en sanchez@campuspeak.com Copyright 2010 2010-09-07T21:32:58+00:00 http://www.campuspeak.com/site/sign-up-today-to-get-a-better-price-on-a-great-speaker/ http://www.campuspeak.com/site/sign-up-today-to-get-a-better-price-on-a-great-speaker/#When:22:23:10Z How would you like to save between $500 and $1,000 on a CAMPUSPEAK speaker? Each month, we send out notices to our best customers, letting them know about speakers who have random, open dates in their calendars.  By taking advantage of these dates, these customers save a bundle. Why do we offer these discounted dates? Usually, the speaker has sold the date before or after to a school in your area at regular price. Rather than spend a wasted day in a hotel in some random city, speakers authorize to sell these open dates at a discount. The speaker makes less, but everyone’s a winner because it makes a wasted day profitable for the speaker, and it saves the customer precious budget dollars. Your flexibility and ability to act fast on these discount dates can save you thousands of dollars each year on your programming. If you think you might be able to take advantage of such an opportunity even once a year, then join the discounts email list for your state. Go to THIS LINK, enter your email, and click go. Because of strict anti-spam laws, you have to opt in to receive these emails. It only takes a few minutes. If you are close to a border for another state, you can join the discount list for that state, too. We recommend, for example, that people in South Carolina join the discounts email list for North Carolina, as well. These discount date opportunities are first come, first serve. The speakers set the discounts, so you’ll notice that some are more motivated than others to sell those open dates. Not all states have discount opportunities every month. The more colleges in your state, the more likely you’ll see at least a handful of discount emails throughout the year. And for your peace of mind, your email is not sold to any other company, and we will only send you the emails for which you enroll. If you have any questions, or have difficulty signing up, please call Felix at the CAMPUSPEAK office at 303-745-5545. 2010-07-06T22:23:10+00:00 http://www.campuspeak.com/site/top-ten-lessons-about-fraternities-and-sororities-in-the-movies/ http://www.campuspeak.com/site/top-ten-lessons-about-fraternities-and-sororities-in-the-movies/#When:21:35:48Z BRIAN C. JOHNSON, the CAMPUSPEAK resident movie expert, uses the latest mainstream films to entertain and educate students about important topics impacting campuses. In addition to his acclaimed keynote, Reel Diversity, where he helps student break down cultural barriers while watching clips from their favorite flicks, Brian offers three new programs using movies to promote student learning. In Reel Diversity: Move Over Chuck & Larry, Brian helps students have deeper conversations about sexual orientation, and in We’ve Scene It All Before: College Life in the Movies, Brian helps students navigate the first year by exploring the facts about college life as presented by the Hollywood myth machine. Brian offers an all-inclusive experience—laughter and learning—and reminds us all about the power of relationships, community, diversity and leadership. In his other brand new keynote Reel Greek: When Hollywood Boulevard Meets Greek Row, Brian exposes Hollywood’s truths and lies about fraternities and sororities by viewing recent comedic blockbusters that don’t quite represent the realities on college campuses. Brian’s main thought about these “Hollow-wood” image of fraternity and sorority life: It’s OK to laugh at, but not ok to live!  While great programming for fraternity and sorority chapters, Brian feels ANY student group could benefit from booking Reel Greek on their campus, in the hopes that this highly educational and entertaining keynote could help dispel widely accepted myths of fraternity and sorority life. Following are Brian’s Top 10 Things College Movies FORGOT to Tell You about Fraternity and Sorority Life, some of which are covered more in-depth in his Reel Greek keynote: 1. Women in sororities are not having topless pillow fights, aren’t making breakfast in the buff, and do not only wrap a towel around their waists when they get out of the shower. It is true that most sororities promote women’s healthy body image and self esteem, this type of unshackled “freedom” is just pure Hollywood fantasy. 2. The “super senior” who never wants to graduate really isn’t that cool.  There are very few of us who can afford to stay in school for seven or eight years—who has that kind of money to waste?! 3. Academic excellence is a good thing and won’t make you a social misfit or outcast. Educational research has proven that many fraternities and sororities not only promote academic achievement, but actively push their members to excel in the classroom and beyond!
