Experts to Address Crisis Communications Planning at Upcoming PRSA-NCC Program

WHEN: August 11th
8:00-8:30 a.m - Networking/continental breakfast
8:30-10 a.m. Program
WHERE: U.S. Navy Memorial & Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC
(Metro: Yellow/green lines, Navy Memorial/Archives)
COST: $35 PRSA and WWPR members; $55 Non-members; $10 Students/retirees
$10 extra on-site
REGISTER

Planning, preparation and anticipation are key to effective crisis communications. PRSA-NCC is bringing together experts to share what it takes to develop and implement a crisis communications plan and gain insights to help prepare for when a crisis impacts your organization. Also hear first person, behind-the scenes accounts of crisis communication activities and lessons learned for:
~The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s tragic June 2009 Metrorail accident, which resulted in nine fatalities, and
~The American Meat Institute’s crisis team response to the United States’ first case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ( “Mad Cow Disease” )

The workshop participants will cover:
• an overview of the key elements of crisis communications planning
• crisis message development
• senior executive crisis counseling
• understanding of an actual crisis communications plan put into action and tools and tactics used
• after-the-crisis take-aways and lessons learned

SPEAKERS:
Tim Tinker, Director of Booz Allen Hamilton’s Center for Risk and Crisis Communication and a Senior Associate on Booz Allen’s Strategy and Organization team
Lane Bailey, President of Global Public Affairs, GolinHarris
Lisa Farbstein, Director of Public Relations, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Janet Riley, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Professional Development, the American Meat Institute
Moderator: Mike Rothenberg, APR, PMP

IABC/DC Metro's Annual Resume Review/Career Counseling Night Returns

WHEN: Thursday, August 12th, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Bethesda Hyatt, 7400 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda MD
(Metro-Red Line to Bethesda; Parking $9 valet/$7 self park)
COST (if registered by Tuesday, August 10th):
IABC Members ~ $50
1x Guest of IABC Member ~ $55
Non-Members ~ $65
Students ~ $60

Interested in a free resume review/career counseling session? At this annual event IABC/DC Metro lets you mingle with other communicators from all over the area, sign up for free resume review and career counseling sessions with senior communicators and hear from Anne Headley, a nationally certified career counselor with several decades of experience working with adults in career decision-making and transitions. She will offer tips and guidelines for making a resume stand out.

Requests for free resume review/career counseling sessions are being taken on a first-come, first-served basis via e-mail to Robin Lane at prodev@iabcdcmetro.org. NOTE: You MUST register separately for a free resume review/counseling session and paid meeting registration is required to be eligible for a free resume review/counseling session.

PRSA-NCC's Volunteer Appreciation Night

Have you worked hard on a PRSA committee this year? Are you a sponsor? If so, join us on Tuesday, August 3 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Location: Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) 1201 Maryland Ave., SW, Ste. 900 Washington, DC 20024

Metro: Smithsonian or L'Enfant Plaza Metro stations

This is a free event for PRSA members only, but registration is required. Includes light food and beverages.

Come to a free networking reception to celebrate the volunteer efforts of those who make the National Capital Chapter one of the most successful PRSA chapters in the country. This is also your opportunity to find out how you can become better engaged in the chapter by working on a committee or running for the board of directors. Getting involved in the chapter and working alongside your colleagues is the best way to develop your leadership skills and build meaningful professional networks.

We also will discuss:

*Importance of volunteering as a way to give back to the community

*Benefits of being active in professional associations and other groups

*Motivating and managing volunteers.

Speaker: Jeanne Sanders, Executive Director, of Volunteer Fairfax!, a nonprofit organization that matches the skills and interests of volunteers and donors to the needs of local nonprofit organizations, helping to build a better community through service. Register here.

THE SCOOP: Dee Dee Myers to Keynote WWPR's PR Woman of the Year Awards

The event isn't until Wednesday, November 10th, but at its most recent luncheon (featuring Bill Novelli on Social Responsibility) Washington Women in Public Relations President Debbie Friez announced that WWPR has lined up former White House Press Secretary to Bill Clinton and contributing editor to Vanity Fair Dee Dee Myers to be the keynote speaker.

Myers is also the author of "Why Women Should Rule the World" in which she explores the trials woman have faced throughout history to achieve opportunities where their presence was once denied. In January of 1993, Myers became White House Press Secretary, the youngest person ever and the only woman in the history of the country to hold the position.

Classy Venue for IABC/DC Metro's Networking Night

Grab A Drink and Do the Summer Schmooze with Colleagues at Ceiba

While I'm not big on program-free events, it’s nice to see a Happy Hour event in someplace cool in more ways than one during the summer heat.

Join IABC/DC Metro (International Association of Business Communicators DC Chapter) in mixing and mingling over drinks at Ceiba on July 29th for Happy Hour. The event is FREE for IABC members and $15 for non-members, and the party starts at 5:30 pm.

Enticements include $5 Sangria Blanco, Sangria Rojo, Margaritas and Draught beer, half priced menus and a chance to network or enjoy friends. Register now, or for more information, contact Jakub Konysz or Robin Lane.

When: Thursday, July 29th, 5:30 -7:30 p.m.
Where: Ceiba, 701 14th Street, NW (In the Colorado Bldg, G & 14th Sts., NW)
Metro: Metro Center, Washington, DC
Attire: Business Casual

Proof Reading -- Leave it to the Professionals!

This week I've seen three stories with tips for improving your proofreading, had a client ask for someone to proofread and continued to see an overabundance of proof of the need of proofreading (especially in the cover notes and letters of communications professionals who self-profess their attention to detail).

