August 2010 Edition Charisma Productions Gazette

1. Charisma Productions Gazette
Volume 2, Issue 8 August 2010
Off-Site Meetings…A New About Charisma Productions
Perception Network
Value of an Off-Site Meeting Your One Stop Solution
Priceless Added Value
Charisma Productions Network Charisma Productions Network
Although the perception of off-site meetings is a big concern, Over 25 years ago Charisma Productions Network opened
the intense scrutiny the industry experienced in 2009 will their doors for business, providing a unique service: Live
continue to influence how meetings and events are designed corporate meetings and special event production. Over the
in 2010. Budgets will remain tight, there still will be fewer years CPN has acquired many dedicated clients.
perks for attendees, and planners will continue to downscale
F&B, entertainment and activity expenditures. Facing the tough economic times, business meetings have
But some planners may be facing a different, and more been getting a lot of bad press. Many companies have cut
intimidating, challenge: Making the case to reinstate meetings back budgets for meetings. But there is much added value
that were canceled due to the economy. And, although there when you have off-site meetings. In this tough economy,
has been a lot of talk about small growth, there is a very real when CPN produces an event it brings temporary jobs to the
possibility that the economy will take years to rebound. But local economy. Every event that CPN produces, they partner
that doesn’t mean that companies should continue to cancel with a corporation which brings funding to the local
meetings. community they are in by utilizing local talent and services.
Tough times are a great time to renew trust, leadership
matters. When employees see the leadership team standing Now, after many years, corporations are finding it necessary
front and center and delivering the message, it demonstrates to hold corporate events and meetings to keep employees
that management cares about them and considers them motivated and to close the gap in bringing employees closer
essential to weathering the storm. Canceling such meetings to the business part of the company, letting them know that
sends the message that employees are expendable. they are the foundation of the growth of the company.
The value of face-to-face meetings, show that business
executives support the need to meet and illustrate the Meetings are held for many different reasons: to promote new
dangers of not bringing employees and company leaders products, to honor employees, to provide continued
together. They offer great talking points planners can use in education in the business, etc. These meetings are such a
discussing why meetings should be reinstated as soon as vital part of the corporate environment; they are designed to
Possible. have a lasting effect on all attendees. After the meeting is
over employees and staff members should be able to take
continued on page 2 back with them new ideas, become more innovative and
efficient. It seems that it is truly an essential business tool.
Charisma Productions Network will be there to provide the
INSIDE THIS ISSUE service they need.
1 Off-Site Meetings…A New Perception
Due to the growing demand by corporations and their
understanding of the added value to maintain their
employees and keeping clients informed, educated and
1 About Charisma Productions Network motivated corporations are demanding more sophisticated
and technologically oriented presentations. In growing along
2 Off-Site Meetings-Continued with corporations and their needs CPN stays a step ahead in
forward thinking and technological advances. People are
3 About Charisma-Continued much more receptive to sit in a room with lights, sound and
visual effects than to sit in a sterile conference room, looking
4 Strategic Partner/MPG Productions at a PowerPoint presentation with a small hotel note pad, pen
and a glass of water in front of them.
5 From Our IT Department
6 From Our Executive Chef
7 Summer Dessert From Food Stories
continued on page 3
Newsletter 1

2. Off-Site Meetings continued from page 1 videoconferences to achieve
In order to grow, businesses have to invest. Face-to-face business objectives was negligible.
meetings and incentive awards to top performers are among • 87 percent of the executives agreed
the smartest investments companies can make.
with the statement “There are
During the recession, the use of technology-enhanced and
other virtual meeting alternatives has skyrocketed, so Forbes tangible business benefits to in-
conducted an insight study with more than 750 businesses person; face-to-face meetings that
this past summer to see if Web conferences, outweigh the cost savings of
videoconferences and other virtual meetings could replace alternative, technology-based
the need to meet face-to-face. meeting methods such as web
conferencing or videoconferencing.”
• More than 8 out of 10 of the
executives said they prefer face-to- People don’t want to sit in their office looking
face contact to virtual meetings. at each other on computer screens. That
• The top three reasons those personal interaction is the foundation on which
executives preferred face-to-face business relationships are built. It’s what
meetings were because they build drives business, and gives real incentives for
stronger, more meaningful business higher productivity. 
relationships (85 percent); give them
the ability to read body language and
facial expressions (77 percent); and
there’s more social interaction and
ability to bond with co-workers and
clients (75 percent).
• The less than 20 percent who
favored technology-enhanced
meetings did so because it saves
time (92 percent); saves money (88
percent); and offers more flexibility
in location and timing.
• When asked to choose the meeting
method most conducive to fostering
specific business actions or
outcomes, executives
overwhelmingly preferred face-to-
face meetings for achieving almost
every business objective, including
persuasion (91 percent), leadership
(87 percent), engagement (87
percent), inspiration (85 percent),
decision making (82 percent),
accountability (79 percent),
brainstorming (73 percent) and
strategy (73 percent).
• Web conferences were preferred
only for data presentation (44
percent) and information
dissemination (43 percent), although
it held less than a 10 percent margin
over face-to-face meeting in those
two areas. Roughly 27 percent
favored teleconferences for matters
of urgency, but otherwise, the
percentage of executives preferring
the use of teleconferences or
Newsletter 2