 4. Nobody is having that much sex and nobody is drinking THAT much!
  Let’s not be fooled by Hollywood’s tricks—that is NOT beer; it’s colored water! Seriously though, risky sexual behavior and alcohol consumption are correlated, but binge drinking has been on the decrease and fraternities and sororities are taking the lead in promoting responsible behavior! 5. Your organization can have more than ONE “diverse” member (however you define “diversity”). In the 21st century global marketplace, employers are searching for potential employees who are skilled at building cross-cultural relationships. You can increase your own marketability by learning to harvest the benefits of diversity on your campus. Practice inclusivity, not exclusivity! 6. No formal fraternity ritual includes men standing around in their boxers or tighty-whities or performing sex acts with farm animals.
  While these practices make for some funny movie moments, they should not be taken seriously. The true fraternity ritual is where values, traditions, and principles are cemented; in turn, chapters find their collective mission and members their individual purpose. 7. Winning Greek Week will not make the campus worship your organization nor will it guarantee the student government election. There is nothing wrong with a little healthy competition between organizations, and involvement in campus affairs is beneficial for the entire campus community. Members of fraternities and sororities consistently show committed leadership and are concerned about making a positive difference on campus.
  8. Membership does not ensure you a cushy Fortune 500 job after graduation—you will have to ace the interview like everyone else. Hollywood would have you think that just being a member guarantees you an executive job as soon as you graduate. Some people join fraternities and sororities for this reason alone. The international fraternal network offers many connections, but we must actively learn and practice the skills that make us employable. 9. Philanthropy and community service are at the core of our values. (BTW—refer back to #1 on this one too)
  Despite the oft-associated negative stereotypes about who we are and what we do, members and chapters across the globe are MAKING A DIFFERENCE offering countless hours of volunteer service and millions of dollars in contributions to local, state, and national charities. 10. If you don’t like the stereotypes about fraternity and sorority life, YOU can change them! No need to say anything more here!   All four of Brian’s REEL keynotes are available now for Fall 2010 bookings, and are perfect for diversity, first year experience, multiculturalism, fraternity and sorority life, res life and social justice programming. Call CAMPUSPEAK today to schedule during prime dates. 2010-07-06T21:35:48+00:00 http://www.campuspeak.com/site/ethan-zohn-beats-cancer-and-returns-to-the-campuspeak-roster-this-fall/ http://www.campuspeak.com/site/ethan-zohn-beats-cancer-and-returns-to-the-campuspeak-roster-this-fall/#When:17:29:34Z Ethan Zohn is back! ETHAN ZOHN has long been the “celebrity name” on the CAMPUSPEAK roster. The winner of 2001’s Survivor: Africa has been speaking on the topic of character for approximately six years.  In his campus program, Character: The Ultimate Survival Tool, he speaks about the lessons he learned on the reality TV show and his donation of his winnings to the establishment of Grassroot Soccer, an HIV/AIDS prevention organization operating in Africa. Ethan’s message is that when students confront challenges and opportunities based on their character, they can do amazing things. In 2009, Ethan faced a much bigger challenge than surviving on the African savannah. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and spent the next year aggressively fighting the disease. He took an indefinite leave from our speakers roster to fight the disease. Never content to sit on the sidelines, however, Ethan documented his battle with Hodgkin’s in an honest and revealing personal video blog on People.com. He also partnered with Katie Couric and became a spokesman for Stand Up to Cancer, making national television appearances to fundraise and promote awareness of cancer in young adults. In addition, Ethan was selected as as a celebrity ambassador for LiveStrong.org and, on occasion, provides inspirational keynotes on behalf of Lance Armstrong. It’s just the latest example of this remarkable young man’s commitment to making his life matter for others. For Ethan, it was simply another test of character. With several months of good health under his belt, Ethan is now back on the roster and ready to accept bookings again on college campuses. His message is the same, but now his battle with cancer adds a new element to his successful campus keynote. Ethan says he now knows what being a “real survivor” means.  