BDPA Foundation: Message from BDPA Atlanta Chapter President

Friday, April 18, 2014

Message from BDPA Atlanta Chapter President

Derrick Brown

Cross-posted from The ACTEra Blog

BDPA Atlanta hosted its first monthly meeting at the Alliance Theater. It was an exceptional venue, a truly great place to have our meeting. In a picturesque room of walled glass with an open view of the city Myra Brown presented valuable information to our members on their personal image and brand.

In Part 2 of her dynamic presentation, 'The Business of Being Professional'¸ Myra revisited what was discussed in Part 1, reminding us that a Personal Brand was your unique promise of value, and that quite clearly you must take care of it in all its aspects, your dress, how you talk, your attitude, who you associate with, even how you smell. Hygiene is important friends.

Myra Brown

She reminded us about PIE, from Harvey Coleman’s book “Empowering Yourself: The Organizational Game Revealed,” PIE stands for Performance, Image, Exposure. In Part 2 she focused on Image, reminding us just how important your look can be to your overall success. This is no trite thing, something to be taken lightly. If you want to be a leader, then be seen as a leader, act like a leader, dress like a leader. Myra clarified this concept for us in very clear concise words.

Since visuals make such a powerful expression Myra had two models available to demonstrate her image concepts. Her lovely sister Ashley represented for the women, and interestingly enough Myra drafted your own BDPA Atlanta president to represent for the men. Ashley was great. And hey … I wasn’t half bad if I do say so myself.

To end her presentation Myra conducted a raffle, offering her image services to the winning ticket. We also gave away free tickets to see any upcoming Alliance Theater event. There were many people who left the presentation very happy to have been in attendance. If you were not there, you truly missed out. Everyone was a winner.

Also, please note that proceeds from this month’s meeting went to support the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University's Patient and Family Support Services Fund. The fund provides assistance to families of cancer patients struggling with expenses due to the fight.

But wait … that’s not all.

This month’s meeting fee bought you a ticket to the play, Maurice Hine’s Is Tappin’ Thru Life. BDPA Atlanta truly considered what we were doing when we thought of having a meeting in conjunction with a play. We are definitely advocates of STEM, but without question we also supporting adding the A to make STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Math. We will always endeavor to bring a little culture to our organization, and doing so this month was a complete success. The play was amazing.

Maurice Hines brought back vivid memories of his passed brother, Gregory Hines. He regaled us with the magic and majesty of two young boys raised with love from both mother and father, striving through circumstance to become legends in entertainment. He made us laugh, he made us consider, he made us smile with uplifting joy as he guided us through the amazing tapestry that was his life, and the life of his brother. His was a story presented in juxtaposition, word and song, piano, brass, bass, drum, and feet, the wonder of tap, an allegory of race and the American struggle. People, it was a tremendous evening.

If you are a member of BDPA Atlanta and missed it, where were you? And if you are not a member, why not? Membership has its privileges. Go back and reread the above to understand the value proposition. Join us today.

BDPA Atlanta truly thanks Myra Brown for gracing us with her presence, her knowledge, and her passion for uplift.

The Aspiring Critical Thinker,
D.S. Brown, president
BDPA Atlanta