MEETINGS
Business Etiquette and the Basics of Entrepreneurship
Professional communicators know that success comes more from the intangibles
than the technical knowledge: people skills, commitment to excellence,
dedication to networking, a thorough grounding in business etiquette. An IABC
seminar-luncheon from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, will shape and sharpen
those intangibles while providing helpful tips that on-their-toes pros use to
make the most of their career opportunities.
The seminar, on the Texas Wesleyan campus, brings together four experts who
enjoy regional, national and international reputations for their expertise — Lars Lofstrand, “the Change Guru,” an expert on revamping your outlook so that you view life through awestruck
eyes; Joy Weaver, author and business etiquette queen of turning loose the “socially savvy” you; Cheryl Jones, economic development specialist at the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center,
who will share her tried-and-true secrets (and a few horror stories) for
growing a business; Mary Jane, business development counselor at the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center,
who will address the “born entrepreneur” qualities of successful business people; and Daryl Day, who has built Day Real Estate on an effective networking supersystem.
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Doin’ the Tradigital (Trends in Public Relations for Today’s Practitioner)
With the continued fusion of PR into marketing and the explosion of social
media, practitioners now more than ever must manage their organization’s reputation while delivering on the brand promise in new spaces and with new
influencers. Mickey Nall, APR, Fellow PRSA, managing director of one of the world’s largest public relations agencies, will help attendees at the May meeting
navigate what he calls “tradigital public relations.” He will demonstrate how social media, traditional media and influencer
engagement blend into a most useful skill set.
A PR veteran of more than 25 years, Nall heads the Atlanta office of Ogilvy
Public Relations Worldwide. He serves on the national PRSA Board of Directors
and is active in a variety of national and local organizations.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, May 11
Place: Colonial Country Club, 3735 Country Club Circle
Cost: $25 members, $35 nonmembers, students $20 (walk-ups add $5)
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A program may be percolating; eChaser readers will be notified.
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STRAIGHT STUFF
Have a killer app? There’s a Bronze Quill for that. The 2011 Bronze Quill Awards presented by IABC Fort
Worth recognize the best business communications in North Texas. And with 20
categories ranging from print magazines and newsletters to digital and online
media, there’s a place for your best work, including mobile apps and websites. If you
produced a project in 2010 that takes “Communications to the Nth Degree,” you have until May 6 to enter. Winners will be recognized July 26 at the City
Club in downtown Fort Worth. Instructions, rules, entry fees, entry form — they’re all at
bronzequill.com. ...
The DFW Nonprofit Communicators Conference, Friday, May 20, in TCU’s Brown-Lupton University Union, promises education, resources and networking in
a full-day format of interactive workshops. Cost is $30 and includes lunch.
Workshop topics will span social media, legal policies and measurement, board
advocacy and engagement, and crisis communication. Bill Johnson, TCU Schieffer School of Journalism graphic design and advertising expert, will
lead a branding master class, limited to 12 people. For more info and to
register, go here. ...
Deadline is May 6 for Religion | Newswriters’ 2011 Chandler Award for Student Religion Writer of the Year. Undergraduate and
graduate students may submit three stories about faith, ethics or spirituality
published in a student newspaper or magazine or through a professional
internship, in the academic year summer 2010 through spring 2011. Winners
receive prizes ranging from $150 to $600 and free travel to accept their award
at RNA’s annual conference this September in Durham, N.C. Info
here. ...
SPJ member Carmen Goldthwaite is right at home with the topic “Creative or Narrative Nonfiction: The Literature of Reality,” which she will discuss at the third-Monday meeting of the Writers’ Guild of Texas, 7 p.m. May 16 at the Richardson Public Library. Goldthwaite
juggles writing novels, narrative nonfiction books and stories,\ with teaching.
At SMU she teaches creative writing and narrative nonfiction. At TCU, her alma
mater, she’s a writer in residence in the Schieffer School of Journalism. • WGT third-Monday early-bird: WGT All-Stars Read-In, June 20. • Writers’ events calendar: May 5-7,
Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. Conference “Write Now,” multiple speakers, programs, editor/agent appointments, book room, contests
(cash prizes), keynote Steve Berry, Embassy Suites Hotel, Oklahoma City; July 21-24, Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, lectures, workshops, agents, agent consultations, writing contest, student
biography contest, Grapevine. • More at writersguildoftexas.org/joomla/. Send events calendar items to Carol Woods at carol.woods@verizon.net.
IABC local update: Clayton Howe with the North Texas Tollway Authority will discuss the biggest challenges the
NTTA faced during the transition to cashless tolling and how communication
helped ensure safety on the roadway at the IABC Dallas luncheon Tuesday, May
10. Info here.
PRSA local update: The Masters SIG will host a reception for May speaker Mickey Nall, APR, Fellow PRSA, managing director of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, from
6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, at Blue Mesa, 1600 University Drive. The
reception is open to chapter members. Cost is $25, which includes finger foods
and two drinks. RSVP to Masters SIG chair Linda Jacobson, ljacobson@quepr.com, or respond to the Cvent invitation.
PRSA local update II: Save these dates. The Greater Fort Worth and Dallas PRSA chapters will hang out
together Thursday, July 21, and tour Cowboys Stadium, with happy hour to
follow. ... The PRSA Southwest District will initiate its QuickStart leadership
program Friday, July 22, location to be announced, for PRSA members interested
in serving on the local, district or national boards.
