How are PDNs structured?
PDNs are somewhat self-managed, thus there is no single process used consistently across all PDNs. The meetings are typically held monthly, run by volunteer "conveners" and may be informal or highly structured with anywhere from 2 to 50people. PDN membership remains open, and participants are encouraged to come and go as their needs and time dictate.

How to start a PDN?
1. One or more people (conveners) decide on a topic or function about which they would like to learn more.
2. Convener(s) determines a time and place for meetings.
3. Announcements in the newsletter spread the word.

Get Involved!
Join a PDN.  For more info, contact the conveners listed.  As PDNs go "on hiatus," they will cease to meet unless someone chooses to serve as the convener of the PDN.  We welcome new PDNs at anytime!  If you are interested in starting up a new PDN or reconvening one that is placed on hiatus, please contact Andrew Rich at (630) 462-0101 for information and application. 

Internal Consulting PDN

The Internal Consulting PDN of the OD Network Chicago area is a special interest group meeting monthly in downtown Chicago, the Western Suburbs and the Northwestern Suburbs to explore topics centering on internal consulting issues inside organizations across the spectrum of Organizational Development, Human Resources, and Training & Development. Learning from one another's experiences and exploring new perspectives and resources are key areas of focus for the groups. The PDN invites attendance and perspectives from both internal and external (independent) consultants, and at the Chicago and/or either Suburb group meetings. This is a forum free of direct marketing appeals or overt networking from those in job transition. Come be a part of the conversation!

Chicago group meeting information: Except for December and August, group meets regularly the third Friday morning of each month at 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. (9-10am optional open discussion session) at Northern Trust Bank, 181 West Madison, 7th floor, Chicago (room number posted in the elevator lobby).  Planning committee members:  Steve Garrett Steve.Garrett@GarrettConsulting.US;  Christopher Tadda Christopher_M_Tadda@notes.ntrs.com; Debra Krause deb628@sbcglobal.net; Jodi Lanis jlanis@huronconsultinggroup.com

Western Suburb group meeting information: Except for December, January, June and August, group meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 8:00 am to 9:30 am at various locations in the Western Suburbs.  Planning committee members:  Sandra Lamartine sandra.lamartine@jameshardie.com ; Cathy Mejia cmejia@nicor.com

Northwestern Suburb group meeting information: Group meets the 2nd Thursday of the odd number months from 8:30-10:00am at Zurich in Tower I (south tower with letter Z on top of it) 1400 American Way Schaumburg (corner of Woodfield Road and Plaza Drive ).  Parking is available and if crowded, valet parking is available at no charge.  Planning committee members:  John Kelly John.Kelly@us.schneider-electric.com;  Diane Kubal dk@fulcrumnetwork.com

If there is a meeting date change, typically due to holiday conflicts, the revised meeting date will be announced in email communications to those on the distribution list.

For this month’s meeting notice information and/or to be added to the email distribution list, please contact Russ Winter, Communications Committee Member at rjjnwinter@hotmail.com

2008-2009 West Suburban PDN Schedule:

Date	Location	Facilitator	Topic/Speaker
Sept 17	Edward Hospital	Teresa Oliszewicz	Managing and Motivating the Generations
Oct 15	Office Max	Matt Vosmik	Creating the Employee Deal/Brand
Nov 19	Molex	Mark Cerkvenik	Facilitation Techniques with Executives
Feb 18	Nalco	Jill Wheeler	Sustaining a Performance Management Culture
Mar 18	Molex	Marilyn Steffel	Career Growth
April 15	Nicor	Cathy Mejia	Orchestrating the OD, Project Management, Business Process Partnership
May 20	Nicor	Sandra Lamartine	How OD Can Leverage e-learning
July 15	TBD	Cathy Mejia	Annual Planning Meeting

STC has events planned for the 2008-2009 year.
For details, see www.stc-chicago.org.

• Sept. 10 - Carleton Hotel, Oak Park
  Bob Brill, Wood Phillips
  Intellectual Property Issues for Technical Communicators
  
• Oct. 14 - DePaul University, Rolling Meadows Campus
  Mary Sojoodi-Whalen
  Panel: Education Options for Technical Communicators
  
• Nov. 12 - Carleton Hotel, Oak Park
  Matt Mignogna, Dashe &Thompson
  Software Benefits Maximization through Technical Communication
• Apr. 23 - Carleton Hotel, Oak Park
  Ken Cook, Ken Cook Co.
  Web-Based Project Management Tools
• May 3-6 - Atlanta, GA
  Annual Conference
• June 2008 - Ballydoyle, Downers Grove
  Networking Event