Please contact us to arrange for a date for Ethan to visit your campus. He’s a great choice for any leadership event, convocation, or general campus program. See a video chronicle of all of Ethan’s highs and lows during his battle with cancer at people.com. For more information about Ethan, visit ezohn.com. For more information about Grassroots Soccer, visit grassrootsoccer.org. For more information about LiveStrong, visit livestrong.org. For the latest research on a collaborative cure for cancer, or to donate, visit standup2cancer.org. 2010-07-06T17:29:34+00:00 http://www.campuspeak.com/site/summer-series-webinars-on-campuspeak-connect/ http://www.campuspeak.com/site/summer-series-webinars-on-campuspeak-connect/#When:23:20:14Z Summer is here and while college students are on break, it’s a great time for college professionals to brush on skills or acquire new ones. CAMPUSPEAK has the answer for you with our Summer Staff Series online training webinars…it’s easy and affordable! What makes our webinars the best solution for your summer staff training? First, we expose you to some of the most critical issues training available today. Best of all, it’s interactive! You interact live from your desktop with the presenter, asking questions that address your specific challenges. A perfect solution for leadership training, staff and professional development or as an affordable offering for special interest groups on your campus. Our Summer Staff Series are often led by higher education staff who deal with the same issues on a daily basis. They are using CAMPUSPEAK Connect webinars as the easiest, most interactive method to share unique solutions, best practices and useful tips on how to meet the most pressing challenges in your profession. These include issues from time management to college transitions, and from curriculum development to building relationships with academic affairs staff. Below is a brief schedule of our Summer Staff Series webinars: Time Management Tuesday, June 22nd :: 4 p.m. EST Program and Curriculum Design Wednesday, June 30th :: 4 p.m. EST Building Mentor Relationships Tuesday, July 13th :: 4 p.m. EST Merging and Building Relationships Between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs Tuesday, July 20th :: 4 p.m. EST High School to College Transition Tuesday, July 27th :: 4 p.m. EST Working with Millennials Tuesday, August 3rd :: 4 p.m. EST For more information about these exciting webinar training opportunities, and to register, please visit campuspeak.com/connect. 2010-06-15T23:20:14+00:00 http://www.campuspeak.com/site/elaine-penns-7-tips-for-success-for-new-students/ http://www.campuspeak.com/site/elaine-penns-7-tips-for-success-for-new-students/#When:16:47:29Z Today’s students shoulder many responsibilities, and everyone knows how exhausting and overwhelming the first year of college can be. ELAINE PENN aims to encourage students about the possibility of success in life and their ability to leave a mark on their campus. The current state of the economy and all that’s happening outside of campus is also a source of concern for students entering their first year of college, given business closures, higher education budget cuts and tough competition for highly desired jobs. What can these incoming student expect in four years once they’ve earn their degrees and are thrown into a nebulous employment pool? “Our country’s economic issues are having an enormous affect on this generation,” Elaine says. “Many students spend each day wondering how they will pay back college loans and make it in the competitive employment market.” New student orientation needs to be the first step in giving students the tools and confidence they need to handle the stress and anxiety they are inheriting. “The great thing is that students don’t see these issues as someone else’s problem. They want to be part of the solution,” Elaine says. “It’s our job to give them the tools to do this, right out of the gate.” Her advice for new students is based in experience and wisdom, which she offers in spades in her college keynote “Journey to Success in College and in Life.” Combining discussion, stories, activities, music, and humor, Elaine energizes students with practical and meaningful tips that will make them more confident as they begin their college journey. “Amid all the stress and worry, students are looking for authenticity, so it’s important to put speakers in front of them who are real,” Elaine says. “My primary goal is for students to be healthy, happy and successful. To do that, I share personal stories that resonate with the challenges they are facing in their new lives on campus.” The following are seven inspirational tips that students can refer to again and again for a happy and successful life in college. Want to know more? Bring Elaine to your campus where she will personally motivate college students to excel. Tip #1: Put Your Academics First You