by Steve Higgins, IABC/Tulsa President

During a fun, long weekend in Chicago recently, I spent some quality time with an old friend who happens to be one of the most respected and accomplished communication scholars in the country, Dr. Steve Jones of the University of Illinois-Chicago.

A pioneer in the study of the Internet and online communities, Steve nonetheless declared himself a skeptic when it comes to the influence of social media.

After all, he pointed out, only 6 percent of the U.S. adult population is on Twitter, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. How influential can a medium be when it only reaches a small fraction of the general public?

Maybe he’s got a point. In our headlong rush to embrace – and make others embrace – this exciting new communication channel, we may well be overestimating its reach and impact.
It’s an intriguing, provocative point of view. For the past few years, we’ve been talking about almost nothing but social media. Because many of us have been so immersed in it, it’s quite possible we’ve just assumed everyone else is, too.

Make no mistake, the evidence of social media’s power is everywhere. Recent events in the Middle East are just one example.

Fortunately, my friend and I spent much more time talking about March Madness, da Bears, music, travel, etc., than the reach of social media. But his comments stuck with me.

Perhaps as we devise effective communication strategies for our organizations, we should make social media like Twitter a key component – just as long as we don’t overlook that other 94 percent.

The Tulsa chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is seeking entries for it 2011 Silver Link Awards. Visit PRSA Tulsa’s website to learn more. Entry deadline has been extented to Friday, April 15.

Mark your calendars now! IABC President Julie Freeman will visit Tulsa from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 18 for our monthly IABC/Tulsa meeting. This is an incredible opportunity for members and guests to hear from our organization’s international leader. Formal invitations will be sent in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Each month, IABC/Tulsa features one of its members in the “Meet A Member” section of the newsletter. In this issue, we learn more about Charlotte Guest, manager of Marketing and PR for OSU Medical Center.

IABC/Tulsa: It must be interesting working at a hospital. Tell us why you do what you do.
Charlotte: I love helping people. We, at OSUMC, help people get well and stay well. My job enables me to see that happen each day. I enjoy managing the communication that lets others know the wonderful things our medical center does for our patients, their families and our community.

IABC/Tulsa: How long have you been a member of IABC?
Charlotte: I was a member for about 10 years, many years ago – and I just re-joined. It’s great to be back as a new member.

IABC/Tulsa: What is the best meeting/seminar/conference you have ever attended?
Charlotte: I remember attending a national conference years ago in Houston. The speakers were from all over the country and were so inspiring.

IABC/Tulsa: How has IABC played a part in your professional development?
Charlotte: The Tulsa chapter has the most wonderful members – respected communicators I enjoy seeing each month. I like to learn from others. Being able to bounce ideas off members is rewarding and helpful. Also, this past year, the speakers were outstanding. I learned something helpful at each meeting.

IABC/Tulsa: When you’re not working at the hospital, what do you like to do?
Charlotte: Mostly, I love time at home with my family. My awesome husband of 21 years and I enjoy attending our three children’s many sports events. My family is my greatest joy. I’m also part of a non-profit women’s ministry, Captivating Oklahoma (check out our facebook page) and love sharing with other women about that. I also enjoy oil painting and playing tennis.

IABC/Tulsa: Sounds like you’re a busy woman. Where’s your favorite spot for some R&R?
Charlotte: Definitely the beach. I’m pretty partial to Mexico. Our family also loves Big Cedar Lodge.

IABC/Tulsa: The future of the field of communications…
Charlotte: …is only as good as its communicators. Although technology will constantly change and evolve, it still takes a person to initiate a message.

IABC/Tulsa: What advice would you give to communications professionals who are just entering the workforce?
Charlotte: Love what you do. Don’t settle for “just a job.” Learn from others and find a mentor. Network often. Keep up with technology yet remember that a hand-written thank you note still goes a long way. Also…separate work from family and down time. Start each day knowing that, (whether at home or at work) how you communicate makes a big difference.

Wednesday, March 16
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tei Kei’s
1616 South Utica Avenue
(918) 382-7777

The business community is notoriously inept at expressing appreciation, from recognizing employees to thanking clients and colleagues. Yet, there are a myriad of ways to express your appreciation both as an individual and as an organization.

At our IABC/Tulsa March meeting, Bobby Lehew will talk about the atypical ways most people (and businesses) express their appreciation and teach us the subtle (and not-so-subtle) art of saying ‘thank you’ with style! We’ll discuss best practices as it relates to the art of appreciation and learn a few new tips on how to express thanks both professionally and personally.

Lehew, known in many circles as “the king of swag,” is a 20-year veteran in the $16 billion dollar promotional products industry. He’s been recognized three years in a row as one of the Inc. 5000’s fastest growing private companies in the United States. He’s also a “40 under 40” honoree and heralded on the hot list in the ASI industry as someone who is shaking up the market with new and innovative approaches.

