Monday, August 17, 2009

News from the International Association of Private Service Professionals

A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Members!
Brian Foskey, Chef/HM, Williamson, WV, USA
Gregory Castrucci, EM, San Francisco, CA, USA
Marianne Forrest, Chef/HM, Hamilton, MT, USA

Lynette Kuzmich, Property Manager, Telluride, CO, USA




"THE SECRETS OF SERVICE"
Conference is Registration Now Open

After nearly a year of planning, and hundreds of dedicated volunteer hours, the IAPSP is proud to announce that registration is now open for its First Annual Private Service Conference, "The Secrets of Service," which will take place in Dallas, Texas 9-11 October 2009!

This milestone could not have been accomplished without the support, resources and guidance of over 20 Industry Professionals and the input of over 100 community members in our recent survey. This conference is truly for Private Service, by Private Service!

Join us 9-11 October 2009 at the Fabulous Fairmont Hotel in Dallas!

To reserve your space and to learn the "Secrects of Service" success for yourself and your team, please call (213) 220-3788 or email conference@iapsp.net and get your registration started!

Confirmed Speakers & Presenters
Barry Berglund, Berglund & Associates
Jackie Ramstedt, Ramstedt Enterprises
Paul Plamondon, FreeMondon LLC
Donna Shannon, Coyote Visions Management
Dan Carlin, World Clinic
Sayre Darling, Courageous Communications
Heather O'Hara, Facility Partners, Inc.
(Additional exciting speakers, relevant for anyone who works in Private Service, will continue to be confirmed and added as our schedule becomes more finalized in August. Connect to us on Twitter, or check our website for the latest new additions to our roster.)

Current Sponsors
World Clinic
Smith Limosuine
Bio-Pro Research
ScanDigital
Breedlove & Associates
La Bottega
Alternet Estate
Green Irene
MacPherson Academy
FacilityDude
PFC Information Services
(It's not too late for you to promote your business by helping to sponsor our event!
To inquire about sponsorship opportunities please contact:
conference@iapsp.net, or call (213) 220-3788)

Schedule

Friday:
After an Annual Meeting of the Membership, attendees will enjoy the creative energy of our Roundtable discussions on a variety of Private Service topics, followed by a cocktail reception and optional networking dinner in Dallas' historic West End. IAPSP Membership is required in order to attend our Annual Meeting - however, the rest of the day is registration free and open to all Private Service Professionals who'd like to participate.


Saturday: (Conference Officially Begins)
Workshops, breakouts, a community marketplace, special guest appearances and plenty of great food will fill the day with plenty of educational opportunities and exposure to recent advances in Private Service. We'll provide something for everyone - Service Professional and Occupational Service member alike!

We'll finish the day with our optional and inaugural award dinner, complete with entertainment by the Texas Gypsies band!


Sunday:
For a unique and fun finish, a farewell breakfast, and optional tours to highlight Dallas, our host city, will be arranged based on interest. Check your registration form for details.


Registration Fees

We've worked hard to make our event affordable for a wide-variety of budgets. We're sure you'll agree. Registration fees include access to all the daytime Saturday events, and breakfast on Sunday. The award dinner is optional and requires an additional RSVP and cover.

Registration fees and optional events listed in USD:

$425.00 - non-member registration
$404.00 - non-member earlybird* registration (save 5%)
$383.00 - affiliate member (save 10%)
$361.00 - affiliate member earlybird* (save 15%)
$340.00 - IAPSP member** registration (save 20%)
$319.00 - IAPSP member** earlybird* (save 25%)
$50.00 - Friday Networking Dinner
$90.00 - Saturday Award Dinner
Call (213) 220-3788 or email conference@iapsp.net to get your registration started now!
*Earlybird registration ends 7 August 2009**IAPSP Membership requests submitted after 26 September 2009 will not be eligible for this discount

The Fairmont Hotel (800) 441-1414
The Four-Star Fairmont Hotel has offered us an incredible rate of just $139.00 USD per night for a Deluxe King or Double Double room. Make sure to let your reservation agent know you will be attending the IAPSP Conference or register online using the link below. This price is good for up to two occupants. Special upgrade rates are available, as well.

In addition, the Fairmont would like to offer you additional guest services simply for enrolling in their President's Club Program. It's free and will provide you with those little extra touches you may not normally receive. Go for it!

This year, it's important for all out of town attendees to reserve and stay with our host hotel to make sure we can keep our conference affordable! (IAPSP pays for rooms not used in our reserved block, whether they are used or not.) Please click-through to our special page on the Fairmont website and get your room reserved now! You will also find a link to a complete list of the benefits that come with the President's Club Program.


Follow us on:

We'll post additional details and updates on our new website once it comes online. Until then, you can also follow us on Twitter @IAPSP to get the latest news on our event as it happens! Click here to set up your very own Twitter account. You only get messages from the people you request them from, so make sure and search for the IAPSP and then click on follow! We'd love hear your tweets if you're savvy enough to send them, but we'll welcome you into our flock even if you're missing a few feathers!


Please call (213) 220-3788 or email conference@iapsp.net
to get your registration started now!