have heard this your entire life, but your education is the most important reason you are in college, so it is worth repeating. So, how best to do this? First of all, you must prioritize. On campus, everything is happening at once. There are numerous potential distractions. Time management can be a challenge for many college freshmen. The key is to develop a priority list each week, and check it often. Spend extra time on the subjects that are hardest for you. Create a daily schedule and refer to it throughout the day. It is also important to find a peaceful place on campus to study, where you are able to center your mind and really focus. And remember, your campus has numerous resources to help you succeed…from tutors, to classes on time management, research, and writing. The important thing is you have to be willing to ask for help if you need it, and always do your best. You are CAPABLE of academic success! Tip #2: Make Wise Choices As a college student, you are responsible for your own decisions. It is up to you to make wise, productive choices, or poor choices that could negatively affect your life. Each day, you will have numerous opportunities to make important choices: choices about what you eat, what you drink, how much you study, how much you party, how much sleep you get, how you treat other people. Sometimes your choices will be as simple as not doing what everyone else is doing. Other times, they will be as difficult as standing up for what is right. But whatever your choices are, don’t forget, there are consequences to every decision you make; and, you will have to live with the consequences of those choices. We all do. So before you make a choice, pause, take a deep breath, and make sure this decision is the best one for you. Tip #3: Believe In Yourself and Be Positive You CAN achieve your dreams in college. However, you must first believe it is possible and have a positive attitude, because you WILL get what you focus on in life. The most successful college freshmen I know make a concerted effort to maintain a positive attitude. They think positive thoughts about themselves and others; and they say positive things, too. There is real power in belief. When you believe in yourself and have a positive attitude, you are more likely to succeed. You will also experience less stress, and make a positive impact on others. People would much rather be around someone who “sees the cup as half-full rather than half empty”. Remember, a positive attitude spreads out and touches everyone around you. Tip #4: Build Healthy Relationships It is vital that you build healthy relationships while you are in college. Create an empowering network of friends and others who care about you. Take the time to get to know your roommate and the people in your residence hall. These students can relate to what you are experiencing, so they will serve as your support group and safety net in college. Also, make an effort to know your professors. Find out when their office hours are, and schedule regular appointments with them. If you have an academic issue during the semester, you will be glad you cultivated these relationships. Finally, broaden your horizons regarding the type of people you get to know. Campuses are very diverse, so be open to meeting new people, discovering new ideas, cultures and experiences. Some of your closest friends may be the farthest from your expectations! Tip #5: Step Out of Your Comfort Zones. Get Involved College is what you make of it. And to make the most of your college experience, you must take risks and step out of your comfort zones. When you do, amazing things can happen. One of the best ways to step out of your comfort zones is to get involved on your campus. Join a club, organization, fraternity or sorority. Participate in intramurals or club sports. The happiest students are involved in at least one extracurricular activity. Involvement helps you feel more connected to your school as well. Another way to step out of your comfort zones is to make an effort to meet new people on campus. Embrace new friendships, including others from different backgrounds. The key is simple: get involved, meet new people and fully participate in your life! Tip #6: Take Care of Your Health and Manage Stress While you are in college, one of your main responsibilities is take care of yourself: your body, mind and spirit. College can be exhausting and overwhelming. It is easy for students to become stressed, burned out and even sick. Your well-being must be at the top of your priority list. Make an effort to eat a balanced diet of healthy foods, drink plenty of water, and get lots of sleep. Take the time to exercise at least 3 days a week. Exercise increases your energy and lowers your stress. It is paramount that you give special attention to your mental and emotional health. Be proactive about it. Do something to eliminate stress