The Association for Women in Communications One organization embracing ALL communications disciplines
CommuniquĂŠ Membership campaign 2010 R
Results and prize announcements We asked you to recruit professionals in your network to join AWC and grow your professional organization and you did! Now the results are in! AWC grew by 158 new members during the past three months. Welcome to all new members, and thank you to veteran members who shared their AWC experience with others to recruit these new members. Onto the prizes The AWC Springfield, Ill., Chapter wins top honors, with 52 percent growth, in the professional chapter category, and garners one complimentary registration for the 2011 National Conference, Oct. 13-15, in Tulsa, Okla. In the student chapter arena, Purdue University and Syracuse University student chapters tied for the top prize with an amazing 127 percent growth for each chapter! They each receive one complimentary student registration to the 2011 conference. The AWC Lubbock, Texas, and the AWC Topeka, Kans., professional chapters, each with a 22 percent increase, tied for second place in the professional chapter category, thereby winning one complimentary professional membership for a VIP, speaker or outstanding volunteer. The AWC Austin Chapter came in an extremely close third place with a 21 percent increase, but as the largest AWC chapter that means AWC Austin is more than 200 members strong! The chapter won $75 in AWC merchandise. In the student chapter category, University of Colorado, with a 63 percent increase, took second place and won $50 of AWC merchandise, and Drury University, with a 50 percent increase, took third place and won one free AWC webinar. More than 70 individual members are congratulated for recruiting at least one new member during the campaign. Unfortunately, no one recruited the minimum of five new executive, professional and entrepreneur members in order to win one of the prizes for individual recruitment accomplishment. Congratulations to our winners. Keep sharing your AWC experiences with your colleagues, so your professional organization can continue to grow.
www.womcom.org
More than 70 individual members are congratulated for recruiting at least one new member during the campaign.
November-December 2010
What’s inside:
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Trade shows, a marketing tool Introducing Freelancer February Free webinar on women & investing
Member inspiration
Trade show … the way to go! New business makes an appearance. By Stephanie Strickland
When thinking about the proper marketing and public relations moves that will give your business products and services the exposure needed to compete in any industry, you naturally are drawn to the tradeshow as a venue. Communicating to the public could not be accomplished over a wider range of diverse groups than through a tradeshow presence. An appearance at a tradeshow or business expo is critical to a company’s professional image and allows you the opportunity to spark the attention of many different diverse groups and many different business types that you may not have already had the opportunity to reach. Tradeshows and business expos are held all over the world and companies understand that by presenting themselves correctly and professionally at these events can make the difference in your clientele base and the number of new customers you develop. There are several ways that a company can find the perfect tradeshow or expo that would fit its particular business genre, by being a part of an organization specifically for your field, such as STC (Society for Technical Communications), if you are a technical writer, or NAR (National Association of Realtors), if you are a real estate agent. These affiliations will give you access and information for upcoming events that will be beneficial for your company to attend.
Your booth There are many varieties of booth styles and complexities of setups available for tradeshow and expo presence. Depending on your target audience, the number of expected attendees, and your marketing budget, you should choose your booth set up accordingly. The more established company will use a booth designed specifically with corpo-
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rate logos and colors built into the table, walls and signage on the booth. This is costly, but, as long as the company doesn’t change its brand, this booth will last for many years. For smaller companies that are trying to keep overhead low, they can rent generic booths that can be personalized with their company brochures, banners and fliers and add a table skirt with the company colors.