Free!
Email services are now available for all paid members of the IAPSP! If you're already a member, we've issued you a mailbox and all you need to do is claim it! Fully functional, with tons of added features, your email can be downloaded to your desktop email client (like Outlook or Eudora), or accessed from any internet-enabled computer. Contact membership@iapsp.net to learn more!
Offer Expires: 30 days after your renewal date, if dues go unpaid.


Community Podium Announcement
Brian C. Foskey
with help from Evonne Avalos, PA (Los Angeles, CA)
Hello, IAPSP!

I am currently a Private and Corporate Chef in Williamson, West Virginia, but originally from the Baltimore/Washington, DC area. I have worked in Private Service for two years and I hope to meet and network with others who share my enthusiasm for helping to meet the needs of our Principals.

Although my culinary career has already taken me many places, I am seeking additional opportunities for work and hope that further adventures will continue to expand my skills as a chef and develop my talent and knowledge of Household Management.

I would love to share my knowledge and learn from other Service Professionals who have similar skills and interests. Please email prochef100@earthlink.net to contact me, or connect with me on LinkedIn. I look forward to chatting with you soon!


È mio piacere essere al suo servizio!
"21st Century Service Professionals" scheduled to arrive in Italy By Giovanni Lodigiani
Fellow IAPSP Members, I am very pleased to announce the upcoming release of the (nearly 400 page) Italian translation of the most important household management textbook at the international level, "Butlers and Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals," written by the world's most famous authority on butling, Mr. Steven Ferry, and translated by myself, Giovanni Lodigiani.
The book is being published by BookSurge (USA) for the International Institute of Modern Butlers (USA) - the most well regarded international professional association for butlers - and will be available soon on Amazon.com as well as Amazon.co.uk. All the best,Giovanni LodigianiEditor's Note: "21st Century Professionals" is also available in Spanish and has just been published in Russian by Alpina Business Books of Moscow. Visit www.amazon.com, KEYWORD: Steven Ferry.



Change is good! Usually.
Sub-Groups Announced at LinkedIn

As you may know, the IAPSP has had three distinct discussion/news groups on LinkedIn for nearly a year. Many of you have applied for membership to at least one of these separate groups and have been enjoying sharing news and discussion with your colleagues. LinkedIn recently introduced a new feature which allows for the creation of subgroups. This feature will make it easier to locate and manage multiple groups. For these reasons, we have set up two new subgroups within the main IAPSP group that provide exclusivity to our two largest membership segments: Service Professionals and Occupational Services members.
If you would like to continue taking advantage of the updates from these groups, please use the search feature at the top of the linked-in home screen, entering the keyword IAPSP after selecting [groups] from the search drop down. You can then apply for membership to the group and subgroup that best fit your place in the community. Use the [subgroup] tab within the main IAPSP group to read a brief explanation of each subgroup. If you are currently a member of the "SP" group you will unfortunately need to reapply for the new groups. No additional content will be uploaded and it will be deleted by 31 July 2009. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, however, LinkedIn simply does not have a "merge" feature at this time for groups.

Please forward any questions to membership@iapsp.net. See you online!


A New Chapter of IAPSP Opens!
Northern California to begin meeting in August 2009

The long-anticipated Northern California Chapter of the IAPSP has been established. Through the determined organizational efforts of James Grise, Estate Manager and Staff Training Consultant, the new meeting will kick-off in late August at Portola Valley Library in San Mateo County, USA.

For the first meeting, Jim is working with the workplace safety experts at Cintas on the topic of "Fire Safety on the Private Estate." The presentation will include a hands on training of the proper use of residential fire extinquishers through the latest technology of BullEx Digital Safety. This is a skill that many of us never get trained in but one that can make a huge difference when faced with a fire emergency!

All managerial-level private service professionals are encouraged to attend - and asked to spread the word to their colleagues in the area! James will be driving in from Sacremento to moderate these meetings - let's make sure it will be time well spent and provide him with as much support as possible!

Where:
Portola Valley Library765 Portola RoadPortola Valley, CA 94028

When:
29 August 2009, Noon-2pm;
and then the last Saturday of each month, thereafter.

Meeting Schedule:NOON -12:30PM: Introductions and a Light Lunch12:30PM - 1:30PM: Workshop Topic1:30PM - 2:-00PM: Networking
Entry Fees:
$5.00 IAPSP Members
$10.00 Non-Members

Contact Information:

James Grise
(415) 793-5314jimgrise@yahoo.com
www.domesticstafftraining.com


Expert Tips:
Removing Wax from Silver Candelabra
By Jeffrey Herman, Herman Silver Restoration and Conservation

Do you become frustrated when trying to remove wax from your weighted candle holders? Do you go pawing into your flatware drawer to find just the right size knife to dig out the wax? Do you run the piece under warm water, only to create a big mess? Well, here are some simple, non-invasive techniques that can help. Non-weighted candle holders can be put in your freezer. Upon removing them, use your fingernail (not a knife) to delicately chip off the wax. If residue remains, remove it with silver polish or 91% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton ball. (Isopropyl alcohol should always be used in a well ventilated area.)
For weighted and non-weighted candle holders, the following procedure can be used: Use your hair dryer (but not a heat gun) to warm the candle cup or other area coated with wax! Be careful not to get the object too hot! There are three reasons for this warning: (1) If the weighting material is pitch, it will melt, (2) If the piece is lacquered, the lacquer will bubble off or burn, (3) You could burn yourself!

