AWC Des Moines

Clarion deadline extended to April 14

Last year's Clarion Awards entries were some of the best in the 36 years of the competition. In 2007, AWC streamlined the categories and enhanced the judging process. In 2008, the focus was on marketing.

"This year, we’re doing both," says awards committee chair Deborah Sullivan. "Our goal is to increase the number of entries per category in order to further enhance the awards’ credibility."

To achieve this goal, the committee has extended the final deadline to April 14th to help those who are struggling with time and money in this economy.

More information is available at the AWC Web site's Clarion Awards section.

Panelists showcase benefits of AWC membership

Lori Day, second from left, explains how AWC makes her feel at home in a professional community, as panelists Kathy Towner, Cecelia Munzenmaier, and Julie Torstenson listen.

Members and guests listen to panelists at the Member Showcase meeting.
(Photos by Peggy Fleming)

Make a Powerful Noise for International Women's Day March 5

You’re invited to MAKE A POWERFUL NOISE for International Women’s Day!

On the evening of March 5, the Greater Des Moines chapter of the Association of Women in Communications invites you to view "A Powerful Noise," an acclaimed documentary which takes you inside the lives of three women to witness their daily challenges and significant victories over poverty and oppression.

Immediately following the film, a town hall discussion will be broadcast live from New York to participating theaters with renowned activists and experts including Madeleine Albright, Nicholas Kristof, Christy Turlington Burns, and CARE President & CEO Helene Gayle, to discuss how we can empower women around the world to fight global poverty.

You can play a part!

The movie will be shown locally on March 5th at Century 20 Jordan Creek, located at 101 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines at 6:30 pm.  Won’t you join us and encourage other women to attend?

The sponsoring organization, CARE, is announcing a new challenge to see which organization can make the most POWERFUL NOISE for International Women's Day.

If you are willing to attend this event, simply email Leslie Garman by FRIDAY that “YES, I’ll help MAKE A POWERFUL NOISE for International Women’s Day!”

The organization that drives the greatest number of people to the theaters by Friday, February 20th, will receive:

- A CARE tote bag filled with microfinance items made by CARE program participants for each of the local groups who reported their plans

- A feature profile of the organization's involvement in the event in all of CARE's major communications, including the "I Am Powerful" magazine, the CARE Connections e-newsletter, and on CARE's Web site

- If the winning organization generates 1,000 ticket purchases across all local chapters and affiliates, the organization will receive a special mention and thanks at the town hall meeting being broadcast live into all 450 participating theaters on the night of March 5! The winning organization will also be listed on the event program.

FYI, tickets are on sale now. To learn more about the film, or for theatre and ticket information, visit www.apowerfulnoise.org. Also, visit http://www.apowerfulnoise.org/guides.html to download a step-by-step planning guide for how local women's groups can participate in this exciting event.

REMEMBER – email Leslie Garman   “YES I’ll help MAKE A POWERFUL NOISE for International Women’s Day!” before Friday!  More details soon!

 

National Membership Campaign: Save $50!

Join AWC between January 15th and April 15th and your membership application fee will be waived. Take advantage of the $50 savings and join the only communications organization that promotes the advancement of women in all facets of communications. To join now or to find out more information, go to www.womcom.org or email Brooke Ruddy ruddyb@firstfederaliowa.com

AWC National begins centennial blog

The AWC Centennial blog has its first posting! Please access the blog at http://awcpowerfulvoices.wordpress.com/ and share your comments.

Help us spread the word...
We're looking for stories (preferably with a headshot and short biography) to post. The blog is dedicated for communicators of all ages.

Please send stories to Amy Carr, AWC Austin Chapter member, at amycarr@austin.rr.com.

Clarion Awards competition now open for entries

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 8, 2009 – The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) announced today that its prestigious 2009 Clarion Awards competition is now open for entries. Now in their 37th year, the Clarion Awards recognize outstanding achievement in all communications fields and are highly sought after by marketing and communications professionals both nationally and internationally.

Named for the medieval clarion trumpet known for its clarity, the Clarion Awards honor excellence in clear, concise communications. They encompass more than 130 categories, including advertising, books, education, fund raising, graphic design, internal Communications, magazines, marketing, newspapers, public relations, radio, promotions, special events and television. Clarion winners represent individual practitioners, media companies of all sizes, leading corporations, small businesses, and nonprofit associations and institutions.

2008 Clarion Award winner Suzanne Fedoruk, president of Fedoruk & Associates, Inc., said: “It was an honor to be among such a remarkable group of professionals and be recognized with a Clarion Award. I believe peer review is an important factor in maintaining high standards of work. The Clarion Awards process invites analysis and an opportunity to celebrate outstanding work.”

To qualify, more than half of an entry must have been published, broadcast, or implemented between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2008. Early-bird discount rate is available for entries received by Feb. 27, 2009.  Final deadline is March 31, 2009. To register online or for further details on categories and how to apply please visit the AWC Web site at www.womcom.org.

Founded in 1909, The Association for Women in Communications has more than 2,600 members nationwide. AWC champions the advancement of women across all communications disciplines by recognizing excellence, promoting leadership, and positioning its members at the forefront of the evolving communications era.

 

Des Moines wins Most Improved Small Chapter award

AWC's national board has recognized the Des Moines chapter as the 2008 Most Improved Small Chapter.

The award recognizes a chapter with fewer than 50 members that has been successful in revitalizing and reinventing itself. AWC National Board Chair Sheryl Liddle said the Des Moines chapter "has shown great improvement in member recruitment, including the Just Us Chicks membership campaign; an updated Web site to serve as a member retention tool; and a newsletter, designed to keep members updated on local topic, communication trends, and upcoming meetings." As a result, the chapter has grown to 32 members over the course of the year from just 6 members the year before.

