IABC/Arkansas is in the process of collecting silent auction items.  By donating an item, you’ll be making a contribution that will directly benefit the Arkansas Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Proceeds raised through the IABC/Arkansas Bronze Quill Awards silent auction are used to support and promote continuing education and outreach efforts to benefit organization members as well as college-level communications students throughout Arkansas.

You know you have something other people want: artwork, services, gift certificates, hotel stays, food,  jewelry, event tickets, and more. Look around and see what you have. If it’s not junk, then fill out the form below and send it to us!

Bronze Quill Awards Silent Auction Donor Form

The early and late entry deadlines for the 2010 Bronze Quill Awards have been extended!

Entries received by noon on Friday, August 27, will be accepted at the early entry price of $30 for members and $45 for non-members. Make checks payable to IABC/Arkansas.

Late entries will be accepted until noon on Wednesday, Sept. 1, with an additional $15 per entry.

Thank you to everyone who has already sent in your entries. You are to be commended for setting the pace for this year’s awards.

More information on the Bronze Quill Awards is available here.

Start thinking cool thoughts and mark your calendars:

Christmas Party

Dec. 15, 5:30-7:30

Trio’s

You may have noticed that the magazine published by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Life, has undergone quite a few changes, including the naming of a new executive editor: our August speaker, Kane Webb.

Webb, who was a mainstay on the editorial page at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, had departed the newspaper to teach but has returned to assume this new role. In addition to his position at  Arkansas Life magazine, Webb is also the editorial director of niche publications for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and teaches journalism and writing at Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock.  A veteran Arkansas journalist for a quarter-century, Webb is a Little Rock native and graduate of the University of Missouri.

Webb began his career as a sportswriter, first for the Arkansas Democrat and later for the Arkansas Gazette, before being hired in 1991 by Arkansas Business as its associate editor. He wrote many of the cover stories that led to Arkansas Business being named in 1992 by the Association of Area Business Publications as the best local business journal in America. Webb was later editor of Arkansas Business. Between his various writing and editing assignments in Arkansas, he has also done stints in Minneapolis and New Orleans.

Join us as Kane Webb shares his vision for Arkansas Life and his plans for other Arkansas Democrat-Gazette niche publications:

11:45 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 27
Little Rock Club

Members: $25
Non-Members: $30

RSVP here.

Save time at the meeting and pay in advance using your credit card.
Members	Guests

What makes Arkansas the Natural State? Is it the Ozarks? The Delta? Our lakes and streams? Perhaps it’s something as basic as our people and their down-home hospitality. In truth, no single thing makes Arkansas the Natural State.

Likewise, we know that no one skill makes for great communication. Because of that, the Bronze Quill Awards seeks entries in the area of design, writing, and photography. There are multiple categories, so you can submit multiple entries. Just remember, it’s the Natural State of things that only those entered will win.

Naturally, you can’t win unless you enter! Entries must be received by noon on Friday, Aug. 27. Late entries will be accepted until noon on Wednesday, Sept. 1. Entry fees are $30 for members and $45 for non-members. Late entries must be accompanied by an additional $15 per entry. Make checks payable to IABC/Arkansas.

Click here to download the Bronze Quill call for entries, with all award categories and criteria.

We will accept on-line entries again this year, with payment accepted through PayPal. Click here to enter on-line.

The Bronze Quill awards ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010, at the Acxiom Corporate Office in downtown Little Rock. Tickets for the event will be $30. Stay tuned for more information!

IABC/Arkansas members and guests were treated to a very informative and enjoyable IABC/Arkansas Summer Camp 2010 on June 25. The popular summer R&R destination known as the Region’s Bank conference facility was near capacity as the crowd considered the rhetorical question, “Social Media or Social Mania?”