Your collateral pieces It is equally important that when attending a tradeshow or a business expo you research the number of attendees from the prior year so you can gauge how much traffic will visit your booth. The proper amount of collateral items will be needed to adequately distribute your information to the attendees. At the very least, always provide business cards, brochures and samples of your products and services. Look to invest in a giveaway item that will keep your company in the potential customer’s mind, such as a keychain, pen or sports bottle with your company contact information. Get out there and get your company in the public eye, learn as you go, take notes of what works and what doesn’t. Make adjustments as you go and your company will be properly, and professionally, exposed in no time! AWC member Stephanie Strickland (pen name: Steve Marie) is a mother of four, and grandmother of one, who spent her childhood growing up in Queensbridge projects and migrated as an adult to North Carolina, where she currently resides. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in higher education. Being a lover of all things literary, both fictional and nonfictional, Marie became a technical writer and has been for more than 15 years. Her writing credentials include staff and freelance, as well as CEO of her own technical writing company, Exactly Write Marketing Solutions. Marie began developing her writing skills at a very young age by reading the dictionary and doing crossword puzzles. (Copyright 2010. Exactly Write Marketing Solutions. www.exactlywritems.com)
Freelance February Webinar Series Mark your calendars AWC is unveiling its Freelance February Webinars Series, packed with trends, tips and business knowledge from successful freelancers in our midst. Whether you are contemplating starting a freelance career, or you are an experienced freelancer, you’re sure to get some new ideas and insights from one or all four of these webinars. No, You May NOT Pick My Brain: Drawing the Line Between Free and Paid is the opening webinar on Feb. 1, with Sheila Scarborough. This webinar will address the advantages (yes, there are a few) and disadvantages of sometimes working for free, how to tell the difference between predatory brain-picking and friendly questioning, and why social media and the “culture of free” tend to cause us to be overly casual about the value of our work. On Feb. 8, hear how Specializing & Niche Focus WORK, with Kay Bell, who takes what she enjoys and turns it into something she can do for a living, including a book deal. She’ll talk about how
defining your niche can be more rewarding than trying to be all things to all people. On Feb. 15, learn about Surprising Places to Sell Your Work, with Amy Lemen. She says there are countless opportunities off the beaten path to find your clientele. The Feb. 22 webinar topic and speaker will be announced soon. After you have learned from these amazingly successful freelance businesswomen, on March 1, you’ll have an opportunity to join an open discussion teleconference on freelance and business issues facilitated by several successful entrepreneurs. So, mark your calendar now. We expect the webinars to occur at 12:00 noon EST, but look for more details within the next few weeks, both on www.womcom.org and in email communications coming to your In-Box. Don’t just put yourself out there without learning first from the pros!
Our free gift to you! Jan. 25th With a new year approaching, people want to assess where they have been, and more importantly where they are going. Money is often in the top three priorities, if not the top! So join AWC’s first 2011 webinar, on Jan. 25th, Women & Investing, with Kristy Vetter. Prior to becoming a speaker, writer and consultant, Vetter worked 13 years for American Century Service, Inc. helping investors understand and take action on their investments. This webinar is free to members who register. Registration opens in January.
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Chapter Connections
Bald is beautiful AWC Northern New Jersey Chapter member Lisa Fahoury of Fahoury Ink recently got the haircut of a lifetime. She participated in the St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event in West Orange, NJ, to demonstrate solidarity for children who lose their hair while undergoing cancer treatment. Fahoury and her husband, Raymond, were both first-time “shavees,” together raising more than $6,000 for pediatric cancer research.
Raymond and Lisa (right) Fahoury, sport new look, to benefit charity.
Careers Over Coffee & Cocktails in Austin AWC Austin Chapter has found a format worth repeating, with its monthly “Careers Over Coffee and Cocktails,” which provides members and non-members alike an opportunity to converse about their careers. Capitalizing on the natural instinct of AWC’s members to communicate, the Austin chapter has fostered a relaxed setting where topics like career advice, opportunities, trends and technologies and changes in the industry can be shared and explored. After all, if you ever had a personal eureka moment after a great conversation, you are familiar with the power of exchanging ideas.
Topeka’s silent auction helps digital lab AWC Topeka Chapter members took time to enjoy some holiday cheer and to give back to a university many of them attended as collegiates. At its Night of Media Merriment, on Dec. 2, the chapter raised funds through a silent auction to help the Washburn University Mass Media Department create a digital editing lab for the student media office.
Des Moines celebrates with white elephants AWC Des Moines Chapter members are bringing “white elephants” to their holiday party this month. What is a white elephant gift, you ask? Traditionally, a white elephant is something lying around the house that you don’t want (some horridly ugly item that someone gave you as a gift, or some other item unwanted for some reason), but something that someone else may want.
