Has anyone ever told you that you are opinionated? Rather than keep those opinions to yourself, we want you to share them with us. Of course there is a catch. We are not soliciting advice about any old topic, but feedback on editorial content in PHONE+ as well as seminar content for the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. You can provide that as part of the 2008-2009 Advisory Board.
Our inaugural 2007-2008 board retires at the end of August with our sincere gratitude. They have attended monthly meetings to discuss the trade show agenda and hot topics for PHONE+ editorial. Our recent series on the impact of the economy on telecom and the channel was a suggestion from board member Ken Bisnoff of TelePacific, for example. In addition, they've fielded innumerable requests for editorial comment on breaking news and responded to surveys that have yielded content like this month's agent compensation survey or the seminar topics for the upcoming conference in Boston.
We have been fortunate to have assembled such a dedicated crew the first time around, so living up to their legacy will not be easy. However, we hope there are a few of you out there who are up to the challenge. We will rely on the members of the advisory board for their guidance and counsel to ensure that our publications and programs remain relevant and timely.
There will be a few minor changes to board. Presently, it consists of standing association members and nine company members -- two each from carrier, reseller, master agent and subagent segments as well as one VAR. We want to expand the diversity of the voices and seek to include more VARs and interconnects on the board. We also hope to expand the vendor voices by adding some ISVs, MSPs and manufacturers. In addition, we will add a consultant/attorney category for input outside the vendor/provider realm.
As you might guess, there are numerous perks of membership, not the least of which is ongoing recognition in the magazine as well as online and at the biannual conferences. You also will have opportunities to provide input to the magazine and post your views on the Peer-To-Peer Blog on the PHONE+ Web site. And, you will have influence over the conference agenda and speaker selection. Most importantly, you will have a role in helping us to shape new products and services for the channel. For more details, see the online application form.
Over the past eight months, I have come to rely heavily on the counsel of the advisory board, so I want to stress that appointment to the board is not simply ceremonial. (Please feel free to ask them yourselves about the time commitment involved.) We have taken great pains to make our board an egalitarian and legitimate working body. I assure you, every thoughtful application will be considered seriously. So, if you've got a little extra time and a lot of great ideas, let us know. Good Luck!
