April 14, 2009

So you've picked up the social media signal. But what else can you do to cut through the noise and get your message heard?

Consumer empowerment is skyrocketing thanks to new technologies but so is the professional communicator's ability to generate buzz and strengthen brand relationships. Mobile and digital video are important channels for connecting you to your employees, customers and stakeholders. Now is your chance to learn how they fit into your tactical toolbox.

Hosted by IABC/Toronto, The Consumer Is Shouting! Are You Listening? will be an enlightening session geared toward any communicator who wants to stay ahead of the game in today's competitive market.

Complete event information, including bio's for the panel, can be found by going to http://toronto.iabc.com/events/eventdetails.asp?EventID=79

Date	Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Time	Registration and networking start time: 6 p.m. Food service: 6 p.m. - Sandwiches, bagels, cheese, fruit, coffee and tea will be provided. Presentation: 7 to 8 p.m. Q&A: 8 to 8:30
Venue	Sutton Place, 955 Bay Street, Toronto (northeast corner of Bay and Wellesley)
Panel	Paula Gignac, President, IAB Canada Adrian Schauer, President, Vortex Mobile Justin Creally, Senior Partner, High Road Communications
Ticket Price	$25: Student/Transitional member $35: Early bird - regular member (register on or before Friday, April 24) $45: Regular member $55: Non-member
Registration
Sponsor

Join IABC/Toronto to recognize and celebrate the 2009 OVATION Award winners. There were a record breaking number of entries this year that saw a high level of inspired and inventive communications programs. The competition was fierce as it was diverse – entrants ranged from individual practitioners, to large teams across many categories, from Marketing Communications to Media Relations to Social Responsibility to Photography to Electronic and Digital Communication. Across all categories, 17 Awards of Excellence and 32 Awards of Merit were allocated.

The 2009 OVATION Award recipients define the passion, dedication and excellence of the GTA’s incredible communications community. Salute these winners and their achievements at the 2009 OVATION Awards Gala on Thursday, May 28, 2009, at the Liberty Grand.

Have you heard about the OVATION Awards? Word is getting around about this year’s awards gala and it will be an event you won’t want to miss. On May 28, celebrate with IABC/Toronto as we toast the achievements of this year’s outstanding award recipients. It’s the perfect opportunity to impress a client, build your network and spread the word about your own accomplishments. Register by May 21 to guarantee entry.

IABC/Toronto is now offering its members new networking opportunities through LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.  Come join the conversation and take your networking online.

Join the IABC/Toronto group on LinkedIn.

Join the IABC/Toronto group on Facebook.

Follow IABC/Toronto on Twitter.

We want to increase the value of your membership with IABC/Toronto by working with other organizations to bring you discounted prices on a suite of products and services of interest to members. To help us develop a discount (affinity) program that will be relevant and useful to you, we invite you to complete a short survey. Your answers will help us to create a program that is of maximum benefit to members. Your individual responses will be anonymous and confidential.

TAKE THE SURVEY NOW!

This year, IABC/Toronto members participated in record numbers to see who could design the most affective new initiative, event, program or research opportunity. Choosing winners from the numerous quality submissions was extremely difficult, and IABC/Toronto would like to sincerely thank all those who submitted entries.
Based on our healthy financial standing – and ongoing commitment to diligence - IABC/Toronto was able to set aside $11,000 for member-proposed initiatives. Members were asked to submit programs that were beneficial to IABC/Toronto members, innovative, measurable and showed value for investment. A panel consisting of IABC/Toronto board members carefully judged the merits of each submission, and chose to fund the following programs:

Congratulations to these winning entries

• Hosting social media guru with a measurement twist – submitted by Felicia Shiu, ABC, APR
• Awards Judging – submitted by Roberta Resnick, ABC, APR, MC, IABC Fellow
• A Green Guide for Communicators – submitted by Frances Roberts

IABC/Toronto would like to thank all those who submitted proposals, and again, congratulate the winners. Such strong member involvement is truly what makes Toronto one of the most impressive chapters of IABC.