3. continued from page 1
Charisma Productions Network has expanded in staff,
Our Events! technology and talent. So why do we do it? There is one
big reason: Meetings are stimulating and productive.
Meetings with clients help us understand their needs in a
way that phone calls, e-mails and web meetings can never
quite equal. What sets Charisma Productions Network
apart from its competitors is the constant communication with
its clients and it’s honesty in pricing.
The website displays an array of services that CPN
provides as well as clips from recent events produced. CPN
is a premier live corporate meeting and event production
company with over 25 years industry experience. They have
an incredible team of talented individuals worldwide that will
make any event completely unforgettable. It will make all
attendees talk about it long after the event is over.
For more information please contact
info@cpnevents.com or visit our website
www.charismaproductionsnetwork.com
Informative, Inspiring
and Empowering
Let Charisma Productions Network
become your one-stop solution for
Thank You for All of Your Comments and Suggestions all your corporate meeting, events
and conference needs.
Newsletter 3

4. Strategic Partner
Multimedia Production Group
Why wide screen technology for your event?
One word – IMPACT! America is rapidly moving to a national standard for digital television and wide screen
technology at home. Audiences are expecting to see the new technology at today’s meetings, conferences and special
events. The presence of a wide screen in a venue makes a powerful statement to your audience. Wide screen
technology is versatile and more affordable than you might think.
Get a huge effect without a huge budget by using one of MPG’s many widescreens. With our Vista Spyder
System you can make a widescreen into a backdrop with unlimited potential while overlaying images on the
widescreen called P.I.P (Picture In Picture).
One of the greatest features of the Spyder is its versatility. You can utilize cameras, video rolls, graphics or
still images to make a creative and memorable experience for your attendees. When and where the effects
appear on the widescreen is up to you.
Go ahead; give your next event huge impact with using one of MPG’s many widescreens and Spyder!
Options on a wide screen production
1. Picture in Picture-IMAG & PowerPoint
2. Virtual Set-The widescreen background can represent any place or theme
3. Split-Screens-Sections of the screen can represent different topics
4. Special Effects-Fly-In information or animate a background using different layers
5. Video-Larger than life information and entertainment for you audience to absorb
Website: www.mpgproductions.com
Newsletter 4

5. From Our It Department
How to Secure a Wireless Network from Hackers?
The reason we secure a wireless network is to stop people from using the services of our network who don't have permission to
utilize them. It is harder to secure a wireless network from hackers as compared to a classic wired network. This is due to the fact
that a wireless network can be accessed anywhere inside the range of its antenna.
In order to secure a wireless network from hackers, we should take proper steps to save ourselves against security issues. If you
don't secure a wireless network from hackers, you might end up without its service. The consequence might also include the
utilization of our network to attack further networks. To secure a wireless network from hackers, you should follow these simple
wireless networking tips:
Strategic antenna placement: The first thing you have to do is to position the access point's antenna in a place which restricts
the range of its signal to go further than the required area. You should not put the antenna close to a window because glass can't
obstruct its signals. Place it in a central location of the building.
Use WEP: WEP stands for Wireless encryption protocol. It’s a customary technique for encrypting traffic on a wireless network.
You should never skip it as that will allow hackers to get instant access to the traffic over a wireless network.
Change the SSID disable the broadcast of SSID: SSID stands for service set identifier, It is the recognition thread utilized by the
wireless access point due to which the customers are capable of starting connections. For every wireless access point arranged,
select an exclusive as well as unique SSID. Also if it’s attainable, hold back the broadcast of the SSID out over the antenna. It
won’t appear in the listing of offered networks, while being able to provide services as usual.
Disable DHCP: By doing this, the hackers will have to decode the TCP/IP parameters, subnet mask as well as the IP address in
order to hack your wireless network.
Disable or modify SNMP settings: Change the private as well as public community settings of SNMP. You can also just disable
it. Otherwise the hackers will be able to utilize SNMP to get significant info regarding your wireless network.
Utilize access lists: For additional security of your wireless network, and if your access point supports this feature, employ an
access list. An access list lets us determine precisely which machinery is permitted to attach to an access point. The access points
which include the access list can employ trivial file transfer protocol (TFPT) now and then in order to download modernized lists to
steer clear of hackers.
Newsletter 5