South Florida Chapter hosts Social Chats on radio Social Chats AWCSF is an Internet radio show broadcasting from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm every Monday. To listen, please tune in at www.socialchats.net. The show is hosted by Tonya Scholz, past chapter president and Women of the Year chair, and Dana Lawrence, chapter communications chair, and features board members, chapter members, and local industry leaders in discussions about what’s trending on social networks for communicators in South Florida and across the nation.
Springfield, Ill, fundraises in December The Springfield, Ill, Chapter’s Dec. 15th Holiday Party, is also called an “envelope party” for the AWC College Scholarship Fund. Members are asked to bring a donation to the scholarship fund in an envelop, as their way of paying it forward for collegiates.
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Tips to reduce accounting costs for businesses Despite a current demand for more detailed reports during tax time, companies can still keep their CPA costs down by practicing better bookkeeping and following a few simple guidelines. To mitigate rising CPA costs, start by keeping clean, easily understood records, according to the article in Americanexpress.com. This can be achieved through small and thoughtful internal adjustments, better record keeping and reconciling your balance throughout the year. Being prepared to hand over meticulous and accurate books can make a difference to your bottom line. When selecting a CPA, choose to work with a local company that will provide the same service but charge less than a big firm. If your company’s board or bank does not require an annual audit, consider doing a review instead, which can save about half as much as an audit. Reserve the time to shop around to compare rates and see what different companies are offering. Finally, consider consulting your CPA throughout the year or hiring a CPA to work exclusively for you. If you do not take the time to consider this, you may never know which one is the best choice for your company. For more on this article.
Hats off Jke marketing & communications recently earned Green Plus Certification from the Institute for Sustainable Development. Owner and principal Jenny Engle worked for more than a year updating, upgrading and enhancing her business plans and operations in People, Planet and Performance categories in order to earn the designation. She also worked with staff at the institute to modify and refine criteria for sole proprietors and home-operated small businesses. Her website, www.jkecommunications.com, is among the first in Pennsylvania to be hosted by a green company. Kayla Gregory has accepted a new position as assistant director of Alumni Relations for the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago, Ill., where she manages online communications and assists with event planning. Formerly Kayla was a marketing associate at Purdue University Libraries in West Lafayette, Ind., and a member of the Greater Lafayette Chapter. Journalists in the information technology industry have named Charlene Blohm, president of C. Blohm & Associates, Inc., as a Top Tech Communicator in PRSourceCode’s 2010 survey. In addition, C. Blohm & Associates, a public relations firm serving the education industry, was named a runner-up among the top small PR firms in the IT industry. This is the third consecutive year that Blohm and her agency have been honored. Kate Perrin, CEO of PRofessional Solutions, LLC, the Washington, DC area’s only public relations temporary staffing agency, joined the Board of Directors of DC affiliate of Dress for Success. She chaired the Search Committee which selected the new Dress for Success DC executive director. Margo Berman has been promoted to full professor of advertising at Florida International University. A new edition of her first book, “Street-Smart Advertising: How to Win the Battle of the Buzz,” was released in August of 2010. It is now available in bookstore chains around the world. This book and her second book, “The Brains Behind Great Ad Campaigns: Creative Collaboration between Copywriters and Art Directors,” are now available as e-books. Lynn Osborne, president of AMI (Ad Management Insights), is consulting on an advertising agency search for a major utility located in the Southeast. Seven semi-finalist agencies have been selected. Finalists will likely be announced in November and the winning agency selected before the end of the year. Denise Baker of the AWC New Mexico Chapter presented a morning and afternoon break-out session titled, “Establishing and Keeping Your Boundaries in the Workplace” on Sept. 16 at a Women’s Leadership Forum organized by the Associated Builders and Contractors. The forum was organized around the theme, “Strategies for Women in Male-Dominated Industries,” and featured two keynote speakers: former New Mexico Congresswoman Heather Wilson and Sarah Thomas, first female football official for National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I.
