MEETINGS
Linking Cultures, Building Trust
Carlos Sanchez, author of the cultural bridge-building book "Leaders Without Borders," will explain how to positively influence Spanish-speaking employees, consumers or the community in general at the January IABC meeting. Based on more than 15 years of research and implementation, the program is designed to enhance teamwork, create synergy and maintain a long-term environment of trust, respect and awareness.
Sanchez provides corporate executives with practical ideas to eliminate language barriers and improve relationships with the growing Spanish-speaking workforce. Being fluent in English and Spanish and having traveled extensively adds a dimension to his background. His style and sense of humor are known to encourage participation.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23
Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor
Parking: $2.50 in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets
Cost: $20 members, $25 nonmembers (online sign-up add $1)
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Change -- the Only Constant
The ceaseless changes in digital technology and information delivery affect all communications professionals. Consider that the Star-Telegram will soon revamp its printed and online news products. This month's PRSA meeting will hear from Larry Lutz, the paper's managing editor/development and copy desk, on the reasons behind the project and insight into what management wants to accomplish. Maybe he'll bring some format examples. A Q&A session will follow the talk.
Time & date: 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10
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, students $20
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Attention, Wordsmiths
What's the meaning of life? You may not learn the answer at the next SPJ meeting, but you will get some good advice on how your life is affected by the words we use and the way we use them.
Steve Stockdale, executive director of the Fort Worth-based Institute of General Semantics, will discuss his work and how understanding semantics helps people think and communicate clearly. He also is an adjunct professor at TCU.
And for prospective members, the chapter wants you to know that "the first one's on us." If this is your first meeting to attend and you're thinking about joining, then you eat for free.
Time & date: mingling 6 p.m., eats around 6:30, then the program Wednesday, Jan. 17
Place: Shady Oak Barbeque & Grill, 1600 E. Copeland Road, Arlington (south side of I-30 at the Nolan Ryan Expressway exit)
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers, $5 students, free if you've never been to an SPJ meeting before and you're considering joining
Menu: brisket, sausage, chicken, plenty of sides, iced tea and corporate parent Spring Creek Barbeque's signature bread; cash bar
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STRAIGHT STUFF
Deadline is 5 p.m. Jan. 13 to enter the Advanced Media Awards, the Lone Star State's version of the Emmys. Coordinator Nancy Black seeks entries that exemplify the best in editorial content and video production from anyone, anywhere in the world, but the material must be produced for distribution primarily in Texas. Awards will be given for outstanding work created primarily for nontraditional viewing platforms such as iPods, computers, mobile phones and PDAs. More at lonestaremmy.org. ...
Reminder: The Urban League of Greater Dallas seeks volunteer assistance in PR and media planning for three 40th anniversary events -- the Heritage Day Celebration, Saturday, Feb. 24; Festival in the Park, in May; and the Annual Gala, Saturday, Aug. 11. The volunteer's responsibilities will include creating press releases, media advisories and biographies. Call Sherelyn Roberts at 214-915-4607 or 214-226-8913. ...
SPJ's New America Award honors collaborative public service reporting that explores an issue of importance to immigrant or ethnic communities in the United States. The winner will be announced this spring and honored in July at the annual Sigma Delta Chi Awards banquet in Washington, D.C. The competition is open to any ethnic media organization, media outlet, journalist or advocacy group concerned with ethnic and immigrant issues. Deadline: March 1. Contact programs coordinator Heather Porter, 317-927-8000, ext. 204, or hporter@spj.org. ...
Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications has established the Mirror Awards to recognize excellence in media industry reporting. Entry deadline is Feb. 16. More at the Mirror Awards web site, mirrorawards.syr.edu. ...
Deadline is Feb. 1 to apply for the Knight-Wallace Fellows program at the University of Michigan for the 2007-08 academic year. The fellowship includes a $6,875 monthly stipend plus tuition and fees. Full-time journalists in any media with five years' experience may apply. Contact Charles Eisendrath, 734-998-7666 or brieck@umich.edu. ...
The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University is accepting submissions for the Taylor Award, which honors those who encourage fairness in news coverage. Recipients receive $10,000. Nominations deadline is Jan. 20. More at the Nieman Foundation web site, or contact Melinda Patterson Grenier, 617-495-2342 or melinda_grenier@harvard.edu.
IABC local update: Networking guru Bettye Zoller Seitz, a Simon and Schuster author/producer and veteran communications speech trainer at major universities and corporations, will reveal her best power networking secrets at the Dallas IABC luncheon Tuesday, Jan. 9. Details here.
PRSA local update: Greater Fort Worth PRSA celebrated its 20th anniversary in style Nov. 9 at Shady Oaks Country Club, honoring Bill Lawrence, APR, Fellow, with its Unsung Hero award and enjoying the Steve Wallers Cool Jazz Trio. The PRSA Masters hosted a reception for PRSA national CEO Cheryl Proctor-Rogers, APR, Fellow, and after dinner she shared her observations on why the PR professional is more important than ever to the success of business and how things can't be done the way they have always been done. She also stressed the importance of diversity, both in people and in thought. Around 100 people attended, including long-time members, past presidents and TCU students.
PRSA local update II: Nachos for newbies. NuPros, those who have up to three years' professional experience, and all new members of the chapter will have a networking luncheon at Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Restaurant, Thursday, Jan. 25, noon-1 p.m. A Cvent invitation will arrive by e-mail. ... The Healthcare SIG probed the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) in December at a luncheon hosted by JPS Health Network. Program ideas for 2007 include a session with health care reporters and a look at how nonprofits can partner with Tarrant County companies and utilize newsletters to get health care information to employees.
