Mr. Bickford Goes to Washington
Sorry, Mr. Kapra. I couldn’t resist. Great movie by the way (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) with Jimmy Stewart who I saw in a stage production of Harvey in London in the mid 70’s - but I digress. I am indeed off to Washington very early tomorrow morning (did I mention I am not fond of getting out of bed at 4:00 am?) for a round of meetings and the IABC International Conference.
Here’s what I will be up to. On Friday, I host a day-long orientation for the 2005/06 International Executive Board (IEB). Saturday is the day-long final meeting of the 2004/05 IEB. Early Sunday morning is the inaugural meeting of the IABC Council of Regions followed by the final meeting of the 2004/05 IABC Research Foundation Board followed by a face-to-face with the International Conference Coffee Press Corps followed by the conference opening general session with James Carville and Mary Matalin followed by a welcoming reception followed by passing out (just kidding). Then it is two days of fantastic learning and networking, interviews, more meetings and general fun times (hopefully).
I’m not sure how much time I will have to actively participate in the Café for the next few days but I will, at the very least, be stopping by from time-to-time to see what’s up. I know the Coffee Press Corps will keep us all informed and up to the minute on what’s happening at conference. Be sure to drop by often.
June 23rd, 2005 at 6:21 am
Warren, have a good trip, and, in fact, take care that you don’t pass out from exhaustion, from trying too hard to do too much, in a town that can get far too hot.
When IABC held its Naked Communicator confrence in Toronto this spring, transparency was a big theme.
I’m looking forwrad to learning just how successful outgoing chairman David Kistle was in his announced goals from last year — in a transparent organization I’m sure this report will be widely publicized. I can’t remember the precise details, but the ideas were five new international chapters (I know somehting happened in Scandanavia), and five local chapters going over the 500 member mark.
Goals of the outgoing chairman — did he succeed?
Which brings up the question of goals for the new, incoming guy — you’ve done such a great job taking over the blog that all its readers now have high expectations for you. If you are going to make promises and establish goals, establish worthwhile ones, not numberical goals that mean nothing to members. Who cares if some 480 member chapter grows to 502? What’s that mean to 13,000 other members? Does rounding up the members at large in a part of northern Europe have any benefit to the other 13,000 members?
As for the trends and issues — I hope that roiving reporter Charles Pizzo, and the other CAFE Reporters, print these out and interview confrence delegates, about their opinions on these.
I’m really curious how many IABC members will say they even know about IABC CAFE, let alone read it.
And the interview about the trends and issues I’m most intrested in will be the one with IABC’s newest senior employee, the new PR Manager, Kristina Jackson.
This will be her first conference, her first chance to meeet with her members from 30, 40, maybe 50 countries. Her first chance to really do the research a good PR person does in getting to know the major stakeholders.
Assuming there’s a good media relations prgram plannned (I hate to be cynical…) she’ll meet some of the leading trade journalists, and, I really hope, the business and political journalists covering the conference because communications is at the heart of both.
There’s never been a better chance for a PR pro like Ms. Jackson to discover, and then take steps to manage, enhance, and develop, the “Organizational Personna.”
And please publish your most important “Here’s what your new leader plans to do as your new leader” speech in the CAFE, even if you don’t have time for othr postings.
It’ll be hot in Washington; and the new Most Important Communicaitons Professional In The World — that’s you, leading 13,000 communicators in 67 countries — should be even hotter.
Good luck, have fun…
BAK
June 23rd, 2005 at 7:09 am
Oh, gee, Warren. Why can’t you post blogs in between meetings?
Kidding, of course. You’ve done so much to breathe life back into this vehicle that I’m sure it will survive very well while you are doing business. We’ll just serve ourselves while the barrista is gone (at least I think I’m using the right word there).
June 25th, 2005 at 8:52 am
Let the IABC conference blogging begin!
Probably the best professional development and networking event for business communicators, anywhere in the world, begins tomorrow 26 June in Washington, DC. It’s the IABC international conference, the annual get-together for hundreds of communicators…