Communiqué

The Association for Women in Communications

What’s inside:

www.womcom.org

November-December 2010

One organization embracing ALL communications disciplines

More than 70 individual members are congratulated for recruiting at least one new member during the campaign.

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Trade shows, a marketing tool

Introducing Freelancer February

Free webinar on women & investing

Membership campaign 2010

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Results and prize announcements

We asked you to recruit professionals in your network to join AWC and grow your professional organization and you did! Now the results are in! AWC grew by 158 new members during the past three months. Welcome to all new members, and thank you to veteran members who shared their AWC experience with others to recruit these new members.

Onto the prizesThe AWC Springfield, Ill., Chapter wins top honors, with

52 percent growth, in the professional chapter category, and garners one complimentary registration for the 2011 National Conference, Oct. 13-15, in Tulsa, Okla. In the student chapter arena, Purdue University and Syracuse University student chap-ters tied for the top prize with an amazing 127 percent growth for each chapter! They each receive one complimentary student registration to the 2011 conference.

The AWC Lubbock, Texas, and the AWC Topeka, Kans., profes-sional chapters, each with a 22 percent increase, tied for sec-ond place in the professional chapter category, thereby winning one complimentary professional membership for a VIP, speaker or outstanding volunteer. The AWC Austin Chapter came in an extremely close third place with a 21 percent increase, but as the largest AWC chapter that means AWC Austin is more than 200 members strong! The chapter won $75 in AWC merchandise.

In the student chapter category, University of Colorado, with a 63 percent increase, took second place and won $50 of AWC merchandise, and Drury University, with a 50 percent increase, took third place and won one free AWC webinar.

More than 70 individual members are congratulated for recruiting at least one new member during the campaign. Unfor-tunately, no one recruited the minimum of five new executive, professional and entrepreneur members in order to win one of the prizes for individual recruitment accomplishment.

Congratulations to our winners. Keep sharing your AWC expe-riences with your colleagues, so your professional organization can continue to grow.

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When thinking about the proper marketing and public relations moves that will give your busi-ness products and services the exposure needed to compete in any industry, you naturally are drawn to the tradeshow as a venue. Communicat-

ing to the public could not be accomplished over a wider range of diverse groups than through a tradeshow presence.

An appearance at a tradeshow or business expo is critical to a company’s professional image and allows you the opportunity to spark the attention of many different diverse groups and many different business types that you may not have already had the opportunity to reach. Tradeshows and business expos are held all over the world and companies understand that by presenting themselves correctly and professionally at these events can make the difference in your clientele base and the number of new customers you develop.

There are several ways that a company can find the perfect tradeshow or expo that would fit its particular business genre, by being a part of an organization specifically for your field, such as STC (Society for Technical Communications), if you are a technical writer, or NAR (National Association of Realtors), if you are a real estate agent. These affiliations will give you access and information for upcoming events that will be beneficial for your company to attend.

Your booth There are many varieties of booth styles and

complexities of setups available for tradeshow and expo presence. Depending on your target audi-ence, the number of expected attendees, and your marketing budget, you should choose your booth set up accordingly. The more established company will use a booth designed specifically with corpo-

Trade show … the way to go!

By Stephanie Strickland

New business makes an appearance.

rate logos and colors built into the table, walls and signage on the booth. This is costly, but, as long as the company doesn’t change its brand, this booth will last for many years. For smaller companies that are trying to keep overhead low, they can rent generic booths that can be personalized with their company brochures, banners and fliers and add a table skirt with the company colors.

Your collateral pieces It is equally important that when attending a

tradeshow or a business expo you research the number of attendees from the prior year so you can gauge how much traffic will visit your booth. The proper amount of collateral items will be needed to adequately distribute your information to the attendees. At the very least, always provide busi-ness cards, brochures and samples of your products and services. Look to invest in a giveaway item that will keep your company in the potential customer’s mind, such as a keychain, pen or sports bottle with your company contact information.

Get out there and get your company in the public eye, learn as you go, take notes of what works and what doesn’t. Make adjustments as you go and your company will be properly, and professionally, exposed in no time!