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Student Chapter Connections Purdue Chapter soars The AWC Purdue Student Chapter is off to its best start in years! Utilizing social media, members have consistently reached out to communications professionals asking them to speak to students and generate members’ interests in interning, career development and The 2010-2011 executive board of the Purdue Chapter. tracking communications trends. Since July, the Purdue Chapter has integrated social media into its marketing strategy, built a website, con“In tacted and secured the Intern Queen, Lauren Berger, to speak at Purdue the four and raised member interest and attendance by 50 percent! years I’ve been “In the four years I’ve been a part of AWC, I have never seen us receive such national recognition, have outstanding commitment a part of AWC, I have from members and secure a wide variety of professional guest never seen us receive such speakers as we have this year,” said chapter president Sarah national recognition, have Wartman.
outstanding commitment from Interview attire tips members and secure a wide In October, the AWC variety of professional guest Oakland University Student Chapter presented a fashion show speakers as we have called, “So You Think You Can this year.” Dress.” The focus of the event was to show students what to wear and Sarah Wartman what to avoid during the interview process. They had a “mock interview” session where communication faculty “interviewed” students. One interview depicted an appropriate way to act, and the other interview showed what to avoid. The chapter had 125 students attend the event!
Rutgers Student Chapter has active autumn The Rutgers Student Chapter had an opportunity to be up close with Martha Stewart, when they visited the Martha Stewart Show for the club’s fall semester trip. Stewart taught the studio audience how to start a bee farm, and prepared a recipe for sea bass. The chapter also spread holiday cheer by making holiday decorations for the adolescent ward of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
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Remember AWC Matrix Foundation as the year ends The end of 2010 is rapidly approaching and there is no better time to make a donation to the AWC Matrix Foundation. Your generous gift supports its mission of promoting the advancement of women in the communications profession by providing funds for education, research and publications in cooperation with AWC. There are several ways you can contribute: •
Be traditional! A financial gift to the General Fund is always a good choice, and it is easy when you do it securely, online using your credit card at the AWC Matrix Foundation website. Or mail your tax-deductible donation (check or money order) directly to AWC Matrix Foundation at 400 North Washington Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314.
• Be studious! Donate to the Matrix Foundation Barbara Ericksen Memorial Fund. Help send a deserving AWC student member to the AWC National Conference in October 2011. • Invest in excellence! Donate to the AWC Matrix Foundation Certification Fund. Help defray program administrative costs, keep application fees affordable and enable the program’s growth. • Recognize a role model! Donate to the Edith Wortman First Amendment Award Fund. Help the AWC Matrix Foundation recognize a heroine who has made significant contributions in supporting the First Amendment and First Amendment rights. The AWC Matrix Foundation survives solely on donations — cash, grants, endowments and other assets, and in-kind contributions — to support these programs and enable the Foundation’s mission. Remember that your contribution to the foundation is tax-deductible for the year in which it is are made. The names of individuals or organizations who donate to the general fund or to a specific project fund in a given year will be acknowledged on the AWC Matrix Foundation website. Whatever way you choose to give, we thank you for supporting the AWC Matrix Foundation this year. If you have questions about donations, please e-mail donations@matrixfoundation.us.
Amazon.com benefits you, and AWC — a winning scenario Do your holiday shopping on Amazon.com via the link on the AWC home page, and you will benefit from great variety of present ideas, as well as great prices. A small percentage of your purchases is returned to your professional association, AWC, so we can better serve you with education and information that can help you in your career and business. So go to Amazon.com now to purchase your holiday surprises!
