IABC Be Heard Weblog

By David Henderson, a communications and media consultant with global credentials, an author, and Emmy Award winning former CBS News correspondent based in the Washington, D.C., area. His latest book is “The Media Savvy Leader: Visibility, Influence and Results in a Competitive World.” Online: www.davidhenderson.com. David will be the keynote speaker at our chapter’s Bronze Quill Awards Gala April 30.

It used to be that we just had to keep track of journalists as they moved around their industry. Today, we have more formidable challenges to tackle as communicators. Not only are we witnessing seismic changes happening with the mainstream media but we, as communications professionals, face changing styles in how we communicate, on behalf of our organizations, our clients and ourselves.

Every week, if not every day, we hear of more newspapers failing or struggling to stay alive. Newsrooms are cutting staffs, cutting sections, cutting pages. Papers are trying to find a silver bullet to attract more readers and larger revenue streams online. They are not having much luck so far.

Faced with the reality of changing needs of traditional journalists, a broadcast media that has become more entertainment than news, and today’s fast-developing online world of social media, blogs, Twitter, and Facebook, how do we attract attention and communicate accurately, effectively and clearly?

Here are six suggestions for organizational leadership in today’s competitive world:

Advocate change – Learn the styles, trends and new protocols of today’s mainstream and online media as it shifts and jockeys to find a niche. Champion change in your own organization. Old habits die hard at many organizations, slowing them from learning new styles and embracing new techniques. While it might be an old habit and more comfortable, for example, to send out a press release, that kind of outreach has become less effective in today’s competitive world.
Embrace storytelling – Learn how to tell what your organization has to say in an appealing story. Storytelling is the singular most powerful technique for any organization or business to attract attention and trigger word of mouth buzz that will ultimately enhance leadership positioning. The media, whether mainstream or online, is always looking for a good story.
Think plain language – The communications clarity of business and organizations is too often polluted by obfuscated language of industry short-hand or over-worked business school jargon. As a communicator, translate opaque into plain and clear language that everyone will understand.
Reach out to few to achieve more – Develop working relationships with those individuals – whether journalists, bloggers, analysts or others – who are opinion-leaders in your industry or business sector. Chances are the list of authentic influencers is astonishingly short. Become a valued and trusted resource aside from promoting your own organization. The payoff will be exponential because of enhanced credibility, and the fact that the top thought-leaders in your industry will begin turning to you and your organization to learn more. With regard to the media, the days of blasting out press releases to thousands of people are fast coming to an end for the simple reason that a release sent to everyone is the antithesis of what any journalist wants or needs for a story.
Stop marketing and promoting, start listening – We are living and working in a new world influenced by vast choices online, a world of diminished influence for traditional advertising, marketing and promotion. This is the hardest thing for many organizations to grasp – that we must let go of old ways, and listen to the people who matter most to our organizations – customers, clients, buyers, stakeholders, the media – and get into conversations with them. There’s an old belief that the best kind of promotion is when a third-party person says something nice about you … and it’s never been truer than today. Listening and conversations lead to those who matter most to your organization telling others nice things about you. They become an army of ambassadors who build the best kind of awareness.
Become the credible voice and face of your organization and industry – Look around at today’s most respected organizations. In many cases, the top executives have high visibility, and are recognized as leaders – Tony Hsieh of Zappos, John Chambers of Cisco, Richard Branson of Virgin, Steve Jobs of Apple. They define and differentiate the image, integrity and reputation of their organizations through their own consistent openness and transparency as industry leaders, often leaving less outward CEOs to stand in the shadows.

It is not that difficult to achieve organizational leadership to capitalize on all the changes around us. It begins with the discipline of letting go of old habits that often no longer work, and recognizing that if we do not get more savvy as communicators, we might wake up some day to find that our competitors have.

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I have read several articles and discussion boards lately offering advice for college seniors about to embark on their first professional communications job. It struck me that a lot of what’s being said could apply to seasoned communicators as well. I offer a few here.

Join and serve. No, not the army. Join IABC, but don’t just write your check and bide your time, become an active member. The best way to meet people is to join a committee and work on a project or event together. No doubt you can see the value of this when you’re just starting out, but networking like this can also help senior communicators. It’s a great way for sole practitioners and potential clients to connect. And for those who have a corporate job, it never hurts to keep in touch just in case your job becomes a victim of the economy.

