December 2000
MEETINGS
Next at SPJ/PRSA/IABC ...
Deck the Halls, and Haul That Deck Chair Over Here
'Tis the season. Let's party.
Benevolent cheer will fill the air again as members of IABC, PRSA and SPJ gather at the Miller Marketplace and Brew Kettle Museum for the organizations' group holiday party and book benefit for the children's library at John Peter Smith Hospital.
Last year's jolly-up collected 219 books and $1,615, which was used to buy even more books. Of that event PRSA president Kim Speairs, APR, wrote: "The lively libations and mouth-watering Spring Creek barbecue, donated by Cliff Amos and the Miller Marketplace and Brew Kettle Museum, ensured a good time." Anticipate more of the same, plus the party's traditional silent auction, Dec. 13.
An honest-to-goodness paper invitation (none of those minimalist 0's and 1's) is being mailed out. More than 200 good-cause revelers are anticipated, some coming no doubt for the step back in time evoked by the hops history -- a marvelous collection of beer-making hardware, bottle openers and serving trays, vintage photos and postcards -- that fills the museum. No ballots will be hand counted nor dimples scrutinized, unless they're in someone's sweet cheek.
* Time & Date: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13
* Place: Miller Marketplace and Brew Kettle Museum, I-35 & Sycamore School Road exit
* Cost: $15 or the equivalent in new children's books
* Menu: Spring Creek barbecue, soft drinks, beer, wine
* RSVP: by Dec. 6 to (817) 336-7799 or mailto:kim@stuartbacon.com
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STRAIGHT STUFF
PRSA Approves Ethics Code, Raises Dues
The Public Relations Society of America approved a new code of ethics and boosted national dues to $215, the second installment of a three-year incremental increase, at its National Assembly in Chicago in October. The ethics code moves away from punishment and more toward motivation. It is modeled after the Society of Professional Journalists' "no enforcement" model in an attempt to take an educational approach rather than a negative, policing one.
Greater Fort Worth PRSA delegates Beth G. Park, APR, and Kristie Aylett, APR, presented a report to the local board last month. For a copy of the full report, contact either delegate. Detailed information on the issues discussed at the assembly is on the PRSA Web site, http://prsa.org.
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International Communication Focus of Dual Degree Between TCU and Universidad de las Americas
TCU and the Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico, have launched a dual-degree program in communication to be administered by the TCU College of Communication and the Department of Communication Sciences at UDLA. Undergraduate students pursuing communication-related degrees will spend either the junior or senior year at the other university and will receive a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree from both institutions upon graduation.
TCU students majoring in journalism with an emphasis in international communication, radio-television-film or speech communication will earn a bachelor's degree in communication sciences from UDLA. Participating students must read, speak and write English and Spanish.
"Universities have a responsibility to produce graduates who can move between cultures," TCU Chancellor Michael R. Ferrari said. "Students who have an immersion in another culture as undergraduates in this joint-degree program will be well-prepared for leadership and professional positions in the global community." Added Dr. David Whillock, interim dean of the TCU College of Communication: "This program will make our graduates extremely valuable to employers who see 'global' as part of their company's future."
For information, contact Dr. Will Powers, associate dean, TCU College of Communication, (817) 257-7610 or mailto:w.powers@tcu.edu.
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'We're Home': SPJ Leader Looks Forward, Back
In 1927, delegates to our convention approved an office and staff. The next year, we moved into the old Chicago Stockyards. By 1979, we were paying $33,000 a year in rent in the Chicago area after we'd bumped around from one location to the next. The financial drain found us searching for a more affordable home back at our point of origin, Greencastle, Ind., where Sigma Delta Chi was founded. We stayed there 10 years until another lease expired and we had essentially run out of room.
As a result, a volunteer committee of planners, including former national presidents, searched for our next best place to land. Now, we own a home for the first time in our history. It's a significant event, and I was proud to be a part of it. The building cost about $400,000, money available through invested reserves thanks to the careful fiscal planning of former SPJ leaders. A generous $500,000 gift from the Pulliam family helped refurbish and modernize the building. More than 100 people attended the August grand opening. Drop in any time.
-- Kyle Elyse Niederpruem
-- immediate past president
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GET A JOB
UTA Public Affairs has an immediate opening for an info writer with a bachelor's degree (preferably in PR, journalism or broadcast journalism, or marketing), news media experience and proficiency in Microsoft Word. The position is not yet posted on the UTA Web page. Contact Donna Darovich, mailto:darovich@uta.edu or (817) 272-2761. ... Pier1 has openings for a visual graphics manager, a senior art director and a content editor. Send resumes to Pamela King at mailto:prking@pier1.com. ... The American Heart Association seeks a communications director to develop and implement an aggressive year 'round communication plan for the Fort Worth market. Applicants should have experience in media relations and volunteer management; writing, organization and handling multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment; Word and Excel. Must ably interact with all levels of staff, volunteers and the public. Excellent benefits package offered. Application deadline Dec. 15. Send resume and salary needs to Communications Director, American Heart Association, 2401 Scott Ave., Fort Worth 76103, or fax (817) 315-5220. No phone calls, please.