AWC member Stephanie Strickland (pen name: Steve Marie) is a mother of four, and grandmother of one, who spent her childhood growing up in Queensbridge projects and migrated as an adult to North Carolina, where she currently resides. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in higher education. Being a lover of all things literary, both fictional and non-fictional, Marie became a technical writer and has been for more than 15 years. Her writing creden-tials include staff and freelance, as well as CEO of her own technical writing company, Exactly Write Marketing Solutions. Marie began developing her writing skills at a very young age by reading the dictionary and doing crossword puzzles.

(Copyright 2010. Exactly Write Marketing Solutions. www.exactlywritems.com)

Member inspiration

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With a new year approaching, people want to assess where they have been, and more importantly where they are going. Money is often in the top three priorities, if not the top! So join AWC’s first 2011 webinar, on Jan. 25th, Women & Investing, with Kristy Vetter. Prior to becoming a speaker, writer and consultant, Vetter worked 13 years for American Century Service, Inc. helping investors understand and take action on their investments. This webinar is free to members who register. Registration opens in January.

Our free gift to you! Jan. 25th

AWC is unveiling its Freelance February Webinars Series, packed with trends, tips and business knowledge from successful freelancers in our midst. Whether you are contemplating start-ing a freelance career, or you are an experienced freelancer, you’re sure to get some new ideas and insights from one or all four of these webinars.

No, You May NOT Pick My Brain: Drawing the Line Between Free and Paid is the opening webinar on Feb. 1, with Sheila Scarborough. This webinar will address the advantages (yes, there are a few) and disadvantages of sometimes working for free, how to tell the difference between preda-tory brain-picking and friendly questioning, and why social media and the “culture of free” tend to cause us to be overly casual about the value of our work.

On Feb. 8, hear how Specializing & Niche Focus WORK, with Kay Bell, who takes what she enjoys and turns it into something she can do for a living, including a book deal. She’ll talk about how

defining your niche can be more rewarding than trying to be all things to all people.

On Feb. 15, learn about Surprising Places to Sell Your Work, with Amy Lemen. She says there are countless opportunities off the beaten path to find your clientele.

The Feb. 22 webinar topic and speaker will be announced soon.

After you have learned from these amazingly suc-cessful freelance businesswomen, on March 1, you’ll have an opportunity to join an open discussion tele-conference on freelance and business issues facili-tated by several successful entrepreneurs.

So, mark your calendar now. We expect the webi-nars to occur at 12:00 noon EST, but look for more details within the next few weeks, both on www.womcom.org and in email communications coming to your In-Box.

Don’t just put yourself out there without learning first from the pros!

Freelance February Webinar SeriesMark your calendars

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Bald is beautifulAWC Northern New Jersey Chapter member Lisa

Fahoury of Fahoury Ink recently got the haircut of a lifetime. She participated in the St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event in West Orange, NJ, to demonstrate solidarity for children who lose their hair while undergo-ing cancer treatment. Fahoury and her husband, Raymond, were both first-time “shavees,” together rais-ing more than $6,000 for pediatric cancer research.

Careers Over Coffee & Cocktails in AustinAWC Austin Chapter has found a format worth repeating, with its monthly “Careers Over Coffee and

Cocktails,” which provides members and non-members alike an opportunity to converse about their careers. Capitalizing on the natural instinct of AWC’s members to communicate, the Austin chapter has fostered a relaxed setting where topics like career advice, opportunities, trends and technologies and changes in the industry can be shared and explored. After all, if you ever had a personal eureka moment after a great conversation, you are familiar with the power of exchanging ideas.

Topeka’s silent auction helps digital labAWC Topeka Chapter members took time to enjoy some holiday cheer and to give back to a university

many of them attended as collegiates. At its Night of Media Merriment, on Dec. 2, the chapter raised funds through a silent auction to help the Washburn University Mass Media Department create a digital editing lab for the student media office.

Des Moines celebrates with white elephantsAWC Des Moines Chapter members are bringing “white elephants” to their holiday party this month.

What is a white elephant gift, you ask? Traditionally, a white elephant is something lying around the house that you don’t want (some horridly ugly item that someone gave you as a gift, or some other item unwanted for some reason), but something that someone else may want.