Never stop learning. IABC members have access to numerous resources–publications, conferences, webinars, blogs, online discussion groups–from the international level to the local chapter. When you graduate college, it’s easy to think you’re done with learning, but it never stops. Sometimes I think senior communicators forget this, too (yes, a senior moment). It’s important to stay current on the latest technology. You don’t have to master it, but be willing to embrace it.

Read and read some more. Even though some newspapers are going out of business, there’s no shortage of material on the Web–especially blogs. In fact, several of our Houston chapter members have their own blogs. Here are a few. Let me know if you have a blog and would like to be listed on our chapter Web site. It’s one more linking opportunity!

Torma Take by Tracy Torma

The Portal by Elaine Krause

BlahBlahBlah by Beth Miller, ABC

Sandra Says by Sandra Fernandez

Salvo at Large by Suzanne Salvo

Think Foresight by Pam McConathy

Ed Schipul

IABC Cafe byIABC board members and staff

And check out the blogs of our Bronze Quill Awards keynote speaker, David Henderson. He’ll also be guest blogging in this spot in a couple of weeks. Happy Reading!

Barbara Gibson, ABC

Think you speak English? I always did. Granted, at times it was with a slight Oklahoma twang.  But having spent my entire life speaking the language, I felt pretty confident about my fluency. Then I moved to the UK, and found that my version of English is a foreign language, and that words are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to communicating across cultures.

Now that I’ve been in London for several years, I can spot an American long before I hear the accent.  Riding the Tube (the subway system), the Americans are the ones starting conversations with everyone around them, telling their whole life stories at the drop of a hat. The Brits, on the other hand, are avoiding eye contact, reading newspapers, and pretending to be invisible.  It’s just not done. One doesn’t talk to strangers.

Well, there are exceptions, of course.  A brief commiseration about the weather is acceptable, but certainly not an extended conversation.  The real problem comes when the friendly American initiates a conversation, because the Brit’s cultural rules also require politeness, regardless of the discomfort.  The American walks away from the conversation thinking they’ve got a new best friend. The Brit is just relieved it’s over, and needs a cup of tea.

After six years here, I understand how they feel.  I’ve experienced a gradual cultural shift, and in some ways I feel more British than American.  But in the early days, the differences in our cultures confused me, and created barriers to effective communication.  My accent, my personal style, everything about me, made me an outsider.  If I ever wanted to find work here, I needed to learn and understand the differences, to think like my audiences.

Fortunately, I had a ready-made learning ground in IABC.  A long-time member in the U.S., I immediately got in touch with the local IABC chapter, and volunteered to serve in any capacity they needed. Within weeks of arriving, I was serving on the chapter board, gaining valuable experience, making contacts.  I quickly learned one of the most important lessons of cross-cultural communication: listen first, ask questions, don’t assume that “the way we do it back home” is right.

Funnily enough, it comes back to the title of this blog, and IABC’s tag line, “Be Heard.”  If you want to communicate effectively, to be heard, you have to be willing to truly hear and understand those with whom you’re trying to communicate.  You have to be open to hearing things you don’t want to hear, to actually seek it out.  One-way communication isn’t actually communication, it’s arrogance.  Whether you’re communicating with folks in your own home town or half way around the world, it helps to listen more than speak.

Barb will expand on this topic at our luncheon on Thursday, March 26 at the House of Blues. Register now.

Thanks to Pennebaker fifthring and A Brink & Co. for sponsoring the luncheon.

It had to be one of those mild spring days where you’d rather be outside than couped up inside a building. As the IABC Houston board members arrived at the University of Houston campus last week, I couldn’t help but remember those days on campus when spring fever would get the best of me and I’d either be sitting under a tree or in the bleachers at a Cougar baseball game–anywhere but class!

