January 2018 Issue of IABC Connect

January 2018

News

The 2018 Virtuoso Awards now open for entries

You’ve worked hard in 2017 to deliver strategic and engaging business communications. Take pride in your work and enter a project (or even a few) for a chance to win a 2018 Virtuoso Award. Submit your entry online between now and March 2, 2018.

Virtuoso Awards are open to any individual whose project, campaign or tactic meets best practices for business communications. Whether you are a communications or creative professional – or you implement communications and design projects as a volunteer, employee, account manager or business owner – consider entering a project!

Here are just a few reasons to enter an award:

Gain recognition and build your reputation for delivering excellence in communications and creativity
Inspire your team. Bring them together to showcase show-stopping work and share in the glory
Receive unbiased feedback and gain more insight on your work from senior professionals outside of our region

Still not convinced? Hear from previous Virtuoso Award winners , Michele Martin, Kelly Ziegner, Laurie Lashbrook and Cameron Arksey, about their reasons for entering.

Don’t think of it as a competition. There can be multiple winners in each category depending on the judges’ scores. This year’s awards will be presented on May 31 at the Virtuoso Awards Celebration.

It’s time to get started on your entry. The March 2nd deadline is less than two months away. Visit virtuosoawards.com for categories, templates and scoring information as well as the online entry form.

Professional Development

IABC Professional Development is launching into 2018 with a presentation/workshop on how to write a #winning Virtuoso award submission. On Thursday January 25 ^th at 7:30 a.m. IABC London welcomes Vanessa Dolishny of the London Community Foundation to share how her team dazzled the judges and won the “Best of the Best!” Virtuoso Award for their Community Vitality Celebration project in 2017.

Dolishny will guide attendees through the process her team followed when putting together their submission. This will include what elements to focus on, formatting tips, and how to present your project in its best light.

The second half of this event will take the form of a workshop. Attendees will have the chance to draft their own submissions and ideas with previous winners from across the city who are eager to help others make it onto the podium. While this event is focused on Virtuoso award applications, the knowledge gained can also apply to grant applications and other awards outside IABC.

Just getting started on a new project? This workshop will provide useful insight into the project planning process and show attendees how having an award-winning mentality from the start can increase the level of success of their projects and their award submissions.

Learn from your peers and improve your award submission writing skills with IABC London and Vanessa Dolishny at our first PD event of 2018. Register today!

When: Thursday, January 25, 2018

Time: 7:30-9:00 a.m.

Location: Western Continuing Studies ( Citi Plaza), London

Tickets: Just $5! Registration required.

RSVP Registration closes on Tuesday, January 23rd at 3 p.m

Membership

IABC London loses an early pioneer, Catherine Finlayson

By Sandra King Webster, MPR, ABC

The IABC London community has lost one of its early pioneers. Catherine Finlayson, CFRE, who joined IABC in the early 1980s, and later served as our chapter’s fifth president, died on Dec. 28. In Catherine’s memory and in recognition of her extraordinary contributions, IABC London has made a donation to the Adventure Expeditions and Interpretive Leadership program at Fanshawe College. Read more.

Meet Jane Antoniak, our featured member

Where do you work? What is your role, including responsibilities and projects?

As Manager, Communications & Media Relations, at King’s University College, in London, ON, I lead a small, vibrant team of two staff plus myself. We also have two student employees, and interns from Fanshawe College and Western University. I also work closely with external contractors for photography, videography, graphic design and printing. Read more.

Job Board

Communications Specialist - BrainsCAN - Western University

Communications Coordinator - Canadian Mental Health Association

Junior Web Developer - Northern

Project Manager - Northern

Senior Digital Advertising Specialist - Northern

For more information on how to post a job with IABC London visit our website here or contact Cassie Caranci, IABC London Job Board Liaison, at [email protected].