An important regional meeting on project management (PM) will be held in Abuja, Nigeria on December 4-5, 2006. The meeting will be sponsored by the International Development Specific Interest Group (IDSIG) of the Project Management Institute (PMIŽ) and will be co-hosted by the Lagos and Port Harcourt (Potential) chapters of PMI. This will be the first such regional PM conference sponsored by the IDSIG and represents a significant milestone in the development of the PM profession in Africa
National Mosque in Abuja
The two day session is expected to follow the following agenda:
According to Kay Fleischer, PMP, 2006 IDSIG Chair, "The conference in Abuja represents a significant development for both PMI and the IDSIG. It will be the first PM conference sponsored by a PMI component in Western Africa. Given our mission to promote the use of professional PM on international development projects, this will also provide an opportunity to influence local leaders and organizations in Nigeria."

According to the online Wikipedia, Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria with an estimated population of 2.5 million. The decision to move the national capital to Abuja from Lagos was made in 1976, when a capital territory was chosen for its location near the centre of the country. Abuja was a planned city and is located in the center of what is now the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The location was designated in the centre of the country as it signified neutrality and national unity.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and the 7th largest in the world, with 171 million residents. It has large reserves of minerals, oil & gas, and a developing economy. Nigeria is a democratic republic modelled after the USA, with a President, Senate and House of Representatives. The current President of Nigeria is Olusegan Obasanjo who was elected in 1999 following the restoration of democracy after two decades of military dictatorships.

More information on the regional meeting and on the IDSIG can be found at the IDSIG web site at:
www.pmi-idsig.org/. Registration is limited to 100 participants. The IDSIG Team Lead for
the Africa Regional Conference is Mr. Michael Idoko, who can be
contacted at 234 803 703 8019 or tomikee@hotmail.com.
The World Bank training, Managing the Implementation of Development Projects, is described at:
http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=5687880
PMI's International Development SIG (IDSIG) was founded to reduce poverty in developing countries by increasing the impact of international development projects and programs through improving project and program management of development projects. The IDSIG comprises professionals from lending organizations (multilateral, bi-laterals), developmental NGOs and independent professionals with experience in project management of development projects and programs in developing countries. The ID SIG focuses on the specific and specialized project management needs and issues of Internationally Funded Projects in the Public Sector in Developing Countries More information can be found at www.pmi-idsig.org.
With more than 200,000 members in over 150 countries, the Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's largest and best known project management professional society. PMI is actively engaged in advocacy for the PM profession, setting standards, conducting research and providing access to a wide variety of information and resources. PMI also promotes career and professional development and offers certification, networking and community involvement opportunities. PMI was founded in the USA in 1969, but is now a global organization with members, chapters and offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.pmi.org.
The Special Interest Group for IT Project Management (SIGITProjMgmt) of the Association for Information Systems (AIS) will hold its Inaugural (First) International Research Workshop on IT Project Management (IRWITPM) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA on 9 December 2006. With participants from various universities and countries, the all-day conference will include presentations of 12 ITPM research papers and two tutorials.
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The papers all look interesting, with the following titles:
The tutorials to be offered will include (1) Using Critical Thinking to Improve IT Project Management; and (2) Tutorial on SIMPROJECT.
The Founder at Chair of the SIGITProjMgmt is Depak Khazanchi from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). The Workshop Committee included a team from UNO, the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, and Georgia State University in the USA.
The Association for Information Systems (AIS) Special Interest Group for IT Project Management (SIGITProjMgmt) was announced in a breaking news article on November 9 (http://www.pmforum.org/blogs/news/2006/11/ais-forms-new-sig-for-it-project.html). The stated mission of the new group is to globally promote and facilitate the creation, presentation and publication of research examining all facets of information technology project management, including pedagogical issues. The new SIGITProjMgmt will also strive to be the global leader in linking and integrating IT project management research and practice. Additional information can be found at http://www.sigitprojmgmt.org/.