Board members paid a visit to the UH School of Communication, recently renamed in honor of Jack J. Valenti, one of our most famous and dedicated alumni. He’s best known for his role as the president of the Motion Picture Association of America, which he held for 38 years. Thanks to Dr. Beth Olson, director of the Valenti School of Communication, and Kim Howard, director of development for arranging the tour and pleasant lunch. Thanks to the following board members for attending: Tracy Torma, Helen Fischer, ABC, Joi Lecznar, Steve Parker (UH alum), Merrisa Turner (photographer for the day), Nancy Trowbridge, Laura Wilson, Mike Emery, our faculty liaison with the UH Chapter, and David Gonzalez, UH Chapter president.

I asked fellow board members to take a tour of the facility with an eye towards how IABC Houston could support its programs and students. What we found was cramped classrooms and office space. They had once been adequate, shiny and new when the facility opened in 1980 when I began my senior year. The television production studio back then was impressive. Today, it’s sad, reminiscent of a small town television station that keeps things running with chicken wire and duct tape.

One bright spot of the tour was the Communication Technology Center outfitted with Apple computers and multimedia equipment. Of course, it too could use more room and updated equipment, especially since the UH CTC was recently selected as an Apple Authorized Training Center. To learn more about Mr. Valenti and the Valenti School of Communication visit the Web site.

Within a year of renaming the school in Mr. Valenti’s honor, $3 million has been raised for new facilities and student support. Groundbreaking is targeted to start by the end of this year to begin work on a beautiful building that will house new production studios, technology labs and more classrooms. The look will match the talent and energy that come from the 1,600 students in the college.

Board members Helen Fischer, ABC, (center), Tracy Torma (right) and me (seated), along with Kim Howard, director of development for the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Mike Emery, our faculty liaison with UH student chapter, pose in front of the drawings for the Valenti School of Communication. Groundbreaking is anticipated by the end of this year.

So where does IABC Houston fit in? We have already started by supporting an active IABC UH Chapter. The students will have an opportunity to meet with IABC International Chair Barbara Gibson, ABC, separate from her presentation at our monthly luncheon on March 26. Our Bronze Quill keynote speaker, David Henderson, former CBS newsman, author and social media strategist, is also looking forward to meeting with students separate from his gala appearance on April 30. These are great opportunities that IABC can offer.

Our board also plans to sponsor a table at the school’s annual scholarship luncheon on April 13. Proceeds from the event benefit UH communication students through scholarship support. Let me know through this post or email me at theresa@torma.com if you’d like more information on attending this special event. As for future support, the board is exploring scholarship support of its own either through annual operations scholarships or through an endowment. And wouldn’t it be great if IABC Houston could sponsor a lecture series to attract high-caliber speakers to not only inspire the students but our professional members as well?!?!?

It’s an exciting time to be a UH School of Communication alum. Just think how great it will be for future students to be graduates of the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication!

Smoking is politically correct when you’re at a barbecue of course! Not the puff puff kind but that tantalizing cloud of smoke that wafts from the grill and not only permeates your nostrils, but your clothes, hair and skin. Such was the case at our monthly luncheon last Thursday. Rockin’ Ronnie Shewchuk, ABC, presented his Employee Communications Cookout at the Armadillo Palace. The food was great. Check out the menu–grilled asparagus, quesadillas with smoked gouda, Monterrey Jack, Granny Smith apples and fresh rosemary, salmon, lamb, brisket and grilled pears.

And the information was abundant and timely. A few of the nuggets I recall:

Establish a set of communications values. Just as your company has a written set of values that drive its mission, you should have guidelines that you follow that help you remain true to good communications.

According to Towers Perrin, only 21% of employees are fully engaged at their companies. That means there a lot of employees out there just going through the motions to get their paychecks and not really being an advocate or ambassador for their employers.

The Values Shift, a book by Charles Izzo and Pam Withers, details six expectations that employees have: 1. work/life balance; 2. work as a noble cause; 3. personal growth and development; 4. partnership in a collapsed heirarchy; 5. community at work; and 6. trust.

As communicators, we can do the following to embrace these shifting values. Tell meaningful stories. Recognize employee accomplishments. Put a human face on your organization. Don’t wait until it’s perfect before you talk about it. Show, don’t tell.

