by Shannon Frederick, ABC, IABC/Tulsa President

Ever experience déjà vu?

It’s happened to me several times in the past few weeks as some of my colleagues, each individually, have sought out advice. Their question is: what would you recommend for a great professional development opportunity?

While this should be easy to answer, it’s actually not.

As the new president of IABC/Tulsa, my first tendency is to guide them to attend one of our professional development luncheons, which keep getting better and better each month.

Then I think about the upcoming OkieSMart event. It always seems to receive rave reviews from Tulsa-area communications professionals.

But IABC’s Southern Region Conference is also coming up. It’s going to be held in the tourist-drawing city of New Orleans and features a star-studded line up of well-known speakers – like Steve Crescenzo and Shel Holz.

And we can’t discount the smaller conferences hosted by IABC International. After all, I personally attended last fall’s Employee Communications Conference in Chicago and it was fabulous.

The granddaddy of them all, of course, is the annual IABC World Conference. The next one is already scheduled for June 24-27, so it’s time to start lobbying for the budget and making plans attend.

You can probably see why I’m having a hard time providing guidance on professional development.

Or maybe, I’m not. It seems I actually did just offer some good advice to all of you.

Take it and run.

Join fellow communicators at the third annual okieSMart social media conference coming to Tulsa Community College’s Center for Creativity Aug. 4. This year’s event is presented by IABC/Tulsa, PRSA Tulsa and Tulsa Press Club. Tulsa Press Club is hosting a reception for all attendees after the conference.

Here are the details:
Aug. 4, 2011
TCC Center for Creativity, 909 S. Boston, Tulsa
Seminar: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Reception to follow at Tulsa Press Club, 415 S. Boston

Featured speakers:

• Geno Church, Brains on Fire – All attendees receive the Brains on Fire book as part of the registration fee.
• Cathy Taylor, MediaPost’s Social Media Insider

Registration rates:
Members (IABC/Tulsa, PRSA Tulsa, Tulsa Press Club): $40
Non-members: $50
Students: $20

Social networks:
Follow: www.twitter.com/okiesmart
Friend us on Facebook

Please register by visiting https://prsatulsa.com/meet-reg1.php?id=20. (Note: IABC/Tulsa members should choose the “non member” option in the PRSA system, but will be able to receive the member fee as part of the registration process.)

IABC/Tulsa member Tracy Harlow 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.

Tracy recently joined the Walmart Global Associate Communications team as a senior director helping to lead communications with the company’s more than two million associates around the world. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oklahoma State University and held leadership roles in communications at Williams and ConocoPhillips before joining Walmart. Tracy is a past president of the Tulsa Chapter, and received the Communications Professional of the Year award in 2004. She has more than 20 IABC quill and PRSA professional awards for her numerous contributions to the profession.

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

Each month, IABC/Tulsa features one of its members in the “Meet A Member” section of the newsletter. This month, we learn more about Rick Ayre, who has held just about every position on the chapter’s board of directors at some point or another. Today, he quietly supports IABC/Tulsa behind-the-scenes, helping with the upkeep of our website.  

IABC/Tulsa: How long have you been with IABC?
Rick: I have been a member of IABC for 12 years. All with IABC/Tulsa.

IABC/Tulsa: Tell us about the work you’ve done on the Board.
Rick: I have served on the IABC/Tulsa board in several roles – marketing/communications, professional development and president. I also have had the pleasure of serving on several bronze quill committees. I have supported the district and then the region websites. 

IABC/Tulsa: What is the best meeting/seminar/conference you have ever attended?
Rick: I have attended a couple regional conferences and one international conference. Although both are exceptional opportunities to learn from communications experts, the international conference was by far the best. The quality of speakers was very good, but the opportunity to meet other communication professionals from around the world and learn from their expertise really added to the experience.

IABC/Tulsa: How has IABC played a part in your professional development?
Rick: IABC has provided leadership opportunities I might not otherwise have had. Its publications, research foundation, conferences and chapter meetings give many opportunities to continue to learn.

IABC/Tulsa: Ok, so you clearly love IABC. Now tell us why you love your job – the one that pays the bills.
Rick: I’m the manager of Electronic Communications at ONEOK, which is great for me. Throughout my career I have always been in a role that has let me take advantage of technology and new trends to assist in achieving communication initiatives. 

IABC/Tulsa: When you’re not working, what do you like to do?
Rick: When not working I will usually have a camera in my hands. I enjoy photographing about anything – landscapes, still life and plants and flowers in Tana’s, my wife, gardens. Lately I have been focusing on details.

IABC/Tulsa: What’s your favorite restaurant?
Rick: My favorite place to eat is at home. Tana is a terrific cook and is always trying a new recipe. When we do go out we will meet up with Leon and Cindy Bolen at El Fogon in Owasso. Good Mexican food and a spicy green salsa that is addicting. 

IABC/Tulsa: Favorite musical artist?
Rick: I like variety – jazz, piano and classic rock – so I do not have a favorite artist. I will go with Four Play, David Lanz and Led Zeppelin. 