everyday, like yoga, mediation, writing in a journal or deep breathing exercises. Finally, seek a balance. While it is important to make great grades and get involved on campus, the secret to a happy life is finding balance and staying centered, so be good to yourself! Tip #7: Volunteer. Make a Difference One of the greatest ways to give back while you are in college is to volunteer your time in your community. There are so many ways to help. You could volunteer at a senior center, animal shelter, or the Red Cross. You could coach little league, tutor a child and just help one person who needs a friend. Never forget, when you help one person, it has a ripple effect across the community and the world. Now is the time to decide the kind of person you want to be. What acts of kindness can you contribute to the world? You don’t need to travel to a developing country to find a person in need. Nor do you need to wait for a natural disaster to find someone who needs a hot meal. There is always something to do, and always someone to help. As a college student, you may not have much spare time, but if you spare just a little, you can make a huge impact on the world. Volunteerism is an incredible way to develop leadership skills, too. So, find what you are passionate about, and go make a difference! Elaine has a variety of programs that can have an impact on almost any student or student group on campus. To find out more about Elaine and her keynotes, or to see a video of her in action, please visit campuspeak.com/penn. 2010-05-19T16:47:29+00:00 http://www.campuspeak.com/site/mary-jo-buttafuoco-joins-the-dynamic-roster-of-campuspeak-speakers/ http://www.campuspeak.com/site/mary-jo-buttafuoco-joins-the-dynamic-roster-of-campuspeak-speakers/#When:21:08:45Z CAMPUSPEAK is pleased to announce the addition of a new relationship speaker MARY JO BUTTAFUOCO to its dynamic roster of speakers. Hot off the recent release of her autobiography Getting It Through My Thick Skull: Why I Stayed, What I Learned, and What Millions of People Involved with Sociopaths Need to Know, Mary Jo is prepared to bring her message of demanding more loving, respectful relationships—and avoiding the toxic ones—to college students everywhere. Few individuals know more about escaping toxic relationships than Mary Jo. In May of 1992, she was shot in the head, in front of her home, by a 17-year-old girl. In the media frenzy that followed, Mary Jo and the entire world learned that her husband Joey Buttafuoco had been involved in an affair with the shooter Amy Fisher. Fisher had been only 16 when the affair with Mary Jo’s husband began. The Buttafuocos and Amy Fisher became national tabloid sensations. While Mary Jo was struggling to recover from her near-fatal injuries, she endured national curiosity and speculation about her marriage and her family. For years, while television movies were made and her married name became a national punch line, she stood by her husband, enduring constant pain and numerous surgeries. Her focus and priority was getting well and raising her two children, ages 9 and 12 at the time of the incident. Seven years later, Mary Jo finally got the strength to leave her marriage and began to rebuild her life. We at CAMPUSPEAK are heavily impressed of her message of recognizing and escaping unhealthy relationships to the current generation of college students. Although parts of her story are tragic, Mary Jo speaks to young people in a hopeful way. Mary Jo’s keynote borrows heavily from her own story, but she goes a step farther—helping both male and female students recognize the difference between good and toxic relationships. More than anything, young men and women will emerge from Mary Jo’s program empowered to demand better, more loving relationships throughout their lives. Mary Jo’s humor and her dry wit inspires and empowers. She is the perfect speaker for healthy relationships programming, women’s programs, violence prevention observances and more. Mary Jo is now booking for Fall 2010. Call today to get prime dates! For more information on Mary Jo and her college keynote, visit campuspeak.com/buttafuoco. 2010-05-11T21:08:45+00:00 http://www.campuspeak.com/site/keeping-young-women-safe-on-campus-top-5-tips-by-steve-kardian/ http://www.campuspeak.com/site/keeping-young-women-safe-on-campus-top-5-tips-by-steve-kardian/#When:22:05:55Z As you plan your college’s first-year student programming, commit to giving young women and men critical messages that will challenge and motivate them to make your campus a healthier, safe place. We believe there is no better way to do that than to include our speaker STEVE KARDIAN in your programming. Steve has spent his entire career in law enforcement and self-defense training. He appears almost weekly as a crime prevention and security consultant on CNN and its sister network HLN. He is also a contributor to USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and the New York Times. In one memorable segment for Inside Edition (video, top right), Steve posed as a man lost on campus. An alarming number of young women he approached in a parking lot invited Steve and his hidden camera into their vehicles. It was a shocking report that demonstrated how often college women seek approval or an opportunity to be helpful, rather than look after their own safety. In addition, we’ve all heard the statistic about one in four women experiencing sexual violence in her lifetime. But, did you know that a woman is most vulnerable to sexual assault entering her first year of college, between September and Thanksgiving? It’s a statistic that motivates Steve as he travels to college campuses nationwide teaching women how to reduce the odds of becoming a victim. In his interactive workshops, he teaches young women proven strategies to put the odds in their favor. Steve is happy to share with you what he believes are the best 5 ways young women can stay safe on campus: 1. Rely on the gift of intuition, trust your instincts. If you feel that the guy is a creep, he likely is. If you feel that you are in danger, you likely are. Create and share a secret signal with your friends for when they should intervene if you’re in an uncomfortable situation. 2. Go to people, be with people. Avoid being isolated or alone with strangers. 3. Have a plan. Explore the “what ifs?” when you have a clear head and free time. Ask youself What do I do if someone tries to break into my dorm, someone is following me, someone is stalking me… Making decisions while under stress or duress is the worst time to make any type of decision. 4. Don’t accept a drink from someone you don’t trust your life with. If you’re out having fun with your friends, watch the drink being poured or served, and remember, in some harmful situations,  the bartender and predator sometimes act together. Date rape drugs are odorless, colorless and have very little taste. Alcohol is a major factor in the majority of sexual assaults – more than 70,000 college students are victims of alcohol related sexual assault each year. 5. Facebook, Twitter and MySpace These are all wonderful social networking sources but they remain a stalkers dream. The college campus is a closed community and social networking sites are a tool the stalker uses to accomplish his/her desire. Try to use a different name other than your own as your log-in e-mail, think twice about listing your address and phone number and limit posts that announce you are alone in your dorm/apartment. More online safety tips can be found on Facebook. “Women have the great gift of intuition; however, many times they set it aside and disregard their own rationality by not acting on their gut feeling,” Steve said. With such a serious topic, people often expect Steve to be a very frightening speaker, full of fear and scare tactics. The opposite is true. Steve believes that the best strategy for women’s safety is to empower them. He gets his audiences laughing, talking, sharing, and understanding smarter ways to respond to unusual situations. For more information about Steve and his self defense program, visit nydefendu.com. 2010-04-30T22:05:55+00:00 http://www.campuspeak.com/site/campuspeak-ceo-honored-with-the-nic-alumni-award-of-distinction/ http://www.campuspeak.com/site/campuspeak-ceo-honored-with-the-nic-alumni-award-of-distinction/#When:15:18:59Z On April 18, 2010, CAMPUSPEAK CEO and co-founder T.J. SULLIVAN received the Alumni Award of Distinction from the North-American Interfraternity Conference. The award was given at the NIC’s Laurel Wreath Luncheon at the organization’s annual convention in Washington D.C. Founded in 1909, the NIC is the trade association representing international and national men’s fraternities. The Alumni Award of Distinction recognizes a fraternity man who “has given specifically of his time, talents and service to the betterment of the fraternity—at the local, regional or national level.”  The NIC recognized several outstanding chapters and undergraduate leaders at the event. T.J. was the only recipient of the alumni award in 2010. T.J. is a past recipient of the NIC’s Silver Medal Award and the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors’ Jack L. Anson Award. He was a founding father of his chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, and has been served his fraternity in a variety of roles since becoming a member in 1987. Pi Kappa Phi nominated T.J. for the NIC award. T.J. has been a professional speaker to fraternity and sorority audiences since 1992. To date, he has spoken to more than 2-million students on issues ranging from HIV prevention to confrontation skills and fighting organizational apathy. He was also recognized for his service as a blogger and for his work with CAMPUSPEAK. To read T.J.