6. From Our Executive Chef
Instead of giving us a recipe this month our Chef was so excited about a cookbook that he found and was really excited about the
author and the stories that went along with the recipes that we felt it necessary to spread the word. With so many cookbooks and
Chefs on the market these days, it is really refreshing to see a person who has not been professionally trained tap into a market
that has not been over done by so many Chefs. This book was originally written for single fathers but it also has become a
surprising success among working women on the go.
About the Author:
Denny Stanz grew up in a small blue collar town in Pennsylvania. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Pre-
Law, and then spent 3 years in the United States Army, including a one year tour in Vietnam as a young Lieutenant.
He moved to California and began a 30 year career in the insurance industry where he served as President of the 2nd largest
insurance professional association in the country, and increased the membership to its highest total ever. He served for 10 years on
the Board of Directors of a Child’s Advocates organization that provided volunteers to the Juvenile Court to speak on behalf of
abused and neglected children, and assist the Judge by providing information that helped in that child being placed in the safest
home environment.
In the past decade, he has devoted his time to various interests. He has been active in the real estate market, purchasing and
renovating properties. His golf game sports a 12 handicap, and he has been a member of a male chorus well known in Southern
California. He always enjoyed reading and writing, and at age 66, became a first time author with the publication of Food Stories, a
compilation of true and sometimes humorous events that occurred in his life that resulted in his preparation of a meal for someone
other than himself. The book is written to help men, especially those whose only trip to the kitchen is to get a beer from the
refrigerator. He shares stories that millions of men can relate to, while showing them how to turn any situation into a simple and
gratifying cooking experience.
He is currently working on a second book, detailing his joy and heartache of being a single father. He lives in Southern California.
Check out how you can purchase Food Stories at http://dennystanz.com
Newsletter 6

7. Summer Dessert Recipe from “Food Stories”
Lemon Ice Cream Pie
Whip 1 cup of cream with 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 tablespoon of orange liqueur until the cream is stiff.
Spread cream on bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie plate dish. Freeze until firm.
When the cream shell is frozen firm, stir together 2 cups of cream, 1 cup of sugar and a grated lemon. Remove large pieces of
lemon membrane. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour into the frozen shell and return to the freezer.
When pie is frozen, slice into wedges and serve with strawberries and syrup
Newsletter 7

8. Thank You for Your Support
We wish to thank our readers and our clients for their support and feedback helping to continually grow the Charisma
Productions Network. We look forward to another successful year in 2010 as we continue to grow and provide you
with successful stress-free events.
We appreciate hearing from all of you and strive to improve our articles and hope to have something for everyone at
one point or another. Please send us suggestions for topics you would like to read about or if you have an article that
you would like to share we’ll be happy to post it.:
Please send all comments to:
comments@cpnevents.com
Earn A Referral Gift Card
In Appreciation of a Client Referral That Is Converted Into An Actual Event, Charisma Productions Network, is offering a
$100 Gift Card For Every Confirmed Account.
The Gift Card Will Be Mailed To The Referring Party Within 14 Days After The Event Completion. Promo Code, & Full Details Of The Referring Party Must Be Given To The CPN Representative At The Time Of
Receiving A Request For Proposal (RFP). Offer Valid Only In The Continental United States, & Is Subject To All Local State, & Federal Taxes.
This Offer Is Void Where Prohibited By Certain State Laws
Authorized by: Geoffrey R. Andrews
Expires: August 31st, 2010
Promo Code Number : CPN06010831-10
Charisma Productions Network
A Geoff Andrews Company
805-241-0566
www.charismaproductionsnetwork.com
info@cpnevents.com
© Charisma Productions Network 2010, All Rights Reserved
Charisma Productions 8