• Virtual Communities Project Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
• An Important Reminder About Component Board Elections
• Does Your Component Need Additional Periodicals?

• Hoping to Become a More Dynamic PMI Component Leader? Join Us in Sydney.

• Exposure Draft Period Opens Soon for Four Key PMI Standards

Q. It has been stated that there are “lots” of benefits to the new virtual community models. What are the target values to be obtained?

Members of PMI virtual communities will:

• Benefit from a consistent set of valued services delivered by all virtual communities. This is the “normalization of value” that is described in one of the project’s principles.
• Gain access to innovative technologies to facilitate the exchange of knowledge
• Establish new business contacts or maintain and develop existing ones
• Search for the cooperation of professional partners
• Extend their reach to global markets
• Reconnect with people with whom they have lost touch

In addition, there will be instant access to knowledge from experts in a variety of industries and subject areas. Communities will spread the superior practice of project management by sharing experience and knowledge.

Collectively the new virtual communities will help to advance the project management profession.  

For more information, please see the Community Development Web page and Virtual Communities Project FAQ. You are also welcome to e-mail your questions to ctp@pmi.org.

Is your component currently conducting board elections? If so, be sure to reference your component's bylaws and charter agreement for election guidelines.

All PMI components that have completed elections resulting in new officers and Data Exchange Program (DEP) recipients for 2007 can forward the information to PMI Component Relations Associate Nina Aiuto. Or, the component president or chair can update the information online in the new Component System (CS).

How to Access the Component System:

1. Sign in to PMI.org.
2. Click on Get Involved in the top navigation bar.
3. From the menu bar on the left, click Components & Communities. The last item on this menu will be Component System/DEP.

Every PMI chapter, SIG and college can request additional copies of PM Network^®, PMI Today^® and Project Management Journal^®.

All such requests must be made through Component Leadership Online Community using the component marketing materials request form. When you access the form, scroll to the PMI publications area where the three periodicals are listed.

Please order materials at least four weeks in advance of the date you need them.

In the final quarter of 2008, PMI is scheduled to release updated editions of these prominent standards: 

• A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^® Guide)—Fourth Edition
• The Standard for Program Management—Second Edition
• The Standard for Portfolio Management—Second Edition
• Organizational Project Management Maturity Model (OPM3^®)—Second Edition

Exposure drafts of these standards will be available for comment in mid-December. The comment period will remain open for 45 days from the date of posting. Please check PMI.org for details. Your review and input are desired and appreciated!

Participation in the exposure draft process is open to the public. Interested individuals around the world are asked to review and comment.

If you would like a copy of the exposure draft announcement and a link to the exposure draft Web page for use in your component newsletter or website, please contact PMI Creative Services Account Executive Cara Hungerford.

Register for the Asia Pacific Leadership Institute Meeting in Sydney, Australia on 1-2 March 2008 at the Hilton Sydney Hotel. For more information, please visit the meeting website or contact Gil Marder.

Friday Facts is a weekly report on PMI events and opportunities. Information contained herein may be reprinted in PMI component newsletters.

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