One of the greatest benefits of IABC membership is the development opportunities. Complimentary webinars are included in those opportunities and right now you can listen to any of the past year’s webinars in the convenient archives available on the IABC website. http://www.iabc.com/education/od/members.htm

Have you ever come in contact with a natural leader? Effective leaders instill confidence among their team, facilitate excellent communication and lead through their actions and examples. Maybe you are lucky enough to work with such a person every day. If you know of a leader who “gets it” when it comes to communication, consider nominating them for IABC International’s EXCEL Award.

IABC’s annual Excellence in Communication Leadership (EXCEL) Award recognizes a world-class executive who is not an IABC member but who exhibits leadership in practicing outstanding communication. EXCEL winners consistently demonstrate vision and leadership in their commitment to effective business communication. Through their actions and examples, these senior leaders (typically CEOs, presidents, managing and executive directors, and chairmen) support the communication profession and follow sound communication principles themselves.

The recipient of this prestigious award will give a keynote address at IABC’s World Conference in Chicago on June 25, 2012. They will also join a select group of EXCEL winners that includes executives from Xerox, Best Buy, Marriott International and Motorola. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 10, 2012.

Learn more or download a nomination form.

Pursue the gold! The 2012 Gold Quill Awards are now underway. Enter this global competition to receive the highest level of professional acknowledgment within business communication.

Early-bird deadline: Jan. 27, 2012
Final deadline: Feb. 10, 2012

Additional information and entry forms are available on the IABC website.

Registration is now open for the 2012 IABC World Conference, which will be held in Chicago from June 24-27, 2012. The conference theme is Avant-garde: innovative; experimental; pushing the boundaries for a 20/15 vision of communication.

Register by Feb. 4 to take advantage of the best rate.

As our “gift” to the community, IABC members want to help nonprofit agencies achieve excellence in corporate communications, public relations, employee communications, marketing communications, public affairs and other forms of communication.

Three agencies will be offered a free, private three-hour session plus some networking time with IABC communications professionals. Participants (one staff member and one board member preferably) from the agency will be expected to provide the organization’s mission along with their top two communication challenges prior to the session.

We are looking for communication professionals who are skilled in helping people and organizations:

• Make business sense of communications
• Think strategically about communications
• Measure and clarify the value of communication
• Build better relationships with stakeholders

Please consider giving back to your local community by sharing your Gift of Communication! RSVP now!

IABC Tulsa’s Gift of Communication
Thursday, Dec. 15, from 1 to 5 p.m.
OSU-Tulsa, B.S. Roberts Room
700 N. Greenwood, Tulsa

IABC Tulsa honored several communications professionals for their exceptional work at a party held at Harwelden Mansion on October 13. 2011.

Pierce H. Norton, chief operating officer of ONEOK, was named the 2011 Communicator of the Year for his recognition of the importance of and personal devotion to effective employee communications.

Ginger D. Homan, ABC, of Zia Communications, received the John Hartman Professional of the Year award, in addition to having the “Best in Show” entry for Chair & Art Pairings.

Lucia O’Connor, O’Connor Ink, was awarded the Leon Bolen Service Award, which honors an IABC member for volunteerism and support of the chapter’s goals.

The chapter awarded 32 Bronze Quill awards for work completed in 2010 and 2011. Winners included the following:

 Awards of Excellence

• Jarrod Kopp, Juliane Spinuzzi, Jessica Carthen and Ramon Cardiel, FW Murphy, for Configurator Cafe’ Direct Mail Invitation for 2010 IBEX Tradeshow
• Jessica Carthen, Ramon Cardiel and Jinger McPeak, FW Murphy, for Full Integration Marine
• Jessica Carthen, Ramon Cardiel and Jim Saunders, FW Murphy, for We Stick with Murphy
• Jarrod Kopp, Juliane Spinuzzi, Jessica Carthen and Ramon Cardiel of FW Murphy for Configurator Cafe’ 2010 IBEX Tradeshow
• Tom Droege, Nicole Morgan and Greg Rex, Rex PR, for Terminal Happiness: Tulsa International Airport Concourse Renovation
• Charlene Bassett, ONEOK, for ONEOK Quarterly
• Brad Borror, ONEOK, for Bakken Pipeline Media Outreach
• Rick Ayre and Jennifer Pigeon, ONEOK, for ONEOK Online
• Jennifer Pigeon, ONEOK, for Never Sees Obstacles Audio Piece
• Michael McCulloh, ONEOK, for Systems Analyst Never Sees Obstacles
• Hayley Westwood, ONEOK, for Email Retention Policy Implementation
• Chris Owen, Jason Hudson and Roux Carroll, RL Hudson, for Marketing Communications App
• Amethyst Cavallaro, Williams, for Williams Preventative Care
• Shannon Frederick, ABC, and Russell Shaffer, Walmart, for Home Office My Sustainability Plan Launch
• Amethyst Cavallaro, Williams, for Williams Wellness Challenge
• Lucinda Ross, Schnake Turnbo Frank PR, for Lafarge Tulsa Cement Plant In the Mix Newsletter
• Allison Starke, Schnake Turnbo Frank PR, for Trust Company of Oklahoma
• Rachel Payne, Walmart, for Take Stock In Your Future

Awards of Merit

• Jessica Carthen, FW Murphy, for Displays Your Way
• Talia Myres, Cherokee Nation Businesses, for Ours To Build On website
• Amanda Clinton, Cherokee Nation Businesses, for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa roof damage
• Lindsey Ameen, ONEOK, for Investor Relations Monthly
• Lindsey Ameen, ONEOK, for NAPTP Investor Conference presentation
• Megan Washbourne, ONEOK, for ONEOK and ONEOK Partners 2010 Annual Reports
• Rick Ayre and Jennifer Pigeon, ONEOK, for ONEOK Launches Social Media
• Megan Lewis, ONEOK, for ONE Responsibility – 2009/2010 ONEOK Corporate Responsibility Report
• Nicole Nascenzi and Keith Isbell, Williams, for Alan Armstrong Company Update
• Lizaimee Mata, Nicole Nascenzi and Amethyst Cavallaro, Williams, for Williams Route 66 Fashion Show 2010
• Lucinda Ross and RossCo Films, Schnake Turnbo Frank PR and Rossco Films, for Polypipe More Than Just Words video
• Sara Delgado, Williams, for Williams in Canada
• Peggy Striegel and John Corn, Striegel Advertising and ENERGON, for ENERCON Employee Motivation

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!