Mark your calendars! The 2013 Leadership Institute will take place in Scottsdale, Arizona from February 7-9, 2013.This year’s program, developed based on input from chapter leaders around the world, will include sessions about member engagement, leader development, board management, creating world-class professional development programs, utilizing social media to boost your brand and increase participation, creating a profitable sponsorship program and much more. The sessions are led by IABC leaders from around the world, so join this energizing, highly-rated and exciting event to learn from the people who know best.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012
1 – 4:30 p.m.
OSU-Tulsa
700 N. Greenwood, B.S. Roberts Room

Learn what you can do on a clear sunny day to prepare for the challenges of your darkest day.

Powerful communications before a crisis and rapid communications during a crisis have the ability to move people out of harm’s way and save lives. Whether the situation is a sudden disaster, a predicted weather emergency or a smoldering crisis such as executive misconduct, most organizations fail to plan how they will communicate with their critical audiences, including the media, employees, stakeholders and the social media world.

In this half-day seminar, Gerard Braud of Braud Communications reveals the steps he has used to help organizations on five continents successfully write and implement their crisis communications plans.
In addition, he will help you to:

•  Identify why your senior leadership is unprepared for a crisis
•  Discover the truth about social media and crisis communications
•  Learn to conduct a proper Vulnerability Assessment
•  Unlock the mystery of writing a thorough, yet easy-to-use crisis communications plan

Don’t miss this professional development opportunity. Register today!

See the agenda. Snacks and beverages will be available during the seminar. And, plan to attend a networking reception from 5-7 p.m. Details on location will be available soon!

Digital vs. Print: The new rules to succeed in both mediums in today’s noisy world
by Jason Collington
Wednesday, July 18, at 11:30 a.m.
OSU-Tulsa, Room 140
700 N. Greenwood

How can business communicators continue to have success as the media world goes digital?

Look at how the Internet has changed the rules in news media and how everyone interacts with it. Jason Collington has the perspective of someone who teaches the next generation of communicators and works on the leadership team at a metro news operation.

All about Jason
Jason Collington is the web editor at the Tulsa World, where he is in charge of digital products, and teaches an Internet Communication class at Oklahoma State University. He graduated from OSU and worked for the Associated Press before coming to the World.

By Shannon Frederick, ABC, IABC/Tulsa President

Things have really been busy this month for IABC’s Small Chapter of the Year.

(That’s the Tulsa chapter, by the way – just in case you didn’t know.)

It was too hard to narrow down to just one topic for my June President’s column. So, instead, here’s a snippet of several recent chapter news items, plus one summer travel suggestion:

Nomination for IABC Tulsa’s Next President

If you attended the June meeting at OSU-Tulsa, then you heard Past-President Steve Higgins announce the exciting news that Angela Byers, Principle of Byers Creative, has been nominated as President-Elect for our chapter.

Angela has served on the Executive Board for the past year as vice president of awards. In addition to leading the chapter’s wildly-successful 2011 Bronze Quill Awards Program, she is always offering her skills as a talent designer and communicator to assist with any event or program for the chapter. Her contributions have been invaluable – and very much appreciated.

The chapter will vote on Angela’s nomination at the July meeting. Please make plans to attend and cast your vote.

IABC Accreditation Committee

Last week, IABC announced its 2012-2013 Accreditation Committee, and our chapter was once again at the forefront. Ginger Homan, ABC, who served as chapter president from 2008-2009, has been named the North American Director of this committee.

Those of you who know Ginger are well aware of her passion for IABC’s accreditation program. She spoke on a panel at our March meeting about two programs she’d like to drive for Tulsa members who are interested in pursuing accreditation. Ginger also has a pretty strong track record for mentoring several professionals through the process, including yours truly.

If you want to know more about Ginger, visit http://www.ziastrategy.com/index.php/story/ginger/.

Need a Break? Visit an IABC Chapter?

Thanks to two different speaking opportunities this month, I had the privilege of visiting with IABC members at the chapters in Oklahoma City and Denver. These interactions sparked a thought. As many of us are out traveling for summer vacation, why not take a break from being cooped up with our families and visit a local chapter’s luncheon (assuming the calendar stars align)?

There are IABC chapters in nearly every big city across the U.S., not to mention the chapters that exist outside of America. And I have yet to visit a chapter that hasn’t opened its arms with a warm welcome. For a list of all IABC chapters, visit international’s website at http://www.iabc.com/about/leaders/. From there, you can easily access the desired local chapter’s site. I’d recommend sending an email directly to the president or professional development chair before you register for an event.

Southern Regional IABC members, have you always wanted to be accredited?

Accreditation is IABC’s professional credential program recognizing communicators who have reached a globally accepted standard of knowledge and proficiency in their chosen field. This peer-reviewed program challenges candidates to demonstrate their knowledge of strategic communication planning, implementation, measurement and ethics. Candidates meeting the requirements of the program earn the designation Accredited Business Communicator (ABC).

Now is the time to take the accreditation leap and receive a scholarship from your regional board of directors.

The Southern Region of IABC wants to recruit new ABCs in its region and is now offering Accreditation Scholarships to its members!

