President’s Note
When you joined IABC, you made a conscious decision to do so, perhaps at the expense of not joining another association. And when you did this, you must have weighed the pros and cons of doing so, and identified a greater value in your IABC membership... and this is something we're very appreciative of.
Having joined, though, are you getting the most out of your membership? The most obvious benefit is our programming, and I hope you've seen several new efforts on this front; from the recent Student Shadow Day, to programming for senior communicators, to the special workshop that Ann Wylie will be conducting for us in June. (Member pricing is significantly discounted, so I hope you'll sign up soon, since seats are limited.)
Over and above the professional development opportunities, one of the greatest benefits to joining an association such as ours is the networking and connections you make with other members. I can't even begin to count how these have enriched me, both personally and professionally. But, the association can't benefit you if you won't let it. In other words, you've got to work it.
There are so many ways to do this, other than attending chapter events. Are you a member of, and do you participate in, our LinkedIn group? Have you connected with other IABC-ers via our Facebook group? How about volunteering your services to the chapter? You don't have to be in the job market to reach out to other members. In fact, probably the best time to reconnect is when you're not looking for a job; that's when you'll make the purest connection and then, when you really need help, your network will be there to support you.
If birds of a feather flock together, we're a pretty amazing flock. So I hope you'll really put your membership to work for you, so that its value is never in question. And if you ever want to chat, the other board members and I are just a click away.
See you soon, I hope.
Shonali Burke, ABC, Principal, Shonali Burke Consulting
President, IABC/DC Metro
CONNECTING COMMUNICATORS ON CINCO DE MAYO
Capitol Communicator, an IABC/DC Metro sponsor, will honor Cinco de Mayo--May 5--by connecting communicators from different origins while consuming some beverages, foods, and sounds from our fine neighbors to the south.
As an IABC/DC Metro member, why not attend this fun event and meet members of other area professional development associations, including Capitol Communicator, DC Ad Club, Ad-2, American Marketing Association – DC Chapter, Capital Area Healthcare Communicators, PRSA, Independent Public Relations Alliance, Washington Women in Public Relations, and others.
Whether you are a member of any of these groups or not, this is an event not to be missed. Representatives from each group will be promoting the unique membership opportunities their associations have to offer.
Hours for Cinco de Mayo are 6-9 pm at Local 16 in downtown DC. See our event page for information and registration details.
May meeting update
The end is near… or is it? We’ve heard so much about the end of the newspaper industry and journalism as we know it. New mobile tools, social media and individual reporting by bloggers and industry groups all contribute to the way we consume news. But are newspapers and the journalism profession doomed for good?
At our May 13 chapter meeting, we welcome Amy Mitchell, deputy director for the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ). She is involved in all aspects of the PEJ, with a primary focus on designing, managing and writing the Project’s in-depth research reports.
In her presentation, Amy will highlight some of the most intricate findings of the most recent State of the News Media report and highlight recent trends in traditional journalism, new media, and how people consume news today.
You'll find more details and registration information right here .
NATIONAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONFERENCE
IABC/DC Metro members have an opportunity to attend PR News for the first-ever National Public Affairs Conference on May 25 at a discount, thanks to Mike Smith Public Affairs. The all-day event is a chance to learn more about how to garner contracts in the government public affairs space. Speakers from Ogilvy and APCO; corporate communicators from Johnson & Johnson, MasterCard, and Sodexho, Common Cause, UNICEF; and many others will be there. Gary Shapiro of Consumer Electronics Association will keynote the morning session. Eleanor Clift, Newsweek columnist and a panelist on The McLaughlin Report is the luncheon speaker.
IABC/DC Metro members receive $100 off the registration fee until May 10. Please use discount code IABC. For more information, contact Mike Smith at Mike Smith Public Affairs, 703/623-3834.
APRIL MEETING RECAP: DOWN BUT NOT OUT--JOB-HUNTING IN A RECESSION
Attendees at the April 8 IABC/DC Metro meeting learned the benefits of having both a good personal brand and a positive attitude when it comes to job hunting in this tough economy. The panel discussion, Down But Not Out: Job Hunting In A Recession, aimed to arm communication professionals with the tools and techniques to position themselves going forward in their job search.
What are hiring managers looking for? What do we need to do next to position ourselves in this economic landscape?
Panelists Ned Lundquist, ABC, chair of the IABC Accreditation Council and creator of Ned’s Job of the Week newsletter, a collaborative a listing of open communication positions from around the country; Heather R. Huhman, founder and president of Come Recommended; and Kate Perrin, president of PRofessional Solutions, LLC, and a longtime member of IABC/DC Metro discussed the current communications employment environment, the effect of the generational divide on our organizations, tips for using social media in your a job search, and how senior professionals can remain competitive in the job market. Jakub M. Konysz, PR manager at ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership and co-VP of professional development for IABC/DC Metro, moderated.
