IABC Updates

We are just days away from the end of the year and it is great to look back and reflect on what the IABC Wellington chapter has achieved this year.

We now have more than 70 members, making us one of the fastest growing IABC chapter’s globally and showing the need for a professional association that caters for the diversity inherent to our profession.

In Wellington, our membership includes public sector communicators, private consultants, internal communications specialists and external media managers, among others.

This year, we also achieved our commitment to host a quality professional development event every couple of months. We are putting together our 2008 programme -- a mix of social gatherings, business networking events and formal professional development sessions. Once again the focus will be on leveraging our international connections.

In February we will be holding our AGM. If you are interested in volunteering on the board or would like more information about getting more involved in our chapter, please feel free to contact me 04 494 0522, or email: lucy.sanderson-gammon@dia.govt.nz. Volunteering is an excellent way to grow professionally and gain a reputation as a professional leader.

In the meantime, I want to wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

We're looking forward to catching up with you in 2008.

Best regards
Lucy Sanderson-Gammon
President, IABC Wellington

Member Profile - Department of Internal Affairs Communications Team

This month we profile one of our larger corporate members, the Department of Internal Affairs.

The Department’s Strategic Communications’ Manager Colin Feslier talks about how IABC membership is helping the DIA team to become better communicators on the IABC Wellington website.

Social Media: What the experts had to say

In November, IABC Wellington hosted a half-day session with leading international and New Zealand experts on the hot topic of web-based social media.

The session included presentations from

• Todd Hattori (US-based communications expert and world Chair of IABC),
• Alex Manchester, (Melcrum internal communications company in Australia); and
• Colin Jackson, New Zealand independent technology consultant and writer.

Thanks again to our event sponsor Melcrum, our chapter principal sponsor Media Monitors for their support, and it was great to see Matt Carter from our online sponsor Breathe Communications.

You can read more about the event on the IABC Wellington website.

IABC Knowledge Centre Year-end Sale

For a limited time, you can save 30% on all Knowledge Centre resources. Use coupon code YS200730.

You need to send your order before 31 December 2007. Visit the IABC Wellington website for more information:

www.iabcwellington.co.nz/2007/12/21/iabc-knowledge-centre-year-end-sale/

December is ‘Member-get-Member’ month

The popular Member-Get-A-Member promotion is running until 31 December 2007. 

Members who recruit a new member get three free months of membership for each new member they bring in…up to a full year at no charge (rules below).

All chapter and region membership volunteers are eligible for the promotion.

 

There are three rules –

1. The new member must identify the referring member in one of the following ways:

• For mailed, faxed, and online enrollments: Write the referring member's first and last name and chapter (or region member-at-large) on the application form
• For phoned enrollments: Mention the referring member's first and last name and chapter (or region member-at-large)

In other words, the referring member's name must be provided at the same time the check or credit card number is received to be eligible.

2. The new member must not have been an IABC member since November 1, 2006.
3. The limit for this promotion is four members (a full year of membership at no charge).

More info: http://www.iabc.com/about/membership/mgam.htm

 

2008 International Conference in New York

The 2008 International Conference will be held in New York on 22–25 June at the New York Hilton.

Choose from 70 sessions that focus on trends and best practices in change management, communication leadership, employee communication, marketing/branding, public relations, skills development and strategy and counsel.

Seth Godin, best-selling author and change agent, will close the conference with a dynamic and thought-provoking general session.

The preliminary conference programme and registration information will be online later this month at http://www.iabc.com/ic/ic2008.htm

Get Recognised! 2008 Gold Quill Awards: Call For Entries

The Gold Quill Awards programme is the highest level of professional acknowledgement in business communication.

Deadlines:

• Early-bird: 5 February 2008;
• final deadline: 12 February 2008.

Complete entry details are available at http://www.iabc.com/awards/gq.