membership, please call me at +01 716 572 1800 and I will be glad to speak with you about it – no matter where in the world you are…though remember I am only uni-lingual.

Tags: commentary, internet, marketing, mca-i, media, peter o'connell, technology by peter o'connell voiceover
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