Spotlight: Year in Review
Hello and Happy New Year! I am excited about all SV-IABC has planned to better serve the needs of our membership and ensure future viability of the chapter. As we transition to 2008, I wanted to take this opportunity to provide you with an overview of key initiatives from last year:
- Expanded Board — Changed the chapter’s operational calendar to better synchronize with other IABC chapters and strategic partners, by having the board unanimously agree to extend their commitment 6 months (for a term of 18 months). Additionally, the board grew from 9 board members to 12, plus an additional 2 to replace mid-year departures and increased from 2 full-time Directors and 3-5 part-time supporters to 12 full-time Directors. This has added depth to the chapter’s leadership team and been a tremendous asset in succession planning.
- Increased Focus on Strategic Partnerships — Identified a VP of Partnership & Sponsorships, who established a formal partnership with PRSA to increase value without increasing registration fees and to create additional opportunities for networking across diverse communications disciplines. SV-IABC and PRSA cross-promoted a total of 10 events in 2007. Members of SV-IABC and PRSA received discounted registration fees that were 40% less than non-member fees. As a result, registration for IABC events increased significantly. Historically, SV-IABC averaged 30 registered attendees. In 2007, all events exceeded 50 attendees, with many drawing over 70 attendees. The mix of PRSA and IABC members varied by event, but on average, 25% of attendees were from PRSA.
- Hosted Events at Local Corporate Campuses — Provided attendees with opportunities to experience various company cultures and get a first hand view of corporate facilities. Participating companies included eBay, HP, Network Appliance, Symantec, Microsoft and Cisco. As a result of this initiative, 3 host companies became corporate IABC members in 2007 (eBay, Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard.)
- Launched Annual Volunteer Event for Non-Profits — Identified 7 non-profits to join almost 50 SV-IABC members at the Gift of Giving event, which provided community organizations with an opportunity to share their communication challenges while giving participants had an opportunity to demonstrate their communications talents. This event was extremely well received by all attendees.
- Re-vamped Student Chapter — Established a single student chapter that includes Santa Clara University and San Jose State. The Silicon Valley chapter will no longer support individual student chapters, but rather an overarching chapter that includes these (and potentially other) schools and then a student advisory board to recruit and market the association.
- Grew Corporate Memberships — Worked with IABC’s Membership Development Director to recruit corporate members including Cisco, eBay, Intuit, ROI Communications, Sun Microsystems, and Wordwright Communications. These 68 new corporate members represent 25% year-over-year growth, exceeding the chapter’s goal of obtaining 25 new members annually.
- Leveraged New Technologies — Migrated to a new online event management tool (Cvent) to provide additional functionality and better manage contact information. The chapter website was updated to not only increase relevance and usability, but also reflects the new Be Heard™ brand. The chapter newsletter received a facelift to make it easier to access content. Finally, the chapter migrated to a new merchant account, new online bank and a new accounting system, which tracks all sources of income and expenses in an itemized fashion to ease the annual audit process.
- Created Strategic Plan — Developed a five-year strategic plan (including critical success factors, key actions, measures and actions) to be used as a primary tool used to direct chapter activities and fiscal management.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to these many accomplishments. As a chapter, we have a lot to be proud of. I am looking forward to an action packed New Year!
Best regards,
Susan Karnstedt
SV-IABC President
susan@karnstedt.net
Recent Events
January 10
Communications as an Enabler of Organizational Transformation: In an increasingly global economy, companies must continually innovate and transform to maintain a competitive edge. In line with the rapid pace of today's work environment, communications is increasingly at the forefront of helping business leaders effectively manage change in their organizations. Download the presentation.
We had over 70 people in attendance — congratulations to the event organizers for making this event a great success!
Mark Your Calendar — Upcoming Events
February 4-7
Social Media for Internal Communications: How to engage employees, drive change and improve your bottom line using blogging, podcasting and the latest Web 2.0 technologies
February 14
Communication ROI: An exclusive look at Watson Wyatt’s study on the correlation between best-in-class communication and company performance. Included is a presentation on the six habits of highly effective communications organizations.
Six Years of Communication ROI Studies: What Top-Performing Companies Worldwide Have Taught Us About Communication Best Practices
In three major studies since 2003, Watson Wyatt has surveyed more than 750 companies to examine the relationship between an organization’s employee communication practices and its business performance. The survey responses - completed by human resources and communication leaders representing more then 12 million employees worldwide - tell us that top-performing organizations do things differently than their lower-performing peers.
This presentation will share the “Secrets of Top Performers.”
In this interactive presentation, audience members will have an opportunity to complete a brief effectiveness quiz to see how they measure up to the high performers. Watson Wyatt's expert speaker will identify the best practices that offer the greatest potential for increasing communication effectiveness. She will also report on the findings of the global 2007/2008 Communication ROI Study, Secrets of Top Performers: How Companies With Highly Effective Employee Communication Differentiate Themselves.