Web 2.0 tools such as intranets, blogs, wikis, podcasts and social networks are slowly being adopted by companies. A McKinsey study showed that about 1/3 of the companies surveyed are using blogs, RSS, wikis, podcasts and social networks. Only 1/4 of employees are using Web 2.0 tools, but at companies that are satisfied with them, more than half of all employees are using them.

Only 67 of Fortune 500 companies have blogs.

Corporations are using social media for:

Internal use: managing knowledge, fostering collaboration, training, product development, internal recruiting.

Interfacing with customers: improving customer service, acquiring new customers, getting customer participation in product development, letting customers interact.

Interfacing with partners/suppliers: achieving better integration, tapping network of experts, lowering purchasing costs, getting supplier participation.

Social media in the workplace can encourage dialogue, increase collaboration and information sharing, improve productivity, enhance training, create communities and strengthen relationships, reward leadership, bring issues to the front and provide useful feedback, and preserve institutional memory.

So how can we jump on the bandwidth? Ron suggests:

Nail down a social media policy.

Take baby steps and learn by doing. Remember how we all had to learn the new world wide web frontier?

Start with your business goals and look for natural fits such as using the tools for recruitment, retention, engagement and change management.

Consider allowing employee access to external social networks.

Don’t lose sight of the tried and true like face to face communication and print.

Rethink your role.

For more information on employee communications or some great tips on barbecuing, contact Ron at rshewchuk@longviewcomms.ca.

My trip to Leadership Institute in Orlando earlier this month. My social media savvy friends tell me that the 25 random things list is so last hour, but I thought it was a good way to fill you in on my trip.

1. Florida was having the coldest winter on record when I arrived. It was warmer in Houston!

2. It was great to meet IABC staff members, like Gretchen Hoover Anderson (see photo), who I had only known before by their email addresses.

3. Susan Burnell, APR, our past president and current co-chair of the Southern Region Conference, and I handed out rubber ducks to LI attendees to promote the conference. They were a huge hit! Only perplexed look came from a member of the IABC Nigeria Chapter.

4. We presented a free registration certificate to Gervais Joubert from New Orleans (see photo). Look forward to seeing him make the trip down I-10 to attend the conference Oct. 22-24.

5. The last session was probably the most valuable. 30 ideas in 30 minutes was led by  Barbara Gibson, ABC, international chair, and Glenda Holmes, ABC, former international chair and Texas gal in Austin. Attendees were encouraged to share their ideas for helping chapter members cope with the economic downturn. A timer on the giant screen made sure no one went past one minute allotted for each idea. It was fun and energizing. See numbers 6-12 for some of the ideas.

6. One idea as to create very low-cost or free events; brown bag; meet in a pub; cut out the fluff.

7. Go on a field trip. Have a local employer host a meet and greet at their place; give a tour; charge $10 to attend to cover cost of refreshments.

8. Engage senior membership at a wine and cheese think tank. Seek their help in planning professional development events and succession planning or give them a topic, take notes and turn into article. (Great project for students!)

9. Host a happy hour the night before your monthly luncheon meeting with the speaker. Charge $5 for members to attend and mix and mingle with the speaker. Great way to engage those who can’t afford monetarily or time-wise to attend the more expensive luncheon.

10. Hold a career boot camp. Have speakers focus on resumes, interview techniques and leave camp with a resume and cover letter.

11. Recession-proof your career. Host coffee and conversation at Starbucks from 9 to 11. Designate a discussion leader and invite members to stop by and join in the sharing of ideas and venting.

12. Use the resources of the IABC Foundation more. Share results of salary survey, how to deal with generational differences, etc. All reports are free.

13. I presented a check for $200 to the Foundation on behalf of IABC Houston. Instead of a lovely parting gift, our speakers receive an honorarium made in their names to the Foundation.

14. Note to self for next conference I attend: Arrive at dessert break early before all of the good chocolate treats are gone!

15. IABC Houston won a Chapter Management Award for Excellence in Membership Marketing. Kudos to past president Susan Burnell and last year’s Member Services VP, Helen Fischer, ABC. Barb Gibson presented the certificate to Susan and I (see photo).

16. A member from New Zealand was excited to hear I was from Houston as she is a big fan of the Future Studies program at the University of Houston. Dr. Stephen Bishop mentioned at our January meeting is one of only nine such programs in the world.