South Florida Chapter hosts Social Chats on radioSocial Chats AWCSF is an Internet radio show broadcasting from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm every Monday. To

listen, please tune in at www.socialchats.net.The show is hosted by Tonya Scholz, past chapter president and Women of the Year chair, and Dana

Lawrence, chapter communications chair, and features board members, chapter members, and local indus-try leaders in discussions about what’s trending on social networks for communicators in South Florida and across the nation.

Springfield, Ill, fundraises in DecemberThe Springfield, Ill, Chapter’s Dec. 15th Holiday Party, is also called an “envelope party” for the AWC

College Scholarship Fund. Members are asked to bring a donation to the scholarship fund in an envelop, as their way of paying it forward for collegiates.

Chapter Connections

Raymond and Lisa (right) Fahoury, sport new look, to benefit charity.

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Hats offJke marketing & communications recently earned Green Plus Certification from the Institute for

Sustainable Development. Owner and principal Jenny Engle worked for more than a year updat-ing, upgrading and enhancing her business plans and operations in People, Planet and Performance categories in order to earn the designation. She also worked with staff at the institute to modify and refine criteria for sole proprietors and home-operated small businesses.

Her website, www.jkecommunications.com, is among the first in Pennsylvania to be hosted by a green company.

Kayla Gregory has accepted a new position as assistant director of Alumni Relations for the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago, Ill., where she manages online communications and assists with event planning. Formerly Kayla was a marketing associate at Purdue University Libraries in West Lafayette, Ind., and a member of the Greater Lafayette Chapter.

Journalists in the information technology industry have named Charlene Blohm, president of C. Blohm & Associates, Inc., as a Top Tech Communicator in PRSourceCode’s 2010 survey. In addi-tion, C. Blohm & Associates, a public relations firm serving the education industry, was named a runner-up among the top small PR firms in the IT industry. This is the third consecutive year that Blohm and her agency have been honored.

Kate Perrin, CEO of PRofessional Solutions, LLC, the Washington, DC area’s only public relations temporary staffing agency, joined the Board of Directors of DC affiliate of Dress for Success. She chaired the Search Committee which selected the new Dress for Success DC executive director.

Margo Berman has been promoted to full professor of advertising at Florida International University. A new edition of her first book, “Street-Smart Advertising: How to Win the Battle of the Buzz,” was released in August of 2010. It is now available in bookstore chains around the world. This book and her second book, “The Brains Behind Great Ad Campaigns: Creative Collaboration between Copywriters and Art Directors,” are now available as e-books.

Lynn Osborne, president of AMI (Ad Management Insights), is consulting on an advertising agency search for a major utility located in the Southeast. Seven semi-finalist agencies have been selected. Finalists will likely be announced in November and the winning agency selected before the end of the year.

Denise Baker of the AWC New Mexico Chapter presented a morning and afternoon break-out ses-sion titled, “Establishing and Keeping Your Boundaries in the Workplace” on Sept. 16 at a Women’s Leadership Forum organized by the Associated Builders and Contractors. The forum was organized around the theme, “Strategies for Women in Male-Dominated Industries,” and featured two keynote speakers: former New Mexico Congresswoman Heather Wilson and Sarah Thomas, first female foot-ball official for National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I.

Tips to reduce accounting costs for businessesDespite a current demand for more detailed reports during tax time, companies can still keep their CPA

costs down by practicing better bookkeeping and following a few simple guidelines. To mitigate rising CPA costs, start by keeping clean, easily understood records, according to the article in Americanexpress.com. This can be achieved through small and thoughtful internal adjustments, better record keeping and recon-ciling your balance throughout the year. Being prepared to hand over meticulous and accurate books can make a difference to your bottom line.

When selecting a CPA, choose to work with a local company that will provide the same service but charge less than a big firm. If your company’s board or bank does not require an annual audit, consider doing a review instead, which can save about half as much as an audit. Reserve the time to shop around to compare rates and see what different companies are offering.

Finally, consider consulting your CPA throughout the year or hiring a CPA to work exclusively for you. If you do not take the time to consider this, you may never know which one is the best choice for your company.

For more on this article.