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PEOPLE & PLACES
Lucile Davis, president of the Friends of the Fort Worth Public Library, needs a volunteer to edit the group's quarterly newsletter. Reach her at mailto:luciled@aol.com or (817) 926-7485. Notes Friends board member Claude Crowley: "If you like books and book people, this is an opportunity to use a little of your time and talent for community service -- and make your resume look great!" ... LaTonyie Jarrett-Taylor, Healthcare SIG committee chairman, extends her thanks to GFW PRSA members for their attendance at the year's Healthcare SIG sessions. "This year has been very exciting and successful for the group," she said. "Without your participation, we couldn't have made it happen."
Kudos & Contracts ... Kim Speairs, APR, has been promoted to senior vice president of account services at Stuart Bacon Advertising and Public Relations. ... Got your Katies right here. The Star-Telegram won the Dallas Press Club's high honor last month in several individual categories, in spot news for coverage of the Wedgwood Baptist Church shootings and in investigative reporting for "Cracks in the System," which detailed problems in Grapevine-Colleyville school district construction. The entire staff was recognized for the Wedgwood work. Among others responsible for the acclaim: Kathy Vetter, Miles Moffeit, Yamil Berard, Lois Norder, Sarah Huffstetler, Sarah Yoest, Michael Tribble, Rick Waters, Andrew Marton, Todd Camp, Catherine Newton, Max Faulkner, Carolyn Mary Bauman, Brenda Leferink, Jeffery Washington and Steve Wilson. This is the third time the Northeast newsroom has won a Katie in recent years; previous winners were Peter Finn, Moffeit and Mitch Schnurman. Meanwhile, in another part of the county, Arlington Morning News staff writer Shelly Moon won a Katie in features and photo editor Tom Fox won in photo portfolio.
Kudos II, college division ... The student newspapers at TCU and UTA brought home "Best of Show" plaques from recent conventions, TCU's from the Associated Collegiate Press-College Media Advisers convention in Washington, D.C., last month and UTA's from the ACP-CMA gig in Chicago in August. The Shorthorn, the UTA paper, also received SPJ's Mark of Excellence Award in October for a series of articles that explored the possible reinstatement of intercollegiate football at UTA. Shorthorn staff members Scott McCoy, Susan Mooring, Sally Claunch, Jason Hoskins, Matt Ward, Colby Bisetti, Seth Schrock and Michael Currie wrote and designed the series. As for the TCU Daily Skiff's honor, the March 30 "Best of Show" edition featured extensive follow-up news and photo coverage of the tornado that struck downtown Fort Worth. Current editor-in-chief Joel Anderson said the award "shows the quality of work we're producing, and it says a lot about the journalism department here." The award follows the Daily Skiff's recognition in April by the Texas AP Managing Editors as the best daily college newspaper in Texas.
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NEW MEMBERS, WELCOME
PRSA ... Cathy Huffman-Morris, with North Central Texas Council of Governments ... Bonnie Bradshaw, DFW.com ... Tracy Jones, Alcon Laboratories.
SPJ ... Arkansas native Amanda Rogers Kowalski, assistant city editor, Arlington Star-Telegram; the first editor of the Arlington Hometown Star, with experience at the Arkansas Democrat and The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press, she and her husband, Arlington S-T sports editor (and also new member) Bob Kowalski, have three sons and live in Mansfield. ... Associated Press veteran Tommy Thomason, TCU journalism department chair; an Arkansas native who began his j-career with the AP and worked in Dallas PR before joining the TCU faculty in 1984, he is the author of three books (with one more on the way) for writing teachers.
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COMINGS & GOINGS
Additions ... Jennifer Lawson, new at InterStar as an account representative ... Paul Sturiale, APR, director of communications and public information for Pro-Cuts Franchise Corp. ... at the S-T: former Dallas Weekly associate editor Lamor Williams, with experience at The Dallas Examiner and the Pine Bluff (Ark.) Commercial; Arlington education writer covering K-12.
Exits ... at the S-T: long-time Washington bureau chief Ron Hutcheson, a 23-year S-T career lifer right out of college (B.A. UT Austin, M.A. UTA), to Knight Ridder as a White House/national politics writer (projected replacement: Dave Montgomery, now Moscow bureau chief for KR) ... Arlington sports writer Blane Bachelor, traveling to Madrid (where she intends to become fluent in Spanish), the first stop in a year-long discovery of the great cities in Europe ... Arlington assistant city editor Michela Garcia, to the Houston Chronicle ... Northeast reporter Rosanna Ruiz, to the Houston Chronicle ... Renee Lee, in Arlington seven years before moving to the Northeast business desk this year, to the Associated Press in Dallas ... Kathryn Hopper, who has covered both the retail and personal finance beats, deciding to stay at home with her three children ... Grand Prairie beat reporter Tawnell Hobbs, to The Dallas Morning News.
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FROM THE PRESIDENT Kim Speairs / PRSA
Seems like it was just yesterday that I was writing my first president's column, and here it is my last. Looking back, I'm extremely proud of what the Greater Fort Worth chapter has accomplished these 12 months.
