The virtual assistance industry is booming right now and if you’re among the VAs overwhelmed with projects there’s a new program to help!

VAnetworking.com or ‘VANA’ is the world’s largest virtual assistant organization with over 7,550 members. Virtual Assistants work from their own offices and provide administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs and executives. Many seasoned VAs find themselves overwhelmed with projects at this time of year but don’t want to turn away business. VANA has implemented a traditional ‘internship’ program for members, providing busy VAs the opportunity to become VAclients by subcontracting work to VAinterns. It’s a win-win situation. The VAclient gets some relief and the VAintern gains relevant experience.

Tawnya Sutherland, founder of VANetworking.com is very enthusiastic about her latest offering to the virtual assistant community, the VAinternship program. “Every day at VANA I see posts made by new VAs struggling to find clients. These industry newbies are starving for real world experience,” says Sutherland, “even though they might have been administrative assistants for years. Working virtually is a totally different ball game and potential clients are looking for experienced VAs with great recommendations. This program will allow new VAs to get that experience while Veteran VAs are able to get a taste for subcontracting work.”

VAinterns are prescreened and monitored by a team of Veteran VAs at VANA. VAclients work directly with a Veteran VA who liaises between them and the VAintern. This VA liaison works one-on-one with the VAclient to ensure their project is completed to their specifications by a skilled VA in training.

This is a great opportunity for successful VAs to test the waters of expansion and subcontracting plans are extremely economical, starting at only $8/hour.
If you are considering becoming a virtual assistant, now is the perfect time to join VANA – the global meeting place for aspiring and successful VAs. As a member you’ll not only be eligible to participate in the VAinternship program, but you will have access to over 75,000 posts, expert advice on work-related topics, weekly VA chats, monthly contests, the VANA Newsletter, discounts on products and services, and placement on a growing listing of VAs in 14 countries in the VA Service Directory. Also, just in time for the holidays – access to the VANA Shop. And it’s all for free! On top of all that, the 2nd annual VA Advent Calendar Contest is in full swing at VANA giving all members old and new the opportunity to win great prizes. The prize pool for the Advent Contest is valued at over $5000!

If you’re interested in learning how you can have VAinterns work for you, simply send an email to clients@vainterns.com and you will receive an information packet on how to get started. If you are interested in becoming a VAintern, you can send an email to interns@vainterns.com, requesting an application.

If you are a business owner who would like to learn more about the VA industry, where better to look? You can’t beat VANA (VAnetworking.com) when it comes to resources and the vast pool of professionals from which to draw.

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Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) and author of the Virtual Assistant Startup System (VBSS), is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing her expertise to help aspiring and successful VAs turn website clicks into cash for them.

Announcement of a new internship program designed to provide new virtual assistants with the experience needed to gain clients

It’s a classic ‘Catch 22’. You are a brand new virtual assistant eager to get clients, but you don’t have the experience potential clients want. You can’t get the experience without getting the clients. What’s an aspiring virtual assistant to do?

VANetworking.com or ‘VANA’ is the world’s largest virtual assistant organization with over 7,550 members. Virtual Assistants work from their own offices and provide administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs and executives. Many new VAs find themselves caught in the aforementioned ‘Catch 22’. To resolve this problem, VANA has implemented a traditional ‘internship’ program for members, providing new virtual assistants with their own ‘real’ clients.

Tawnya Sutherland, founder of VANetworking.com is very enthusiastic about her latest offering to the virtual assistant community, the VAinternship program. “Every day at VANA I see posts made by new VAs struggling to find clients. These industry newbies are starving for real world experience,” says Sutherland, “even though they might have been administrative assistants for years. Working virtually is a totally different ball game and potential clients are looking for experienced VAs with great recommendations.”

VAinterns will gain real world experience, giving them the tools needed to develop their VA businesses with conviction. Participants will learn what pressures to expect as deadlines loom, how to deal with unexpected issues that arise and they will develop confidence as they find ways to overcome these events. Most importantly, they will learn what it takes to ensure client satisfaction.

Upon successful completion of a VAinternship, participants will have completed a minimum of ten different client projects, providing them with invaluable insight into the expectations and needs of real world clients. They will also receive a ‘Certificate of Completion’ and permission to add the ‘VAintern Completion logo’ to their website to demonstrate to potential clients their commitment to a training program.

If you are considering becoming a virtual assistant, now is the perfect time to join VANA – the global meeting place for aspiring and successful VAs. As a member you’ll not only be eligible to participate in the VAinternship program, but you will have access to over 75,000 posts, expert advice on work-related topics, weekly VA chats, monthly contests, the VANA Newsletter, discounts on products and services, and placement on a growing listing of VAs in 14 countries in the VA Service Directory. Also, just in time for the holidays – access to the VANA Shop. And it’s all for free! On top of all that, the 2nd annual VA Advent Calendar Contest is in full swing at VANA giving all members old and new the opportunity to win great prizes. The prize pool for the Advent Contest is valued at over $5000!

To request an application for the VAinternship program, please send an email to interns@vainterns.com.

