The Flip Side of Stress: Make It Work to Your Advantage

Join Danny Ballard, professor and interim associate head and chair of the Division of Health Education at Texas A&M University, at our monthly professional development meeting on August 28 as she discusses managing stress effectively.

Your story is due, the photo shoot was rained out, and the launch of the new website has been delayed due to a computer glitch…Wouldn’t it be great if, instead of losing sleep because of work-related stress, you could be energized by it? Dr. Ballard will reveal the benefits of stress and how to manage it effectively in your life and work.

RSVP (and even pre-pay) today. Looking for even more information? Download the flyer!

Turnaround Management: Breakfast with Todd Hattori, ABC

For IABC/BV Senior Communicators Only

Do you hold the title of manager, director or a comparable position? Or have you been a communicator for 10 years or more? Then join us for a dutch treat breakfast as Todd Hattori, ABC, immediate past chair of IABC International, leads a discussion on Turnaround Management in a Difficult Environment.

One of the first priorities in turnaround management is ensuring that business and marketing strategies are aligned with marketplace realities. In Texas that definitely includes cultural and generational changes. Todd will also share insights from a Cafe2Go podcast he co-hosted with IABC President Julie Freeman, ABC, APR, last September on results of a Latin American marketing survey.

Thursday, July 17, 7-8:30 a.m.
Blue Baker Bakery & Cafe
800 University Drive East
Across from the Hilton

Respond by Thursday, July 10
Space limited to 20—reserve soon!

Download the flyer.

“Big E” brand: Walking through life with ten eyes

Join Todd Hattori, immediate past chair of IABC International, at our next monthly professional development meeting on July 17 as he discusses ethics in your personal brand. How can you proactively approach ethics for yourself and your organization? During this interactive session, we will discuss:

• Looking to the IABC code of ethics as a business ethics guide.
• Establishing your distinguishing ethics advisor brand value.
• Gaining confidence in living your ethics advisory brand.
• Implementing models and resources.

RSVP (and even pre-pay) today. Looking for even more information? Download the flyer!

Fame and Shame: The Lighter Side of News

We all love to poke fun at gaffes in the media. Come hear two of the Brazos Valley’s broadcast gurus take the lead in a professional development event at IABC/Brazos Valley.

Mike Wright, general manager of KBTX Media, and Ben Downs, vice president and general manager of Bryan Broadcasting Corporation, will take us behind-the scenes and talk about lessons learned. But don’t think it’s going to be all serious — be prepared to laugh at the fame and shame.

Download the PDF flyer to learn more or to share with others.

Admission at the door is $15 for IABC members and $20 for nonmembers. You can also pay in advance with a credit card by using the Google Checkout link found on the RSVP page, but please note that there is an additional $1/person surcharge. Also, please take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the cancellation and refund policy.

RSVP today.

Photos from Viva! Brazos Bravo

Remember when we said what happens at Brazos Bravo stays in Brazos Bravo?

We lied.

Enjoy this photo gallery from Brazos Bravo 2008. If you where there, we hope it brings back fun memories. If you missed it, we hope you feel insanely jealous and try extra hard to attend next year.

Bribes to have your photo removed will be donated to the IABC Research Foundation.

2008 Southern Region Conference

It’s not too early to start making your professional development plans for the Fall. This year the IABC Southern Region Conference is being held in beautiful Colorado. Want to know more? Watch the video below!

Hook the Media

As a communicator, the task of getting your organization’s news to key media outlets is a very important task. But it’s only half the battle.

What do reporters and journalists at local and national print and broadcast outlets look for when making decisions on what to report on? What catches their eye, and what materials or methods are more likely to help land your news in a print publication or newscast?

Join Anne Deuermeyer, account executive with Business Wire, at our meeting on May 15 as she shares helpful hints that both local and national news reporters have passed on to her. She will discuss:

• Tips for writing a press release that will stand out to both traditional and new media (print/broadcast v. online search engines)
• Best practices for getting your news to the media (wire services - the big bang)
• Best methods for following up with individual reporters

Anne Deuermeyer joined Business Wire’s Houston office as an account executive in December 2005. She consults daily with public relations, investor relations, marketing and communications professionals to assist them in getting their organization’s news to the media and the financial and investment communities. Deuermeyer graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in business from Texas A&M University in 2005.

Don’t forget: after you RSVP, come back and pay in advance using your credit card!

Last Chance for Brazos Bravo

Don’t forget that Viva! Brazos Bravo is this week. We’ve extended registration until Tuesday, just for you procrastinators. Sign up now for an evening showcasing the best communications in the Brazos Valley… and Elvis! You can even save time at check-in by paying in advance by credit card. At the door we’ll be taking cash or checks only, so take advantage of the convenience while you can.

Press Release 2.0 follow-up

Matt Herzberger gave a great talk today about press releases in the context of online social media. If you missed it, or if what you heard has you interested in learning more, he kindly posted his slides and a ton of links. Just visit Matt Herzberger’s blog.

Viva, Brazos Bravo!

RSVP now for the Viva, Brazos Bravo! celebration, from 6 to 9 p.m. April 17 at the University Club on the 11th floor of Rudder Tower on the Texas A&M University campus.

Gather with colleagues and friends to enjoy the lights of College Station and meet special guest Elvis Presley. Don’t worry, we don’t think Elvis lives round here… but we do love his communication style and his white jumpsuits. And he’ll be there to serenade our supper, just like his famous Vegas dinner shows.

Viva is IABC/Brazos Valley’s 22nd annual Brazos Bravo awards. Judges from across the nation have examined local work in everything from podcasts and Web sites to magazines, brochures and communication campaigns. Come celebrate the first-class communications work of Brazos Valley writers, editors, designers, marketers, photographers, Web gurus and business communicators.

Please take a moment to RSVP. Note that this year you can visit the same page to pay online by credit card! However, please be aware that paying and RSVPing are two completely separate processes. Please RSVP so that we have an accurate head count.