MEETINGS

In this popular program offered at the NAPO national conference, Mindy Godding, CPO® CPO-CD® and Katherine Lawrence, CPO® of Space Matters ® Richmond, Virginia, will be sharing techniques for building successful client relationships from the first point of contact and more.

Are you technologically challenged? Even if you are tech-savvy, you will benefit from learning about the many different technology solutions available for organizing challenges. Whether you are organizing digital photos, music, personal contacts, electronic documents, or a combination of several media, chances are, there is a technology solution available to make your client's life easier.

We continue this popular program --with chapter members leading roundtable discussions on topics such as: Green Organizing, Employees vs. Contractors, Marketing, Tools of the Trade, Sticky Situations, Business Insurance and Weirdest Things You've Ever Come Across While Organizing.

Chapter members are welcome to meet at The Container Store in Arlington for complimentary refreshments, details on how they are partnering with NAPO, the discount program, an in-depth store tour of our newest products (including their eco-friendly products and awesome product demonstrations). We’ll regroup at the end for a final presentation area and a raffle (for a $50 Container Store Gift card) and farewells!

Parking is located in their garage attached to the shopping area and will be validated for 50% off. Bring your parking ticket inside for validation. NAPO-WDC Name Badges are required to attend the event and you must RSVP. RSVP with Scott Roewer by calling 202-249-8330 or completing the online RSVP survey.

My Mother's Garden is the story of Eugenia Lester whose hoarding disorder has entered a dangerous and life threatening stage. Directed by her daughter Cynthia, it documents how one family comes together to cope with their mother's disorder and rebuild a lost sense of family. My Mother's Garden was an official selection of the 2006 New York IFP Market and was a finalist for the IFP Socially Conscious Documentary Award.

6:30-7 p.m.

Ask the Expert will not be held at this time. Instead the business portion of the meeting will take place.

7-8 p.m.

There will be a Leadership Forum to learn about the various board positions and the upcoming nomination process.

8-9 p.m.

Do you know the costs of doing business as a professional organizer? Are you charging enough to make a living? How do you figure out what to charge? Are you tracking your income and expenses so you can tell if you’re making a profit?

In this session, you’ll learn the financial facts of life of being self-employed — the expenses to anticipate, when and how to make estimated tax payments, and some ways (high tech & low tech) to track income and expenses. Though this session is all about money, there’ll be a brief discussion of all the other things a professional organizer does that are not billable, but take time during the workweek.

Electronics improve the way we live, work and play. But, there’s one place where electronics should have no impact — the environment. Through responsible use, reuse and recycling of electronics, consumers can protect and preserve the environment. Learn about recycling resources in our area.

According to Jonathan Swift, "Vision is the art of seeing the invisible." Successful businesses (and lives) take strategy and long- term focus. Business Coach Margarita Rozenfeld will help you create your big picture vision along with a five-year action plan for success. Through a series of visioning and planning exercises, you'll reconnect with your passions, clarify your priorities and values, visualize your legacy and develop a strategy to help you arrive at where you want to be.

Margarita Rozenfeld is the CEO of Incite International, an award- winning firm specializing in executive coaching, training and facilitation services. Corporate, non-profit and government clients include NASA, the Foreign Service Institute, Oracle, Wells Fargo, and TeraTech Inc. Margarita is also the Founder of YES!Circle, a leading networking, advisory and educational organization for visionaries in the D.C. region. For more information about Margarita's work visit inciteinternational.com and yescircle.org.

“Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.”

Your clients may have done estate planning, but have they done estate organizing? The estate plan can be helpful, but only if family members can find it! Learn the common mistakes that people make when organizing their estate information and how to avoid them.

You have two ways to reserve your seat for this event. Cheryl Richardson will be available to accept payment at the April chapter meeting or you can send a check for $30 made payable to NAPO-WDC, Attn: Cheryl Richardson, P.O. Box 7301, Arlington, VA 22207 by May 4, 2009. Please send any questions or dietary concerns to Cheryl at development@dcorganizers.org.

Be sure to attend the final chapter meeting before the summer break! The June meeting will showcase the newest organizing products on the market today. Learn innovative ideas that can help you build your business, and help your clients achieve optimum organization. Take this opportunity to meet the new chapter board members and see the latest from companies featured at the recent NAPO conference.

Come early to attend the Corporate Partner Expo. It will be held from 6:15pm to 7:00pm. Check out their summer promotions and learn about current referral programs. Get to know our Corporate Partners!