‘s remarks to the NIC on the occasion of his award, please go to his blog at http://tjsullivan.com/fraternity-where-friends-become-family/. Members of the Pi Kappa Phi delegation at the NIC Laurel Wreath Award luncheon: (l. to r.) Chad Coltrane, CEO of Push America; Dr. Lori Hart Ebert, CAMPUSPEAK speaker and PKP Director of Alcohol Education; Christian Wiggins, PKP Associate Executive Director; Mark Timmes, PKP CEO; T.J. Sullivan; and Mark Jacobs, PKP National President-Elect. 2010-04-28T15:18:59+00:00 http://www.campuspeak.com/site/score-chad-crittendens-strategy-for-overcoming-lifes-obstacles/ http://www.campuspeak.com/site/score-chad-crittendens-strategy-for-overcoming-lifes-obstacles/#When:22:48:25Z CHAD CRITTENDEN never considered doing the New York City Marathon—even when he had two feet. Chad’s right leg was amputated in a battle with a rare but deadly cancer almost a decade ago. Since then, he gained notoriety as the first amputee to participate on CBS Television’s Survivor and as a spokeman for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Even though he has competed in numerous challenging athletic events since his recovery, his carbon-fiber right foot had never found it’s way to New York City’s legendary event. Until this year. Things changed, in part, because of an opportunity to make his participation a fundraiser for Grassroot Soccer (GRS), an organization that uses the African continent’s passion for soccer as a tool for HIV prevention awareness. Chad would be running the New York City Marathon with his fellow Survivor, friend and co-founder of GRS, Ethan Zohn cheering him on. The two had planned to run the 2009 marathon, but Zohn was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. The diagnosis had come just as unexpectedly as Chad’s diagnosis eight years before. Chad had a unique opportunity to role model for his friend. Synovial Sarcoma claimed Chad’s foot, but not his spirit. After opting to have his foot removed to avoid the reoccurrence of a malignant tumor, Chad’s speedy recovery and new, cutting edge prostheses opened the door to an amazing new set of opportunities—Survivor and beyond. While Ethan fought for his life against Hodgkin’s Disease, Chad prepared for the marathon. Ethan’s battle renewed Chad’s commitment to increase cancer awareness and share his story of triumph. Chad’s story provides the framework for his inspiring keynote Discover the Will to Survive. Chad describes some of his experiences on Survivor along with valuable lessons he has learned through this climb from the depths of despair to the attention of a national TV audience. Chad shares some of the things he has used to overcome obstacles in life, and achieve and created something that he calls Conceptual Tools, in the hopes that audiences will be able to take something tangible away from his program. These Conceptual Tools—Steps, Circumstances, Optimism, Risk and Experience—are the core of Chad’s programs and deliberately form the acronym S.C.O.R.E. Steps - Setting big, long-term goals for yourself can be daunting. By breaking down large goals into a series of smaller, more easily attainable ones, Chad demonstrates how painless this process can become. By taking smaller steps toward his goals, Chad was able to achieve great things, and he shares this strategy. Circumstances - We have very little control over what life deals us on a daily basis. Whatever circumstances present themselves to us, we need to accept them. However, we do have a hand in molding those circumstances to our liking, once we’ve formed a plan for bettering out lives. Optimism - All plans for achieving one’s goals must rest on a firm foundation of confidence. Knowing that you will be able to do it and knowing that that goal is within reach will be your vehicle. Risk - You may be presented with opportunities, but the key is stepping up, moving outside your comfort zone, and taking calculated risks to accomplish what you strive for. Experience - Everything we work for is inconsequential, unless we can appreciate and experience what we are doing right now, and live in the present. Worrying, oversscheduling and anticipating can be counter-productive; it is important to realize that life is not a calendar—life is experience. Ethan is recovering now and doing well, and soon he will be back on the road as part of the CAMPUSPEAK speakers team, educating students at college campuses nationwide. With one more marathon under his belt—this one benefiting his friend Ethan—Chad is more excited than ever to motivate, empower and excite college audiences everywhere. For more information about Chad and his keynotes for college students, click HERE. For more information about the Challenged Athletes Foundation, visit challengedathletes.org For more information about Grassroots Soccer, visit grassrootsoccer.org 2010-04-08T22:48:25+00:00 http://www.campuspeak.com/site/two-new-keynotes-from-one-of-our-best-speakers-on-diversity/ http://www.campuspeak.com/site/two-new-keynotes-from-one-of-our-best-speakers-on-diversity/#When:15:46:05Z Since joining the roster in 2008, educator, author and minister BRIAN C. JOHNSON has become one of the most respected names on the CAMPUSPEAK roster, delivering his diversity keynote Reel Diversity to college students across the nation. Reel Diversity provides a safe dialogue in which students consider multiculturalism messages in popular movies. To see for yourself how Brian puts these concepts into action, click HERE to see a brand new 4-minute video of his presentation. It’s no wonder that students tune-in to Brian’s approach; discussions around the diversity topic are often mandated by higher education institutions, leaving students feeling singled out and combative along identity lines. Brian is a master, however, in creating a comfortable environment that allows every student to see himself or herself as diverse. Students laugh and remember some of their favorite movies, and from there, an interactive discussion about diversity can begin. While students are challenged to care about “social justice” – power, oppression, ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination – they are also asked to make personal judgments and recognize that the opportunity for change exists within each of us. Brian is now adapting this tried-and-true method of using film to generate honest dialogue in two brand new keynotes with very different foci: Reel Greek for fraternity and sorority audiences and Reel Diversity: Move Over Chuck & Larry for any group concerned about the portrayal of heterosexism and homophobia as normal behavior in our society. Reel Greek: Where Hollywood Boulevard Meets Greek Row Hollywood’s idea of fraternity is well known. “Frats” are portrayed as moronic, destructive, sadistic party boys, and sorority sisters as catty, backstabbing social climbers. Most everyone who’s had a real fraternity experience knows that there is a huge gap between reality and the image found in popular films. Fraternities and sororities were founded upon the exemplary principles of scholarship and achievement, service, philanthropy, and leadership; yet you’d never know that from a trip to your local multiplex! Naturally, the images on the screen affect how most people in our world think of fraternities and sororities. Brian Johnson’s keynote, Reel Greek: Where Hollywood Boulevard Meets Greek Row, uses film clips from popular films like Old School, Animal House and Stomp the Yard (and many others) to explore the Greek community’s image, reputation, and ability to recruit. By examining these images, audiences (Greek and non-Greek) will be challenged to question what it really means to live in community with others, and to think critically about counteracting the negative public perceptions and promoting the true ideals of these organizations. Reel Greek is perfect for Greek Week, new member events, officer training, or as a stand-alone all Greek program. Reel Diversity: Move Over Chuck & Larry How many viewers of movies find themselves questioning heterosexual identity and behavior on screen? Not many, because it’s usually perceived as the norm; their reactions change, though—mostly in a negative way—when homosexual identity and behavior is portrayed on film. This also creates a psychological impact on LGBTQ viewers, who must cope with this negative reaction, overt or not, from the majority audience. Homophobia is, unfortunately, coded into the fabric of our society and one of the most common places is in mainstream Hollywood film. In fact, as detailed in the documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated, films that include homosexual acts of sex will more likely receive the dreaded NC-17 rating, whereas similar acts by heterosexuals will receive more favorable ratings (R or PG). This is one clear example of how our film-going society favors heterosexuality as normal and homo/trans/bisexuality as not. Brian explores the societal issues of sexual orientation in his new keynote Reel Diversity: Move Over Chuck & Larry, using this particular movie as one example of how film can reinforce ideas of heterosexism and homophobia, and magnify the stereotypes and prejudices of each. By viewing and discussing films, such as The Birdcage, Brokeback Mountain and The Talented Mr. Ripley, students will examine concepts of “hetero-normativity” and its influence upon popular movies, and how young people may readily accept these images as truth. They will leave this keynote with the challenge to define their own sexual orientation in terms that are non-sexual, and a better understanding of how people’s ways of lives deserve acknowledgement and respect. This keynote is perfect for new student orientation, LGBTQ celebration and awareness events, diversity programming and res life training. 2010-03-19T15:46:05+00:00