IABC Nashville Chapter Newsletter | June 2020 | Special Edition
IABC NASHVILLE CONNECTOR:
JUNE 2020 NEWSLETTER
FROM OUR PRESIDENT: WE ARE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY
Dear Friends and Colleagues,

“I can’t breathe.” These three words have transformed the world as we collectively witnessed the horrendous and unjust murder of George Floyd. This came at the heels of the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many more. In addition, amidst all of this, we are still navigating through a global pandemic. A pandemic that has disproportionately impacted communities across the country, including Nashville. My heart is broken as I mourn these recent events and their underlying causes.

As a White woman, I know that I will never experience the pain and prejudices that many of my Black friends, colleagues and community have experienced. All I can say is this: I am here for you. I am listening to you. I am continually learning from you.

I am thankful to be a part of IABC and its commitment to being a welcoming community that supports, develops, and connects communication professionals worldwide. Regardless of race, culture, faith, sexual orientation, disability, skin color, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, or experience, you are an equal and valued part of the IABC global community - and you are welcome! 

2020 has been a confusing and challenging year thus far. As business communicators, we need to have a roadmap to navigate us in the right direction. The IABC Nashville Board of Directors and I are committed to providing our members and colleagues with the resources, tools, and industry updates on how business communicators can take steps to help eliminate racism and bigotry in the workplace. It is our mission and duty to advance the message of decency and kindness. 

IABC Nashville has and will always embrace diverse viewpoints, encourage conversation, and celebrate cultural differences. We believe these differences benefit our profession and that we are more enlightened, well informed, and successful when we honor unique experiences and perspectives.

I leave you with this poem of optimism by Leslie Dwight:
What if 2020 isn’t cancelled?
What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for?
A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw — that it finally forces us to grow.
A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber.
A year we finally accept the need for change.
Declare change. Work for change. Become the change.
A year we finally band together, instead of pushing each other further apart.

2020 isn’t cancelled, but rather the most important year of them all.
In Solidarity,
Mollye Dietrich
2020 President, IABC Nashville
Phone: 615-974-0151
RESOURCES AS WE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
IABC Nashville reaffirms its commitment to supporting and encouraging diversity, equity, and inclusion in our regional and global communication community. We recommend the following resources to help business communicators navigate through this time together.

Local Chambers and Community Groups

IABC Resources

Communication Resources
CALL FOR ENTRIES NOW OPEN: 2020 MUSIC CITY GOLD PEN AWARDS
IABC Nashville continues its quest to recognize Middle Tennessee professionals who exemplify excellence in strategic business communications with the 2020 Music City Gold Pen Awards ! Here are some new things to expect this year:

New Category - Diversity and Inclusion : Entries in this category should highlight campaigns or programs of work aimed at building a culture of inclusion for an organization, with internal or external stakeholders.

2020 IABC Leadership Awards : We are excited to bring back individual leadership awards and encourage you to nominate an IABC Nashville member as a Rising Star , Communicator of the Year , or Hall of Fame inductee.

Sponsorship Categories : Sponsors of the Music City Gold Pen Awards gain visibility and recognition from the region's top business communicators.

Judging Partners: A BIG thank you to our judging partners, IABC Atlanta and KC IABC , for helping us with our awards program this year!
CELEBRATING PRIDE MONTH:
HOW TO BE A BETTER ALLY
Our friends at the Nashville LGBT Chamber have been the leaders in the fight for equality in the LGBTQ+ community, and have put together some excellent tips on how to be a good ally during this month and beyond:


  • Before you start marketing your business, be aware and sensitive to the news of the day. While you have good intentions, think about who is receiving your communication?

  • You will make mistakes and you will be called out for it. That is okay. Use it as an opportunity to listen and learn.

  • Ask for help. The Nashville LGBT Chamber and IABC have resources to help you learn more about Diversity and Inclusion best practices.

In addition to these resources, we recommend checking out the presentation "Let Me Get This Straight: When Identity Politics Becomes Identity Language, " by Michael Deas, ABC, SCMP ® . Mike gave this presentation at our January Professional Development Luncheon where he discussed the importance of understanding gender pronouns and how to use them correctly.
ABOUT THE INCLUSION FLAG

This is a rebooted pride flag was designed by graphic designer Daniel Quasar in 2018. Quasar’s flag includes the colors of the trans flag, as well as black and brown stripes of the 2017 Pride flag redesign from Philadelphia , which sought to further represent the queer and trans identities of black and brown people. 