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Your AWC National Board of Directors Liaisons Each AWC professional chapter has a friend on the AWC National Board who makes periodic calls and responds to chapter questions and concerns. Please note, some chapter liaisons may have changed. Austin Prof. Chapter Jane Baxter Lynn Bloomington/Normal Prof. Chapter Maria Henneberry Dallas Prof. Chapter Jane Baxter Lynn Des Moines Prof. Chapter Linda Strelluf Detroit Prof. Chapter Sue Voyles Independent Members Melanie Trunkey Camp Kansas City Prof. Chapter Sheryl Liddle Lafayette Prof. Chapter Sheryl Liddle Lubbock Prof. Chapter Billie Rodely New Mexico Prof. Chapter Melanie Trunkey Camp N. New Jersey Prof. Chapter Carla Capizzi Madison Prof. Chapter Judy Arent-Morency Oklahoma City Prof. Chapter Billie Rodely Rochester Prof. Chapter Sheryl Liddle San Antonio Prof. Chapter Jane Baxter Lynn Santa Barbara Prof. Chapter Whitney Mason Seattle Prof. Chapter Whitney Mason S.E. Wisconsin Prof. Chapter Judy Arent-Morency South Florida Prof. Chapter Melanie Trunkey Camp Springfield, IL, Prof. Chapter Maria Henneberry Springfield, MO, Prof. Chapter Wendy Morlan Student Chapters Linda Strelluf Topeka Prof. Chapter Wendy Morlan Tulsa Prof. Chapter Judy Arent-Morency Washington, D.C., Prof. Chapter Carla Capizzi
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AWC member celebrates first book Perry never knew what he was getting himself into at 4:00 a.m. when he got the call from his dear friend Sam. Samantha Kent is a successful entrepreneur who seemingly has everything going for her; a successful business woman, attractive, with a take-charge attitude. She succeeds at everything she attempts to do except for one thing, romantic relationships. Sam bounces from one tumultuous relationship to another until she is finally pushed to the limit. No one would have known that in an instant she would be motivated to do the unthinkable. But the unthinkable turns out to be the least of her indiscretions. With the help of her best friend, Perry, the two spend an agonizing, heart-filled morning trying to decide how to get out of a mess Sam found herself in, and cleverly included Perry, a position neither one of them could have predicted would end in the cold calculating way it did. In this up and down roller coaster ride of friendship, love, betrayal and murder, “Unraveled” will keep you on the edge wondering what else Sam has done and what she will do next? Steve Marie (Stephanie Strickland) is a writer who uses her lifelong love of words, cynical sense of humor, and New York style bluntness to tell her stories. She leaves you excited and anticipating what her characters will do next. Definitely a captivating new literary fiction author who hits you in the gut with reality in her debut novel “Unraveled,” which is featured on a variety of blogs and websites.
Buy your holiday gifts at Amazon
Welcome New Members September-October 2010 Austin, TX Aimee Irene Finney Alicia Saba Cassandra Sanchez Emily L Fielding Jayme Cudworth Kendra Crispin Margarita C. Roehricht Meredith Woods Misty Gibbs Jaime Shimkus Joan L Cunningham Jodi Park Joy F Miller Rachel Wenzler Sara Boone Hartley Sally Bage Stacey Nash
Cynthia Burns Darling Lisa Batchelder Yolanda Finley Nancy Dreyfus
Bloomington/Normal IL Nia Pirnat
Seattle, WA Laura Abshire Lauren Appa Angela Dawn Santarossa Dana C Van Nest
Dallas, TX Allison Strickland Samantha Danielle Mitchell Detroit, MI Amanda Benjamin Julia Martin Anita-Joyce Barnes Diana Marie Jacokes Nancy Anne Danko Lafayette, IN Heidi Leigh Davis Ryan Gibboney Lubbock, TX Angie Wennerlind Beth Gina Phillips Constance Barbian Serena Renae Kleinstub Kendall Alyse Rompf Leslie Ann Cranford April Breanne Moss Kaley Daniel Amanda Reeves Vangelia Perryman Suzanna Cisnores Martinez
Oklahoma City Amy R Mitchell Ashley Fitzpatrick Dena Kristin Drabek Jill Marie Smith Marilyn Victoria King Santa Barbara, CA Rachael Gabrielle Samuels SE Wisconsin, WI Anne Grace Mattenheimer Cindy Ann Lorentzen
