IABC Wellington October newsletter

Upcoming news and events from IABC Wellington

In this issue:

• Social media: the next decade
• IABC Wellington Christmas event for your calendars
• September event Art of Strategy proves popular
• Gold Quill Award entries now open
• Thinking about joining IABC? Discounted rates for new members in November
• Communications Advisor opportunity

Social media: the next decade

Join us for an exciting event exploring the future of social media and how we communications professionals should keep up with David Farrar, writer of Kiwiblog.co.nz, commentator and social media aficionado. In this session, David will share tips for using social media effectively; explore social media platforms of the future; and provide studies of organisations that have achieved great social media success, as well as massive blunders– and the lessons for us.

When David started Kiwiblog, it was one of New Zealand’s first established blogs, and it continues to remain current and a leader of the NZ blogosphere, using new digital platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, You Tube and Four Square – a location based service. He is a regular commentator on four radio shows and occasional TV commentator. He’s also a director of Curia Market Research, a specialist polling and public policy research company. David is also a former Vice-President of Internet New Zealand, chairs their policy advisory group and is a director of the .nz Domain Name Commission which regulates the .nz name space.

Date: Tuesday 2 November 2010
Time: 5.15pm
Location: Turnbull House, Bowen Street
Cost: $20 for IABC members. $50 for non-members, who should pay at the door.

Drinks and nibbles will be served before and after the panel discussion, with time for networking after the discussion.

Register for this exclusive event on the IABC website.

Registrations close at 5pm, Monday 1 November 2010.

IABC Wellington Christmas event for your calendars

The Wellington IABC Christmas event will be on held on Wednesday 1st December and we’ve secured Sean Plunket to speak again – so book this date in your calendar now! Last year Sean gave us a hilarious “year in review” speech, and this year he will really be able to let loose without the shackles of Radio New Zealand keeping him zip!

More details will be available shortly, but best you get this date in your calendars now.

September event Art of Strategy proves popular

IABC Wellington’s Art of Strategy session in September received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from members. More than 83 per cent of the 40 + attendees rated the event ‘excellent’ or ‘very good'.

Tracey Bridges (Senate Communications), Chris Wikaira (Busby, Ramshaw Grice)and John Walsh (Acumen Republic) each defined what strategy meant and then applied strategy to solve public relations problems, using a series of case studies.

The common thread in all the presentations was that good strategy means good insight. After all the research and analysis has been done and the real problem has been defined, what strategy, what treatment of the problem will really make a difference to solving it?

Strategy is expressed simply, in few words, that come from a great deal of thought. Strategy comes from the nexus point between analysis and creativity to produce an approach that changes something. Good strategy often means being courageous as communicators take a stand and advocate the organisation does the right thing.

Calling yourself ’strategic’ means challenging yourself to really examine what ’strategic' means and asking yourself whether you have strategic skills or are committed to developing them. As Tracey said a good strategist must be logical, curious, restless and imaginative.

The Art of Strategy audience certainly got value for money from this event.

* For more of what Tracey Bridges said, read her blog column here.
 

Gold Quill Award entries now open

Entries are now open for the prestigious Gold Quill Awards, which recognise quality communication in all its forms. Every communication project or campaign is a potential IABC Gold Quill Award-winner, no matter how small or seemingly ordinary. Even everyday communication can have a spark of excellence.

With only 100 or so projects recognised each year from thousands of international entries, entering the Gold Quill Awards is an opportunity for your work to be judged against the very best. Wellington communicators who have taken home a Gold Quills in the past few years include Ideas Shop for their work with Potatoes New Zealand, the Department of Labour, Ministry of Social Development and Land Transport New Zealand.

Previous winner and IABC board member Amanda Woodbridge is available to share advice and lessons as you write your entry. You can contact Amanda at amanda@ideasshop.co.nz.

To find out more see the IABC website Gold Quill Awards .

Thinking about joining IABC? Discounted rates for new members in November

If you’re thinking about joining IABC, or you’re a lapsed member, then November is the month to do so to get a great discount, saving $US40 (or about $74).

November is our local membership month, where we waive the US$40 membership application fee for new and lapsed members (note this doesn’t apply to renewing members). To take advantage of this, payment must be received within the month, so don’t wait until the last few days of November!

IABC membership offers you access to great Wellington IABC events, as well as forums, podcasts, live-streamed events with international gurus, plus a range of resources and case studies available at www.iabc.com.

There are several options for payment – including in full, or buy four instalments over four months.

Want to know more? Please contact our membership chair, Amanda Woodbridge at amanda@ideasshop.co.nz.

Communications Advisor opportunity

Senate Communications is looking for a contractor to help a client in a communications advisor role. They need someone extremely energetic, resilient and smart who will do well building effective relationships with a wide range of people, be great at listening to people’s needs and concerns, yet still keep a big programme of work ticking along efficiently. The person will need to be a clean writer, good with the news media, comfortable with social media and online channels, and not afraid of working on tricky issues.

It’s likely to be a four or five day a week job, for at least the next year. Times and terms will be discussed with the right person.

If this sounds like you, please call Tracey Bridges for a chat (04 499 6536), or send your vital details tom tracey@senatecomunications.co.nz, by Friday 22 October.

Please pass this on to anyone else you think might be interested.