An A-list of presenters weighed in on social media topics, beginning with John Andrews and Brad Lawless from Collective Bias. John and Brad did their level best to dispel many of the myths regarding the efficacy of social media, such as the much-used, tried-and-untrue “Let’s set up a Facebook page and never use it!” concept. On the other hand, they demonstrated how social media is being utilized by household-name companies like Wal-Mart to engage shoppers in interactive ways that are beneficial to both the customer and the marketer.

Tibor Siklosi, director of marketing for Bergan Products, presented “When Your Product is Part of a Social Media Movement,” a fascinating story about how a seller of pet seatbelts found itself starting a social movement that raised awareness about the danger of traveling with unrestrained pets. Marketing efforts for their products soon led to the highly interactive “Paws to Click” awareness initiative and a partnership with the ASPCA. Combining significant creativity and a groundswell of support from pet lovers, Bergan Products established an industry standard for products sold by some of America’s best-known retailers.

After a tasty box lunch, campers were then treated to “Tune Your Radio,” presented by veteran radio producer Brent Walker of Soundscapes, Inc. Over his 40 years of producing radio advertising, the media landscape has undergone tremendous change, but radio advertising has largely remained the same. Brent acknowledged that most radio ads are terrible, but showed that by adding entertainment value to grab the listener, radio advertising can still bring good bang for marketing bucks. Bottom line: don’t ditch your iPhone, but don’t dismiss radio, either.

Kudos to Neal Moore, IABC Summer Camp counselor, and the rest of the IABC Arkansas board for a job well done!

It’s another “don’t miss” program for July. Kevin Trainor, who heads up media and public relations for the University of Arkansas’s 19 intercollegiate sports, will be our speaker on July 30. Trainor is in his 15th year with the Razorbacks and his third year as associate athletic director for media relations and communications.

He is responsible for developing and implementing public relations strategies for the athletic department. He also oversees administrative matters, including the production of media guides and game programs, and management of the department’s Web site, ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Trainor is the primary media contact for the football program. In 2006, he was recognized for his contributions to college football by the All-American Football Foundation with the Scoop Hudgens Outstanding Sports Information Director Award.

In his role as associate SID, Trainor worked closely with football and served as the primary contact for the 2000 SEC Tournament champion Arkansas basketball squad. He also served as the color analyst on the Razorback Baseball Radio Network for five years.

His collegiate experience includes 41 conference championships. He served as meet director for the 2006 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at John McDonnell Field and as the assistant media coordinator for the 1995 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament. He has worked on the event management staffs of 13 Cotton Bowl games and the 1995 USF&G Sugar Bowl. He is a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association of America (USBWAA).

Trainor earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Arkansas in 1994. He also earned his master’s degree from the University of Arkansas in 2005.

Join us:
11:45 a.m.
Friday, July 30
Little Rock Club

Members: $25
Non-Members: $30

RSVP here.

Save time at the meeting and pay in advance using your credit card.
Members	Guests

NOMINATION DEADLINE: July 15, 2010

Established in 2007, the IABC/Arkansas John K. Woodruff Award honors lifetime achievement and/or body of work in the field of professional business communications in Arkansas.

The Woodruff Award is open to both members and non-members of IABC/Arkansas, with preferential consideration given to current and/or former members.

Nominations are accepted from the chapter membership, and the winner is selected by the IABC/Arkansas Past Presidents Council. The recipient will be honored at the annual IABC/Arkansas Bronze Quill Awards in fall 2010. Read the rest

NOMINATION DEADLINE: July 15, 2010

Each year, the Arkansas Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators presents the IABC/Arkansas Communicator of the Year (COTY) Award to an Arkansan who leads the way in fostering and participating in professional communication.

The COTY Award is presented to a non-IABC member. Nominations are accepted from the chapter membership, and the winner is selected by the IABC/Arkansas Past Presidents Council.

The recipient will be honored at the annual IABC/Arkansas Bronze Quill Awards in fall 2010. Please use this form to submit a name for consideration as IABC/Arkansas Communicator of the Year 2010. Read the rest