Laura Hanna, IABC Fort Worth

Happy New Year! August marks the first month of IABC’s 2011-2012 year, and I’m proud to say that the year and the group have gotten off with a bang. Let me start with kudos to Bronze Quill chair Tim Tune and his committee for an exceptional awards luncheon. In addition to a fascinating discussion by Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck on his city’s involvement in the Super Bowl, many of the area’s best communicators were recognized for their outstanding campaigns and individual work.

Recognizing great communications work

Special recognition goes to the Award of Excellence winners — City of Arlington Office of Communications represented by Gerald Urbantke; Shelley Hulme, Paige Blankenship and Sally Claunch of Cash America International; Pamela Fry, Rachel Black and Bobby Nichols with Freese and Nichols; and Charles Urich of Sabre Airline Solutions — and everyone who qualified for Awards of Merit and Honorable Mentions. This was one of the most competitive competitions in recent years, with some of the best work ever entered. It set high standards for the rest of the year.

Learn what socially savvy service is all about

The August 23 luncheon will maintain those standards, as nationally known etiquette expert Joy Weaver applies her wit and wisdom to the topic of being socially savvy. Joy specializes in corporate and social etiquette training for individuals who want the confidence to manage life’s awkward moments and master its day-to-day challenges. She is a consultant to companies (think famed Adolphus Hotel and Raytheon) that need their customer service staff to be as socially savvy as possible. In addition to top tips, she also will answer the question, “What are the BMWs of dining?” Hint: It’s not about eating in a car at a drive-in.

The luncheon will be Tuesday, Aug. 23, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at City Club in downtown Fort Worth. Sign-up deadline is noon Aug. 19. Make your reservation online now or send an email to Tim Tune – tim.tune@timtune.com.

Laura Hanna, IABC Fort Worth

‘Super’ BQ Celebration Planned

In addition to recognizing the best of the best work by local communications professionals, Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck will offer his insights on the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee’s communications initiatives and programs — and how they changed as quickly as the weather. This is a don’t-miss event for anyone fascinated by the good, the bad and the ugly of the Arlington Super Bowl experience.

The Bronze Quill Awards Celebration starts with networking at 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 26, at the City Club in downtown Fort Worth. Make your reservations by noon July 22. Check the Bronze Quill page for more information and to make your reservation to join Mayor Cluck and your award-winning friends and colleagues.

New Board to Begin Duties

July signals the start of a new year for IABC, including the transition to a fresh Board of Directors. The 2010-2011 board included Laura Hanna, Texas Wesleyan University, president and Southern Region junior delegate; Cheryl Hart, Hart Marketing, past-president and Southern Region senior delegate/programming chair; Betsy Deck, city of Euless, webmaster; Julie Loeffelholz, Cockrell Enovation, membership chair; Ken Roberts, Versatility Writing and Marketing Solutions, secretary; Tim Tune, Commpreneur, treasurer and Bronze Quill chair; Lori De La Cruz, Blue Marble Media, accreditation chair; Kay Colley, Texas Wesleyan University, education chair and student relations; and April Eubanks, Graphic Design and Scholarship Committee. I owe a great debt of thanks to these folks for the time, energy and talent they devoted to making IABC so exceptional this year.

And if you liked that board, you’ll love the 2011-2012 version, because it’s almost the same crowd. We will miss Ken Roberts, who is rotating off the board. Eunice Nicholson is the new secretary and programming chair. Also joining the board is Barry Grubbs. We look forward to another great year.

Member Recruiting Can Pay Off

July marks IABC’s Member-Get-A-Member promotion. Members can earn three free months of membership (up to a full year) for each member they recruit during the month-long promotion. Contact me at 817-531-5810 or lhanna@txwes.edu for details.

SEE YOU FOR A “SUPER” TIME AT BRONZE QUILL!

Fortunately, a trusted old friend, the audio podcast, is still kicking and is, in fact, staking out a surprisingly vibrant position on today’s communications landscape.

IABC’s April 26 program at the City Club in Sundance Square takes an in-depth look at the audio podcast that shows how powerful a kick it can add to our communications arsenal and how easy it is to create. Dr. Christine Hubbard, Professor of English and audiopodcastologist extraordinaire at Tarrant County College’s Northwest Campus, will lead a discussion on the benefits of adopting this technology as an important and essential part of our communications programs.

At IABC’s March luncheon, Bronze Quill Chair Tim Tune teased us with details of the 2011 edition of our Bronze Quill Awards. As the only local professional awards ceremony for communicators, Bronze Quill is eagerly awaited by communications pros in and around Tarrant County as a chance to showcase the best of the best of their work and talents. Tim sprinkled a few surprises in with the details. But he was mysterious enough to keep us guessing on the surprise guest who will make this year’s competition awards ceremonies so “SUPER.”