Purdue Chapter soarsThe AWC Purdue Student Chapter is off to

its best start in years! Utilizing social media, members have consistently reached out to communications professionals asking them to speak to students and generate members’ interests in interning, career development and tracking communications trends. Since July, the

Purdue Chapter has integrated social media into its marketing strategy, built a website, con-

tacted and secured the Intern Queen, Lauren Berger, to speak at Purdue and raised member interest and attendance by 50 percent!

“In the four years I’ve been a part of AWC, I have never seen us receive such national recognition, have outstanding commitment from members and secure a wide variety of professional guest speakers as we have this year,” said chapter president Sarah Wartman.

Interview attire tipsIn October, the AWC

Oakland University Student Chapter presented a fashion show

called, “So You Think You Can Dress.” The focus of the event was

to show students what to wear and what to avoid during the interview pro-

cess. They had a “mock interview” session where communication faculty “interviewed”

students. One interview depicted an appropriate way to act, and the other interview showed what to avoid. The chapter had 125 students attend the event!

Rutgers Student Chapter has active autumnThe Rutgers Student Chapter had an opportunity to be up close with

Martha Stewart, when they visited the Martha Stewart Show for the club’s fall semester trip. Stewart taught the studio audience how to start a bee farm, and prepared a recipe for sea bass.

The chapter also spread holiday cheer by making holiday decorations for the adolescent ward of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

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The 2010-2011 executive board of the Purdue Chapter.

Student Chapter Connections

“In the four

years I’ve been a part of AWC, I have

never seen us receive such national recognition, have

outstanding commitment from members and secure a wide variety of professional guest

speakers as we have this year.”

Sarah Wartman

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The end of 2010 is rapidly approaching and there is no better time to make a donation to the AWC Matrix Foundation. Your generous gift supports its mission of promoting the advancement of women in the communications profession by providing funds for education, research and publications in cooperation with AWC. There are several ways you can contribute:

• Be traditional! A financial gift to the General Fund is always a good choice, and it is easy when you do it securely, online using your credit card at the AWC Matrix Foundation website. Or mail your tax-deductible donation (check or money order) directly to AWC Matrix Foundation at 400 North Washington Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314.

• Be studious! Donate to the Matrix Foundation Barbara Ericksen Memorial Fund. Help send a deserving AWC student member to the AWC National Conference in October 2011.

• Invest in excellence! Donate to the AWC Matrix Foundation Certification Fund. Help defray program administrative costs, keep application fees affordable and enable the program’s growth.

• Recognize a role model! Donate to the Edith Wortman First Amendment Award Fund. Help the AWC Matrix Foundation recognize a heroine who has made significant contributions in supporting the First Amendment and First Amendment rights.

The AWC Matrix Foundation survives solely on donations — cash, grants, endowments and other assets, and in-kind contributions — to support these programs and enable the Foundation’s mission.

Remember that your contribution to the foundation is tax-deductible for the year in which it is are made.

The names of individuals or organizations who donate to the general fund or to a specific project fund in a given year will be acknowledged on the AWC Matrix Foundation website.

Whatever way you choose to give, we thank you for supporting the AWC Matrix Foundation this year. If you have questions about donations, please e-mail donations@matrixfoundation.us.

Remember AWC Matrix Foundation as the year ends

Amazon.com benefits you, and AWC — a winning scenario

Do your holiday shopping on Amazon.com via the link on the AWC home page, and you will benefit from great variety of present ideas, as well as great prices. A small percentage of your purchases is returned to your professional association, AWC, so we can better serve you with education and information that can help you in your career and business. So go to Amazon.com now to purchase your holiday surprises!

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Your AWC National Board of Directors Liaisons

Each AWC professional chapter has a friend on the AWC National Board who makes periodic calls and responds to chapter questions and concerns. Please note, some chapter liaisons may have changed.

