Do you remember your first professional awards ceremony? I do.

I was an intern at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, and the team was kind enough to purchase a seat for me to attend the awards ceremony. We had been working all summer on improving the writing quality of the articles in the organization’s “Blue Link” employee newsletter, and the hard work paid off with an award of excellence. I remember being dazzled – not just by the quality of work recognized that night, but more importantly by the caliber of communications professionals who surrounded me.  I was awestruck. I couldn’t wait to graduate and hoped to become a part of this amazing group. And, admittedly, for a struggling college student, it was also fun to get dressed up and eat a decent meal that didn’t involve ramen noodles.

Fast-forward an undisclosed number of years later, and we’re gearing up to host yet another exciting evening. The annual IABC/Tulsa Bronze Quill awards ceremony will be held Thursday, Oct. 13, at the beautiful Harwelden Mansion. The impressive entries submitted by IABC/Tulsa members and guests, glamorous surroundings and continued top-notch community of communicators is the perfect mix for a fun event.

Plus, the Emmy-worth buzz has already started. Who will win Communicator of the Year? Will the John Hartman Professional of the Year award feature a repeat winner? Will Jarrod Kopp, once again, win the coveted Best in Show award?

You all want to know – don’t you? I do.

 So, make plans to join us. And prepare to be awestruck.

Looking forward to the monthly happy hour? We are delighted that our Bronze Quill events are on the night we typically host happy hour! What more excuse do you need to join us for this special event? Drinks are on the house as we celebrate this year’s award winners.

Next month, join us as we host happy hour at Vintage 1740, Tulsa’s only wine bar, located in the historic 18^th & Boston district.
Vintage 1740
1740 South Boston
Tulsa, OK
Thursday, November 10
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

To celebrate IABC Accreditation month, IABC members who apply from October 1 through November 15, will receive a $20 gift certificate to the IABC Knowledge Centre and be entered in a drawing for the following prizes:

• One-year IABC membership
• IABC Webinar
• One-year subscription to Discovery
• A copy of the latest edition of The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication
• Your choice of a book or manual published by IABC
• Two full weeks of unlimited access to Sysomos’ flagship product-Media Analysis Platform, plus 1 hour of free training
• One-hour audio CD, Linking Communication to Business Results courtesy of Sinickas Communications, Inc.
• A three-month subscription to Revving up Readership from Wylie Communications, Inc.
• Pair of IABC coffee mugs courtesy of Ann Wylie

For more information, contact recognition@iabc.com.

Each month, IABC Tulsa features a member in this section of the newsletter. This month, learn more about your new IABC/Tulsa president, Shannon Frederick. She has been an active member for many years and has never been featured for our Meet a Member section, so what better way to learn about her as she transitions to her role as president!

Shannon Frederick, ABC
Director, Global Associate Communications – Walmart

Why do you love your job?
Hands down, the best thing about my job is my team. I am blessed to work with an amazing group of professionals. They’re smart, creative and side-splittingly funny.

How long have you been a member of IABC?
I think 12 years. Other than my stint with Dallas/IABC from 2003-2006, I’ve been affiliated with the Tulsa chapter.

Have you ever served on an IABC board?
I’ve served the Tulsa chapter in four different capacities: VP of student relations, professional development, communications and now president. In Dallas, I was the Bronze Quill co-sponsor and the communications chair.

What is the best IABC meeting/seminar/conference that you have ever attended? Why?
 It’s hard to name just one, but I really enjoyed the 2010 World Conference in Toronto. It was a great opportunity to network and, as a result of the top-notch speakers, I left feeling very inspired.

How has IABC played a part in your professional development?
This is another tough question! IABC has been such an integral part of my corporate career – helping me to learn new skills, meet new people and push my own limits. When I completed the ABC process in January, it was one of the most rewarding accomplishments in my life.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Travel with my husband, snuggle my kids, drink a nice glass of wine with a tasty dinner, spend a day on the lake, read a good book, support my beloved OSU Cowboys, and laugh with my family and friends.

What’s your favorite vacation spot?
Hot Springs, Ark. I spent every summer during my childhood on Lake Hamilton with my grandparents and cousins.

Who is your favorite musical artist? I don’t have one.

What’s your favorite movie? I like nearly every chick flick featuring Southern women, and “Steel Magnolias” is definitely my favorite.

What’s your favorite restaurant? It depends on where I am. In Tulsa, it’s McGill’s.

Complete the following: The future of the field of communications . . . will still revolve around one fundamental skill: writing.

What advice would you give to new communications professionals?
Join IABC and get involved!

By Shannon Frederick, IABC/Tulsa President

The little chapter that could.

Rumor has it that’s the phrase often used at IABC International to describe our Tulsa organization.

Now tell me you didn’t just smile after reading those first two sentences. 