The theme for the 2011 Bronze Quills is “Communications to the Nth Degree.” Show organizers promise to take a radical look at the best of local communications pro’s best work and to reward the best of the best with well-deserved recognition and, possibly, life-long fame (Well, maybe not quite THAT radical).

Tim is setting the tone for radical by switching the Bronze Quill event from its traditional June time slot to July 26, 2011, at the City Club in downtown Fort Worth. The deadline for entries is May 6. So now is the time to make sure that your entries are ready to go long before the last minute. Details are available at BronzeQuill.com.

I am happy to say that our membership drive is showing good results and that some new members have stepped up to volunteer as members of the incoming 2011 Board of Directors in July.

Fortunately, there is still room for those who want to get involved. So let me know if you have an interest in serving on the Board or in becoming a committee Chair for an activity or subject that you would like to share with your fellow members. They are as eager to learn about it (and you) as you are to share it with them. We will have more information from the Nominating Committee on the 2011 slate of officers in the next edition of this newsletter.             

There is a place and a way for everyone who wants to be involved. Contact me at 817-531-5810 or lhanna@txwes.edu to discuss how the Chapter can best work with you.

In the interim, mark your calendars for noon Tuesday, April 26, at the City Club for the April member luncheon. See you there!

That “something special” really applies to IABC/Fort Worth this month. We have an excellent luncheon program planned; plans for our Bronze Quill competition will be unveiled; and several great ideas for the scholarship program are on the table. Stay tuned to this column  for new information as it unfolds.

Bronze Quill Chair Tim Tune reports that details for the 2011 Bronze Quill competition will be unveiled in mid-March. As the only local professional awards ceremony for communicators, Bronze Quill is eagerly awaited by communications pros in and around Tarrant County as a chance to showcase the best of the best of their work and talents. If you are not already on the e-mailing list for IABC’s notices, visit iabcfortworth.com to sign up. Then you’ll be among the first to know the when, where and how of this year’s awards show.

You’ll also be notified about the fascinating luncheon program that Program Chair Julie Loeffelholz has lined up for March 22 at the City Club. Julie has enlisted Ryan Crist and John Cockrell Jr., two of her colleagues at Cockrell Enovation, to offer a mind-changing look at how innovative leaders in the printing industry are adapting to the challenges and opportunities that new technologies and a rapidly changing marketplace are creating. According to these industry gurus, you can’t spell printing as i-n-k-o-n-p-a-p-e-r anymore. Again, see iabcfortworth.com for more information and to register for the event.

I am happy to say that our membership drive is showing good results and that several new members have stepped up to the challenges of committee chairs and/or as advisors for our student chapter at Texas Wesleyan University. They are proving that mentoring is still one of the best ways to shape the next generation of professional communicators by sharing your professional knowledge, expertise and encouragement.

Fortunately, there is always room for all volunteers who want to step forward. So let me know if you have an interest or activity that you would like to share with your fellow members. They are as eager to learn about it (and you) as you are to share it with them.            

Along that theme, it is not too early to consider serving on the Chapter’s 2011 Board of Directors. The transition to the new Board will begin in July 2011. We currently are recruiting the Nominating Committee to create next year’s slate of officers, at-large directors and committee chairs. Think about where you would like to fit in. It may be in a leadership position or perhaps as the head of a committee or special interest group that reflects your area of expertise or a special subject that you would like to explore.

There is a place and a way for everyone who wants to be involved. Contact me at 817-531-5810 or lhanna@txwes.edu to discuss how the Chapter can best work with you.

In the interim, mark your calendars for Noon on Tuesday, March 22, at the City Club for the March member luncheon. See you there!

The award ceremony will be in June, but it’s not too early to begin thinking about entries. This is your big chance to receive well-deserved recognition for the outstanding work you do.  

Out at Texas Wesleyan University, momentum is building with our student chapter. The students are eager to participate in upcoming projects, including this year’s scholarship competition. Selection criteria are being finalized, under the guidance of immediate past president Cheryl Hart. The students also benefit from working with mentors, in group or one-on-one settings. Consider how you can help a budding communications superstar get started.

On to lunch. For February, Drew Myers, the director of business development for JODesign, will discuss “Pointless Storytelling,” or how to tell your stories in an engaging manner. Make reservations now for this can’t-miss program.

Things are happening at IABC Fort Worth. We are the perfect place to share your passion for your profession. Why not join today?

To get the fall schedule underway, we’re heading to a new location for the Sept. 21 meeting — Studios 121 — where the production company’s Michael Fletcher, Paul Leone and Will Raymond will share their secrets on “Reaching Larger Audiences with Today’s Smaller Budgets.” Sounds like advice we can all put to use!

