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MEETINGS
Perfect Your, uh, Presentation
Public speaking can drive fear into the bravest of communicators. And, uh, if
you’re like a lot of people, ummmm, you might not be the best, ahem, public speaker.
Cash America communications director Dana Gill and Amber Wood, CA’s director of learning and development, have a solution.
At this month’s IABC meeting they will cover everything from presentation preparation to
execution and offer great tips to avoid the awkward pauses everyone
experiences.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25
Place: Cash America Building (lower level conference center), 1600 W. Seventh St.; park
free in the parking garage, top level
Cost: members $25, nonmembers $30, students $20; online add $1, walk-ins without a
reservation add $5; lunch included
RSVP and pay online by noon Feb. 21
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Show You’re Worthy: Submitting a Winning
Nomination to Get the Recognition You Deserve
It’s all about the Worthy Awards at the February luncheon.
2014 co-chair Holly Ellman will offer an overview of plans and key dates leading to awards night Thursday,
May 29, at the Fort Worth Club. Co-chair Joe Stout will discuss the new entry process and share suggestions from past judges on how
to create a nomination that shows the full value of the product or project.
Gigi Westerman, APR, Fellow PRSA, the 2013 Worthy Award Best of Show winner, and Shannon Wingo from the Tarrant County Public Health Department will highlight their
award-winning strategic communications program “Breastfeeding Works,” a campaign designed to educate employees and elicit support for a new worksite
lactation policy.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12
Place: Colonial Country Club, 3735 Country Club Circle, Fort Worth
Cost: chapter members $25, national members $30, nonmembers $35, students $20;
walk-ups add $5
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A Tale of Two Activities
Fort Worth SPJ has two interaction targets this month — the popular and acclaimed Mass Media SPJ Career Conference for university
students Saturday, Feb. 15 (big ol’ graphic above), and the following week a Dallas mixer with Hispanic
Communicators – DFW for journalists, media professionals and j-students. More here and here.
The career conference began as the Fort Worth Journalism Project and dates to 2003. The mixer,
meanwhile, is one of those good ideas oft discussed but rarely achieved. Come
celebrate the new year with food and friends (old, new) and learn about two of
the most active journalism chapters in Texas.
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STRAIGHT STUFF
Ever thought about pursuing a master’s degree or a professional certificate? What would be your dream master’s degree experience? TCU professors Julie O’Neil and Jacque Lambiase in the Bob Schieffer College of Communication want to know so TCU and other
universities can offer courses and seminars that best meet student needs. Click
here for the consent form and online survey. ...
Life coach Lauren Midgley will encourage participants to think differently about their writing and
possibilities for improvement at the next Writers’ Guild of Texas meeting, 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, at the Richardson Public
Library. She also will provide strategies customized for writers in her
presentation, “Getting Focused to Get Results.” More on the Writers’ Guild of Texas at writersguildoftexas.org.
IABC local update: Brian Sullivan, founder of the Big Design Conference and author of “Design Like DaVinci,” will preview his newest creation, “Produce Like Picasso,” at the IABC Dallas luncheon Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Maggiano’s NorthPark. Info here. “Produce Like Picasso” will be presented at the 2014 SXSW conference.
PRSA local update: Shoot those e-mail addresses to nancy@farrarpr.com to be included in the database for the Masters Special Interest Group.
Co-chairs Nancy Farrar and Hope Caldwell are working on new and exciting ideas for 2014 and will announce their first
event soon. The Masters SIG is open to public relations practitioners with
extensive time in the profession as exemplified by APR certification or 15
years of experience.
PRSA local update II: All GFW PRSAers are asked to take the chapter’s programming survey to generate feedback on ways to make things better.
PRSA local update III: AT&T global media relations VP Brad Burns has a message for the PRSA Dallas monthly meeting Thursday, Feb. 13 — “It Can Wait.” Burns will share how AT&T is leading an aggressive, national effort to reach more people with the
imperative to never text and drive. Info here.