17. It took a trip to Florida to meet someone from the Brazos Valley Chapter in College Station.

18. IABC/Newfoundland and Labrador won international chapter of the year.

19. The University of Georgia won student chapter of the year.

20. The Caribbean island nations of Barbados, Jamaica and Trindad and Tobago are part of the IABC Southern Region. I say we hold the next Southern Region conference at one of these locales!

21. When traveling to a Disney Resort town like Orlando, there are lots of kids on the plane. Just an observation.

22. The grapefruit juice was great!

23. The gate where my plane is boarding is always the one fartherest from the ticket counter. My hotel room is always the fartherest from the elevator. Just more observations.

24. I have yet to attend a conference where one of the speakers who used a PowerPoint presentation didn’t say, “I know this slide is a little hard to read.”

25. I was proud to represent the Houston Chapter.

By Ron “Rockin’ Ronnie” Shewchuk, ABC

I’m honored to be a guest blogger for IABC Houston. And I’ve got one heck of a story to tell. On Thursday, February 26, I will be making history at the Armadillo Palace, and it won’t have anything to do with employee communications. It will be because I’m the first Canadian to ever try to give a bunch of Texans a barbecue lesson! I know. I can hardly believe it myself. Teaching barbecue to Texans is like selling coals to Newcastle.

I’ll be lucky if I don’t get run out of town on a rail. But, of course, that won’t happen. First of all, even though I live way up North in rainy Vancouver, British Columbia, I am familiar with Texas’ reputation for making guests feel welcome. And, second, I’m pretty confident that the meal I serve up at my special Employee Communications Cookout is going to be good enough to win over even the most partisan barbecue lovers in the crowd. Come to think of it, I may have made history already by becoming the world’s only motivational speaker who uses barbecue as a metaphor for employee communications.

My luncheon talk, “Everything I Know About Communication, I Learned From Barbecue,” combines my passions for employee communications and outdoor cooking in a delicious, entertaining and informative multi-course meal. It’s one part cooking class, one part employee communications, and one part damn good meal. As I cook and serve up a bunch of dishes from my Barbecue Secrets cookbook, I’m going to use each recipe to illustrate something about employee communications.

If you want an advance taste of the event – a virtual online appetizer – watch me talk about it in this short video, or listen to this audio interview that my old friend Steve Crescenzo did with me a few weeks ago on his Creative Conversations podcast, or read about it in a series of posts on my blog, For Your Approval.

So, if you want to chow down and have a great time with your fellow communicators, register for the lunch and come out to the Armadillo on Feb. 26. And if you want the full meal deal, stick around for the afternoon. I’m following up lunch with an intensive session where I’ll share pretty much everything I know about how to practice great employee communications, including some insights on the changing values of today’s employees, plus my take on the big topic of the day, the use and abuse of social media in the workplace. Register for the lunch/afternoon workshop combo.

Forty years ago, in a parking lot outside the Astrodome, the world’s first barbecue competition was born, staged by a bunch of tailgaters who decided that it would be fun to put on a contest. Today, there are more than 500 contests every year, all across North America and all over the world, but the World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, now part of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, is one of the biggest and most prestigious contests in the world. The day after my talk at the Armadillo, this year’s contest begins, and I’m going to be in Hog Heaven as I take it all in. And while I walk the competition grounds and take in the smell of beef fat and mesquite smoke, I’ll be thinking that, if not for that contest 40 years ago, I probably wouldn’t be here today.

God bless barbecue. And God bless Texas. Please register today for the Employee Communications Cookout.

I hope to see you soon!

In an uncertain economic climate it’s always good to have your ducks in a row when it comes to helping your company maneuver the hard times as well as managing your career. That’s why the Houston chapter’s Regional Conference Dream Team has chosen the theme Align ‘09: Get Your Ducks in a Row. The conference will be held October 22-24, 2009 in Houston most likely at a Galleria-area hotel. Save the date.

Also, save the date for our next planning meeting. It’s Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 4:30 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church on Westheimer near Edloe. If you’re not already involved with IABC, this is a great opportunity to step in and get your feathers wet so to speak. Research has shown that an economic downturn is not the time to duck and take cover. It’s the time to get quackin’ and become a volunteer.