The honest truth is that it’s hard not to smile when you realize one of the world’s premier strategic communication groups is right here in little ole Tulsa, Okla. It’s no secret that just over two years ago, our chapter wasn’t doing so well. A distressed economy had taken its toll. Membership was down. Attendance at the monthly meetings was dismal. Not as many professionals were entering Bronze Quill.

My how far we’ve come.

IABC just released its latest growth and retention report which contains statistics ranking regions and chapters by their overall growth from June 2010 to June 2011. IABC/Tulsa was again recognized as one of the top 10 fastest growing chapters in the world.

Consider these numbers: IABC memberships have increased 4.25 percent over the past year. During this same time period, memberships to the local Tulsa chapter have increased 33 percent.

It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?

Even more amazing is we are in good company on this top 10 list with chapters in Auckland, Russia, France, Barbados and other international locations.

Behind the scenes at our chapter, there’s a lot of hard work that has gone into helping us achieve this growth surge. Rest assured, the new executive board, which has just started its term, plans to keep the course – ensuring all of our members are certain about the value in belonging to IABC/Tulsa. If you have any ideas about how we can continue to improve in this area, we want to hear them. Shoot us an e-mail at iabctulsa@gmail.com.  

I hope this report makes you feel proud to be connected to IABC/Tulsa. And if you haven’t yet decided to become a member, please take the time to think about this great opportunity to be a part of an organization in Tulsa that is at the top of an important list.

After all, there’s more to the great state of Oklahoma than just AP polls and football.

Never Let the Creative Process Die

Are your communications lacking creativity lately?

If so, get ready to put your right brain in high gear and rediscover your creative mojo. Bill Hinkle, professor of advertising at the University of Tulsa, and longtime advertising executive, will share tried and true ways to ensure you never let the creative process die.

Bill’s career spans more than four decades in advertising – from retail stores and advertising agencies, to agency owner, restaurateur and now professor. Bill Hinkle has proven ways to help ensure creativity is part of your daily communications processes.

Be sure to reserve your seat today. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for happy hour at the Tulsa Press Club on Thursday, September 15, at 5:30 p.m. Network with other professionals and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Bring your friends and spread the word!

RSVP now. Networking is free and drinks may be purchased at the bar. This is a great time to come to an IABC Happy Hour if you have never been. It is also another opportunity to support the Tulsa Press Club!

Join your fellow IABC Southern Region members in New Orleans for the 2011 Southern Region Conference October 12-14. Information about the conference, including the Silver Quill Awards, is available on the Southern Region website. Reasonable rates, excellent food, culture and shopping, plus the opportunity to hear some of the world’s most premiere communications professionals speak about a variety of engaging topics. What more could you want from a conference? Did we mention it is in NEW ORLEANS?!

Don’t forget…September 2011 is a Worldwide Membership Month! This means that for new or lapsed members who join or re-join IABC, the application fee is waived. Please remember: applications must be *received* at the San Francisco Headquarters office during the month of September to qualify. This promotion does not apply to current members, transitional members or students, who never pay the application fee anyway.

International is also hosting an open house of the members-only IABC website in September. For the month of September, the public will have free access to:

• Discovery, IABC’s new enhanced-search content archives. Discovery contains archives of Communication World magazine, CW Bulletin, and select Research Foundation reports, along with searchable Knowledge Centre manuals.
• MyComm, IABC’s online communication planning tool (although the public won’t be able to share plans)
• Read access to MemberSpeak and the IABC Buzz, IABC’s online areas where members ask questions and share personal and professional info
• The Job Centre, IABC’s job listing site (Members still have priority access to listings, however.)

To try it out, sign up at:
http://www.iabc.com/login/trial.cfm (This login will not be available before or after the month of September.)

Each month, IABC Tulsa features one of its members in this section of the newsletter. This month, we learn more about Hayley Westwood, who is a communications consultant with ONEOK. She is a 2009 OSU graduate (go Pokes) and a newlywed! Hayley has been a member of IABC for almost a year and was kind enough to share some things about herself and her up and coming career.

Why do you love your job?
I get to work with so many great people every day!

What is the best IABC event that you have ever attended and why?
I really enjoyed Dr. Raj Basu’s presentation on influence and conflict resolution.

How has IABC played a part in your professional development?
I’ve met some great people and learned many helpful tips at meetings and conferences.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Bake, read and spend time with my family and friends.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
So far, the Canadian Rockies, where I spent my honeymoon!

Who is your favorite musical artist? John Mayer

Favorite movie?  Love Actually   Favorite Restaurant? El Vaquero in Stillwater

The future of communications  . . . Is unpredictable and exciting!

What advice would you give to new communications professionals?
Never stop seeking opportunities to grow and develop your craft!