Drive performance and satisfaction with communication strategies
Sept. 20-21, 2012
Calgary, AB
Marriott Courtyard, Calgary Airport

As organizations endeavor to meet the challenge of shaping a work culture and environment that supports the delivery of organizational goals and strategies, they must also attract, retain and engage employees. Organizations that achieve high levels of employee engagement, and the positive effects on business metrics and overall performance that come with it, have a distinct competitive edge.

This conference will help you shape the future of employee communication and engagement at your organization through learning, sharing, working together and networking. Some of the greatest minds in business and government will share concrete tools and strategies. Come hear what they say, share your insights, improve your skills, and start producing valued results for yourself and your organization.

http://www.iabc.com/education/ec/

The latest report from the IABC Research Foundation details the findings of interviews with 20 senior executives from large companies around the world. Learn about these leaders’ preferred methods of communication, the effect of globalization on their communications and how communication professionals can best support them.

The 2012/2013 Southern Regional Accreditation Scholarship will cover half of a member’s application fee once the member has earned accreditation.

For more information on accreditation, or to begin the application process, go to: http://www.iabc.com/abc/.

We are certain that our new IABC Accreditation Board Director for North America will be happy to talk to anyone interested in becoming accredited!

Each month, IABC Tulsa features one of its members in this section of the newsletter. This month, we learn more about Ward Mankin, who is an EMMY award winning video production manager for T.D. Williamson.

Why do you love your job?  I get to travel the world videotaping our global company, so the days are never the same. I get to learn many different ways of life and work. Not everyone works 8 to 5.

How long have you been a member? I once was a member in the late 90’s working for Williams, 3 years. I recently re-joined in May of this year – 2012.

What is the best IABC meeting/seminar/conference that you have ever attended? Why?  I have the old guy syndrome and only know that every meeting is the best.

How has IABC played a part in your professional development?  Besides it being the best networking tool! I enjoy IABC for how it shows me others communicate in the business, how local companies utilize different forms of communication to benefit their customers and employees and how those that don’t try to keep up.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work? Workout, Ride Bicycles, and eat.

What’s your favorite vacation spot? Destin Florida, Maui Hawaii and the couch at home.

Who is your favorite musical artist?  Dave Matthews Band

What’s your favorite movie?  August Rush, because music is the base for all things.

What’s your favorite restaurant?  Pei Wei

Complete the following: The future of the field of communications is: short, simple and visual.

What advice would you give to new communications professionals?  Listen, listen, listen then be proactive and less reactive.

I would like to note that I have a Bronze Quill Award, A Best of Show, and my most favorite is my two EMMY nominations I received while working at KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City during the Oklahoma City Bombing. I do hold an EMMY for editing a half-hour show called “The Photojournalists of KOCO-TV” It was a behind the scenes look at what video photographers endure during the course of any given day.

IABC has appointed Christopher Sorek as executive director. Sorek has more than 30 years of experience in communication, public affairs and community relations. He comes to IABC from The Drinkaware Trust based in the U.K., where he was CEO. Chris will officially take on his new role with IABC on July 2, 2012.

Learn more about Sorek.

Are you forgetting someone?
Considering the disability community in communications planning
by Russell Shaffer

We’ve had the importance of audience analysis drilled into us since we were fledgling communicators. And with good reason. Chances are if you misjudge your audience, your message is going to miss the mark.

So we pour over demographics, psychographics and scores of other data to make certain we truly understand our audiences. But are we missing something? What if the most important variable for reaching a particular segment of your audience has nothing to do with how they think and behave or what role they have in the organization and everything to do with how they access the message. Further complicating matters, what if you have no idea these access issues exist in your audience?

Once we feel we have a good handle on our audience, we spend hours strategizing on how to best package our message to create the most meaning. But what if the packaging prevents some audience members from ever getting at the meaning inside?

During the June IABC Tulsa meeting, we will explore the answers to these questions and more as we discuss simple yet meaningful methods for ensuring people with disabilities have equal access to your message. We will examine everything from videos to websites to meetings and find the answers to access for people with disabilities are easier and more straightforward than you might think. In fact, simply stopping to think is often the crux of the solution.

Register today!

All about Russell
Russell Shaffer is currently Manager of Global Associate Communications for Walmart and is the program manager for the company’s My Sustainability Plan (MSP) employee engagement program. His career as a professional communicator spans more than a decade and includes roles in advertising, corporate communications, print journalism and public relations. In addition to his current role at Walmart, Russell has held positions at May Department Stores, The Timken Company and The Ohio Optometric Association.

He serves as Vice Chair of Engagement for Walmart’s Advocates for Disability Awareness and Education (ADAE) resource group and is a member of the National Federation of the Blind. Russell is a member of the Tulsa chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and has won multiple IABC Bronze Quill awards. He has spoken at several events and conferences on the subject of employee engagement, including the 2011 IABC Southern Region Conference.
 
Russell is a graduate of Malone College (now Malone University) in Canton, Ohio, and holds a bachelor of arts degree in business administration and communication arts. He resides in Bentonville, Ark., with his wife, Jessica, and their daughter, Sophia. In his spare time, he enjoys following his beloved Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians, playing fantasy baseball and working on his landscaping.