Don't miss this opportunity to submit your entry for the Bobbie Resnick Philanthropy Award! As a consummate PR professional, volunteer, educator and mentor, Bobbie Resnick, ABC, APR, MC, IABC Fellow, has been a communications and community leader for over 50 years. This award in her name recognizes outstanding leadership, contribution to the PR profession and service to the community.

For consideration, a team or individual must demonstrate improvement to their community through an in-house program or serving as a volunteer to an existing cause. Please include the completed entry form with your submission, which is kept in strict confidence. There is no charge to enter.

Support material:

• A 100-word summary statement – why the candidate / team deserves this award
• Executive summary of communication plans / campaigns / projects in which leadership ability is demonstrated (submissions should include evaluation / results)
• Other awards and recognition (local, national, international)
• Recent media coverage, if applicable

The winner of the award will be honoured at the OVATION Awards Gala in May and will receive recognition in IABC/Toronto publications.

To learn more or to apply, visit http://toronto.iabc.com/awards/ovation/awards-interest.asp or e-mail toronto-info@iabc.com.

Entries will be accepted until April 15, 2009.

This is the last chance for IABC/Toronto students to apply to be IABC/Toronto's 2009 MAVERICK PR Student of the Year! One passionate and creative future communications practitioner will receive a $500 cash prize and be recognized at the OVATION Awards Gala on May 28.

This award has been generously established by MAVERICK Public Relations to help IABC/Toronto student members get their careers in gear.

Entries must include:

1. A completed entry form;
2. A news release of no more than two pages on how you plan to make an impact on the future practice of PR/communications;
3. One writing sample (can be a news release, speech, communications plan, etc. created at school);
4. An up-to-date resume.

Entries will be judged on creativity, clarity, conciseness, total impact, and most importantly, how well they meet the stated objectives.

To learn more or to apply, visit http://toronto.iabc.com/awards/studentAwards.asp or e-mail toronto-info@iabc.com

Entries will be accepted until 5 p.m. on April 30, 2009.

Oh, how civilized! Join IABC/Toronto Westend members and friends for "high tea" (AKA lunch) at 12 noon on Thursday, April 23 at The Victorian Garden Tea Room, 313 Burnhamthorpe Rd., just east of the 427 (corner Martingrove) in Etobicoke. Cost is $25 per person (payable to the restaurant).

RSVP Diana Janosik-Wronski by Friday, April 17 to wroni@sympatico.ca or call 905-584-5840.

The IABC Canada Silver Leaf Awards, presented by CNW Group, provide you with an opportunity to showcase your excellence in communications at a national level while receiving feedback from colleagues who share your commitment to strategic communication. Every award winner starts with an idea and brings it to life through creativity and communication excellence. The Silver Leaf Awards acknowledge this excellence and pay tribute to those of you who are achieving the highest standards of communication. 

You generated the idea, created the communication program and materials and delivered on your objectives. Now take this opportunity to have others recognize your excellence and celebrate your success!

Entry Deadlines:

• Early-bird Deadline July 10, 2009
• Final Deadline July 17, 2009

Entry Fees:

• Early Bird: member - $85, non-member: $145
• Regular: member - $110, non-member:$170

(Note: GST will be added to all entry fees)

For more information on award categories, judging criteria and entry requirements, please visit http://canada.iabc.com.

Sponsored by:

IABC knows that times are hard right now, and we want to help. During April, the Knowledge Centre will be giving away copies of The Business of Truth. All you have to do is pay shipping. If you are interested, contact Heather Turbeville at hturbeville@iabc.com.

Share IABC/Toronto's e-Lert! Feel free to forward this e-mail to any fellow practitioners who may be interested. IABC/Toronto's e-Lert is a biweekly resource for all communications professionals. If this e-mail has been forwarded to you by a friend and you would like a subscription, you can register for IABC/Toronto's e-Lert by sending an e-mail to toronto-info@iabc.com and providing your name and e-mail address.

If you prefer to not receive IABC/Toronto's e-mail news, simply e-mail e-Lert Cancellation and provide your name and e-mail address.

IABC/Toronto's official printer Brown Book Company (BBC) Limited IABC/Toronto's designer of record IABC/Toronto's Professional Development Sponsor IABC/Toronto's Student of the Year Award Sponsor

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