Austin Prof. ChapterJane Baxter LynnBloomington/Normal Prof. ChapterMaria HenneberryDallas Prof. ChapterJane Baxter LynnDes Moines Prof. ChapterLinda StrellufDetroit Prof. ChapterSue VoylesIndependent MembersMelanie Trunkey CampKansas City Prof. ChapterSheryl LiddleLafayette Prof. ChapterSheryl LiddleLubbock Prof. ChapterBillie RodelyNew Mexico Prof. ChapterMelanie Trunkey CampN. New Jersey Prof. ChapterCarla CapizziMadison Prof. ChapterJudy Arent-MorencyOklahoma City Prof. ChapterBillie RodelyRochester Prof. ChapterSheryl LiddleSan Antonio Prof. ChapterJane Baxter LynnSanta Barbara Prof. ChapterWhitney MasonSeattle Prof. ChapterWhitney MasonS.E. Wisconsin Prof. ChapterJudy Arent-MorencySouth Florida Prof. ChapterMelanie Trunkey CampSpringfield, IL, Prof. ChapterMaria HenneberrySpringfield, MO, Prof. ChapterWendy MorlanStudent ChaptersLinda StrellufTopeka Prof. ChapterWendy MorlanTulsa Prof. ChapterJudy Arent-MorencyWashington, D.C., Prof. ChapterCarla Capizzi

Perry never knew what he was getting himself into at 4:00 a.m. when he got the call from his dear friend Sam.

Samantha Kent is a suc-cessful entrepreneur who seemingly has everything going for her; a successful business woman, attrac-tive, with a take-charge attitude. She succeeds at everything she attempts to do except for one thing, romantic relationships. Sam bounces from one tumultuous relationship to another until she is finally pushed to the limit. No one would have known that in an instant she would be motivated to do the unthinkable. But the unthinkable turns out to be the least of her indiscretions.

With the help of her best friend, Perry, the two spend an agonizing, heart-filled morning trying to decide how to get out of a mess Sam found herself in, and cleverly included Perry, a position neither one of them could have predicted would end in the cold calculating way it did.

In this up and down roller coaster ride of friendship, love, betrayal and murder, “Unraveled” will keep you on the edge wondering what else Sam has done and what she will do next?

Steve Marie (Stephanie Strickland) is a writer who uses her lifelong love of words, cynical sense of humor, and New York style bluntness to tell her stories. She leaves you excited and anticipating what her characters will do next. Definitely a cap-tivating new literary fiction author who hits you in the gut with reality in her debut novel “Unraveled,” which is featured on a variety of blogs and websites.

AWC member celebrates first book

Buy your holiday gifts at Amazon

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Welcome New Members September-October 2010

Austin, TXAimee Irene FinneyAlicia SabaCassandra SanchezEmily L FieldingJayme CudworthKendra CrispinMargarita C. RoehrichtMeredith WoodsMisty GibbsJaime ShimkusJoan L CunninghamJodi ParkJoy F MillerRachel WenzlerSara Boone HartleySally BageStacey Nash

Bloomington/Normal ILNia Pirnat

Dallas, TXAllison StricklandSamantha Danielle Mitchell

Detroit, MIAmanda BenjaminJulia MartinAnita-Joyce BarnesDiana Marie JacokesNancy Anne Danko

Lafayette, INHeidi Leigh DavisRyan Gibboney

Lubbock, TXAngie WennerlindBeth Gina PhillipsConstance BarbianSerena Renae KleinstubKendall Alyse RompfLeslie Ann CranfordApril Breanne MossKaley DanielAmanda ReevesVangelia PerrymanSuzanna Cisnores Martinez

Madison, WIHeather GjerdeNancy Richardson

New Mexico, NMChristine Glidden

Northern New Jersey, NJAnne Marie Infosino

Cynthia Burns DarlingLisa BatchelderYolanda FinleyNancy Dreyfus

Oklahoma City Amy R MitchellAshley FitzpatrickDena Kristin DrabekJill Marie SmithMarilyn Victoria King

Santa Barbara, CARachael Gabrielle Samuels

SE Wisconsin, WIAnne Grace MattenheimerCindy Ann Lorentzen

Seattle, WALaura AbshireLauren AppaAngela Dawn SantarossaDana C Van Nest

South Florida, FL Margaret Rose DePassDemi PietchellNancy Helen Brown

Springfield, ILMary B SchaeferBobbie Jo HillCourtney WestlakeJennifer AndersonHolly FowlerKaren Valerie CarlsonTisha Rooney