Attendees are expected to include people from Agriculture, Construction, Finance, Engineering, HRD, Infrastructure, IT, and Manufacturing industries; Marketing, Planning, Projects, R&D, Operations, Software, Services, NGO's, etc. who wish to make their companies locally & globally competitive. Top Management, managers, executives, decision makers, strategic thinkers, project managers and team members are all invited to participate.
For additional information, contact Mrs. Ruchira Jain, IPMA-D, CPP, Programme Director, 14th Global Symposium, A - 48, Sector 5, Noida - 201 301, India; Tel.: (91-120) 242 0444, 242 0463 Fax: (91-120) 242 1482, 242 1484; Email: acjain@vsnl.com or rjain@cepm.com - or visit the web site: www.cepm.com or www.pma-india.org.
Suppliers and vendors of project management related products and services are invited to participate in the PMI Dallas Chapter's Annual Vendor Showcase 2007! The event is scheduled for January 11, 2007 in Addison, Texas and sponsored by the Dallas Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMIŽ). Based on last year's record attendance, this year's event is expected to attract 1,000 attendees, making it one of the world's largest PM vendor exhibitions.
Vendors are invited on a "first come, first served" basis for one-on-one access to members of the sixth largest chapter in the world.
Last year's record-breaking attendance exceeded 750; free PDUs, food, and door prizes attract more members every year. Project management vendors may register by 12/15/06 for only $550 per table, including electrical outlet access and admittance/dinner for 3 representatives. (Additional representatives are $25.) Attendance is free for PMI Dallas Chapter members with advance registration.
Vendors who have registered to participate so far include the following: Velociteach, University of Dallas, Management Concepts, RMC Project Management, Crosswind PM Training, Microsoft, Doulos PM Training, Encentis Technologies, Inc., 6D Tech Inc., True Solution, and Planview. A total of 50 tables (booths) are being offered, so a large vender show is anticipated.

Door Prizes will be provided by the PMI Dallas Chapter as an additional incentive for attendance, and exhibitors are also encouraged to offer door prizes to attract booth visitation. We ask that all door prizes be listed with the Chapter in advance for advertising and directory purposes.
This year the chapter is also offering an incredible Grand Prize of a berth on the 2007 PMI Clearlake Galveston Seminar-at-Sea cruise (members only are eligible), so attendance is expected to soar, according to chapter representatives.
Exhibitors may collect contact information for use in door prize drawings (attendee contact information will not be made available by the Chapter.) All door prize drawings will be conducted by PMI Dallas Chapter Volunteers (either at the exhibitor booth or the Chapter exhibit table) and winners announced on the audio system.
The Dallas Chapter Vendor Showcase 2007 will be held on January 11, 2007, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel North Dallas,
14315 Midway Road, Addison, Texas, USA, 75001. For more information, visit http://pmidallasexhibitorregistration.eventbrite.com/.
The Dallas Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) is one of the most innovative all-volunteer chapters in the world. With a 25+ year history as a chapter of PMI, the Dallas Chapter is also one of the largest in the world with over 3,600 members. Monthly dinner meetings featuring a wide variety of project management experts and topics, and typically attract over 200 attendees. The chapter sponsors workshops, PMP development opportunities, an annual Vendor exhibition, a school outreach program, corporate interaction and other activities.
The president of the Dallas Chapter in 2006 is Mr. John Baley; and in 2007 will be Mr. Dwaraka Iyengar. The Dallas Chapter fully supports the PMI objective of "Making Project Management Indispensable to Business Results". For more information, visit http://www.pmidallas.org/index.phtml.