The new stripes appear as a “hoist” to the right of the original Pride flag colors. Quasar wrote that the traditional six stripes “should be separated from the newer stripes because of their difference in meaning, as well as to shift focus and emphasis to what is important in our current community climate. Click here learn about the Inclusion Flag.
HISTORY OF PRIDE MONTH

Learn more about the history of Pride Month and the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement with these articles and videos:
UPCOMING EVENTS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Wed, Jun 17, 2020 12:00 PM CST
Log In and Lunch: Creating Brand Experiences in an Age of Social Distancing
Join us on Zoom Wednesday, June 17  as  Lindsay Bertelli , president and owner of  REACH ,  guides through the strategy, tactics, and technology of creating valuable brand experiences in our new virtual environment. If your 2020 events have been moved online or you are exploring creative ways to reach participants virtually, this presentation will help you figure out how to get started and set you up for a successful shift. Tickets: Free for IABC Members; $15 for Non-Members.
MAY HIGHLIGHTS: CREATING CONNECTION IN A VIRTUAL WORLD
May Professional Development Log In and Lunch : Thanks to everyone who joined us for our first ever virtual "Log In and Lunch" event with Lily Clayton Hansen on Wednesday, May 27. Lily gave an insightful presentation on adapting interviews and conversations for today’s virtual environment! Attendees learned how to make themselves and their subjects more comfortable to elicit better discussion.
May Virtual Networking Mixer : Thank you to everyone who joined us for our second "Virtual Networking Mixer" on Thursday, May 21! We hope you enjoyed chatting with us, and perhaps you learned something new or even made a helpful connection or friend.
IABC NASHVILLE BLOG SPOT: INDUSTRY NEWS & TRENDS
BACK TO BUSINESS: HOW NASHVILLE'S TOP COMMUNICATORS ARE HELPING OUR ECONOMY REOPEN SAFELY
BY KELLIE DAVIE, APR
As we slowly start to open businesses up during Phase 2 of the pandemic, IABC Nashville interviewed some of the area's top communication professionals on what they are doing to help get the the message of safety across various channels. Featuring Marcia Masulla ( ROAR Nashville ), Janet Kurtz ( Kurtz Hospitality Marketing ) and Jeremi Griggs ( The J. Benjamin Group )

BLOG: CHECKING THE MAIL BAG
SOURCE: JOE DIORIO, A FEW WORDS ABOUT WORDS
Local writer and no-nonsense communications expert Joe Diorio gives his commentary on grammatical mistakes and misconceptions that continue to take place with pandemic media coverage.

LAST CALL: DON'T MISS THE 2020 VIRTUAL IABC WORLD CONFERENCE JUNE 14-17
The IABC World Conference is a long-standing, global professional development event designed for communication practitioners. The only major conference of its type, the event draws over 1,000 attendees from around the world.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference will be completely virtual. Speakers are selected through a peer-reviewed process, with evaluations conducted by top experts in the field.

MEMBERSHIP CORNER
LAST CALL: IABC MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

With many IABC members and professionals in our wider community whose financial situation has changed due to COVID-19, IABC is offering  relief to those who've lost their job, been furloughed, or lost income  and are due for renewal between now and June 30, 2020 or wish to join the organization as a new member. 

IABC is providing the following options:
  1. A 50% discount on international dues* for a one-year professional membership for any NEW professional member.
  2. A 50% discount on international dues* for a one-year professional membership renewal for any active professional member who is due to renew between now and June 30.
  3. A one-month extension of membership, for active members who are due to renew between now and June 30.

Contact [email protected]   with questions about these options.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
Robert Lambert , Centerstone
Robin Davis , Metre, LLC

THANK YOU TO OUR RENEWED MEMBERS
Joe Diorio , A Few Words About Words
Ron Fuchs , Boldsquare Group
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: JUNE PATTERSON, CONTENT DIRECTOR, HEALTHSTREAM

On a continuous basis, IABC Nashville spotlights its diverse members through a Q&A feature. This month we chat with June Patterson , Content Director at HealthStream . HealthStream is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through the development of healthcare organizations'​ greatest asset: their people. Its unified suite of solutions is contracted by, collectively, approximately 4.8 million healthcare employees in the U.S. for workforce development, training & learning management, talent management, credentialing, privileging, provider enrollment, performance assessment, and managing simulation-based education programs

New job, promotion, board appointment, industry award, or certification/degree? We want to know and celebrate your professional achievements! Contact Vice President of Membership, Kristin Appelman at [email protected] .
JOB CENTER
Internal Communications Manager
Amazon
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Marketing Coordinator
Southwestern Investment Group
Design and Creative Coordinator
The General ®
Marketing and Business Development Manager
Schneider Electric
In the job market? Looking to hire? Your IABC Nashville tribe is here to connect you! 
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