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ME M B E R SP OT L I G H T SOUR CHAPTER IS GROWING! WE WELCOME FOUR NEW MEMBERS TO OUR OCIABC FAMILY.
WE B S I T E TR E A S U R E H U N T
BRIDGESOREGON COLUMBIAINTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATORS
Improvingorganizational
effectiveness throughstrategic communication
IN S I D E T H I S I S S U E . . . Members Move Mountains … of Toys! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2IABC Restructuring — The “Plains” Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Communicator’s Tip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Career Changes Bring Opportunity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Member Bio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Treasure Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
BRIDGES is a bimonthly
publication of the Oregon
Columbia Chapter of the
International Association of Business
Communicators. Chapter
Board: Barbara Kommer, President;
Julie Young, VP, Membership; Glenn
Perkins, VP, Finance; Pat Snyder, VP,
Awards; Karen Stelter, VP, Programs/
Professional Development; Tracey
Boyd Barnett, VP, Communications;
Karen Read, Secretary; Sue Brundege,
Newsletter Editor ; Sue Vanlaanen,
Director-at-Large. Design and
Layout: Barbara Saunders,
Newsletter Associates, (503) 282-
3694. Contact: For comments
and suggestions please e-mail Sue
Brundege at newsletter@ociabc.org.
1. Which Fortune 1000 CEO is speaking at one of our upcoming OCIABC chapter events?
2. How many different divisions and categories are there in the IABC Gold Quill awards program?
3. On www.ociabc.org, what are the three different types of résumé formats, according to résumé writer and career coach Deborah Walker?
WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE TREASURE HUNT. SEARCH FOR ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING THREE QUESTIONS ON EITHER WWW.OCIABC.ORG OR WWW.IABC.COM, AS APPROPRIATE. E-MAIL NEWSLETTER@OCIABC.ORG WITH YOUR ANSWERS NO LATER THAN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7. EACH PERSON WHO SUBMITS ALL THE CORRECT ANSWERS BY THE DEADLINE WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING. THE WINNER OF THE DRAWING WILL RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION TO THE UPCOMING OCIABC CHAPTER MEETING ON FEBRUARY 16. WE WILL NOTIFY THE WINNER BY MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14. IF THE SELECTED WINNER CAN’T ATTEND THE MEETING, WE’LL DRAW ANOTHER NAME.
and the
Oregon/Columbia IABCP.O. Box 9220Portland, OR 97207-9220
FE B R UA RY 2005 • I S S U E 3
OREGON COLUMBIAINTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATORS
Jeff Torkelson: New member Jeff Torkelson is our Southern Oregon ambassador. Jeff recently moved
to Medford where he is co-president of Silverback Enterprises. His company develops local and
international business and investment opportunities, and provides communication consultation services.
Jeff has 18 years of experience, most recently with DIRECTV in Los Angeles, and first joined IABC in
1990. Now he looks forward to forging relationships with fellow Oregon communicators and accessing
industry best practices through OCIABC.
Kay Wiggins: Meet OCIABC member Kay Wiggins, a communicator with more than 20 years of
experience. She is a technical editor and team lead who manages a document production services
group for an environmental sciences and engineering organization. Kay joined OCIABC to network with
a broad range of communication professionals, and she looks forward to sharing knowledge with fellow
communicators across diverse industries and businesses.
Kermit Cantwell: New member Kermit Cantwell has 20 years of business communication writing
experience, and has recently (and happily) returned to Portland after surviving two Minnesota winters.
Kermit joined IABC to expand his professional skills and investigate ABC accreditation. He has jumped
into OCIABC with both feet, volunteering on our communicator’s conference committee, with judging
panels, and for the Bridges newsletter.
Kathryn Scribner: Please welcome new OCIABC member Kathryn Scribner. She has been in the
communication field for 15 years, and is currently the senior marketing coordinator for Business
Development and Strategic Planning at OHSU. Kathryn joined OCIABC upon a colleague’s
recommendation and has been impressed with the quality and variety of OCIABC events. She looks
forward to attending chapter events and networking with other communicators.
CO M M U N I C ATO R ’ S T I PCOMMUNICATING DURING CHANGE: ADAPTED FROM HUMAN RESOURCES EXPERT SUSAN M. HEATHFIELD’S ARTICLE “CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE: MORE LESSONS FROM THE FIELD”
ME M B E R B I OJAYNE NANAVATY-DAHL
Improving
organizational
effectiveness through
strategic communication
Crediting her parents for her unflag-ging optimism, Jayne Nanavaty-Dahl approaches life with one powerful question: “What could be?”
Jayne grew up on the East Coast and first attended college in Pennsylvania, then took a year off to explore Florida with friends. Moving to Arizona, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Elementary Education Administration, while holding odd jobs ranging from turquoise jew-elry maker to neonatal nurse’s aide. Between degrees, Jayne’s love of trav-el deepened as she explored India and Nepal with relatives for four months.