This year, the NASA PM Challenge conference will also host the presentation of the George M. Low Award, NASA's premier quality and performance award for NASA's prime and sub contractors. This award program recognizes large and small businesses that demonstrate excellence and outstanding technical and managerial achievements in quality and performance on NASA-related contracts or subcontracts. The award was named after George M. Low, a NASA leader who was dedicated to quality and excellence. George M. Low's career and achievements spanned many fields: space science, aeronautics, technology, and education. In the space program, he provided management and direction for the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and advanced manned missions programs.
Registration is $375 per person. NASA's PM Challenge 2006 conference attracted 985 attendees, 107 speakers and 45 vendor exhibitors. More participants are expected in 2007. The conference will be sponsored by NASA's Academy of Program/Project & Engineering Leadership (APPEL) in association with The Office of the Chief Engineer (OCE) and The Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA). NASA's project managers for this even are Dorothy Tiffany (Walter.Majerowicz.1@gsfc.nasa.gov). and Walt Majerowicz (Walter.Majerowicz.1@gsfc.nasa.gov). Registration and other information can be found at http://pmchallenge.gsfc.nasa.gov/.

In accordance with that directive and the NASA Authorization Act of 2005, the US President and Congress committed the United States to exploring the solar system and beyond: completing assembly of the International Space Station, flying the new Crew Exploration Vehicle no later than 2014, returning astronauts to the moon by the end of the next decade, and sending human missions to Mars and beyond.
For nearly 50 years, NASA has been leading the world in the development and usage of advanced program and project management. With its PM Challenge conferences, NASA is now sharing those experiences and exploring new PM topics with its contractors, stakeholders and the world of project management. Additional information about NASA can be found at www.nasa.gov.
The Russian Project Management Associations SOVNET will celebrate its 15th Anniversary during the February 2007 International Project Management congress to be held in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia. The Nizhniy Novgorod conference will be sponsored by the Russian Project Management Association SOVNET and the International Project Management Association (IPMA), with the full support and involvement of the Oblast governor.

The International Project Management Symposium will be held for the first time in Nizhniy Novgorod, a historic and important city and the fourth largest in Russia. From 1932 to 1990 the city was known as Gorky after the writer Maxim Gorky (who was born there in 1868). Located on the great Russian river Volga and founded in 1221, Nizhniy Novgorod is the economic and political capital of the Volga Region, with a fascinating and ancient history.
The theme of the symposium is "Project Management: State, Society, Business". The subheading of the conference is "Competent Project Management - Key Factor of Efficacy, Development and Prosperity." Executives and professionals worldwide who are interested in advancing the state of project management in Russia are invited to participate. The Symposium dates are from February 14 through February 17, 2007.
Key dates leading up to the conference are now as follows:
Symposium Participants willing to present a paper should submit an abstract of their paper containing 500 words maximum to the Program Committee as soon as possible. Participants making presentations will be granted a discount of 20% on attendance. Participants from outside Russia must make advance registrations and plans, including receipt of a Russian Visa. Contact the conference committee for more information.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Nizhniy Novgorod was the trading capital of the Russian Empire. In 1817, the Makariev Fair, one of the liveliest in the world, was transferred to Nizhniy Novgorod, which thereupon started to attract millions of visitors annually. The February Symposium and Exhibition will take place in the place of many of those historic trade fairs - the Nizhegorodskaya Yarmarka - a trade fair for over 400 years (www.yarmarka.ru).
According to SOVNET President Vladimir Voropajev, “Our goal is not only to deliver a good Symposium, but to also cheerfully celebrate the 15-year anniversary of SOVNET and the Russian Winter holiday! I can promise you that you have not yet seen anything like this! I hope that you will accept our invitation.”
The 2007 SOVNET congress in Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia will be held during 14-18 February 2007. For information, visit www.PMSYMPOSIUM.ru. The Chairman of the Program Committee is Grigory Tsipes who can be reached at Gtsipes@ibs.ru . The Chairman of the Organizational Committee is Alexander Tovb, who can be reached at Atovb@yandex.ru. The Chairman of the Conference Executive Committee is Professor Vladimir Voropajev, who can be reached at voropaev@sovnet.ru.