Broaden your communications perspective with judging

One of the benefits of IABC is the opportunity to judge communications entries from chapters around the country, and one such opportunity has arrived!

Who: All members of IABC/Brazos Valley

What: Are invited to help judge entries from the Nashville chapter. The categories include
*Marketing, self-promotion, direct mail
*Multimedia, Web/Internet
*Writing
*Audiovisual, video production/VNR and audio
*Benefits and employee communication
*Newsletter
*Media relations

When: Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. It’s a come-and-go session, so even if you can only give an hour of your time, that will be a big help and much appreciated. (Please RSVP to to let us know to expect you.)

Where: Margarita Rocks, 1601 Texas Ave. S. in College Station in the Culpepper Plaza shopping area

Why: IABC chapters around the country judge our communications entries for Brazos Bravo, and it’s time for us to give back. Judging can help you broaden your perspective about what makes for great communications, and what better way to learn than to see communications in action? In addition, learning how to judge IABC awards programs will give you insights into how to submit an award-winning entry yourself. It’s a win-win, for you and for our chapter. You’ll get to network with your fellow chapter members, and we’ll also throw in some appetizers to sweeten the deal.

Each entry must be judged twice, so we hope for a good turnout. If you’ve never judged before or haven’t judged in a while, or judge all the time for IABC, we’ll tell you what you need to know before you begin. This is a great opportunity to see what other communicators are doing, how they do what they do, best practices, etc. Who knows what ideas might spark for you?

So please join us after work Aug. 5 at Margarita Rocks. We will provide some appetizers if you’ll provide a little bit of your time and a lot of your expertise. Please e-mail Awards chair Lesley Kriewald for more information.

Click here to RSVP!

See you there!

Caught doing good

Our member Ann Kellett is making a donation to U.S. troops overseas at the B/CS Jaycees donation center on 26 July 2008. The Eagle, photographer Gabriel Chmielewski.

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!

Jobs: Assistant Director

The Mays Business School MBA Program is looking for an Assistant Director of MBA Admissions. The are looking for someone to serve as the primary recruiter for the MBA Programs. Among other things, this position is responsible for creating and implementing recruiting and marketing strategies, and managing applications for admission.

The position will remain open until filled. To apply for this position or for more information, go to http://tamujobs.tamu.edu and apply for NOV #081188.

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.

Texas A&M Has Gone Gold

Did you know that IABC offers corporate memberships? All you need to qualify are at least 5 members from the same company, and you too can reap the benefits of discounted membership and other resources. It turns out that Texas A&M had a few more than 5 members, and this year it became an official corporate member! We want to thank the following members, who jumped through some extra bureaucratic hoops to renew their memberships under the corporate banner. Our "Gold Rush" resulted in 35 membership renewals. We also want to give a big round of applause to the 13 new members in the list who joined IABC-BV as a result of the corporate membership drive. Finally, Kelli Levey deserves a huge thanks for leading the initiative that made this possible.

Kelli Levey
Ann Kellett
Tura King
Summer Morgan
Tim Schnettler
Gene Charleton
Pam Wiley
Chrystal Houston
Lori Ciano-Colvin
Sommer Hamilton
Kathy DiSanto
Leanne South
Sondra White
Rachel Dohmann
Terri Parker
Lindsay Gasek
Rhonda Gray
Peggy Samson
Susan Wolff
Tiffany Inbody
John Holder
J.P. Beato
Bob Beals
Angela Clendenin
Katherine Teel
Doug Starr
Sharon McCord
Marilyn Grossman
Brenda Chaloupka
Jon Carpenter
Deana Totzke
Nancy Sawtelle
Charlene Clark
Jean Wulfson
Scot Walker
Stephanie Jeter
Olga West
Kim Miller
Diane McDonald
Brian Wright
Stacey Rugh
Carol Trono
Patricia Speed
Janet Frye
Nicholas Roznovsky
Krystan Coates-Porter
Cathy Cashio
Scott Maier

As corporate members, these individuals get a 10% discount on membership, a 10% discount to IABC’s annual International Conference, and a 10% discount on IABC knowledge resources such as research reports, books, and manuals. If you think you qualify for corporate membership, visit the IABC website for more information How to Start the IABC Corporate Package Process.

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.

JOB: Communications Director - City of Bryan

The City of Bryan has an opening for a communications director, who will be responsible for originating concepts, strategies, events and programs that contribute to accomplishing the goals and objectives of the city council, city manager and other city departments by improving awareness and understanding of the City of Bryan, its programs and the work of its city council and staff.

The communications director will handle a broad set of duties, including, but not limited to: media and community relations; a variety of written communications; basic graphic and Web design; and supervising the city’s television station.

To apply, you must submit a City of Bryan employment application online. To apply and / or to view a complete job description, please visit www.bryantxjobs.com and select "Search Postings," or for more information, call 979-209-5060.

The City of Bryan is an Equal Opportunity Employer.