So, although it's not something I normally do in The Capital Buzz, I think the universe has been pushing me to direct readers to a local firm, Publications Professionals LLC (no connection to PRofessional Solutions, LLC) that expertly provides this service. I encourage all who acknowledge the challenge of doing this task well and its value to the finished product to call them whenever the need arises at (703) 934-4499.

Coming Up: SPEECHWRITERS FOR THE VEEP AND PREZ SHARE THE POWER OF WORDS

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

It seems especially fitting on the 4th of July to post about speechwriters who have crafted messages that have inspired and motivated the country speaking in upcoming forums.

~IABC METRO DC PRESENTS~
A Day In The Life of Vice-Presidential Speechwriter Matt Teper

WHEN: Thursday, July 15th, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hamilton Crowne Plaza
1001 14th Street, NW Washington
(Metro: Orange/Blue - McPherson Sq
14th St, Hotel Parking: $6 valet
REGISTER*: $40 for members;
$30 for students
$45 for guests accompanying members
$55 for nonmembers
*NOTE: Rates apply to registrations made online by midnight Tuesday, July 13. Add $10 to registrations made online July 14, and $20 for event-day registration and walk-ins.

From opening remarks at fundraisers, to toasts at dinners with foreign dignitaries, when he is on the record Matt Teper puts words in Vice President Joe Biden’s mouth.

Before joining Vice President Biden’s team, Teper was the full-time speechwriter at Independent Sector, a leadership forum and advocacy group representing the interests of foundations and charities across the country. He has been writing in Washington since graduating from the University of Wisconsin School of Law in 2002, including as a Writer/Editor at another advocacy group focusing on federal judicial appointments and gun policy, and as a Senior Writer in the creative department of a public affairs firm.

Teper freelanced as managing editor of Rock the Vote’s blog during the 2004 election season and has written and edited numerous speeches, op-ed’s, letters to the editor, blog posts, film scripts, and a host of other communications materials for nonprofit leaders, CEOs, elected officials, television personalities, and others. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas

(Never been to an IABC meeting? I plan to attend this program, so feel free to register at the Guest rate and list me -- Kate Perrin -- as the sponsoring member. See you there!)

~SMITHSONIAN RESIDENT ASSOCIATE PROGRAM PRESENTS~
Presidential Speechwriters: Making History One Word at a Time

WHEN: Wednesday, October 6, 6:45-8:30 p.m.
Register: ResidentAssociates.org (no handling fee)
or call (202) 633-3030 ($3 handling fee) Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Resident Associate Members $30; General Admission $40
(unlike IABC, this does not include dinner!)

Presidential speechwriters are meant to be faceless figures in the background, but the Smithsonian is bringing the craft out of the shadows with some of the top presidential speechwriters of the past decades. They will explain the demanding, and often agonizing, process that can shape a presidency and even change history.

Panel will include:

• Michael Gerson, speechwriter for President George W. Bush
• Michael Waldman, speechwriter for President Bill Clinton
• Landon Priven, speechwriter for Ronald Reagan (and both Presidents Bush), and
• a representative from the Obama White House, schedule permitting.
• MODERATOR Ken Walsh, senior White House correspondent for U.S. News & World Report
  

Hear About Health Care Communications and the Status of the Electronic Health Records at Next CCG Lunch

WHEN: Wednesday, July 21st, Noon - 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Darlington House, 1610 20th St, NW Washington
(Metro Stop: Dupont Circle, Red line)
COST: $21 (Cash only; exact change much appreciated)
RSVP required: CapitalCommunicator@gmail.com
(This lunch is open to the first 40 who RSVP. After that, names will be placed on a waiting list.)

Learn about what's new with health reform and the status of the electronic health records and how health care professionals are dealing with the challenges related to communicating about these complex topics.

Speakers:
• Jeanine W. Grain, Director, Strategic Communications Outreach, MedStar Health
• Grant McLaughlin, Principal. Strategic Communications, Booz Allen Hamilton
• Air Force Colonel Douglas Anderson, Director of Strategic Communications, Department of Defense

Not on the list to hear first about Capital Communicator Group lunches? Well join the CCG Email List

WHAT TO DO BEFORE GOING OUT ON A LIMB WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

More Good Advice from Lisa Barone About Creating an Effective Social Media Program for Your Organization

In her savvy "9 Things to do Before Entering Social Media" piece in Small Business Trends on Tuesday, Lisa listed a number of things that some organizations who just plunged in are now learning the hard way, smacking their heads with a Homer Simpson "D'Oh!" Here are some I thought particularly insightful if you don't go read the full article.

Create a rulebook:
Identify how you’ll handle common support issues, the tone you’ll take, how you’ll address negativity, how fans will be rewarded, etc. Work up fake scenarios and create a plan for how you’ll deal with them.

Assign responsibility:
• Who will be responsible for creating the content, pushing it, talking to people, responding to questions, etc?
• Who will implement any changes/issues discovered through social media?
• How much time should this be taking from everyone’s day and is the number you just came up with realistic or did you just make it up?

Increase your customer support:
Now that you’re going to have a live stream of people coming to you with questions, concerns you can’t ignore them. That may mean rearranging your customer support system or, it may mean adding actual bodies.

Shift your culture:
You need to be social from inside your organization out and that that may change how you deal with customers, how you treat your employees, and how daily job functions are performed.

Commit to responding:
Commit yourself and your organization to responding to complaints (addressing them is how you can provide the biggest value to your company). Be ready to act. When people complain or point out things that need to be fixed you actually have to act on them.

Clue in your employees:
Your employees are the strongest brand advocates you have. They want to get involved so make sure you clue employees to your new social strategy, let them know their role and tell them how they can help the organization. Give them the power and the knowledge to do that.