South Florida, FL Margaret Rose DePass Demi Pietchell Nancy Helen Brown Springfield, IL Mary B Schaefer Bobbie Jo Hill Courtney Westlake Jennifer Anderson Holly Fowler Karen Valerie Carlson Tisha Rooney Springfield, MO Kimberly Hartmayer Topeka, KS Lily Pankratz
New Mexico, NM Christine Glidden
Tulsa, OK Abigail J. Bobrow Beverly Bailey, Ph.D. Chelsea Lynn Grogan Cherokee Rose Screechowl Hannah Jane Jackson Melissa Dawn Baker Shelley Cook Campbell Claire A. Johnson Donita Quesnel Rainey Talbot
Northern New Jersey, NJ Anne Marie Infosino
Washington DC Lauren Ruth Tucker
Madison, WI Heather Gjerde Nancy Richardson
Independent Alexis Collado Andrea Young Christine Caswell Karen Lee McGraa, Ph.D. Jillian Ruggiere Marling Nunez Amanda Marie Gentile Andi Van Gogh Dawn Michelle Boyer Gina Natasha Willis Holly Kathryn Latimer Jaime Pizzella Jennifer Lynn King Jill Matusiak Marcie Stoddard Pamela Lutgen-Sandvik, Ph.D. Sara Roedl Sarah Hill Shelly Olsan Susan Barney Jones Cleveland State University Sara Ashley Muro Cornell University Jacqueline Michelle Homuth Jaimee Lee Kerber Jaimee Lynn Pavia Sarah Saulsbury Drury University Aaron Joseph Robison Amanda Lee Combs Brooke Elaine Hickman Heather Ann Lanning Holly Ann Plunkett Jaclyn K Cantrell Jaime Lynn Farquhar Kaitlyn Laura Schwers Katlyn Ann Colby Kristen Lancaster Keith Paige Stephanie Erickson Grimshaw Rebecca Lynn Anderson La Salle University Caitlin Honan Oakland University Abby Katherine Leet Ashley Franso Matthew J Parry Heidi Noelle Emery Purdue University Alejandra Isabel Sierra Blake Kathleen Reifers Di Cao Frances Patricia Pietrucha
Happy Holidays!
Lauren M Lapka Margaret Brett Irvin Marisa Lauren Strupp Megan Cooperider Meghan Marie Denny Meredith Anne Barack Emily Grace Kurtz Rebekah Leanne Piotrowicz Stephanie Catherine Domagalski Taylor Christine Pulliam Yiren Qiao Syracuse University Aileen M Coughlin Alyssa Erin Greenberg Amanda Elizabeth Smith Arianna Simone Wright Barbara Towner Prendergast Blake Erin Rosenberg Brittany Leigh Hirst Brittany R Miller Cody Elizabeth Marick Darian Diamond Herrington Elisabeth Ahna Hess Jade Marie Kraszewski Jessica Ann Alessandra Jordan Nicole Spector Julie Katharine Kosin Katherine Gail Berger Kelsey Jeannette Perkins Kylie Jill Haymaker Megan Elizabeth Miller Caitlin Elizabeth Murphy Jeanne Kathleen Cloyd Jessica Christine Schreindl Kaity Wong Pi-Jung Chen Stephanie Andrea Smith Nicole Roberts Rachael Christine Grannell Sarah Elizabeth LoMedico Stephanie B Machado Stephanie Rose Jacobs Tina Yeung University of Colorado Amanda Loraine Adkins Brittany Michelle Moore University of Texas Kathryn Elizabeth Rose Rosemell Opee Valarie Hobbs Valparaiso University Lauren Zomparelli
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The Association for Women in Communications 3337 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314 Ph: 703-370-7436 Fax: 703-342-4311
Website: www.womcom.org
AWC Mission Statement The Association for Women in Communications is a professional organization that champions the advancement of women across all communications disciplines by recognizing excellence, promoting leadership and positioning its members at the forefront of the evolving communications era.
The AWC National Headquarters is managed by ASCENT Management, LLC, an association management company.
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Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion of the Association for Women in Communications.
Editor: Denise Rocha – e-mail: drocha@womcom.org Designer: Wendy Morlan – e-mail: wendy.morlan@redlogic.com Photography credit: Maggie J. Szymanek, Uncommon Photography, www.uncommonphotography.com, 703-618-6362 Communiqué is published by the Association for Women in Communications. Send ideas, photos, and Hats Off information to drocha@womcom.org. All past issues of Communiqué are archived on www.womcom.org in the Members Only section.
AWC contacts at National Headquarters
AWC Executive Director – Pam Valenzuela, CAE: info@womcom.org Communications and Programs Manager – Denise Rocha: drocha@womcom.org Membership Assistant – Monique Pareira: members@womcom.org
Wishing you the most wonderful holiday season!
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