AWC Des Moines

Chrysalis Event March 3

CHRYSALIS FOUNDATION PRESENTS

“NETWORKING & NEGOTIATIONS” EVENT

 
Des Moines -- The Chrysalis Foundation will host a free “Networking and Negotiations” event on Monday, March 3^rd from 5:00 – 6:30 pm at Tero International, 1840 North West 118 Street, Suite 107, Clive. 

This event is part of the Chrysalis Business Partner Program. Started in 1999, this program unites local business leaders to support girls who participate in Chrysalis After-School Program.”

“This is first in a series of Chrysalis Business Partner Programs,” says the event’s Chair, Nicole Hinton. “Each program will provide opportunity for networking and strengthening strategic business skills -- all while strengthening the success of the girls and women Chrysalis supports.”

Tero International’s Deb Rinner will give her sought-after presentation on win/win negotiations. Tero is generously donating this presentation because of their interest in a successful business community and in Chrysalis’ mission.

Established in 1989, the Chrysalis Foundation is a Des Moines-based community foundation with a mission to develop strong women and girls in Greater Des Monies through education, grant-making and philanthropy.  100% of all contributed dollars are invested into Chrysalis programs including Community Grants and Chrysalis After-School, the Foundation’s signature program.

The Des Moines Alliance of the Association of Women in Communications supports the Chrysalis Foundation. 

March Meeting Rescheduled

March 26, 2008 is the new date to hear Beth Dalbey, Communications Editor at the Great Ape Trust of Iowa.

Please keep this date free and keep watching for emerging details!

Presentation: Email Etiquette - Keeping Your Foot Out of Your Virtual Mouth

• What makes email different?
• What is good netiquette?
• How does netiquette create impact?

The February 20 luncheon presentation was titled, "Email Etiquette - Keeping Your Foot Out of Your Virtual Mouth." Owner of WinCommunications, Kathy Towner, and Kaplan University composition instructor and freelancer Cecelia Munzenmaier presented.

Below are links to copies of the presentation and the handout.

Download WhatNotToEmail.ppt
Download what_not_to_email_resources.doc

What's the most helpful tip you came away with?

Civic Rewards

Are you looking to increase your range of skills, to expand your professional network, and to enjoy the satisfaction of improving your community? Consider serving on a local board or committee. Many women are familiar with donating time and services to help a non-profit but our local school boards and other governmental entities also need your help.

This became apparent as I was covering meetings of the Des Moines Public Schools School Board for AroundDesMoines.com. When the school board adopted a new set of rules for itself last year it added a linkage committee. The word linkage refers to the board's self-proclaimed role of serving as the link between the community and the school district's administration. It was an attempt by the board to address concerns from the public that there was a lack of communication from and to the board.

Currently the linkage committee consists of three board members. They meet once a month in addition to spending time going to assorted meetings of outside groups to talk about the issue of the day. There are openings for public members but the rules adopted by the board did not specify how many appointments can be made or what criteria must be met. When those qualifications are determined, I would like to see a member of the Association of Women in Communications serve on the committee.

The board needs professional help and this is a great way for an AWC member to showcase her talent and to promote the organization. Members of the committee are wearing themselves out trying to work through disparate groups in the city and members of the public who are not part of those groups continue to feel shunned. Because I report on the board, I cannot serve on one of its committees.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs also is working on ways to increase awareness of the numerous festivals and other cultural activities that take place in the state each year. Large events such as the Des Moines Art Festival receive considerable publicity but how many people know that this is the 50th year of the State Center Rose Festival?

-- By Rose Field

Rose Field, owner of MRF Communications, LLC, emphasizes issue-based communications for businesses, candidates, organizations, and individuals.

Proposal Affecting the Women’s Procurement Program

 

February 15, 2008

 

There are times when it is important for us as AWC members, as well as women, to raise our voices in protest to policies that could be put in place in Washington, DC.  I believe that this is such a time.  As you may know AWC is a coalition partner with WIPP (Women Impacting Public Policy).  WIPP is a strong voice for women in business and women business owners in Washington, DC.  The Small Business Administration (SBA) is proposing a new rule for the Women’s Procurement Program, which will adversely affect women who own their own business and in the long run could affect women in business.  I would encourage you to let your voice be heard on this matter.  You can find out more about the Women’s Procurement Program that the SBA is proposing by going to www.wipp.org.   

 

Also below is a paragraph from WIPP giving you an update and specific directions for writing a letter to the SBA:

 

Dear WIPP Members and Friends:

 

Our hard work is paying off!  The momentum decrying the SBA’s proposed new rule for the Women’s Procurement Program has grown exponentially.  In the past five weeks, WIPP members have written op-eds, been interviewed and quoted by local and national media, and participated in online podcasts.  Senators and Representatives in Washington have heard our call and, as a result, held Congressional hearings and briefings, circulated ‘Dear Colleague’ letters, and sent SBA Administrator Steve Preston letters lambasting the SBA’s proposed new rule.

 

We have worked hard and seen results but there is still one more task.  It is vital that we each, individually, demand that the SBA withdraw the rule.  Submit your comments to the SBA directly; the official comment period ends February 25.  Do not miss this chance to have your business' voice go on the record.

 

We have posted a sample letter to the SBA on our website.  Please click here and follow the simple instructions; or if you prefer, go directly to the SBA comment section and write your own comments.  Please forward Anna Lubiner at alubiner@wipp.org your comments to the SBA.

 

Do not miss this important opportunity to stand up and be heard.   The deadline for comments is February 25th, so act now!

 

Thank you,

Sheryl Liddle

AWC National Board Chair

Inspiration for Creative Types

Writers and designers depend on inspiration to spark creativity. But all communicators -- all of us who create messages -- rely on external stimulus during the creative process. According to a recent article by Ben Cook, a guest writer at Zen Habits, "the most common problem faced by anyone trying to create something ... no matter what their subject or level of experience, is lack of inspiration."

Ben's article caught my interest because this week I have been blogging on the subject of inspiration as it relates to our personal lives. On Enroute 365, I've observed that inspiration may be nothing more than a reminder that we "are living within a miracle (see post). I've noted that inspiration is always around us, if we are just mindful of our environments (see post).

Cook, however, goes the next mile, giving specifics on where communicators (and all creative types) can look to trigger our imaginations:

• Art
• Books
• Magazines
• Movies
• More

Where do you find inspiration? How does it impact your work?

-- By Brenda Friedrich

In addition to her role as a web editor for the Des Moines Alliance, Brenda Friedrich is also an independent communications consultant and blog author of Enroute 365.

Merging Internal and External Communications

The lines between internal and external communication are blurring. Yesterday's corporate boundaries are fading say communications experts Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson. Examine this phenomenon with them by tuning into the Feb. 9th podcast of For Immediate Release: The Hobson & Holtz Report, a twice-weekly commentary on public relations and technology. The 60-minute episode covers companies who are managing the shift to their advantage (and those who are not) and questions how the trend will impact the consumers' perceptions of each organization.

--Submitted by Brenda Friedrich, AWC member and owner of Brenda Friedrich Communications

Walgreen World: Designed to be Read

Sarah McAdams, writing for Ragan Communications, says that Walgreen World may be the internal publication to emulate ... says that it's more popular than People magazine.

"Many corporate editors talk about competing with the likes of People and Sports Illustrated for employees’ attention," McAdams notes, "but at Walgreens, most workers pass by the competition dozens of times a day, on the retailer’s own sales racks."

In her article, McAdams discusses the factors that are important to corporate communicators: readership levels, the magazine's growth (from 1933 to present), its design and more. Read the full article, "Walgreen World: An internal magazine more popular than People."