• Deadline to Submit Component Awards Applications is 30 April
• Virtual Communities Project (VCP) Update
• Use Components Central to Display Information at EMEA Congress

• Register now for the 2008 EMEA Leadership Institute Meeting

• Executives and Leaders Celebrate Launch of PMI Office in India

New technology has made the 2008 PMI Component Award application process much easier. You may now upload your award applications to a new website that will allow you to upload large files without overburdening e-mail servers and available bandwidth.

Also, you will receive immediate automated notification confirming the award application has been received by PMI.

For more information or to submit an application, e-mail the program or Anne Jenemann, or call Ms. Jenemann at 610-356-4600 ex: 5035.

In a 25 March message to all specific interest group and college leaders, PMI Chair Philip R. Diab, MBA, PMP, addressed concerns about forthcoming changes to virtual community models that will result from VCP.

In his letter, he stated that VCP ties in to the PMI strategic plan by supporting the Institute’s three-to-five-year goal of being the preferred source and resource for knowledge of the profession. He also challenged all volunteer leaders to think of new and innovative ways to engage members and build knowledge.

Mr. Diab said that VCP will create member value by removing the barriers we have placed before members and other stakeholders. He reiterated VCP’s goal to deliver better consistent value to members and enhance PMI’s position as the “go-to place” for information and knowledge about project management.

Phase 2 of VCP progresses, and the deliverables from Phase 1 have been sent for review and input to PMI COO Mark Langley and to Brantlee Jacobs, CAE, PMI director, Practitioner Markets, who are respectively the VCP executive sponsor and VCP business owner.

Currently, the VCP cross-functional team is drafting technology requirements to prepare for the upcoming pilot launches.

Tell us all about yourself through Components Central, part of PMI^® Global Congress 2008—EMEA, 16-18 May in St. Julians, Malta. Located in the congress exhibit hall, Components Central will display information from participating chartered components.

To participate, simply submit complete, current information about your component by using the Microsoft® Word flyer template in the Component Leadership Online Community, Current News section. Your information and materials must be submitted via the template so that PMI can mount a uniform, attractive and high-quality display. One flyer per component, please!

E-mail your completed template before Friday, 9 May to PMI Leadership Institute Associate Brianne Bangma.

Gregory Balestrero, PMI chief executive officer, presented a sculpture of the Delhi Metro to Dr. E. Sreedharan, managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, for his outstanding contribution to the country and profession. From left: Mr. Balestrero, Mr. Diab, Dr. Sreedharan, Mr. Kalady.

PMI celebrated the opening of its India office with a reception at Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, on 24 March that was attended by more than 65 senior level executives from government organizations and companies.

Located in Mumbai, the office will focus on development and advancement of project management in the country. The goal will be to convince more organizations in India to adopt or adapt global standards and certifications for project, program and portfolio management. 
 
PMI has appointed a managing director for the India office, Raj Kalady, who will be responsible for advancing project management principles across multiple industries.

Ultimately, the office will help organizations in India to better understand and apply global skills and techniques in their efforts to complete projects on time and within cost.

In attendance from Amman, Jordan, was Philip R. Diab, MBA, PMP, chair of the PMI Board of Directors, who said that the purpose of a fully operational office in India is to “keep India growing as a world economic power and to do so in a way that benefits all who live and work here.”

During the reception, PMI Chief Executive Officer Gregory Balestrero honored Dr. E. Sreedharan, managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, for his timely completion of challenging projects such as the Calcutta Metro. Dr. Sreedharan is a highly respected project manager in the India community.

In his speech, Mr. Balestrero spoke of India’s need for project management professionals “who know how to compress schedules to meet the urgent needs of a developing economy.” He said, “A key to this is utilizing standardized professional project management practices to build capacity and capabilities to achieve break through results.”

Mr. Balestrero noted that India has the third largest PMI membership – after the United States and Canada - with seven chapters and over 11,000 PMI members, most of them in the IT sector.

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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