eChaser: September 2010 / p3

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Tom Burke, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA

Partnerships are a good thing. Unless Tiger and Elin are your names.

Nothing wrong with the name Schieffer, however, as in the TCU Schieffer School of Journalism. Greater Fort Worth PRSA, thanks to Julie O’Neil, is partnering with the Schieffer School on our Sept. 8 luncheon meeting, “Translucency and the ‘No Comment’ Debate in the Era of Transparency.” Again, thanks to Julie, those attending the luncheon will hear professors Rob Wakefield and Susan Walton of Brigham Young University discuss their recent publication “Translucency Corollary to the Transparency Theory” and offer practical considerations public relations professionals can use to ethically guide their approach to handling critical situations.

Don’t miss this program! Also, don’t miss our fall professional development event and annual meeting Wednesday, Oct. 13. A large member turnout is necessary for a quorum to vote on bylaws changes and 2011 officers. Let’s set an attendance record at the October luncheon.

Toto may not be in Kansas anymore, but if you’re in Wichita, Kan., Sept. 17, you can experience a program by that city’s PRSA chapter, ”PR Evolution: A Hands-on Social Media Workshop.”

Speaking of social media, if you’re a blogger or a tweeter, and who isn’t these days (oh, yeah, me!), send congratulations to GFW PRSA director Richie Escovedo, otherwise known as “Mr. Tweet” and “Sir Blog.” Because of his social media skills and the fan base he has built through tweeting and blogging, Richie has been selected to attend the PRSA international conference as an official blogger. The conference is Oct. 16-19 in Washington, D.C.

And don’t be surprised if Tiger and Elin, separately, of course, tune into Richie’s tweets and blogs. He’s that good. Just don’t ask him about his golf game

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Laura Hanna, IABC Fort Worth

Goodbye Texas heat (I hope), hello football weather. And with the change of seasons comes a great new year of IABC events — meetings, half-day seminars and the Christmas JPS book benefit with SPJ and PRSA.

To get the fall schedule underway, we’re heading to a new location for the Sept. 21 meeting — Studios 121 — where the production company’s Michael Fletcher, Paul Leone and Will Raymond will share their secrets on “Reaching Larger Audiences with Today’s Smaller Budgets.” Sounds like advice we can all put to use!

In October plan for a half-day seminar at Texas Wesleyan University. Check back soon for details.

For those of you who want to get more involved in IABC this year, opportunities abound — assisting with special events like Bronze Quill, serving on a committee, etc. We have a great group of folks, so it’s a perfect time to jump in. You’ll be able to network, enhance leadership skills and make some new friends along the way. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Cheryl Hart at Hart Marketing, 972-691-3209 or cheryl@hartmarketing.biz.

For more information about IABC membership (individual or corporate), contact me at lhanna@txwes.edu or 817-531-5810.

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OVER & OUT

John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ

Register now, or pay the price. Sept. 8 is the early-bird deadline for the 2010 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference, Oct. 3-5 in Las Vegas. ...

Hooray for syntax artiste Paula LaRocque, who last month signed a book contract for her first mystery novel, “Chalk Line,” to be published by Marion Street Press a year from now. MSP has published her and husband Paul’s nonfiction books — Paula’s three on writing, Paul’s two on editing and headline writing — and also is considering a prequel to “Chalk Line.” Paula has a new website, too. She does get around, and with an abundance of style. ...

SPJ is adding a tool to its communication arsenal. Membership committee chair Holly Fisher will host the first edition of SPJ’s new online program at noon Sept. 9. A new show will air each month. Much like traditional talk radio, listeners may call in and ask questions of Holly and her guests. ...

Application deadline is Sept. 19 for the Kyoto Prize Journalism Program, which provides fellowships to encourage greater reporting depth in advanced technology, basic sciences, and arts and philosophy. Selected journalists will travel to Japan to attend the 26th annual Kyoto Prize award ceremony on Nov. 10 and laureate lectures and workshops Nov. 7-14. The program is designed for professional science, technology and arts writers, and editors in print, radio and broadcast.

Closing words: “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” — mathematician and mystic Blaise Pascal ... “Are you really sure that a floor can’t also be a ceiling?” — M.C. Escher ... “I don’t want to make money, I just want to be wonderful.” — Marilyn Monroe ... “Man can embody truth but he cannot know it.” — William Butler Yeats