MEETINGS
Holiday Luncheon to Benefit American Red Cross
You know you never have enough time to mingle during a regular chapter meeting. You have to stand in line to pay (fix that by paying online with Cvent), then go through the buffet. If you've managed to score a seat at a table with some scintillating people (and aren't all PRSA attendees scintillating?), you have maybe 10 minutes to get a conversation going. Then the meeting starts, and your attention turns to the speaker.
The PRSA December networking holiday luncheon is here to help. Not only will you have time to visit with your friends, colleagues and perhaps-soon-to-be-your-boss, you also will be helping the Chisholm Trail chapter of the American Red Cross. Proceeds after meal costs will go to this organization that worked so hard this past hurricane season and that is always there in times of need, great or small.
Time & date: 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14
Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor
Parking: free valet in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets
Cost: $25 members, $30 nonmembers, $20 students
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Big Bash at the Brewery
See the splashy color invitation above. That's the December IABC meeting. The regular professional development schedule will resume in January.
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Big Bash at the Brewery II
Ditto the journalists.
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STRAIGHT STUFF
The Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting is offering two fellowship programs to working pros. Coastal Impacts: Marine and Environmental Science for Journalists: Intensive, hands-on immersion with field scientists, grad students and policy experts. Participants will attend lectures, debates and panel sessions led by writers and researchers. The workshop emphasizes data analysis, research methods and the integration of science with public policy. Room, board and tuition provided. Postmark deadline Feb. 6. Metcalf Institute Diversity Fellowships in Environmental Reporting: Ten-month workout for six minority journalists focusing on environmental justice. Features four weeks of independent study with mentorship at the University of Rhode Island and 37 weeks reporting on science and the environment at one of six news outlets, including Science Friday, NOVA Science Television/NOVA Online, The Providence Journal and NPR member station WBUR. This fellowship is supported by the National Science Foundation and includes a $28,000 stipend. Applications must be postmarked by April 14. More at metcalfinstitute.org. ...
Deadline is Jan. 11 to enter the Education Writers Association's annual contest recognizing outstanding work covering prekindegarten, k-12 and higher education. Eighteen categories -- news, features, series, opinion, investigative -- embrace journalists working in print (including trade publications), broadcast and online media. More here or from EWA membership and marketing coordinator Tom Kenny at tkenny@ewa.org. ...
Applications for the 2006 International Radio & Television Society Minority Career Workshop and the 2006 IRTS Summer Fellowship Program are now available at irts.org/programs/programs.html.
IABC local update: IABC/Dallas' annual "Season of Giving" meeting Tuesday, Dec. 13, will host representatives from local nonprofits for lunch (topic: "Cause-Based Marketing: Partnerships That Do Good and Build Brands") and networking designed to improve their communication savvy and profitability. More here.
PRSA local update: Greater Fort Worth PRSA's first Editorial Forum was a success, according to members in attendance and panel participants. Billed for members only, the forum offered face time with Star-Telegram reporters, editors, columnists and editorial board members on how they like to be pitched to, etc. Three volunteers took fastidious notes, and a report will be e-mailed to members, along with a copy of deputy editorial page editor J.R. Labbe's "cheat sheet" for appearing before an editorial board. Organizers especially thank deputy editorial page editor Rex Seline, who coordinated the panelists, including reporters Amie Streater (education), John Gutierrez-Mier (community affairs), Heather Landy (retail) and Carolyn Poirot (features, health care); editors Labbe, Kristin Sullivan, Steve Kaskovich, Lee Williams and Paul Harral; and columnist Bud Kennedy.
PRSA local update II: No meeting for the PRSA Independent Practitioners SIG this month, but still these people can party. Nancy and Ed Farrar are opening their Fort Worth home, 5924 Forest Lane, for a gathering from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served. RSVP by Dec. 2 to (817) 937-1557 or nancyh829@aol.com.