Presentation Highlights
- Learn the secrets of top performers
- Discover some secrets in the making
- Complete an individual effectiveness quiz
- Nine practices that lead to effective communication
Biography
Kathryn Yates is Watson Wyatt's Communication Global Practice Director. She has more than 20 years of experience in communication and operations management. Kathryn is accomplished in all aspects of employee communication and change management across various industries, with particular expertise in helping organizations develop strategies and programs to build strong, productive employee-employer relationships. At Watson Wyatt, Kathryn led the team that launched the ground-breaking Communication ROI Study which helps clients connect effective communication practices to financial results. She also led a global team in developing the firm's comprehensive change management methodology, now used internationally to help clients successfully implement change.
Kathryn has served Fortune 1000 clients in a number of industries including insurance, banking, retail, technology and manufacturing. Before joining Watson Wyatt, Kathryn managed an organization redesign and HR integration project for the largest telecommunications merger in Canada, and led the development of a website dedicated to real-time merger and acquisition management. She was also Vice President and General Manager of Canadian Operations for the world's largest disability insurer. In that position, she achieved 10 consecutive quarters of profit growth, continuously improving line and staff performance through operations reengineering, collaborative leadership, and change management.
Register here
March 13
Social media: Representatives from some top Bay Area companies will discuss how they're using social media as an internal and external communications tool.
April 10
Great places to work: Communicators from companies who made the great places to work list will talk about what it means to be a great place to work and what communications plays in making the list.
May 8
The Non-verbal Advantage: Please join author Carol Kinsey Gorman as she shares the research behind her new book. You'll be amazed at the insights you'll gain into what the body language of others is saying to you and how much you'll learn about your own nonverbal signals. And when you apply this new understanding to your professional relationships, you'll find that the nonverbal advantage becomes a key to business success!
IABC Research Foundation
The IABC Research Foundation has helped to advance the exciting field of business communications through its in-depth look at current issues in communications. This year, our chapter will be donating $2500 to help fund this year’s research agenda:
- The Human Element: Employee Communication Practices in Small to Medium-Sized Businesses (Tamara L. Gillis, EdD, ABC, from data collected by Insightrix Research Inc. — due out in 2nd Quarter 2008) — An overview of current and emerging successful employee communication practices in small businesses and an evaluation of their cost-effectiveness, financial and organizational impact.
- Employee Communications ROI — A look at how top business communicators measure the “bottom line” effectiveness of organizational communications.
- Generational Communication Differences Around the Globe — a study that will seek to identify trends in the way businesses are communicating with diverse age groups in industrialized countries and emerging economies around the world.
- Preparing/Managing Messages in Information-Overload Environments — a study identifying the best techniques for constructing messages sent to employees in information-overload environments and methods for managing the volume of these messages.
Chapter News
Now is a great time to join or re-join the Silicon Valley Chapter of IABC
February 2008 is a Worldwide Membership Month! This means that for all new or lapsed members who join or re-join IABC, we'll waive the application fee (US$40/CDN$46.40 for faxed/mailed/phoned enrollments; US$30/CDN$34.80 for Internet enrollments).
Please note: all applications must be “received” at the San Francisco Headquarters office during the month of February to qualify. Come join us!
Volunteers
Want to get more out of your IABC membership? Becoming involved will help you broaden your network, sharpen your communication skills, and have fun in the process. Currently we have a need for the following from now until the end of May, 2008:
- Survey Analyst: Use your analyzing skills to identify trends and make recommendations from the raw data of our annual membership survey. Reports to President. Time: a few hours in the April-May timeframe for the annual survey.
- Meeting Director: Put the faces to the names of your fellow members by checking in attendees at the monthly meeting and recruit other checkers. Reports to VP of Finance. Time: 30 minutes a month + recruiting time.
- Meeting Checker: Be the first friendly face that meeting attendees see by checking in attendees at the monthly meeting. Reports to Meeting Director. Time: 30 minutes a month; can be for just a few months at a time.
- Meeting Greeter: Significantly increase your network with an easy way to introduce yourself — by greeting attendees before the monthly meeting. Reports to the VP of Membership. Time: 30 minutes a month; can be for just a few months at a time.
- Accreditation Program Director: Assist your colleagues in their quest for professional growth by managing the accreditation program. Reports to Past President. Time: 5 hours a month.
- Judge: Get a first-hand look at communications Best Practices by judging communications award entries from other chapters. Reports to Judging Director. Time: 3 hours per event.