We co-hosted, with the Dallas chapter, one of the most successful PRSA Southwest District Conferences ever, raising more than $6,000. Then we used some of those proceeds, along with corporate contributions and earnings from our savings, to establish the PRSA Greater Fort Worth Scholarship at TCU, Abilene Christian University and Hardin-Simmons University. We began a number of activities: the Habitat for Humanity community outreach, the Healthcare SIG, accreditation testing. Throughout the year, we enjoyed excellent community support (thank you, holiday party sponsors Miller Marketplace and Brew Kettle Museum, Barnes & Noble, Spot Color Printing, Paper USA and David Sherman) and fabulous programs (most recently by Ruth Cogswell, who, after addressing the importance of media training, filmed two volunteers who put their new knowledge to immediate use).
These achievements have been made possible by our chapter leaders. Please allow me to use this final column to recognize all of our board members and committee chairs for their hard work and dedication: Kristie Aylett, APR; Carolyn Bobo, APR; Hope Caldwell; Carroll Cole; Mary Dulle; Wendy Dunn; Holly Ellman; Elizabeth Eslick; Julie Hatch, APR; Carolyn Hodge, APR; Jade Hoffman; Eliz Hopkins; Julie Neal; Beth Park, APR (and congratulations, Beth, on being elected secretary for the Southwest District); Roger Partridge; Becky Poer; Jerrod Resweber; Joan Scott; Pamela Smith; Laura Squires, APR; Henry Stewart, APR; Paul Sturiale, APR; and LaTonyie Jarrett-Taylor.
I appreciate the time, commitment and energy each of you has invested in our chapter to make great things happen this year. It's truly been an honor serving as your president. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity.
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PRESIDENT'S COLUMN Arden Dufilho / IABC
After the worst night in a hotel ever (just talk to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and the flight from hell back from Tampa, I returned from Chapter Leader Institute bursting with ideas. President-elect Pat McCombs and I covered as many sessions as possible, from niche marketing and new-member retention to conflict resolution and consensus building. This was my second CLI, and again it came home to me what sets IABC apart from other communications organizations: In this truly global economy, IABC is a truly international organization. We had the opportunity at CLI to meet communicators from around the world -- Australia, South Africa, Canada, Slovenia -- one on one. These people traveled great distances because they see IABC's value in their personal and professional lives.
One thing we heard over and over was to engage our members, get them involved. Over the next few months, you may receive a call from a board member asking you to contribute a little time and elbow grease for the cause. We hope you will respond favorably.
And FYI, during the week of Jan. 22-26, IABC international chairman Charles Pizzo will be visiting Texas chapters. We hope to have a joint session with IABC/Dallas somewhere in the Mid-Cities, probably a breakfast. This is a unique opportunity to learn from someone at the top of his craft. Details will go out the moment everything is arranged. Please plan to join us, then and Dec. 13 for the communicators' Christmas party at the Miller Brew Pub. Happy holidays.
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OVER & OUT John Dycus / SPJ
Almost 140 people knocked down a kitchen load of Joe T.'s family plates and slapped the collective thigh over Randy Galloway and Dale Hansen in November. Many thanks to these fine sports journalists for helping us raise $1,200 for scholarships and making us laugh out loud. Thanks, too, to Jody Lancarte, Cheryl Walker, Zurella Lancarte and head waiter Manuel O'Canas for exceptional restaurant hospitality.
As our national post-Election Day paroxysm of bipartisan petulance and ballot-box buggery lurches into its second month, we have this from BONG Bull kingpin Charley Stough, Dayton Daily News: "Vote early and often, friends, the better to let the world know that the United States' electoral system is every bit as interesting as Peru's, Paraguay's and the cemetery precincts of Chicago"; this from David Letterman: "Al Gore is saying the will of the people is being repressed. Listen here, folks, neither Gore nor Bush has won this thing -- if that's not the will of the people, I don't know what is"; and this from UTA Shorthorn ex Ben Gremillion, an election-night quote sampler from Dan Rather: "shaky like cafeteria Jell-O" ... "sweeping through the South like a tornado through a trailer park" ... "hotter than a New York elevator in August" ... "closest race in the English language" ... "if you're in the kitchen, Mabel, come back in" ... "he swept the South like a big wheel through a cotton field" ... "he'll be madder than a rained-on rooster" ... "it's so tight, you can't get a cigarette paper between them" ... "it's Spandex-tight" ... "the race is as hot and tight as a too-small bathing suit on a too-long ride back from the beach" ... "for him to win it would be like trying to scratch his ear with his elbow" ... "hold on to your drawers" ... "you are more likely to see a hippopotamus run through here than to give Ralph Nader a cabinet seat" ... "the opera isn't over 'til the heavy lady sings, but Bush hears her humming" ... "California was a taco, Texas was a burrito, but Florida is the big tamale" ... "stop to breathe his pony." And my personal favorite: "If a frog had side pockets, he'd carry a handgun." No, wait: "When the going gets weird, anchormen punt."