In October plan for a half-day seminar at Texas Wesleyan University. Check back soon for details.

For those of you who want to get more involved in IABC this year, opportunities abound — assisting with special events like Bronze Quill, serving on a committee, etc. We have a great group of folks, so it’s a perfect time to jump in. You’ll be able to network, enhance leadership skills and make some new friends along the way. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Cheryl Hart at Hart Marketing, 972-691-3209 or cheryl@hartmarketing.biz.

For more information about IABC membership (individual or corporate), contact me at lhanna@txwes.edu or 817-531-5810.

We had a great turnout in June for the annual Bronze Quill celebration, during which turned the spotlight on communicators who excelled in 2009. Congratulations to all award recipients. In keeping with the event’s space theme of “2010: The Year We Make Contact with Excellence,” the featured speaker was Josh Byerly, Public Affairs Officer for NASA. Also known as the Voice of Mission Control, Byerly spoke to the crowd about the past, present, and future of the space program. He entertained with great facts and figures about astronauts, the International Space Station, and upcoming shuttle launches.

Our next event will be held at Studios 121, the company that also sponsored the Bronze Quill luncheon. More information will be coming soon.

Our slate of officers for this year includes Past President Cheryl Hart, Treasurer Tim Tune, Membership Vice President Sara Reynolds, Accreditation Vice President Lori De La Cruz, Programming Vice President Silver Vasquez, Secretary Ken Roberts, Webmaster Betsy Deck, Student Relations Vice President Kay Colley, and Creative Consultant April Eubanks, who also serves on the Scholarship Committee. A special thanks to Cheryl Hart for her leadership, volunteerism, and friendship throughout this past year.

If anyone wants to get more involved in IABC this year, we have plenty of opportunities for volunteerism – assisting with special events like Bronze Quill, serving on a committee, etc. We’ve got a great group of folks, so it’s a perfect time to jump in. You’ll be able to network, enhance leadership skills, and make some new friends along the way. To learn more, contact Cheryl Hart, at Hart Marketing at 972-691-3209 or Cheryl@hartmarketing.biz

I hope everyone is having some fun this summer. We won’t have a meeting in July, but we will be refreshed and ready to go in August! I’m looking forward to a great year.

Seems like I just started my term as IABC President. What a memorable and wonderful experience the past year has been.

The final event on this year’s IABC calendar is the Bronze Quill Awards luncheon. 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 many of the finest communications and marketing materials that were produced in 2009 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In addition to superlative work, exceptional networking and good company, this year’s luncheon offers a rare opportunity to hear from a communications pro, Josh Byerly — NASA Public Affairs Officer. Josh will give us a rare glimpse into the inner workings of NASA. He will touch on the final flights of the space shuttle, and project the revolving future of the International Space Station program in the upcoming years. We will also learn how NASA leverages its brand and name recognition in its strategic communications programs, including how the agency has learned to harness the power of social media to fuel its success. It should be quite a star trek!

I would like to thank our sponsor for the Bronze Quill ceremony, Studios 121– Fort Worth’s elite video production and broadcast center. Studios 121 serves national cable networks like PBS, History Channel, TNT, Telemundo, DisneyXD, Direct TV and the Cartoon Network with broadcast production and transmission services. They also serve national, regional and local companies, advertising agencies and nonprofit organizations with video needs like production, broadcast services, graphic design, network origination, Web design, animation, original television program production, intra-corporate training, events, etc. etc. etc.  We are proud to have Studios 121 as our event sponsor and as a long-term friend of IABC/Fort Worth.

Be sure to make your reservations now for IABC’s Bronze Quill Awards celebration. Check iabcfortworth.com for more information and to reserve your spot at the June 22 event at City Club. See you there!

As I mentioned earlier, my IABC presidency has been a rewarding and eye-opening experience. I worked with the best folks in the business who also are wonderful people. I’d like to thank my Board members and all of the volunteers who gave their time, energy and talents to make this year successful and rewarding for the organization.

This year’s outstanding Board included: President-Elect Laura Hanna; Past President Betsy Deck; Secretary Pam Fry; Treasurer Tim Tune; Membership Vice President Sara Reynolds; Accreditation Vice President Lori De La Cruz; Communications Vice President Paul Sturiale; Marketing Vice President Pam Huff; and Student Relations Vice President Kay Colley. There were so many other wonderful people and volunteers along the way who are too numerous to mention by name.  I can only say a sincere THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to IABC’s success in 2010.

Now I happily turn the reins over to Laura Hanna, 2010-2011 President, confident that Laura, her Board members and volunteers will keep IABC on the go and on the grow.

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