Springfield, MOKimberly Hartmayer

Topeka, KSLily Pankratz

Tulsa, OKAbigail J. BobrowBeverly Bailey, Ph.D.Chelsea Lynn GroganCherokee Rose ScreechowlHannah Jane JacksonMelissa Dawn BakerShelley Cook CampbellClaire A. JohnsonDonita QuesnelRainey Talbot

Washington DCLauren Ruth Tucker

IndependentAlexis ColladoAndrea YoungChristine CaswellKaren Lee McGraa, Ph.D.Jillian RuggiereMarling NunezAmanda Marie GentileAndi Van GoghDawn Michelle BoyerGina Natasha WillisHolly Kathryn LatimerJaime PizzellaJennifer Lynn KingJill MatusiakMarcie StoddardPamela Lutgen-Sandvik, Ph.D.Sara RoedlSarah HillShelly OlsanSusan Barney Jones

Cleveland State UniversitySara Ashley Muro

Cornell UniversityJacqueline Michelle HomuthJaimee Lee KerberJaimee Lynn PaviaSarah Saulsbury

Drury UniversityAaron Joseph RobisonAmanda Lee CombsBrooke Elaine HickmanHeather Ann LanningHolly Ann PlunkettJaclyn K CantrellJaime Lynn FarquharKaitlyn Laura SchwersKatlyn Ann ColbyKristen Lancaster KeithPaige Stephanie Erickson GrimshawRebecca Lynn Anderson

La Salle UniversityCaitlin Honan

Oakland UniversityAbby Katherine LeetAshley FransoMatthew J ParryHeidi Noelle Emery

Purdue UniversityAlejandra Isabel SierraBlake Kathleen ReifersDi CaoFrances Patricia Pietrucha

Lauren M LapkaMargaret Brett IrvinMarisa Lauren StruppMegan CooperiderMeghan Marie DennyMeredith Anne BarackEmily Grace KurtzRebekah Leanne PiotrowiczStephanie Catherine DomagalskiTaylor Christine PulliamYiren Qiao

Syracuse University Aileen M CoughlinAlyssa Erin GreenbergAmanda Elizabeth SmithArianna Simone WrightBarbara Towner PrendergastBlake Erin RosenbergBrittany Leigh HirstBrittany R MillerCody Elizabeth MarickDarian Diamond HerringtonElisabeth Ahna HessJade Marie KraszewskiJessica Ann AlessandraJordan Nicole SpectorJulie Katharine KosinKatherine Gail BergerKelsey Jeannette PerkinsKylie Jill HaymakerMegan Elizabeth MillerCaitlin Elizabeth MurphyJeanne Kathleen CloydJessica Christine SchreindlKaity WongPi-Jung ChenStephanie Andrea SmithNicole RobertsRachael Christine GrannellSarah Elizabeth LoMedicoStephanie B MachadoStephanie Rose JacobsTina Yeung

University of Colorado Amanda Loraine AdkinsBrittany Michelle Moore

University of TexasKathryn Elizabeth RoseRosemell OpeeValarie Hobbs

Valparaiso UniversityLauren Zomparelli

Happy Holidays!

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The Association for Women in Communications is a professional organization that champions the advancement of women across all communications disciplines by recognizing excellence, promoting leadership and positioning its members at the forefront of the evolving communications era.

AWC Mission Statement

Editor: Denise Rocha – e-mail: drocha@womcom.org Designer: Wendy Morlan – e-mail: wendy.morlan@redlogic.com Photography credit: Maggie J. Szymanek, Uncommon Photography, www.uncommonphotography.com, 703-618-6362

Communiqué is published by the Association for Women in Communications. Send ideas, photos, and Hats Off information to drocha@womcom.org. All past issues of Communiqué are archived on www.womcom.org in the Members Only section.

AWC contacts at National Headquarters AWC Executive Director – Pam Valenzuela, CAE: info@womcom.org Communications and Programs Manager – Denise Rocha: drocha@womcom.org Membership Assistant – Monique Pareira: members@womcom.org

3337 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314Ph: 703-370-7436 Fax: 703-342-4311

Website: www.womcom.org

Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion of the Association for Women in Communications.

The AWC National Headquarters is managed by ASCENT Management, LLC, an association management company.

The Association for Women in Communications

Wishing you the most wonderful holiday

season!

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