Be sure to reserve your seat today – and be prepared for some great ideas and some serious swag!

We look forward to seeing you there.

by Steve Higgins, IABC/Tulsa President

What’s this about IABC/Tulsa winning some CMAs in Nashville?

Well, all I can say is you should have seen the look on Carrie Underwood’s face when Brad Paisley opened the envelope and read our names.

OK, couldn’t resist a corny joke there. But we really did win some CMAs in Nashville. IABC Chapter Management Awards, that is (not Country Music Association).

Tom Droege, our chapter treasurer, and I were surprised and elated to accept the Small Chapter of the Year award on behalf of IABC/Tulsa, in addition to awards of merit in the categories of Professional Development, Membership Marketing and Communication.

And I was truly shocked to hear my name called when they gave out the IABC Chapter Leader of the Year.

“Chapter Leader of the Year?” I don’t know about that. I do know that good things are happening at IABC/Tulsa, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our executive board, and the involvement and loyalty of our members.

Shannon Frederick deserves a lot of credit for compiling and submitting our Chapter Management Award entries, with strong contributions from Ginger Homan and Dena Wind.

Ultimately, though, these awards belong to you, our members, who have helped our chapter swim against the tide by growing and prospering during the recent economic downturn.

Rest assured, the executive board has every intention of keeping the momentum going, with some excellent programs and events in the works for this year.

As always, thanks for your support of our chapter. And congratulations on your CMAs. Y’all.

Mark your calendars now for the April 20 IABC/Tulsa meeting, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dallas/IABC member Angie McCoy will visit Tulsa to talk about a leader’s role in a strategic communications plan. Angie just delivered this presentation to communicators in the Lone Star State, so visit the Dallas chapter’s website to get a preview.

by Tom Droege, IABC/Tulsa VP of Finance

When I signed up for the 2011 IABC Leadership Institute, I already knew what to expect. I envisioned a sea of beleaguered business communicators wearing giant lanyards, chugging gallons of coffee to stay awake as a series of speakers struggled to get their Power Point presentations to display properly. You know, one Dilbert moment after another.

Turns out I was wrong, except for the lanyards and coffee. I had no idea of the scope of IABC until I went to the seminar in Nashville in February and met people from all over the world.  By noon on the first day I had chatted with professional communicators from Cisco Systems in California, Verizon in New York and a major law firm in Colorado.

I later met people who practice our line of work in such far-flung places as Johannesburg, South Africa and Newfoundland, Canada. The “I” in IABC became obvious at the conference in Nashville as the foreign accents clashed with the southern drawl of more local folks. It was a good sample of the some 15,000 people from more than 80 countries that belong to IABC.

Then there were the break-out sessions. Unless break-dancing is involved, that term usually conjures images of uptight people in a circle of chairs watching the session leader carefully write on a white board. Not in Nashville. Get people out of the cubicle farm for a day or two and it’s like business communicators gone wild! The afternoon sessions were refreshingly fun and useful as we shared ideas for common challenges like chapter board succession plans, member recruitment and finances.  I even walked away with a Music City guitar pick.

By cocktail time, we were all brothers and sisters in communication. IABC/Tulsa President Steve Higgins and I missed out on the Southern Region Reception and crashed the Canadian happy hour. We later regretted that when we saw our fellow Southern Region members wearing purple and gold Mardi Gras beads as they expounded about the free Hurricanes. Turns out the 2011 IABC Southern Region Conference will be held in New Orleans from Oct. 12-14. Who’s in?

IABC/Tulsa Member Shannon Frederick has earned IABC’s Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) designation.

IABC’s accreditation process measures the strategic abilities and technical skills of a communicator. In order to become accredited, a candidate must demonstrate the ability to plan, direct, implement and evaluate a broad range of communication programs in practical, real-life situations. The process consists of rigorous evaluation that identifies and recognizes highly qualified, well-rounded communicators through a review of their portfolio of work, and through written and oral examinations. Candidates who meet the requirements of the process earn the ABC designation.

Shannon, who is director of Global Associate Communications for Walmart, serves on the Board of Directors for our Tulsa chapter. This past October, she received the Leon Bolen Chapter Service Award for her extraordinary commitment to supporting IABC/Tulsa. Shannon is also slated to speak at the IABC World Conference in San Diego this June.

To learn more about accreditation, visit www.iabc.com/abc.

You may have heard that IABC is responding to member research by offering members six free web seminars throughout 2011, the first of which took place on January 19. Each session will be archived on the website after it takes place, so that members can access them at their convenience. Visit IABC online to learn more about upcoming sessions.

If you’re a member, be sure to take advantage of this added membership benefit!