The Games We Play: Workplace Politics 101

Getting things done in the office can sometimes be a challenge if the people you work with chose to make it so.

Join us for the July IABC/Brazos Valley professional development meeting as Mays Business School Clinical Associate Professor Roemer Visser teaches us how to effectively navigate the stormy waters of workplace politics. This interactive presentation will review the most common sources of power found in organizations today, and the political games that people play as a result.

Roemer Visser holds a Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the Vrije University in Amsterdam and a doctorate in Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University. He worked as a corporate recruiter for Unilever in the Netherlands and an Emerson Electric subsidiary in Austin, Texas, before enrolling in the doctoral program in Texas A&M.

Prior to joining the faculty at Mays Business School, he was a senior employee development specialist in the Human Resources Department and, prior to that, management analyst in the Department of Multicultural Services.

He has found that this work experience was very good preparation for his first course in Workplace Politics at Mays. His marriage and his new venture into parenthood are proving to be even more relevant to the topic.

“The Games We Play: Workplace Politics 101”
Thursday, July 16, 2009
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Cocanougher Special Events Center
Wehner Building, Texas A&M University (West Campus)
College Station, TX 77843

Click here to register now. The final day to register for this event is Monday, July 13.

Please note that this event is a brown bag luncheon. Paid parking will be available in Lot 72.

Admission is $3 for IABC members and $5 for nonmembers. (If you prepay using Google checkout, an extra dollar will be charged to cover the service fee.) You may pay online in advance (preferred), or with cash or check at the door. IABC/Brazos Valley will no longer invoice individuals, companies or Texas A&M University departments.

You could save the day!

Your boss is supposed to be giving a presentation to the powers that be, but the projector and/or laptop isn’t working. All seems lost until you confidently approach the equipment, push a few buttons, and voila! It works! You’ve saved the presentation and earned your boss’s gratitude—as well as the respect, admiration, and awe of the audience.

How would you like to be the person with those valuable tech skills? IABC/Brazos Valley is looking for a volunteer (or a few volunteers) to take over A/V responsibilities for our monthly meetings. Don’t have A/V know-how currently? No worries. We’ll show you what you need to know.

This is a great opportunity for professional skills development. If you’re interested, shoot an email to Chrystal Houston at chrystal.houston@tamu.edu.

Intercultural Communication: The Basics of Communicating Across Cultures

As advances in communication technology continue to bring our world closer and closer together, it is more important than ever to ensure that our messages are not only effective, but culturally sensitive.

Join us for our June professional development meeting as communications expert Rhonda Snider Collins talks about considerations when traveling abroad, dealing with internationals at home, creating publications for diverse audiences, and issues specific to new media and electronic communication.

Rhonda Snider Collins has over 25 years professional experience in communications, international relations and leadership development. Through her business, Culture Knowledge, she provides training and consulting in topics related to culture, communication and personal development.

Collins has a Master of Arts in Anthropology, and has taught college-level courses in communication and cultural studies for four different universities. Collins and her husband lived in Mexico for a year, and she has traveled to more than 20 countries around the world.

“Intercultural Communication: The Basics of Communicating Across Cultures”
Thursday, June 18, 2009
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Epicures
2319 Texas Ave S
College Station, TX 77843

Click here to register now. The final day to register for this event is Monday, June 15.

Admission is $16 for IABC members and $22 for nonmembers. (If you prepay using Google checkout, an extra dollar will be charged to cover the service fee.) You may pay online in advance (preferred), or with cash or check at the door. IABC/Brazos Valley will no longer invoice individuals, companies or Texas A&M University departments.

Last chance to RSVP for “Using Facebook and Twitter as Marketing Tools”

We know that some of you like to wait until the last minute to take care of things. If you’re one of those people, then congratulations — your time has arrived!

Today is the deadline to register for this week’s professional development luncheon, “Using Facebook and Twitter as Marketing Tools” with guest speaker Nicholas Roznovsky. If you’d like to join us at Epicures this Thursday, please register today.

To register now or for more details, click here.

Using Facebook and Twitter as Marketing Tools

Have you (or your boss) decided that it’s finally time to join the 21st century and start maintaining a brand presence online? What happens when you move beyond just having a static website and start interacting with your audience in real-time? There are a myriad of social networking options out there with similar sounding names—how exactly should your business or organization go about getting the most facetube out of your tweetspace?

Join us for our May professional development meeting as Mays Business School webmaster Nicholas Roznovsky talks about two of the hottest social networking tools of the moment — Facebook and Twitter — and ways you can use them to effectively promote your brand online.

As part of the communications team at Mays, Nicholas directs the day-to-day operations of the business school’s online properties, including communications efforts through social networking and the development and implementation of new media. He has been building websites since 1994 and currently also manages online communications for IABC/Brazos Valley and the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors.

Nicholas holds a degree in political science from Texas A&M, something that he’s never used once in a professional career that’s included stops in higher education, print media and the entertainment industry. When not sitting in front of a computer, he enjoys spending time annoying his wife and hassling his kids while watching as much baseball as humanly possible.

“Using Facebook and Twitter as Marketing Tools”
Thursday, May 21, 2009
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Epicures
2319 Texas Ave S
College Station, TX 77843

Click here to register now. The final day to register for this event is Monday, May 18.

Admission is $16 for IABC members and $22 for nonmembers. (If you prepay using Google checkout, an extra dollar will be charged to cover the service fee.) You may pay online in advance (preferred), or with cash or check at the door. IABC/Brazos Valley will no longer invoice individuals, companies or Texas A&M University departments.