Did I mention that our theme has potential for dozens and dozens of plays on words? Thank you IABC member Kerry Gregg for your creative genius.

We’ll soon be polling members on potential speaker topics. Watch for that or no need to wait. If you have a great topic idea send it to me at any time. Hope your week is just ducky!

The recent economic troubles have caused a few of us communications veterans to think back on a similar time. Remember the oil bust of the 1980s? I was newly married and freshly graduated from the University of Houston, working for The Fort Bend Mirror, a twice-weekly newspaper in Missouri City, and excited about this new financing product that could help first-time homebuyers, called an adjustable rate mortgage.

Luckily, when the mortgage adjusted, the going rate at the time was reasonable and we kept the home for 20 years. I had great fun working at the newspaper, but made no money. I then went to work for a real estate marketing firm. Not a good choice once people started losing their jobs at oil companies. Luckily, I joined IABC and checked out the Job Bank. I was only out of work for a couple of months before I landed by first corporate job at Houston Lighting & Power at the end of the decade. We all still need electricity, right?

I asked some other communicators to recall their work life in the ’80s–April Canik, ABC; Alice Brink, ABC, APR; Tracy Torma; Robin Leeder; Mark Schumann, ABC; and Karin Knapp. Here’s a look at our email conversation.

Where were you in ‘82?

April: I graduated from college in 1980 and, by 1988, had been laid off three times, from three different oil-related companies–public and private! The first layoff was a shock, but the next two were giant nudges to get out there and see what else I could learn in a different environment. After the third one, I opted to work for the Houston Chamber of Commerce, figuring it was not going to go away!

Alice: Although I was in Houston, I was working for the Coca-Cola Company and somewhat insulated from the oil industry. But in 1985, I became president of IABC/Houston. Mike Reynolds, then working for Conoco Chemicals and the IABC district director, took me to lunch and told me that if the price of oil fell below $20, IABC/Houston would fold. His rationale: so many members were employed by oil companies that if they cut staffs, we would lose the bulk of our membership. I was stunned. I went back to work, grabbed a paper and looked up the price of oil. It was in the low $20s. I watched during the next months as the price went down to $13. We lost at least half of our members, but we survived. We simplified our programs, kept things affordable and helped people network.

Tracy: At then end of 1982, I had just given birth to my first son, Thomas, and resigned from my public affairs position at Houston Lighting & Power to start freelance writing. It was at a time when companies were laying off communications staff members, but still needed communications work, so business picked up quickly for me.

Robin: I moved to Houston in 1981 from Washington, D.C. I was working on the production side of graphic design and I did not know any different. I just kept my head down, did not listen to the news and just kept on working. People can smell fear. So, I decided to not be afraid.

Mark: I chuckle when I recall that, when I hit town in 1986, the price of oil fell. Hopefully, it wasn’t in reaction to my arrival. But the next few years were tough for the city and for the profession. From those challenges emerged what is an awesome collection of communication professionals. It is amazing to look at this IABC group today and see the consistency of quality and contribution over so many years.

Karin: I was single, childless and carefree. I didn’t worry about getting laid off from Schlumberger and remember it as an exciting time. We didn’t have computers, much less email or even cell phones, and no one ever worked past 5 p.m. Houston had a huge population of young singles, and to “cope” I went to happy hour buffets.

How did IABC help you cope?

April: Thank goodness I joined IABC in 1981 and jumped in with gusto because I managed to UPGRADE postitions each time I was laid off with severance money to spare! In fact, my job with the company later known as Enron, came as a direct link from IABC as my soon-t0-be-boss was the Job Bank volunteer at that time! I left the working world in 1988 to have my first son and purposely served as the Bronze Quill chairman that year to get my name out in a big way as a foundational move to begin freelancing. I landed my first big client when the baby was four months old. I managed to put on a dress and come back for an IABC meeting at the Houstonian. Just happened to sit next to IABC guru and guest speaker of the day, Joe Williams. He called me with an assignment the next day! I did not have a computer or biz cards or anything! In fact, I went to Office Depot to get faxes for months, making sure I was going to make a “go” of it.  Twenty years later, I look back feeling blessed to have an IABC network that has given me lifetime friends and consistent income. I could also add that the layoffs and job changes positioned me very well for freelancing/consulting because I experienced six different business models and industries on a fast track in eight years!