Lightly touch the area with your fingertip to make sure it is not too hot; then lightly wipe off the wax with a soft paper towel or cotton ball. When cleaning out a candle cup on a candelabrum, support the cup with your hand to prevent bending the arm. If the opening is too small for your finger, gently stuff the paper towel into the cup and twist. Cotton swabs also work very well, especially on Hanukkah lamps with very small candle cups. Use as much fresh paper towel or as many cotton swabs as needed; otherwise, you will continually reapply the wax you are removing. To mitigate the buildup of wax in the first place, use dripless candles whenever possible and remove any wax residue from candle holders after each use. Using these techniques will greatly reduce maintenance time.

________________________
About the author:

Herman Silver Restoration & Conservation was founded in 1984 and has built a national reputation of quality craftsmanship and sensitivity towards the finish of every piece. Herman has repaired & reconstructed everything from historically important tankards, tea services, and tureens to disposal-damaged flatware. He considers himself an environmentalist, using the safest, non-toxic, organic products on the market. Before starting his business, Herman worked at Gorham as a designer, sample maker, and technical illustrator. Upon leaving Gorham, he took a position at Pilz Ltd. where he learned the fine art of restoration. Herman earned a BFA degree in silversmithing and jewelry making from Maine College of Art in Portland, and is the founder of the Society of American Silversmiths. He encourages anyone with silver-related questions that can't be answered on his website (www.hermansilver.com) to contact him vie e-mail: jeff@hermansilver.com, or his toll-free number at 800/461-6840. If you have a piece in need of help, Mr. Herman invites you to e-mail an image for an estimate.

New Membership Eligibility Requirements Released Current and Renewing Members are "Grandfathered" In

The IAPSP has released its long-awaited, new eligibility requirements for membership.

Beginning this month, new members to the IAPSP will apply using an application form specific to their membership type. Each applicant will then include a letter of request for membership and the additional qualifying documentation as noted below. Dues will continue to be invoiced once applicants are approved for membership.

Additional qualifying data, by membership type:

Service Professional & Introductory Members
A current professional resume or CV
Two professional references
One personal reference
Occupational Services Members
A professional profile of the business
A professional profile of the business owner
A passing score within our 6-point Eligibility Guidelines
Two written referrals from current IAPSP members
Associate Business Members
A professional profile of the business
A passing score within our 6-Point Eligibility Guidelines
One written referral from a current IAPSP member
Current copy of insurance and bonding documents (where applicable)
Affiliate Organization Members
Membership will be approved by the Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis
For more details, or to apply for membership, please continue to check with our website. Our new site is due to be released shortly. You may also contact membership@iapsp.net.


dis⋅cre⋅tion [di-skresh-uhn]:
the quality of being discreet; of prudence or decorumBy Werner Leutart, Home Staffing Network

Privacy and confidentiality are very strong concerns for most employers in private service. Employers who have the need and are able to employ private service professionals are generally of great interest to the general public because of their wealth, their fame and often because little is known about them. It is our role in Private Service to protect our boss's privacy. "Friendly, but not familiar" is a common explanation of how the relationship between employer and employee should work. This same concept can apply to how we communicate to others in the community about our jobs. We should always be on guard about revealing any information to others while acknowledging that we have a great job supporting our Principals, period.

Curiosity is a common human trait and in Private Service we will get questions about our employers and our jobs when we are dealing with others in the community. Some Service Professionals are overly excited by thoughts of working for someone rich and/or famous. This type seemingly uses position to enhance their own self esteem by having the "inside scoop." These persons may struggle constantly with discretion and supervisors should take extra measures to consistently teach the boundaries of their employers confidentiality expectations and help employees to acquire a variety of avoidance techniques.

The best professionals in Private Service have low curiosity levels about their employers. These persons have the service mindset that brings them pleasure in service to others while having confidence that they are appreciated through performing these needed services. These are the true professionals.When asked a probing question about your employer, respond with a smile and consider one of these responses:
"Why are you asking?"
"You know how it is in these kinds of jobs, our Employers really enjoy their privacy."
"The Smiths are great people to work for, and I am obligated to help them maintain their privacy."
"I'm not at liberty to discuss those details with you. I'd rather discuss _____ instead."
"I will let them know of your interest, and they can advise me of the proper response to your question."
"Actually, I am off duty now, so I'd rather not talk about my job or the Family I work for."
Try to redirect the conversation immediately following these answers and always be supportive of your Employers by having a positive and confidential attitude!
________________________

About the author: Werner Leutart is a Private Service Staffing Consultant for Home Staffing Network based in Naples, FL. Home Staffing Network is an umbrella website for professionals who represent various specialties and services of interest to private individuals and families.

Prior to developing HSN, Werner spent 20-plus years as part of a Couple Team, as an Estate Manager, and a formal Butler in the Eastern and Sourthern USA. www.homestaffingnetwork.com

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