MEETINGS
The Network: How to Create It, Maintain It and Make It Pay
Everyone needs a network. It can help you get new business, and it can help you cope with the stress of life. Laurin McCracken, an architect, interior designer and chief marketing officer for Carter & Burgess, will explain "How to Build and Use an Effective Network" at the September IABC meeting.
McCracken has nearly 30 years experience in marketing professional services, but in the context of a career as an architect. He holds a bachelor's degree in architecture from Rice University and a master's in architecture and urban planning from Princeton University, and he's a registered architect in New Jersey and Texas, and a registered interior designer in Texas. He has extensive experience in the delivery and marketing of professional services for firms such as RTKL Associates, HNTB Architecture, McClier and the Global Design Alliance.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26
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, $18 students (online sign-up add $1)
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Ethics: Responsible Advocacy
Is ethics what you can get away with and still keep the public quiet? Is it mere respect for civil law? Answer: none of the above. But the practice of responsible advocacy -- ethics -- in PR, journalism, corporate America, nonprofits and even academia is being carefully scrutinized.
How you respond to an ethical dilemma will be judged by your peers, your boss, the court of public opinion and even yourself. The public, in particular, is becoming more and more savvy. The ethics police are looking hard for conflicts of interest, improprieties, a slip-up. They're itching for a fight, and they're waiting to pounce.
How can PR professionals better navigate the mine-filled waters of misleading information, poor management decisions, the promotion of inferior products, discrimination, political influence, pay inequities and gains at the expense of others? A panel of experts from PR, journalism and corporate America take on a scenario at the September PRSA meeting that would have most professional communicators sweating bullets, then they will offer an approach to resolving the issue ethically.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13; lunch at noon
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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Rights in Conflict
What happens when the public's right to know and the public's right to privacy collide? Fort Worth attorney Tom Williams will moderate a discussion of the topic with Tom Wilder, Tarrant County district clerk, and Cynthia Figueroa Calhoun, Dallas County district clerk, at the September SPJ meeting.
For years public documents were buried in dusty files in courthouses and other public facilities. Now they've been ported from the depths of public buildings into our homes and offices via the internet. Some say great, more open government. Others say whoa, what about our privacy?
SPJ promises an informative look at these rights in conflict. Also, handouts will be available on a pending "official secrets act," S. 3774, legislation identical to a bill President Clinton pocket-vetoed in 2000.
Time & date: mingling 5:30 p.m., eats around 6, then the program Wednesday, Sept. 20
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
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
The TCU Guild will hold its first meeting of the semester, an English tea, at the home of arts patron Rosalyn Rosenthal, 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14. Internationally known pianist Jose Feghali will perform for members and guests. For reservations, contact Lois Powers at 817-249-7409 or lfp@spowers.net. Guild activities provide scholarships to TCU students in radio/TV/film and the arts. ...
The National Asociation of Hispanic Communicators will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at The Dallas Morning News in downtown Dallas. More from Michael Vega, mvega@uta.edu.
IABC local update: John Korinek, principal, will discuss "The Midas Touch -- Communicating for Results" at the Dallas/IABC luncheon Tuesday, Sept. 12. Learn more and register here.
PRSA local update: GFW PRSA celebrates 20 years as an organization this year and will mark the occasion with a meet-and-greet the evening of Thursday, Oct. 19. Invitations will be sent to former and current members, but anyone interested in attending may RSVP through fortworthprsa.org, or call Laura Squires at 817-773-7424. ... Jamie Worflar from Abilene Christian U.; Amy Deaton, UTA; and Tyler Cockran, TCU, are the chapter's scholarship recipients for 2006-07. They will be recognized at the September luncheon.
PRSA local update II: CBS 11 community affairs director A'Lisha Williams will tell how PR pros can best engage the station in special events and sponsorships at the PRSA Independent Practitioners SIG meeting Friday, Sept. 15, at the Four Star Coffee Bar, 3324 W. Seventh St. To RSVP or for more information, contact Nancy Farrar at Farrar Public Relations, nancyh829@aol.com, or Sandra Brodnicki at sandra@brodnickipr.com. ... GFW PRSA recruited five members during the recent "Spring Ahead" promotion, bringing the roster to 177. Led by president-elect/membership chair Marc Flake, the chapter recruited more members than any other medium-sized PRSA chapter in the nation. During the campaign, May 1-July 31, PRSA national paid each new member's first-year chapter dues.
PRSA local update III: Organizers wish to thank Holly Ellman, Catherine Carlton, Jenny Walker, Carolyn Bobo, Joan Hunter, Drenda Witt, Catherine Barney, Mark Johnson, Dan Kenney, Linda Jacobson, Viqui Litman, Lisa Orr, Andra Bennett, Tom Burke, Marc Flake, Jerrod Resweber, Kelly Schafer, Amiso George, Chris Smith and Laura Van Hoosier for judging the Kansas City PRISM awards. Over four days, they assessed 180 entries ranging from media relations to special programs. Many of the volunteers walked away with new friends and new marketing ideas for their company.
PRSA local update IV: Mike Lake, chairman, Southwest Region Burson-Marsteller, will discuss "Maximizing Corporate Reputation: How to Build and Manage Reputation" at the Dallas PRSA luncheon Thursday, Sept. 14. More here.
