eChaser: April 2010 / p3

GET A JOB

Partners Together for Health, billing itself as a “fun and lively group to work with and teach you the ins and outs of nonprofit fund-raising for a county hospital district,” seeks a volunteer. “If you’re into competition, bring on the mojo,” says director Janet Neff. “We write grant proposals and case statements (kind of boring) but also do it all when it comes to special events like the annual gala (April 17 this year) and research for those really big donors. It’s a mixed bag of skills and daily surprises, but we guarantee a great learning experience, a worthy cause and fabulous people.” Call 817-920-7305 or e- jneff@jpshealth.org. ...

D Media in north Plano seeks a part-time creative assistant with an eye for design, attention to detail and strong sense of quality execution in a Mac environment. Send résumé with cover letter and salary history to D Media, Attn: Creative Director, P.O. Box 795363, Dallas 75379. ...

The DFW Airport internal communications area has a 40-hour entry-level position for a strong writer with content management skills. Photography a plus. Send résumé and qualifications to Irene Clark at iclark@dfwairport.com. ...

Dallas-based CURE magazine, launched in 2002 for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers, seeks a new managing editor to help it stay the largest consumer magazine in the United States focused entirely on cancer. More at journalismjobs.com/Job_Listing.cfm?JobID=1154307.

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NEW MEMBERS

PRSA ... Sarah Tajvar, Concussion

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Tom Burke, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA

Ever feel like a Toyota — you just can't seem to stop? It's been like that for me lately. Just can't seem to stop running or get caught up, much less get ahead. But is it any wonder?

That recent, huge Chile earthquake affected Earth's axis. As a result, there went 1.26 microseconds off each day. Daylight Saving Time took effect March 14. There went an hour.

According to a recent survey by Real Simple, the US. has 21 urban areas where the living is easy. Fort Worth didn't make the list. Austin did, at 15th, and Dallas and Houston did, too, at 16th and 20th. I'd probably find myself running behind less in Austin, Dallas and Houston. Sure, spend enough time on Sixth Street in Austin, and the living in that city can be mighty easy. But Dallas and Houston? Seattle led the list.

So how do today's college students do it? When I was at TCU a few (several, okay, lots) of years ago, I did well to make it to all of my classes each week. These days, students not only make it to class, but they're involved with enough extracurricular, volunteer and career-aspiration activities to make your head spin, much less your heart rate race (oh, what a feeling!). College sophomores and juniors these days compile résumés that rival “War and Peace.”

At the April 9 luncheon, our first at Colonial Country Club, we'll meet some energetic public relations students from TCU, UTA and Abilene Christian. They will show, and tell us, as part of our annual Pro-Am Day, why they are driven and how they are accelerating their future success.

Note that our May luncheon will be the third Wednesday, the 19th, with Katie Paine, a nationally known PR measurement guru, speaker and author.

May already? Another Texas summer will be here before we know it.

No rest for the weary. Pedal to the metal!

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Cheryl Hart, IABC Fort Worth

You’re really getting your money’s worth at IABC this spring, with a half-day seminar on social media Tuesday, April 27, in the Baker Building at Texas Wesleyan University and judging set to begin on the 2010 Bronze Quill Awards.

Don’t miss Betsy Pasley, Jerod Morris and Bud Kennedy discuss how they use social media at work, after work and everywhere in between to perform their jobs and brighten their lives. We are especially pleased that Jerod can join us because his corporatecomplianceinsights.com has been rated the second most influential web site for corporate compliance on Twitter. His other site, midwestsportsfans.com, has been featured on ESPN, The Huffington Post, the Sun Times daily newspaper and scores of specialty and regional sports programs and blogs. Register for the full event or just for the high-energy luncheon panel. IABC president-elect Laura Hanna, 817-531-5810, is standing by to take your call, or check out iabcfortworth.com for details.

On to the Bronze Quill, where the April 20 deadline is drawing nigh. If this year’s competition is anything like 2009, you don’t want to wait until the last minute. New categories accommodate internal and external communicators and recognize the growing importance of social media in the mix. There’s an entry form at iabcfortworth.com. In addition to superlative work and good company, this year’s luncheon, June 22, features Josh Byerly, the spokesman for NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and the “Voice of Mission Control.”

As you can see, IABC is a great way to get involved with Tarrant County’s professional communications and marketing community. Our membership includes professionals from some of the best companies, organizations and agencies in the area — and there’s always room for more. No (April) foolin’.

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OVER & OUT

John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ

You won’t find a more enjoyable evening with a better goal than the 7th annual First Amendment Awards and Scholarship Dinner, Friday, April 16, at Cacharel in Arlington. Here’s the fun you missed last year — or could have again this year! ...

This should be required reading nationwide. And of course Mitchell Schnurman took heat for being, you know, a socialist. ...

They mock him, they hate him, they won’t work with him, and some of them want him dead, and still President Obama can’t stop himself from surrendering to Republicans and their causes. It’s like he’s addicted to sucking up. This hurts. And this. But there’s also this. Who is this guy, and what does he truly believe? ...

Application deadline is April 16 to be one of 12 student writers, photographers and designers covering the SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference, Oct. 3-6 in Las Vegas, for The Working Press, the daily tabloid of the convention. Those selected will get free registration and lodging at the conference hotel, the Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino. Click here for details and how to apply. E- Heather Porter at hporter@spj.org with questions. ...

Over the year the Fund for Investigative Journalism will award grants averaging $5,000 to investigative reporters working in ethnic media and on local and regional issues. The first deadline for applications is April 5. Find the application form here.

Closing words: “[I]f you don’t [stop Medicare] and I don’t do it, one of these days you and I are going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it once was like in America when men were free.” — Ronald Reagan in a 1961 recording for the American Medical Association; the AMA opposed a bill in Congress that would have provided medical care for seniors — later known as Medicare — because the doctors group viewed this as a step toward “universal coverage” and a threat to its fee structures