IABC/Tulsa: Favorite movie?
Rick: Can a favorite be three movies? If so, then the Bourne series is my favorite. I watch them whenever on TV. 

IABC/Tulsa: The future of the field of communications…
Rick: …is not that different than 10, 20 or 50 years ago. People want information. They want it in a timely manner. They want it to be open and honest. The tools we use may be different, but the basic premise is the same.

What will change and become ever more challenging will be meeting expectations for information immediacy. 

IABC/Tulsa: What advice would you give to communications professionals who are just entering the workforce?
Rick: Never stop learning. No matter how long you are in this business, there will always be new trends, technologies and research to understand and apply.

And love what you do. If you don’t, find another field.

by Steve Higgins, IABC/Tulsa President

Actor Rainn Wilson (a.k.a. “Dwight Schrute”) recently dispatched the following tweet: “I’m not on Facebook” is the new “I don’t even own a TV.”

Apparently, in Wilson’s mind, the only people left who could possibly resist the allure of Facebook are the smug, the superior and the self-consciously hip. They are individualists who hope to elevate themselves above the riff raff by rejecting what everyone else is into.

These are the same people who still listen to vinyl records, shoot 35mm film and read books made of dead trees.

People, I suppose, like me.

I’m no Luddite. I can set alarm clocks in hotel rooms. I know my way around the interwebs. I even tweet occasionally. Facebook, though, just doesn’t grab me.

So I’m not sure it’s fair of Wilson to disparage people as snobs just because they’re not active on Facebook.

There’s no doubt social media is a proverbial “game changer,” not just in communication, but in politics, business and society in general. It’s hard to argue with the power of something that brings together 500 million people.

Our third annual OkieSMart event in August will explore how communication professionals can tap into that power. There’s a convincing business case to be made for Facebook as the single most efficient, targeted communication channel out there.

Still, there are people who simply aren’t interested in spending their precious personal time online. Do these people deserve to be marginalized, ridiculed and insulted?

Feel free to comment on our IABC Tulsa Facebook page.

I may or may not see it. Especially if you post on Thursday night, when “The Office” comes on.

See, I do own a TV.

In February 2008, ONEOK launched its ONE in Energy advertising campaign to increase brand awareness, enhance employee morale and support its recruiting efforts. The campaign has evolved over the last three years, and the campaign for 2011 is no exception.

The first year of the campaign, ONEOK introduced the company. The 2009 and 2010 campaigns explained its business. The 2011 campaign showcases the company’s personality by featuring its employees as spokespeople.

Join IABC/Tulsa in July and learn more about the ONE in Energy campaign as well as the video competition ONEOK launched to pick its new television stars for its 2011 campaign.  

Megan Washbourne, manager of corporate communications for ONEOK, joined the company in 2002. Prior to that, she worked in the insurance and non-profit industries. Megan earned a bachelor’s in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Oklahoma. She is a previous recipient of IABC/Tulsa’s John Hartman award and is a past president of the chapter. Megan currently serves on the board of the Tulsa Press Club and also volunteers her time with Tulsa Sports Charities.

Rick Ayre, manager of electronic communications for ONEOK, has been with the company for more than 30 years in a variety of roles within corporate communications. Rick earned a bachelor’s degree in photography from Rochester Institute of Technology and a master’s in communications with an emphasis in organizational communications from Wichita State University. He is also a past president of IABC/Tulsa.

Be sure to reserve your seat today. We look forward to seeing you there.

 It’s time to grab some business cards and join IABC/Tulsa for a Happy Hour Thursday, July 14 at Fassler Hall. Networking begins at 5:30 p.m. Register now, spread the word and bring your friends.

Please RVSP through IABC/Tulsa’s registration system. Attendees may purchase their drinks at the bar. Come and enjoy!

The 2011-12 board slate for IABC/Tulsa was approved at the chapter’s June meeting. Beginning next month, the new board will be:
President: Shannon Frederick
Past President: Steve Higgins
VP, Finance: Tom Droege
VP, Professional Development: Phillip Harris and Rachel Payne
VP, Communications: Jennifer Pigeon
VP, Membership: Summer Austin and Stephanie Cole
VP, Hospitality: Lucia O’Connor
VP, Special Projects: Dena Wind
Member at Large: Megan Lewis
Secretary: Amethyst Cavallaro
VP, Awards: Angela Byers

Congratulations to this team of communicators, and a big “thank you” to the outgoing board for all of their work!

Join fellow communicators at the third annual OkieSMart social media conference coming to Tulsa Community College’s Center for Creativity Aug. 4. This year’s event is presented by IABC/Tulsa, PRSA Tulsa and Tulsa Press Club. Tulsa Press Club is hosting a reception for all attendees after the conference.

Here are the details:

Featured speakers:

• Geno Church, Brains on Fire – All attendees receive the Brains on Fire book as part of the registration fee.
• Cathy Taylor, MediaPost’s Social Media Insider

Registration rates:
Members (IABC/Tulsa, PRSA Tulsa, Tulsa Press Club): $40
Non-members: $50
Students: $20

Social networks: Follow: www.twitter.com/okiesmart or Friend us on Facebook

More information and the link to register is coming soon.