Tracy: IABC was my lifeline as I called on fellow members for freelance writing work. I landed my first big assignment, an employee newsletter, with Karin Knapp, who was over communications for Schlumberger at the time. IABC has continued to be an important lifeline for me. After 25 years in business, I can trace at least 95% of my business to an IABC member or an IABC referral.

Robin: I did not know about IABC at the time. Wish I had.

Mark: IABC was a touchstone for us. We knew that when we came to the meetings, we would see our friends. And we knew our friends would pass along any helpful suggestions or leads. In 1987 and 1988, I clearly recall how just about all my work came from people I met through the chapter. We simply believed in helping each other out.

Karin: I got involved with IABC in the mid-80s. My job was not fulfilling any more and there weren’t a lot of jobs to move to in the mid- to late-80s. I embarked on a freelance career and found a creative outlet and mentors like Tracy Torma, Carole Minor and Anne Feltus at IABC.

Does this economic downturn seem like deja vu?

April: The longer I live, the more I believe it’s WHO you know! Houston is cushioned from the worst of the economic woes, so I know it won’t be long until people flock here AGAIN in droves to access our nice little world.

Alice: It feels like something I know I can survive because I’ve been through tough times before and survived.

Tracy: We’ve weathered economic downturns in the past, so I’m confident that this year will be no exception!

Robin: No, it does not feel the same. I lived on a street where seven out of nine houses were foreclosed on. We learned a lot from the past. And Houston is more balanced in terms of economics than it was back then.

Karin: This downturn seems worse, deeper. For one thing, I’m paying closer attention. For another, I have a mortgage and health care premiums to pay and a son who will want to go to college in a few years. As a freelancer, I’m resourceful and self-reliant, which are good qualities to have when there’s a lot of uncertainty. I’m working on the Southern Region Conference that IABC/Houston is hosting. The prospect of working on a big, creative project with fun, like-minded communicators is just the counterbalance I need to the economic doom and gloom!

Notice a common theme? Now, more than ever, you’ll want to keep that IABC membership current and jump into some volunteer projects. We’re in this together.

I’m sure you have more than enough things you’ve identified to work on in 2009. Did you include some goals for your professional development? If not, here a few recommendations.

Attend at least two IABC Houston luncheon meetings this year. I know. You can’t take time away from your job. Here’s the deal. Yes you can. Two hours, say every six months, is okay. Really. You need balance in your life. Look what happened to Oprah. Her life became all about work and it caused her great health problems including weight gain. Hearing a great speaker who can advance your skill set, visiting with like-minded communicators who feel your pain, having a nice meal, heck, just getting out of the office and into a new environment can release lots of those endorphins you need to keep sane.

Attend the IABC Southern Region Conference. Before you nix this because of the cost of air travel, surprise! It’s in Houston this year. Tentative date is late October, early November. The theme is Align ‘09. There will be a great line-up of speakers to help you align your career goals. Of course, the best would be to attend the full day and a half conference but if you just absolutely feel you can’t, then select a session or two.

Become a volunteer. The Houston Chapter has opportunities that range from a commitment to a couple of hours a month to serving a leadership role on the board. Getting involved maximizes your IABC membership and hones your skills.

Enter your work for an award. The local Bronze Quill and international Gold Quill contests are currently under way. The regional Silver Quill will be accepting entries later this year. Enter one or all three. There’s nothing like validation and recognition for your good work.

Pursue accrediation. If you are a senior communicator, make this the year that you not only receive validation for your work, but for your knowledge as well. The process is time-consuming. No sugar-coating here. I know. I’m currently going through accrediation steps. Assembling your portfolio is a bitch. But it’s a worthy goal to pursue.

Become a mentor. The latest issue of CW magazine has a great article on the benefits of mentorship. There’s no doubt someone in your department, in our Young Professionals group or our UH student chapter could benefit from your experience.

I wish you all the best in your pursuits this year and hope we all find that balance between work, home, life that sometimes seems so elusive.