Marriage brought Jayne to Oregon. After teaching com-munity college courses, she joined Sequent Computer Systems Inc. in 1991, managing their world-renowned Child Learning Center and Work-Life Program. Eight years later, IBM purchased Sequent and Jayne saw her program disappear. Ever resourceful, Jayne petitioned to lead IBM Beaverton’s new site communications group. She now manages a strong, creative team across Oregon, Arizona, and California. Communication is one of IBM’s 10 foundational competencies, and Jayne is pleased to see site com-munications evolving into a more strategic role, providing guidance for IBM’s new initiatives and business decisions.
Jayne thrived through the acquisition, although there were many challenges. “Going from 2,800 to 360,000 employees, I had to navigate this huge company just to learn how to get from point A to point B,” says Jayne. She claims optimism as her greatest ally. She also found IABC a
valuable learning and networking resource, particularly as her for-mal education wasn’t in communication.
Jayne’s advice to people undergoing transition: “Network like crazy!
Find people who can help you navigate the system. Also, always look for the positive and set an upbeat tone. We un-derestimate how influential we commu-nicators can be during an acquisition.”
Jayne thrives outside of work as well. She loves being a mom to her 11-year-old daughter, having gourmet dinner par-ties, staying fit, and of course traveling. Jayne is also writing a book of entertain-ing stories based on real-life experiences. We look forward to Jayne’s book, but in the meantime, feel free to contact her at 503-803-5288 or jndahl@us.ibm.com.
OREGON COLUMBIAINTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATORS
“Network like crazy! Find people who can help you navigate the
system. Also, always look for the positive and set an upbeat tone. We underestimate how influen-tial we communicators can be
during an acquisition.”
• Develop a written communication plan• Communicate consistently, frequently, and through multiple
channels• Communicate news as instantly and thoroughly as possible;
beat the rumor mill• Offer ample opportunities for questions, clarification, and
feedback• Communicate the reasons for the change, and how they
affect people personally• Conversations are more effective than presentations• Don’t pretend to know the answers when you don’t
• Listen as openly, objectively, and compassionately as possible• Be available to the people who need you during the
transition• Hold interactive workshops so people can safely explore
change• Provide networking opportunities for people to share ideas
with one another• Publicly communicate change efforts as they progress• Celebrate positive approaches and accomplishments
through public recognition
IABC RE S T R U C T U R I N G – TH E “PL A I N S” TR U T H
AFTER THREE YEARS OF RESEARCH AND DISCUSSION, IABC IS CHANGING ITS U.S. GOV-ERNANCE STRUCTURE, CONSOLIDATING SEVEN DISTRICTS INTO THREE REGIONS.
IABC’s regionalization aligns us with the
rest of governance structure worldwide.
In addition, IABC’s International
Executive Board (IEB) will downsize from
• IEB can pay attention to policy
issues while regions focus on
delivering leader and chapter
support.
• IABC perspective broadens
to include worldwide growth
opportunities and cultural issues.
• More volunteer opportunities
open up at the chapter, region, and
international levels.
• Member, chapter, region, and IEB
communication improves with
increasing inter-regional activity and
program involvement.
Each region will form a Council with
at least seven leaders, elected based
on management competency and
balanced chapter representation. Some
responsibilities of the Regional Council
include:
• Communicating regional issues to
the IEB
26 members to 12, selected for both
geographical balance and management
competence. Here are some benefits of
the restructuring:
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
MEMBERS MOVE MOUNTAINS …OF TOYS!
BY KERMIT CANTWELL
“You won’t believe the mountain of toys back there!” ex-claimed OCIABC volunteer Pat Snyder as she came out of the studio at KGW-TV. That “mountain” was made up of more than 60,000 toys donated by area residents as part of KGW-TV’s annual Holiday Toy Drive. On the afternoon of December 16, 2004, seven local OCIABC members (along with 30 other volunteers) dug in and bagged nearly half of that mountain. After bagging, the toys were distributed to needy families via charity and non-profit organizations.
2 5
CAREER CHANGES — CONTINUED
says Tracey. “However, I’ve found that
viewing each opportunity as a new
adventure really helps.”
Tracey has deliberately pursued diverse
industries and communication disciplines.
“Communication skills can be very
transferable, and being a ‘jack-of-all-
trades’ is often a big selling point. With
increasingly limited resources, many
managers look for someone who’s
flexible and multi-faceted.”
Tracey believes it pays to think creatively.
“Once I negotiated cross-country
telecommuting with my company.
Despite initial resistance I finally
convinced them to try it and it worked
out wonderfully. It also opened the door
for other employees to do the same.”
IABC membership has been a big
benefit for Tracey over the years. “I can
pick up the phone in a new city, call
a fellow member and find an instant
connection. Everyone has been very
willing to share insights about their own
market.”
