Byword

IABC/Tucson Chapter Newsletter – November 2006

In This Issue:

Looking for a previous issue? Visit the IABC Tucson Newsletter archive.

Holiday Fun with Fitz at the Fox
On December 6, take a break from the frenetic pace of the holiday season and enjoy a relaxing evening of mingling at our annual event with PRSA. This year’s mixer will be held at the fabulous Fox Tucson Theatre. Arizona Daily Star cartoonist and funnyman David Fitzsimmons will illustrate the foibles and faux pas of business communications and public relations of 2006. Theatre Executive Director Herb Stratford will show a short film about how volunteers polished this downtown gem for all to enjoy. Heavy appetizers, soda and water will be served. Beer and wine will be available at a cash bar.
 
Aid for Local Schoolchildren
During the event, we'll collect school supplies for Experience Corps, a group of retirees who volunteer to tutor elementary students who need help in reading and literacy. Here's a list of suggestions of things to donate:

  • Incentives/prizes for the students: novelty pencils, star/good job stickers, crayons, novelty erasers, lined beginning writing paper (two solid lines with broken line in between)
  • Materials for tutors: construction paper, colored paper, 8.5 x 11” card stock, 1/2- or 1” binders

When: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006
Where: Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St.
Cost: $15, $25 for non-members
RSVP: By Monday, December 4 to PRSA of Southern Arizona. RSVP online at the PRSA website! When you register, be sure to select December 6 IABC/PRSA Holida Buzz, Fox Theater as the event you wish to attend.

How Tech Savvy Are You?
In February 2007, Todd Hattori, IABC's incoming chairman, will take our chapter into the future with a talk on how current technology is changing the business communications profession. He'll help launch our year-long celebration of 25 years of service to the profession. Todd wants to tailor his talk on emerging technology for business communications to our members’ needs. Watch for an upcoming e-mail, in the form of a survey, asking how he can meet your needs and interests. Be sure to respond, and then attend our chapter’s 25th birthday celebration.

New Chapter Logo Shows Off Sunny Tucson
Congratulations to former trial member Julie Glaser Ray for winning our chapter logo contest. Her sunny take on Tucson earned her $255, which she promptly used to become a full-fledged member. Watch for this new symbol of service to business communications professionals in the coming months. And thanks to all who entered. As one board member said, "Let me say how proud I am to be associated with a chapter that decided to have a new logo."

Cactus Quill Awards on the Horizon
Show off your talent and best business communications practices in the Sixth Annual Cactus Quill Awards! Watch your e-mail box in December for the call for entries. Details also will be posted on www.iabctucson.com

Our March meeting will be devoted to learning how to put together the work plan - a valuable exercise for any project, even if you don't enter the competition. Martha Retallick and Juleen Eichinger are spearheading the awards competition with help from members Linda Kern, Geneva Escobedo, and Julie Glaser Ray. If you want to help with the competition, please contact Martha at www.westernskycommunications.com. Your help would be most welcome.

Hone Your Leadership Skills
Every year IABC runs a Leadership Institute for current and future chapter board members. It's rich with IABC culture, but also chock full of tips for developing your own leadership skills in such areas as strategic planning, working with volunteers, membership recruitment and event planning.

Any IABC member can attend, but the Tucson chapter will help pay the way of any member who commits to one year of chapter board service. If you're interested in attending the San Diego institute on January 25 through 27, contact Elena Acoba, 742-1979 or acoba@dakotacom.net.

Become a Sponsor
We are looking for companies and individuals to support the Cactus Quill Awards and the chapter’s 25th anniversary celebration through sponsorships and in-kind services. These are great opportunities to get your name in front of the business community with two events that reach beyond IABC/Tucson members. If you're interested in learning about how you can become a sponsor, contact Elena Acoba at acoba@dakotacom.net.

Special Member Recruitment Promotion
Starting November 1 and running through December 31, IABC members who recruit new members get three FREE months of membership, for up to a full year.There are three simple rules:

  1. The new member must identify the referring member (first and last name and chapter) at the same time the dues check or credit card number is submitted
  2. The new member must not have been an IABC member since November 2005
  3. There is a four person recruitment limit. (If a member recruits more than four new members, he/she will be entered into a drawing to receive a free 500 Club Membership, i.e., a lifetime international IABC membership)

Pull out your list of contacts and invite your colleagues to join IABC. It’s a win-win proposition: reduced membership fees for you and IABC’s professional development benefits for both you and the new member.

IABC Membership Dues Increase Effective January 1
Beginning in 2007, renewing members of the Tucson chapter will be charged $255 for international, chapter, and regional dues combined. This reflects a small increase from the 2006 dues rate.
  • New or rejoining members will be charged $295, which reflects a $40 one-time registration fee.
  • The new annual membership dues for students will be $43.
  • Retired member dues have been raised $1 (ouch!) to $43.
Want to delay paying more? Renew by December 31 and get an additional year’s membership at the current rate!

Welcome New Members
Four communications professionals have joined the Tucson chapter of IABC during the past couple of months:

  • Laura Fairbanks
  • Lisa Reed
  • Roderick Gray
  • Joe Dolan
We all look forward to meeting these new members at upcoming chapter events!

IABC Tucson
Post Office Box 43262
Tucson, Arizona 85733-3262