Susan Mirvis, a strategic communication and brand management professional, thought the event was very good because it provided members with more than just a networking opportunity, because the discussion was very relevant. She added that there was a nice cross-section of speakers. “When you come to a program like this and you are able to pick up even one tip from the panel discussion, it is worth it,” she said. “I got five.”
Bill Hendrix, an account executive with United Book Press said, “I thought there were a lot of individual comments that really hit home. For example, the tip about how even your written communications should sound positive.”
“I thought the discussion was really rich,” said Sarna Marcus, President & Creative Director, The Page Group. “The panelists were very engaging, and I got really good nuggets of information about social media. I like the DC group – there is a nice intimacy and good sharing.”
Special thanks to Tungle for sponsoring this meeting!
Tracey Savell Reavis, writer, editor, donsultant
SILVER INKWELL submission deadlines will be here before you know it!
The Call for Entries for the 2010 IABC/DC Metro Silver Inkwell Awards , the premier awards program for business communicators in metropolitan Washington and Baltimore, is open. And, the deadlines for submitting entries are almost here.
Whether you're an internal or external communicator, agency, corporate, or government practitioner, winning a Silver Inkwell is an acknowledgement of your mastery of the principles and practice of business communication.
Last year, we welcomed dozens of entries in 38 categories. And as is our practice, we'll handle entries that contain classified information appropriately.
Don't wait - let this be your year to shine! Aligned with communication best practices as defined by IABC International's Gold Quill Awards, the Silver Inkwell Awards offers a great opportunity to shine among-and be acknowledged by-your peers in the country's largest IABC chapter.
To get started, download the Entry Form, and browse the other pages in this section for rules, evaluation criteria, and entry information.
Early Bird Deadline - Saturday, May 15, 2010
- IABC/DCMetro Members - $70/entry
- Non-Members - $100/entry
- Full-Time Students - $40/entry
Final Deadline - Thursday, June 30, 2010
- IABC/DCMetro Members - $95/entry
- Non-Members - $120/entry
- Full-Time Students - $50/entry
SAVE THE DATE! - MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
The 2010 Silver Inkwell Awards Banquet will be held the evening of Tuesday, October 26, at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda in Bethesda, Md.
If you're interested in volunteering for the Silver Inkwell committee or need further information about the nomination process, please contact Silver Inkwell co-chairs, Lauren Lawson or Michael Clendenin, at silverinkwell@iabcdcmetro.org.
Be sure to join the IABC/DCMetro Silver Inkwell Awards Facebook page!
Welcome—and Welcome Back—New and Renewing Members!
We are thrilled that the following IABC/DC Metro members have chosen to join or renew their association membership:
Danielle Walton (Freddie Mac), Camille Lepre (American University), Vanessa Montalban, Juli Ballesteros (TRW, Inc), Leon Whipple (Booz Allen Hamilton), Laura Bennett (Booz Allen Hamilton), Angela Davis (JDSU), Bernie Tylor (JDSU), Michael McCahey (JDSU), Sheila Donoghue (communications consulting & training, DeQuendre Neeley-Bertrand (NABA, Inc.), Melinda Semadeni (American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries), Sharon Vereb (Air Line Pilots Association), Cynthia Rosso, John Morgan (Textile Rental Services Association), Joseph Barnes (Fleet Reserve Association), Pepper Lunsford Binner (Korn/Ferry International ), James Parsons (freelance writer), Beth Kanter-Leibowitz (Booz Allen Hamilton), Catherine Centra (Health, Patio & Barbecue Association), Wendy Schneider-Levinson (National Cancer Institute), Sherri Core (Core Association Services), Margie Holly (The Brickman Group), Alvin Hayes (IHS), Janice Roper-Graham (Outreach Process Partners), John Taylor (Sprint Nextel), Dawn Stefano (Lafarge North America), Randal Spolter (Sprint Nextel), Jane Gotiangco (Chemonics International), Katie Fitzgerald (Thales), Victor Nakas (Catholic University of America), Margaret O'Brien (American Society of Naval Engineers), Kenneth Michaels (SAIC-Frederick), Hunter Moss, Maria Yannopoulos Miller (Mey Communications),and Melanie Villard (Freddie Mac).
Thank you all for placing your trust in IABC/DC Metro as the premier professional development association for business communicators. We look forward to seeing you at a chapter event soon. As always, please contact Dan Sporer, VP/Membership, with questions about how you can get more involved with the chapter—and let us know how we can help you!
ACCREDITATION kudoS
IABC/DC Metro sends its congratulations to Tracy Imm, ABC, and Marcie Steerman, ABC, who were recently certified by IABC International as Accredited Business Communicators (ABC).
This is an achievement of which Tracy and Marcie can be justifiably proud, having worked hard, passed a challenging examination, and proven their professionalism.
Hats off to our newest ABCs!
