Blogging from Barbados

Hello everyone

I hope you are looking forward to Thursday’s panel discussion as much as I am.

It’s not often we can get four top communicators in the same room to discuss our profession.

Sara Odle (Cable & Wireless), Debra King (First Caribbean International Bank), Greg Hoyos (Greg Hoyos Associates DDB) and Pamala Proverbs (PRMR Inc.) all have a wealth of experience and are sure to leave us all more invigorated and excited about our role as business communicators.

The board has been busy behind the scenes putting in a lot of time and energy to make this happen and we wanted to thank all of those who have taken the liberty to register early.

We really appreciate it!

As you know this can make a huge difference where catering is concerned.

For those of you who haven’t registered as yet please RSVP to pamala@prmrinc.net or just hit reply on this email as soon as possible.

See you there!

Cheers

–
Christal P. McIntosh BSc.
President, IABC Barbados

Dear Valued Members and Friends of IABC Barbados

I just wanted to touch base with you all and let you know what we have been up to.

At our launch the banner we unveiled carried our logo and it summarized our vision in the phrase ‘Improving Organizational Effectiveness Through Strategic Business Communication‘.

Well, in order to do that we are keen on laying a firm foundation.  That’s why we are starting our chapter events with the upcoming panel discussion on the real function of PR.

We have four panelists of varied levels of experience from diverse sectors, representing the agency-side, the corporate-side and even a chairman that are sure to make for thought-provoking discourse.

They are:

• Pamala Proverbs, APR, CIPR, the managing director of PRMR Inc and Executive VP of IABC Barbados
• Sara Odle, Corporate Communications Manager at Cable & Wireless
• Debra Johnson, Head of Internal and Corporate Communications at FirstCaribbean International Bank
• Greg Hoyos, Chairman of Greg Hoyos Associates DDB

Come prepared to share your thoughts.

There is also a fantastic door prize so don’t forget to walk with your business cards for the draw.

Once again we’ve attached the flier and we hope you will take the time to spread the word.  Email it to your colleagues in the profession, put it up on the office bulletin board or post it to your blog.

Please RSVP to our Executive VP, Pamala Proverbs as early as possible so that we can adequately cater to you.

Hope to see you there!

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September to Remember

If you or anyone you know is interested in joining IABC Barbados, there is no better time like the present.  September is International Membership Month.  New members will pay just US $191 as the one-time application fee has been waived!  In all you will save US $40/ $30 for those who register online.

Of course, for those who may want a more economical option you can pay in four easy installments and still enjoy all the benefits of IABC membership.

Please contact me or the VP Finance, Fay Best, should you need assistance with your registration.  We’d be happy to assist.

Also, surf www.iabc.com, including the infinite educational resources in their member-only sections during September, for a better informed decision.

Joining IABC is one of the best career investments you could ever make.

What’s most important is that whether you or your company pays, membership belongs to you.  And if for any reason you leave the company, IABC will allow your employer to join up another staff member for the remaining period free of cost so everyone wins!

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IABC Barbados Online

Web2.0 is all the rage and IABC Barbados is not to be left out.  IABC Barbados now has its own group on Facebook and you can follow our ‘tweets’ at Twitter.  Please join us and while you are at it look out for IABC International and other members of IABC.

Look out for more as we will soon be announcing our website.

Of course, for those of you who are more comfortable with traditional means of communication, we’d love to hear from you.

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My IABC

IABC Barbados is here to provide you with the networking and professional development opportunities that will help to make you a better business communicator.

Is there a particular topic that you would like us to cover?  Please send your thoughts and suggestions to either one of our Professional Development Vice Presidents, Richard Thomas or Vicki Olton.

Until next time,

Best regards,

–
Christal P. McIntosh B.Sc.
President, IABC Barbados

It’s always wonderful when people write or call to say ‘I love you’!

Remember that old Stevie Wonder song?

But no, seriously, it is really heartening to get an email or a telephone call from someone who wants to know how to sign up with IABC.

Today I had two such experiences.

One was an individual working in the quasi-public sector and they were on the verge of being impatient with their accounts department in processing their payment.

That person has already begun to attend our networking events and just can’t wait to tap into the infinite online benefits through the IABC.com website.

The other scenario was a marketing communications professional who had made up their mind that they wanted to be a part of this esteemed organization and wanted to know what was the best way to do it .

I sent her an email and thought I’d summarize it and share it here for the many more requests that are sure to come in the near future!

For those others who are similarly eager to join IABC, it’s pretty easy.

You can actually visit www.iabc.com/join and register online.  It is a very simple process.

Just a few small notes and feel free to share these with your colleagues or friends who might be in the industry and serious about their professional development:

1. September is international membership month and so the US $30

online application fee is being waived.  Your total cost will be

just US $191, which you can pay in up to four installments if you

chose.  During this month you can also surf the IABC website’s

member-only sections for a better informed decision.

2. It’s best to pay by credit card but if you want to you can pay by

cash with the assistance of our VP Finance.

3. Your membership is yours, regardless of if you or your employer

pays.  In the latter case, if you leave your company before they

year expires, you will retain your membership for the remaining

period and they will be allowed to join a member in your place

for free for the same period; so everybody wins!

4. Bookmark this website for quick reference to IABC Barbados! Here you

can also choose to register for our next event, as well as stay

abreast with our activities as a chapter.

5. Feel free to reach out to any of our board members listed on the right for assistance regarding your membership or our activities or opportunities for networking and professional development through IABC International.

You are making a very important decision that will change your approach to business communications for the long term benefit of your career!

Congratulations!

Colleagues

Good news. Bad news.

The bad news is that we are no longer bringing the PR vs. Journalism showdown. We simply didn’t get the reaction we wanted from our prospective panelists. Clearly there is a lot of foundation that needs to be laid before we get buy-in on such a touchy topic.

Until then here is the good news!

We’ve decided to ask the panel another probing question: Will the real boss of our profession please stand up? Feel free to request or download the flier below for your blogs, bulletin boards, mailing lists and websites.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Christal P. McIntosh
President, IABC Barbados

P.S. Click anywhere on the flier below to pre-register!

PR Vs. Journalism reads like a proverbial boxing match. In the left corner is MM - muscular media, providing upper-cuts of coverage on topical issues and matters of community and national interest. Fighting for justice, though capable of being cloaked in the agendas of the ringleader, MM is the hallmark of any mature entity.

In the right corner, weighing in at 200 lbs (if you add in the blinged out trenchcoat, gucci bag and shades with matching boxer boots and bells) is Penny the PR Princess. Often seen as the gofer of the marketer on the one hand, and the flashy side of journalism on the other, she is bursting with passion to clear her reputation, image and impact on the audience’s perception.

This match takes place in real life every day as PR and journalism professionals attempt to work together for their common good while pleasing clients and editors under the scrutiny and judgment of almighty Joe Public.

The question is how do YOU believe this match should end?

As a bloody KO and or can they hold hands and share the championship belt?

Stay tuned for more as IABC Barbados plans our next event!

Admission to this match will be discounted for IABC members. Visit www.iabc.com/join today to secure your passport to career development with IABC Barbados.