The chapter was also recognized for its partership with the Chrysalis Foundation, an organization committed to helping build productive lives for women and girls in central Iowa. AWC members provide communications and marketing support for events and fund raising opportunities, including assisting with publicity for their premiere fundraising event with Helen Thomas as the featured speaker.

Chapter president Leslie Garman was pleased with the recognition. She expressed thanks to Sheree Clark of Sayles Graphic Design "for her support of the Just Us Chicks event, which helped us to create excitement locally for AWC" and which introduced over 100 "chicks" to the networking opportunities available through AWC.

Past president Carlyn Crowe, an independent public relations and communications professional, created the Just Us Chicks concept. Brenda Friedrich, Friedrich Communications, and Sandra Renshaw, Purple Wren,  redesigned the chapter Web site and created the blog. Kim Coulter, Presbytery of Des Moines, produced the newsletter.

Brooke Brokaw Ruddy Wins 2008 Clarion Award

Brooke Brokaw Ruddy, Marketing and Communications Director for First Federal Savings Bank of Iowa, won AWC's 2008 Clarion Award for Online Publication–Internal Publication.

She was recognized for a series of articles for the First Federal Savings Bank of Iowa intranet called “Meet So and So…”  These articles spotlighted employees'  backgrounds and their outlook on their positions, life and the bank.

Ruddy is a member of the Association of Women in Communication Des Moines Chapter.  She graduated from the University of Iowa with a BS in Journalism and English; and Boston University with a MS in Communications. She resides in Johnston with her husband Stuart and their two children.

For 36 years, the Clarion Awards have recognized small business, large corporate, nonprofit, agency and government communication specialists internationally who demonstrate excellence in clear and concise communications. Ruddy was  among other prestigious winners including the Associated Press, the Des Moines Register, BusinessWeek, SELF, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and HBO.

The prestigious awards will be presented at the 2008 AWC National Conference,
Sept. 25-27, in Washington, D.C., at the Doubletree Crystal City Hotel. Winners will be
honored with their award(s) during the International Matrix & Clarion Awards
Celebration, the evening of Sat., Sept. 27. All of the winning entries will be on display
during the conference. For a complete list of Clarion Award winners this year, please
visit http://www.womcom.org/awards/Clarion2008.asp.

AWC and WIPP

AWC is a coalition partner with WIPP.  I believe the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship could be a great way for AWC members to reach out within your community to young women communicators who have an entrepreneur spirit and present them this opportunity to gain knowledge to help them grow their business.  Take a moment to look over the qualifications and think of who you would want to see be a part of this class.

 

Sheryl Liddle, AWC National Board Chair 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Community Leaders,

 

Women Impacting Public Policy is pleased to announce the release of the application for the 2008 Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship; this year’s application deadline is June 30th.  The Scholarship, established in 2006 honoring Senator Dole as the WIPP Congressional Award Winner, is completing its first program year watching young women business owners grow and thrive in their community.  It has been an exciting and educational process and we are eager to begin the process for the coming program year.

 

We need your help finding the best and the brightest young women entrepreneur community leaders to apply for the next class of the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship.  The scholarship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and guidance from successful women business owners – as well as have a chance to receive a cash award to help grow their business!

 

The Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship is a bi-partisan effort, established to recognize high potential young women business owners who are leaders in their community, with resources and guidance to excel their businesses and personal success.

 

Here are the qualifications you will be looking for:

• At least 51% woman-owned
• Entrepreneur between the ages of 21-35
• U.S. Citizen
• Business 5 years old or less
• Revenue of $500, 000 or less for service industries OR $1milion or less for manufacturing industries
• The business has capacity to assume more debt
• Owner has a satisfactory personal credit history

If you know someone who might be interested, please forward this email along or use the sample email provided here, likewise program details are also available on WIPP.org:

 

2008 Scholarship Application

2008 Letter of Recommendation Form

Fact Sheet

 

We are also pleased to invite you to join us as a sponsor of this important effort.  Sponsorship opportunities are available for as low as $50.00 and all sponsors will be recognized along with the program and at the 2008 WIPP Annual Conference in Washington, DC.  Sponsorship of the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship sends a powerful message of women business owners helping women business owners.

 

Women Owned Business Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship Response Form

 

If you have any questions on the application or sponsorship, please do not hesitate to contact Jason Lalak at the WIPP office at JLalak@wipp.org or via 415-434-4314.  Remember, applications are due June 30th, so there is no time to waste!

 

We look forward to an exciting 2008!

 

 

Kathryn Mahoney

Co-Chair, Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship

President and CEO, Political Capitol, Inc.

 

Mary Cantando

Co-Chair, Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship

Growth Expert, WomanBusinessOwner.com

 

 

We Decide!

Women Impacting Public Policy Annual Conference

Mayflower Hotel – Washington, DC – September 8-9, 2008

 

Click here for more annual conference information.

 

 

WIPP, Women Impacting Public Policy, Inc. is a national bipartisan public policy organization that advocates for and on behalf of women and minorities in business, strengthening their sphere of influence in the legislative process of our nation, creating economic opportunities and building bridges and alliances to other small business organizations. Through WIPP, our collective voice makes a powerful impact on Capitol Hill and with the Administration.  Click here to read WIPP’s Bipartisan Policy Statement.

 

Learn to Protect Your Identity: Attend "Shred-It Day" at West Bank

Local alliance member Peggy Fleming, Communications Coordinator at West Bank, announced that West Bank is holding "Shred-It Day" on Saturday, June 14 from 8 a.m. to noon. You are invited to bring up to 100 pounds of your identity-sensitive documents for free shredding. There's also a free seminar with tips about the dangers of identity theft.

Read the news release for more information about the event.  Download 2008.04ShredItCI.doc