Location:         Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
                             600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Ark.
Date:                  May 16, 2012
Time:                 2 – 6 p.m. CST
Theme:             Corporate Social Responsibility

IABC Tulsa is proud to offer this professional development event at no cost. That’s right. It’s free! The one catch is that this event is only open to IABC members. It’s our way of thanking those individuals who commit to the organization by upholding their membership – whether with Tulsa or another great chapter.

There are only 40 seats available to this event, so register soon to ensure a spot. There will also be a drawing for a $40 gasoline card courtesy of our IABC Tulsa Chapter President Shannon Frederick.

In addition to a tour of the museum and a networking reception, the event will feature two speakers: Andrea Thomas, Senior Vice President of Sustainability for Walmart, and Laura Jacobs, Director of Communications for Crystal Bridges. From these two sessions, participants can expect to gain an understanding of the importance of corporate social responsibility and the benefits gained by a community as a result of solid partnerships with its local businesses. Find out more about our speakers and see an agenda.

If you are not a member of IABC, but interested in joining and attending this one-of-a-kind development session, contact Summer Austin or Stephanie Cole, IABC Tulsa membership representatives. What better time to join?! To promote this special event, all throughout the month of May, if you join IABC, the $40 membership fee will be waived.

“Brick by Brick – Building the Inverted Pyramid“  by Libby Bender

Like writing a strong lead, developing a strong brand is not easy. The brand starts inside the company, and is based in truth. Your role as a professional, then, is to properly express it through communications. You must be aware of every choice you make. Who, What, When, Where, Why and How is critically important.

In this special IABC presentation, we’ll talk about how to build your inverted brand pyramid, brick by brick.

All about Libby
Libby Bender is an independent brand guide who has been leading the way for her companies and clients for 35 years. She has survived a run on her bank, a government take-over, and more than a dozen mergers and acquisitions. And that was all just with her first employer. Libby has been a VP of Marketing three times as well as a VP of Brand Planning and Creative Director at Littlefield. She is now President of Libby & Company, a Tulsa-based brand consultancy.
Libby’s work has been recognized by the American Association of Advertising Agencies, the Webby Awards, Tulsa Ad Federation and Art Directors Club of Tulsa. In 2007, Libby and partners, Scott Raffe and Carl Brune, published “Oklahoma: A Portrait of America.” That 354-page ode to America’s 46th state earned the trio an Oklahoma Book Award. In her spare time, Libby is an adjunct Professor of Branding at TU, an Art Directors Club of Tulsa Board Member and past President, a toy collector, a wannabe fine arts professor and a pack leader to two very lovable, but strong-willed, Chows.

April Menu: Catering by Q’doba – Naked burritos (chicken or steak) with rice, beans, salsa, queso, cookies and brownies.

Be sure to reserve your seat today – we look forward to seeing you there!

Were you on Facebook in November? If so, your news feed was probably muddled every day with your friends’ public displays of gratitude for all of the good things in their lives. 

You might have even participated in this social media phenomenon.

I did not. But, let me be clear, that my reluctance to dedicating the 25 days leading up to Thanksgiving to Facebook proclamations of thankfulness doesn’t mean I’m not grateful. In fact, my Facebook friends made me think. You see, I have a long list of blessings – and, as it turns out, many of them are tied to this wonderful chapter. Here are just a few of my favorite moments:

1. Receiving a note from now Past President Steve Higgins with the news that IABC/Tulsa had won the 2011 Small Chapter of the Year Award. And, after some back-and-forth email prodding, finally getting him to share he had also won the International Chapter Leader of the Year Award.
2. Convincing IABC President Julie Freeman to visit Green Country to talk about the future of the profession. Little did we know that Tulsa would be one of the last chapters Julie would visit during her tenure as the head of the international organization. The announcement of her retirement, effective Dec. 31, came just a few days after she returned home to San Francisco, following her visit to our monthly meeting.
3. Along with Amethyst Cavallaro, having the honor of representing IABC/Tulsa at the October Southern Region Conference board meeting. After we shared a long list of all of the great things happening with our chapter, hearing Elena Martinez, chair of the region, exclaim “That’s why Tulsa is the Small Chapter of the Year, folks!”
4. Watching Angela Byers, Lucia O’Connor and a slew of willing volunteers pull off one of the most successful Bronze Quill ceremonies in our chapter’s history. Angela later shared that 97 percent of those who entered their work into the competition received an award. Though we didn’t need any proof that there is an extremely high caliber of talent in Tulsa, we got it anyways!
5. Presenting the pin and certificate of IABC accreditation to Tracy Harlow, a dear colleague, mentor and friend to many of us, and who has always been an accredited business communicator in my book.

Of course, I would be remiss to exclude the bit about leading an amazing executive board that is dedicated to the development and growth of every single one of our members and potential members. This board includes: Dena Wind, Tom Droege, Amethyst Cavallaro, Stephanie Cole, Megan Lewis, Lucia O’Connor, Summer Austin, Rachel Payne, Phillip Harris, Jennifer Pigeon, Angela Byers – and also Ginger Homan and Nathan Harmon because we won’t let them not be part of the group.

Finally, in the spirit of the season, thanks to all of you who have supported our chapter in 2011 by attending a meeting, entering a Bronze Quill, coming to OkieSMart, raising a glass at Happy Hour, etc. We wouldn’t keep doing this if it weren’t for you.

Happy New Year. See you in 2012!

“Life Balance: How to wear many hats and keep your head on straight” with Karen Susman
Wednesday, Jan. 18, at 11:30 a.m.
OSU-Tulsa, Room 140
700 N. Greenwood

Life Balance is a big concern for men as well as women. Want to find perfect balance? Forget about it. Learn to make important life choices. Learn to base your actions on these choices. Use this time to step back, prioritize your life and take steps to feeling more in control.

This totally original program will help you:

• Pinpoint personal priorities based on your values
• Uncover nine ways to match actions to priorities
• Negotiate your obligations
• Realign your life using an exciting, new six-step ladder
• Learn the one sentence secret to more perfect balance
• Manage your activities to manage your time
• Use 21 proven ways to manage the stress of our hectic times

 RSVP today!

All about Karen
Karen Susman, with Karen Susman and Associates, is an IABC all-star speaker. She has spoken at eight IABC conferences in addition to several state chapters and regions. Wellness and Communication are her areas of expertise with clients ranging from Marriott Hotels, NBC and Burger King. She’s published four guidebooks on Time Management, Humor, Networking and Community Involvement. Karen is known for her practical content, interaction and humor.