Has anyone heard of the ORC consulting firm?

[Steve Prevette]

I have been asked to be a speaker at one of their conferences in Washington DC, and I was wondering if anyone on the Cove has dealt with them.

http://www.orc-dc.com

Thanks,

[Wes Bucey]

This is a phenomenon new to me - companies which seem to exist for the sole purpose of making a profit on planning meetings for loose federations of business folk who have a common bond in some aspect of business.

I can see a benefit for some consultants and academics who can get "ATTABOYS" for making presentations, but I see little benefit for the folks in the audience.

I subscribe to several trade publications for meeting planners and I haven't seen this discussed before and yet, in the space of two weeks, we have two reports of organizations whose sole purpose for existence seems to be planning meetings and securing speakers for little or no cost. See
Call for Speakers - Leading Annual Design for Six Sigma Conference

I looked at the FAQ page at the url you provided and I am still unenlightened.

If I were promoting my book (still unfinished) or something similar, I might consider it under the theory "get all the stage time you can to promote yourself." However, even I don't want to pay out of pocket for the privilege of talking to a roomful of OTHER CONSULTANTS. I would certainly want to know who my audience was going to be and approximately how many!

[Steve Prevette]

Wes - for all it's worth - ORC is paying travel expenses, and Fluor will pay my salary. I will say Fluor has a very good presentation/publication program, and they encourage Fluor folks to speak. [Shameless plug for my employer - see http://www.fluor.com/papers/ you'll even see some of mine listed there]

No, Fluor doesn't always pay travel, but they do cover salary. I'll have to report out to the Cove when it is done.

Similar situations occur in the US Department of Energy. The "big" annual conference - "Waste Management 2006" held in Tucson AZ the end of every February is run by a private firm.

[Wes Bucey]

Sounds like a "can't lose" proposition. What topic have they asked for? One of the QP articles or something to do directly with the safety aspect of your position at Fluor?

With a deal like that, take the stage time!

I like the new photo for your avatar! Very dignified and professional looking!

[Steve Prevette]

Originally Posted by Wes Bucey

Sounds like a "can't lose" proposition. What topic have they asked for? One of the QP articles or something to do directly with the safety aspect of your position at Fluor?

With a deal like that, take the stage time!

I like the new photo for your avatar! Very dignified and professional looking!

That's about what I figured. The article they were interested in is the "Leading with Leading Indicators" paper I developed last year. They say they found it on the internet. I know there is a copy here on the Cove, and also as part of getting the document released by the government they put it on an OSTI (Office of Science and Technology Information) server. I also recently got a phone call from a Lt Colonel at the Pentagon who had been handed the paper by a superior and he had questions on it. The "Leading with Leading Indicators" topic is almost starting to rival the popularity of the Red Bead Experiment.

The ASSE conference in Seattle that I will be speaking at this summer requested a photo, and Fluor was willing to have the graphics shop here do one up, so I am putting it to use.

[Madfox]

Anyone ever talk to people at www.wcbf.com?
Last time I did (this year), they wanted $10,000 to speak!
I offered my Yugo, if they picked up the Subway veggie. (Whole wheat, 12").
Deal....or No Deal?
No Deal!
(Based upon the flyers I'm getting, I don't think their upcoming Chi-town session is SRO...)
What can a poor boy do
except to sing for a rock 'n' roll band
'Cause you see bein' London town
there's just no other place
for a street fighting man
Rod Stewart
"Street Fighting Man"

[Randy]

Originally Posted by Madfox

Anyone ever talk to people at www.wcbf.com?
Last time I did (this year), they wanted $10,000 to speak!

Whoa!! They wanted you to pay 10G to speak? Was "pack sand" and "hump a duck" part of the answer?

W.C. Fields was correct, "There's a sucker born every minute". You mean people will actually take up on that offer?

Bump that.

[Wes Bucey]

Originally Posted by Madfox

Anyone ever talk to people at www.wcbf.com?
Last time I did (this year), they wanted $10,000 to speak!
I offered my Yugo, if they picked up the Subway veggie. (Whole wheat, 12").
Deal....or No Deal?
No Deal!
(Based upon the flyers I'm getting, I don't think their upcoming Chi-town session is SRO...)
What can a poor boy do
except to sing for a rock 'n' roll band
'Cause you see bein' London town
there's just no other place
for a street fighting man
Rod Stewart
"Street Fighting Man"

I really don't understand what you are saying about this company.
Do you mean

1. they wanted $10 K from a speaker to put him on a program?
2. they wanted $10 K to bring a speaker to your program?

Let's be clear about companies like this. They make money from being exhibitors! They are no more in the Quality business than the mailman who brings my Quality books from ASQ Press. Of course they will try to make money from both ends! My local movie house takes money from film distributors to show certain films. They split the ticket price and keep the refreshment counter sales - they hope and pray the movie brings in hungry people. They sure don't care whether the audience likes the movie. The wonder in my mind is whether paying audiences think they get their money's worth. Speakers who pay for the privilege or speak for free hope to get payback in increased business, prestige, or book sales! Some guys are lucky enough to be interesting and charismatic enough to ALSO get paid. Zig Ziegler gets minimum $40,000 per 50 minute speech AND sells and signs books afterward for up to three hours. I saw one guy (I conveniently forget his name!) who gave a 30 minute speech for free and signed 20 audience members to take a $1500 seminar later in the week!

You can bet that when I EVER get my book finished and published, I will go ANYWHERE to publicize it!