If you are a business owner who would like to learn more about the VA industry, where better to look? You can’t beat VANA (VANetworking.com) when it comes to resources and the vast pool of professionals from which to draw.

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Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) and author of the Virtual Assistant Startup System (VBSS), is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing her expertise to help aspiring and successful VAs turn website clicks into cash for them.

Announcement of a cyber holiday party uniting virtual assistants from around the globe

How do 7,500 people from around the world gather together to celebrate the holidays? Why, virtually of course! The world’s largest association of Virtual Assistants – VANetworking.com or ‘VANA’ to its members – will congregate on December 13th for the first annual VANA ‘Decking the Offices’ holiday party. Founder of VANA, Tawnya Sutherland, has trimmed the virtual tree and is donning her Santa Hat – preparing to give away $1,000 worth of prizes to her party guests that evening.

Virtual Assistants work from their own offices and provide administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs and executives. Many VAs experience feelings of isolation when they leave the ‘corporate world’ and consequently staff chit chat by the water cooler. Organizations like VANetworking.com serve as a family these entrepreneurs can turn to for advice, mentoring, and camaraderie – supporting one another and working hard to promote the Virtual Assistant Industry. The ‘Decking the Offices’ holiday party will be a wonderful opportunity for members to congregate and share in the holiday spirit.

How does a virtual holiday party work? Members are asked to dress up for the occasion, head over to the VANetworking.com seminar room and cozy up to the computer with their own apple cider, egg nog or favorite merlot. A party isn’t a party without food, so members must bring their own munchies to enjoy throughout the evening. What would a festive office party be without gifts? Members are encouraged to choose a fantasy gift to exchange, virtually, with a fellow VA.

Door prizes will be handed out throughout the evening and will include:

• VAinsider Memberships
• VA Seminar Memberships
• VA industry ebooks
• Plus other goodies that Santa brings from the Virtual Assistant Shopping Network.

If you are considering becoming a Virtual Assistant, now is the perfect time to join VANA – the global meeting place for aspiring and successful VAs. As a member you’ll have access to over 74,000 posts, expert advice on work-related topics, weekly VA chats, monthly contests, the VANA Newsletter, discounts on products and services, and placement on a growing listing of VAs in 14 countries in the VA Service Directory. Also, just in time for the holidays – access to the VANA Shop. And it’s all for free! On top of all that, the 2nd annual VA Advent Calendar Contest is in full swing at VANA giving all members old and new the opportunity to win great prizes. The prize pool for the Advent Contest is valued at over $5,000!

If you are a business owner who would like to learn more about the VA industry, where better to look? You can’t beat VANA (VANetworking.com) when it comes to resources and the vast pool of professionals from which to draw.

The ‘Decking the Offices’ holiday party gets under way at 8pm EST on Thursday, December 13th. Please be responsible and if you plan to drink virtually, please don’t drive!

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Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) and author of the Virtual Assistant Startup System (VBSS), is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing her expertise to help aspiring and successful VAs turn website clicks into cash for them.

Virtual Assistant Seminars

Time: Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 - 6 PM Eastern Daylight Time Presented by: Kelly Poelker Topic: Out with the Old, In with the New Giveaway: I will offer a complimentary 30-minute coaching session, valued at US$45 JOIN US at: www.VAnetworking.com

Our weekly seminar will feature Kelly Poelker. Sheri will present to us a seminar entitled Out with the Old, In with the New

Welcome the New Year with excitement and a plan for success. Join Kelly Poelker, President of Another 8 Hours[tm] and co-author of Virtual Assistant - The Series, as she discusses year end activities that are sure to boost your business productivity in 2008.

Kelly Poelker, author and certified Master Virtual Assistant (MVA), is the owner and driving force behind the Another 8 Hours virtual assistant team.

Kelly’s knowledge and expertise as a support specialist and virtual assistant comes from spending over twenty years in retail sales, home party sales, mortgage lending, banking operations, and manufacturing. Since opening the business in 2000, Kelly has successfully supported a variety of clients in a myriad of industries. Her client list includes, but is not limited to: sheet metal fabricator company; plastics and foamboard supplier; iron oxide pigment manufacturers; air transportation company; commissioned artist and instructor; various coaches, speakers, and trainers; cosmetic sales director and representative; real estate agent; specialty bag company; emergency medical training facility; environmentalist; mortgage loan consultant; gutter manufacturer/installer; gift basket company; travel agency; and, investment representatives.

Kelly’s diverse background and clientele has gained her valuable insight into the world of business, specifically in the areas of; domestic and international customer service, sales forecasting, budgeting, marketing communications, designing sales aids, planning successful meetings and events, purchasing, sales support, office management, vendor and client relations, establishing policies and procedures, employee supervision and management, employee training, an array of other general administrative tasks, and small business management. Kelly has provided support to all levels of an organization including Executive Management.

JOIN US at: www.VAnetworking.com

To Your Virtual Success,

Tawnya Sutherland
Founder of Virtual Assistant Networking Association

Are You on the Insider Track to Virtual Success?
Become a VAinsider Today!