Membership has its perks

Are you getting the most out of your IABC membership? Here’s just a few of the opportunities and resources available for IABC members right now:

• Professional resume proofreading (free for members through May 30)
  
• IABC Research Foundation report on communicating in an information overload environment (free for members)
• IABC 2009 World Conference in San Francisco, Calif. (June 7-10)
• IABC Southern Region Conference: Align ‘09 in Houston (Oct. 22-24)
  

Seeing is NOT Believing: Photo Ethics for Communicators

We live in a visual world where a single image can go viral and radically alter public perception and brand reputation. With digital technology, history can be changed and CEOs enjoy instant weight loss and wrinkle removal – until they get caught. The fallout can be costly in terms of company brand, the bottom line and most importantly, your company reputation.

When is it okay legally and/or ethically to manipulate an image and when is it not? Who is responsible?  Learn what other major companies are doing and how to set guidelines to product your company.

Join us for our March professional development meeting as professional photographer Suzanne Salvo discusses the issues surrounding imagery in your business communications.

Suzanne Salvo and her husband/partner Chris are co-owners of Salvo Photography, an award-winning studio with bases in Italy and the U.S. The Salvos has traveled to over 65 countries on assignments ranging from ad campaigns, annual reports and editorial.

At IABC, Salvo served on the 2003-2004 International Executive Board and she is a past president of IABC/Houston, which named her Volunteer of the Year in 2002. Salvo writes the informative on-line monthly column, “Visually Speaking” for CW Bulletin, conducts action-packed workshops on photo topics throughout North America and Europe and is a multiple Gold Quill winner. Suzanne was the recipient of the 2007 IABC Chairman’s Award and currently serves on the Southern Region board.

For more info, visit www.salvophoto.com and www.salvoatlarge.blogspot.com.

“Seeing is NOT Believing: Photo Ethics for Communicators”
Thursday, March 26, 2009
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Epicures
2319 Texas Ave S, College Station

Click here to register now. Final day to register is Monday, March 23

Admission is $16 for IABC members and $22 for nonmembers. (If you prepay using Google checkout, an extra dollar will be charged to cover the service fee.) You may pay online in advance (preferred), or with cash or check at the door. IABC/Brazos Valley will no longer invoice individuals, companies or Texas A&M University departments.

Making the News: The Rise of the Crowd

Today’s supercharged communication world is presenting many interesting challenges for communicators. The shrinking news corps coupled with the growth of social networks and new media tools has created a paradigm shift in how communicators plan to effectively share their messages.

Join us for our February professional development meeting as Texas Christian University Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Operations Tracy Syler-Jones shares her strategies and tools for communicating effectively in the world of new media.

As the associate vice chancellor and executive director of marketing and communication operations at Texas Christian University, Tracy Syler-Jones handles all day-to-day planning and implementation of TCU’s marketing and communication initiatives. She works with a team to develop communication strategies for each of the university’s schools and colleges, oversees planning and implementation of university advertising, guides the development and implementation of new media, and serves on the university’s administrative cabinet.

Syler-Jones received a BA in journalism with an emphasis in radio/television news from San Diego State University. Her experience is varied, from working with CBS to the YMCA in communication capacities. She maintains her community involvement by volunteering with organizations like the Fort Worth YMCA and the Kupferle Health Board.

“Making the News: The Rise of the Crowd”
Thursday, February 19, 2009
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Briarcrest Country Club - Bryan

Click here to register now. Final day to register is Monday, February 16.
Help spread the word about this event by downloading the flyer and sharing it with others.

Admission is $16 for IABC members and $22 for nonmembers. (If you prepay using Google checkout, an extra dollar will be charged to cover the service fee.) You may pay online in advance (preferred), or with cash or check at the door. IABC/Brazos Valley will no longer invoice individuals, companies or Texas A&M University departments.

Free workshop for Facebook newbies

Are you new to Facebook? Have an account that’s just sitting there because you’re not sure how to get started? Or are you trying to figure out if you should jump on the bandwagon and get a Facebook account too? Don’t worry, help is on the way!

Join us at noon on Tuesday, January 13 as Mays Business School webmaster Nicholas Roznovsky presents a painless introduction to Facebook for IABC/BV members who want to dip their toes into the depths of social networking. In addition to explaining the basics and sharing tips for getting the most out of your profile, he’ll also be answering your questions. If you want to bring your laptop, that’s great, but you don’t need one to participate.

The best part? This members-only event is free. All you need to do is RSVP online so we can save you a seat.

Click here to register to attend by January 12th!

Marketing your communication skills

How many hats do you wear?

Press releases, annual reports, speeches, feature articles. Communicators are often asked to move quickly and easily from one communication piece to another.

Join us for our first monthly professional development meeting of 2009 as independent/freelance business writer Phil Johnson talks to us about the variances and adaptations of researching and writing for multiple clients in multiple industries, while pointing out ways in which one writing genre relates to another.

Starting with a print-journalism education, and then moving into the marketing-communications arena at a major corporation, Phil adapted what had been largely a practical background in sportswriting into video-scriptwriting opportunities, then on to speechwriting and executive ghostwriting, magazine features, op-eds, case studies, and other business writing. A popular speaker at numerous communications venues, Phil will share his insights on writing for the 21st-century business audience.

Thursday, January 15, 2009
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Briarcrest Country Club - Bryan

Register today. Last day to register is Monday, January 12.

Admission is $16 for IABC members and $22 for nonmembers. (If you prepay using Google checkout, an extra dollar will be charged to cover the service fee.) You may pay online in advance (preferred), or with cash or check at the door. IABC/Brazos Valley will no longer invoice individuals, companies or Texas A&M University departments.