President’s Message

More than 40 communicators from throughout the Metroplex attended our April professional development seminar on Social Media. The half-day seminar – A 360º Look at Social Media – featured presentations by Steve Lee, APR, Chairman and Chief Pathfinder of Quicksilver Interactive Group; Betsy Pasley, ABC, Director of Employee Feedback for financial giant USAA; Jerrod Morris, Managing Editor for CorporateComplianceInsights.com and MidwestSportsFans.com; and Bud Kennedy, the prolific and popular columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Following the morning-long presentations, an interactive panel discussion at lunch included spirited exchanges between the panelists and audience members, who shared their knowledge and experience as they asked questions of each other and the panelists.

The wide-ranging discussion focused on practical applications for Social Media and real-world solutions to the challenges that Social Media offers. It was easy to see why several attendees mentioned afterward that they picked up helpful tips that they could apply right away in their jobs.

Special kudos to all of the panelists; Laura Hanna, President-elect of IABC, for organizing the event; and Paul Sturiale, IABC Board member, for serving as moderator of the luncheon panel.

May also means we have passed the first milestone in the Bronze Quill process. April 23 was the closing date for entries for the 2010 Bronze Quill competition. A surprisingly large number of entries were received from communicators in public, non-profit and private organizations and companies throughout Tarrant County. We all are eager to see who walks away with this year’s coveted awards.

The theme of the 2010 Bronze Quill competition is 2010: The Year We Make Contact with Excellence. At IABC’s June luncheon, Bronze Quill will showcase the finest in communications and marketing materials that were produced in 2009 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In addition to superlative work and good company, this year’s luncheon offers a rare opportunity to hear from a communications pro who literally practices out of this world.

Josh Byerly, Public Affairs Officer for NASA, is the main speaker. Josh is the nationally known spokesperson for NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. He is one of the communications team who serves as the “Voice of Mission Control” and provides commentary from inside NASA’s Mission Control Center during space shuttle and International Space Station flights.

By the way, if you’re looking for a way to get actively involved in the Chapter, consider joining the Bronze Quill Committee. It’s not too late to contact me, Cheryl Hart, at Hart Marketing at 972-691-3209 or Cheryl@hartmarketing.biz to explore ways you can share in the fun.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Hart
IABC Fort Worth President