What have you done for your business lately?
If you are a Virtual Assistant or are in the process of starting your VA practice, attending FoVA will provide you with tools to take your career to the next level. The FORUM on VIRTUAL ASSISTANCE being held May 2 – 4, 2008 in Toronto Canada is a “coming together” of top North American Virtual Assistants. FoVA is a unique opportunity to share and learn crucial information about the VA industry as a whole, as well as the day to day challenges of our individual practices. FoVA is NOT a conference! It is a Forum where experts and up and coming VAs meet face to face in a stimulating and exciting exchange of knowledge and ideas. It is a venue where solutions and action plans are created to move your business forward.
You ARE your business so invest in your company and yourself.
Find out about FoVA at www.forumonvirtualassistance.com and take advantage of Early Bird Savings before December 31^st!!
 
Forum fees include the following unique value added features:

• Pre-Forum Session Teleclasses
• All Track One or Track Two Level Forum Sessions (Forum, Workshop and Clinic Formats)
• Vendor Presentations
• Access to Sponsor Service and/or Product Specials Exclusive to Forum Delegates
• Friday Evening Cocktail Reception and Dinner
• Networking Opportunities with Peers and Vendors
• Meals (as outlined on website)
• All Pre and Post Forum Materials
• Post-Forum Group Coaching Calls
• And much more!!!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Forum Director, Barbara Lang at barb@forumonvirtualassistance.com or 416-264-9632

Hope to see you at the Forum!!!!!!!

One year ago this month, VANetworking.com, home of the Virtual Assistant Networking Association (affectionately called “VANA” by members) celebrated the registration of its 3000th member with a special contest. Valuable prizes were awarded each day in December for the first annual VA Advent Calendar Contest. VANA’s founder, Tawnya Sutherland, is thrilled to announce that as of this writing there are more than 7,500 registered members which means an even bigger celebration is in store for 2007!

How did VANA’s membership more than double in one year? Because the VA industry is exploding! With a recent article published in ‘Readers Digest’, a segment on ABC’s ‘The Today Show’, and lots of other media attention, more people are being attracted to the industry and more business owners are becoming aware of Virtual Assistance. If you are a Virtual Assistant – a highly skilled professional providing administrative support and other specialized services to businesses, entrepreneurs and executives – here’s your opportunity to join this VA family for advice, mentoring, and camaraderie. As the forum theme goes, “Hey, Hey, The VA Gang’s All Here,” and they are! Supporting one another and working hard to promote the Virtual Assistant Industry.

Sutherland states, “One downside working virtually from home is that you now miss those office coffee breaks to brainstorm, network and just brag about your son’s latest sport accomplishment with your fellow office colleagues. Networking with others of like mind keeps many of us of sound mind allowing us not to go stir crazy working all by ourselves with little human interaction. By joining online networking groups, this void can be filled through forum interaction and online interactive webinars. A good example of this is our VANA Deck the Offices virtual holiday party being held December 13th in our webinar room. We will be playing networking games, having contests, giving away prizes and truly just enjoying each other’s company in a festive way.”

Considering becoming a Virtual Assistant? Now is the perfect time to join VANA – the global meeting place for aspiring and successful VAs. As a member you’ll have access to over 74,000 posts, expert advice on work-related topics, weekly VA chats, monthly contests, the VANA Newsletter, discounts on products and services, and placement on a growing listing of VAs in 14 countries in the VA Service Directory, and just in time for the holidays – access to the VANA Shop. And it’s all for free!

All members old and new will be eligible to win great prizes in this year’s VA Advent Calendar Contest. Prizes are valued at over $5,000 and are all perfectly suited for virtual assistants – both new to the VA industry and seasoned veterans alike.

How do you play? A different prize will be drawn daily during the Advent season (December 1- 25) and all members who have posted within 30 days will be entered into the draw. It’s that simple!

Prizes include:

-‘The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Thriving Business’ ebook by Yvonne Weld – value $49.95
-Get Clients NOW! book and 1 hour of consultation (donated by University of VAs)– value $90
-VAinsider membership – value $295
-Free enrollment in the Virtual Assistant Training Program (VATP) – value $1200
-Full scholarship for Virtual Assistant University (VAU) – value $1500
-Many more ebooks and business building products coveted by VAs everywhere!!!

Patty Dost, owner of ‘www.TimeIsOfTheEsCents.com’, is a volunteer at VANA and, in her role as volunteer, she is gathering prizes for this year’s contest. “I love volunteering at VANA and this type of thing, I just adore.” says Dost, “Not only does my business grow thanks to the advice and information I receive as a member, but I get to gather prizes that will make a different VA happy every day in December!”

If you have a product or service you wish to introduce to the VA community this is a great low-cost advertising opportunity. You can email Patty at resources@vanetworking.com for details.

If you are a business owner who would like to learn more about the VA industry, where better to look? You can’t beat VANA (VANetworking.com) when it comes to resources and the vast pool of professionals from which to draw.

Tawnya Sutherland, founder of Virtual Assistant Networking Association (VANA) and author of the Virtual Assistant Networking AssociationVirtual Assistant Startup System (VBSS), is a Certified Internet Marketing Specialist sharing her expertise to help aspiring and successful VAs turn website clicks into cash for them.