Region, effective July 2005. Our new
region includes chapters in 17 states,
effectively covering one-third of the
U.S. A Pacific Plains transitional team,
made up of Districts 4 and 6 board
representatives, has been working
since September to craft new regional
bylaws and detail the merging of
the two districts’ cultures, meeting
schedules, and financial structures.
For most of us, the transition will
be transparent, as this restructuring
doesn’t impact local chapter services.
However, over time we can expect
new volunteer opportunities and
services, such as regional conferences
and awards programs.
OCIABC member Julie Piper Finley,
ABC, is immediate past director of
Improving
organizational
effectiveness through
strategic communication
3
• Providing a best practices forum
for its region’s chapters
• Supporting membership
recruitment and retention
activities
Regional leadership will go beyond
that of the districts, promoting
membership growth and identifying
emerging issues impacting IABC
and the communication profession.
Regional Council chairs will also
participate in a World Forum, a
non-governing body that expands
inter-regional communication, service
coordination, and issue prioritization.
What does this mean for us? Our
District 6 will merge with District
4 to become the Pacific Plains
IABC RESTRUCTURING — CONTINUED
US District 6 and the transition team
leader for the Pacific Plains Region.
She says of the restructuring: “The
transition from districts to regions will
open up a number of opportunities
for us, such as the Silver Quill
communications competition, formerly
administered by District 4 and now
available to all Pacific Plains Region
members this spring.
“In addition, IABC members will
be able to serve on the Regional
Council without having prior district
board experience. The IEB has been
working diligently to ensure that IABC
streamlines its governance structure
while continuing to deliver quality
services to members at the chapter
level.”
MYCO M M ME E T I N GOn January 17 Chris Hall, District 6 Member-at-Large, talked with OCIABC about My Communication (MyComm), an online strategic communication planning tool developed by Cisco Systems, Inc. and shared exclusively with IABC members. MyComm provides communicators with a strategic framework to help define issues, understand audience needs, develop key messages, and determine the best delivery method. It enables member us-ers to share, collaborate, and modify their strategy in re-sponse to changing events and needs. MyComm is both an excellent learning tool for those new to strate-
gic communication, and a consulting tool for communicators to use with clients. For more information, go to www.iabc.com, log in to the Member Centre, and go to the MyComm link.
District 6 Member-at-Large Chris Hall, and OCIABC President Barbara Kommer.
OREGON COLUMBIAINTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATORS
4
resource for that,” Beth says. “I called
everybody I know to talk about best
practices, to get emotional support
and tap into their experience.”
Beth took on her new responsibilities
at the request of her employer, and
even though it’s been challenging, she
says it’s also been satisfying. “It gives
you a sense of accomplishment to
conquer something new like this.”
But the biggest benefit of trying
something new? “Personal growth, no
doubt,” says Beth. “In fact, I met one of
my best friends through a class I was
taking for a new job.”
Tracey Barnett,
Media Relations
Specialist, Legacy
Health System
Over the past 13 years, Tracey Barnett
has worked for five employers in four
states, for reasons both voluntary and
involuntary. “Change can be hard no
matter what, especially when you leave
a job and co-workers you like,”
After six years in PR at Tektronix,
Beth switched to Employee
Communications a little over a year
ago and says there has been a big
learning curve. “The most difficult part
has been understanding who the new
client is,” says Beth. “In my old job I
could execute so smoothly. But a new
position requires more research. It
slows your pace and you have to give
yourself enough time to figure it all
out.”
If your change involves an internal
move, Beth recommends volunteering
for extra projects with the department
you’re targeting so you can decide if
you’d really like to make the change.
She says an honest self-assessment of
strengths and personality traits can
also help you decide if the change is a
good idea.
Beth likes working for an internal
audience because the feedback is
CA R E E R CH A N G E S BR I N G OP P O RT U N I T Y
BY KERMIT CANTWELL
Changing jobs can be a great opportunity to grow professionally, but it usually comes with new challenges, too. Three
OCIABC members who have taken on new responsibilities offer these tips for adjusting to a career change.
more direct and immediate. “I know a
lot of the employees and they don’t
hesitate to pick up the phone or email
me when they have a comment.”
Overall, Beth says making the change
has helped her learn new skills and
made her a better communicator.
Beth Quartarolo,
Washington
State PR
Manager;
Strategy & Communications
Manager for Government &
PR, Worldwide for HP
Beth Quartarolo has had three major
job changes within the last 11 years,
the most recent taking on worldwide
government and PR strategy for HP
nine months ago. And that’s in addition
to her responsibilities as PR Manager
in the state of Washington. How does
she cope? “You just try to learn as
much as you can, as fast as you can.”
To do that, Beth recommends
developing a circle of mentors and
colleagues you can call on for help
during a change. “OCIABC is a great
Beth Daniels,
Employee
Communications
Manager for
Tektronix
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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