- Independents Roundtable Director: Showcase your managerial flair by managing the Independents Roundtable monthly program. Reports to VP of Programs and Professional Development. Time: 10 hours a month.
- Dining & Dialogue Director: Get to know your fellow members in a more intimate setting by managing the Dining & Dialogue program. Reports to VP of Programs and Professional Development. Time: 7 hours, 2 times a year.
- Newsletter Writer: Sharpen your pencil and write brilliant prose for the chapter’s monthly newsletter. At the same time, you’ll gain greater visibility among the membership. Reports to Communications Director. Time: 2 hours a month.
If you are interested, please contact Yvonne Thomson, VP of Volunteers, at ythomson@ebay.com or Deborah Hoard, Director of Volunteers, at dhoard@get-net-results.com.
Sponsorships
We accept sponsorships for our IABC events as a way to offset the costs of running the event and offer greater value to our members. The sponsorship rates are $750 for an exclusive event sponsorship, and $500 for a co-sponsor (maximum of two for any event.)
In exchange, we offer the following benefits to event sponsors:
- Sponsor logo and company description included in all event materials and on the registration site
- Mention in the event e-mail blast to our 600+ members
- Two event passes
- Thank you during the event opening
- Display of promotional materials (as appropriate)
The sponsorships are first come, first serve. We will usually accept only two sponsors for any event.
If you are interested in sponsoring an event or have any questions, please contact John Robertson, VP of Sponsorships at jrobertson@roico.com.
Feature Article
Podcasting Series: The New Conversation
Over the next few months I will be talking with communicators in various fields about applying new ways of thinking and new tools to corporate communications.
Laura Roman
SV-IABC Director of Communications
laura.roman@hp.com
Joel Postman: Web 2.0 in Corporate Communications
Biography
Joel Postman is EVP of Emerging Media for Eastwick Communications, a mid-sized Silicon Valley PR agency, and the principal of Socialized, a communications consultancy that helps businesses use social media for communications, marketing and public relations. Joel has nearly a decade of experience in executive and internal communications; he worked at Sun Microsystems and then Hewlett Packard Company. Joel is a recognized authority on corporate communications and social media.
You can contact Joel at: http://www.socializedpr.com/
Please see his link on Youtube.
Podcast information:
Music: Cjaks
Album: We Play Loud
Song: “Nightcrawler”
Visit Cjacks website
News from IABC National
Get Recognized! 2008 Gold Quill Awards: Call for Entries
Join your colleagues in recognizing the world’s best communication programs. The Gold Quill Awards program is the highest level of professional acknowledgement in business communication. Be part of the international best practices this annual competition represents.
Early-bird deadline: 5 February 2008; final deadline: 12 February 2008
Get complete entry details available in October at http://www.iabc.com/awards/gq.
Gold Quill Student Awards
The Gold Quill Student Awards recognize young talent, reward excellence and showcase some of the best communication work from college students around the world. Entering is a great way to start a portfolio, and the experience gained from entering an international competition looks great on a résumé. Any college or graduate student who does not have significant professional experience may enter.
Final deadline: 12 February 2008
Get complete entry details available in October at http://www.iabc.com/student.
Special Rates for Club Quarters Hotels for IABC Members
IABC has become a member of Club Quarters — a group of private hotels for the exclusive use of guests and employees of member companies. Club Quarters offer unique, user-friendly services for the business traveler in a club-like setting. Members pay the lowest rates for a quality hotel room in 13 prime locations.
Club Quarters are located in New York City, Boston, London, Chicago, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, San Francisco and Houston.
Low everyday rates start from US$99.
Special weekend and holiday period rates start from US$56.
Reservations and pricing are subject to availability.
Get complete details.
IABC Calendar
Conferences
For more information and registration details.
Teleseminars
For more information and registration details, visit www.iabc.com/education/teleseminars.htm.
Preparing for Your Accreditation Exam
31 January
Presenters: Jo Langham and Mark Estes, ABC
Silicon Valley Job Opportunities
Find these listings and more on http://jobs.iabc.com
- Sr. Corporate External Communications Manager GPS
Yahoo, Santa Clara, CA - Sr. Internal Corporate Communications Manager
Yahoo, Santa Clara, CA
Please email current job postings to me for upcoming newsletters; please be sure to include a direct contact name and email address with your posting.
Laura Roman, SV-IABC Director of Communications
laura.roman@hp.com
About the IABC Silicon Valley
For nearly three decades, the Silicon Valley Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (SV-IABC) has provided a professional network and learning community for hundreds of Bay Area communicators committed to delivering strategic, integrated communications. SV-IABC brings together a passionate group focused on improving organizational effectiveness and delivering measurable results. In an environment fueled by innovation and growth, our members represent diverse disciplines within communications. For more information visit: www.sv.iabc.com.