AIP Newsletter January/February 2010

AIP's mission is to support independent IABC Toronto communicators through professional development, networking and marketing.

The Buzz is AIP's e-newsletter, intended to keep independent communicators informed about our activities, share professional development tips from past meetings and keep us aware of what's going on.

A NOTE FROM THE AIP CHAIR

By Donna Papacosta

As many members know, I took on the role of AIP chair in January. Frances Roberts, who so graciously and capably led our little band of independents for 18 months or so, needed to step down for personal reasons. I am grateful to Frances for all the work she did to build on the foundation set by such past chairs as Barb Sawyers and Cyrus Mavalwala.

I'd also like to welcome our new Director, Membership & Events, Amy Sept. Amy moved to Toronto last year from British Columbia, where she most recently worked as the Manager, Communications for the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia. Amy was an active member of IABC/BC and won several awards from her local chapter.

In the weeks ahead, I'll be working on a 2010 strategy for AIP. Our new branding, which Barb and Teri McMahon are spearheading, will be a part of this. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about the group and how we can improve its presence within IABC.

IABC/AIP MUNCH 'N' MINGLE

IABC & AIP PRESENT:

Show Your Love for the Planet! (Munch 'n' Mingle)

You're invited to show your love for our fabulous planet at IABC/AIP's sustainable Munch 'n' Mingle event on February 11. Participate in our green footprint icebreaker and enjoy organic appetizers while learning about sustainable approaches to communications.

Registration Fees:

Regular members: $30.00

Student members: $25.00
Non-members: $40.00

Thursday, February 11 event schedule:
Registration and networking start time: 6 p.m.
Food service: 6:30 p.m. (includes drink ticket & a sampling of organic appetizers)
Presentation: 7 p.m. casual words of welcome
Completion time: 8:30 p.m.

Location:
Haworth Toronto Showroom, 55 University Avenue, Toronto
MAP to Venue

TTC instructions: Exit at St. Andrew subway station

Parking instructions:

Parking is accessible from Wellington Street West, just west of York Street on the north side.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to enjoy local organic food and fun networking activities in a beautiful sustainable venue. Register now!

SAVE THE DATE!

Business Planning for Independents with Judi Hughes

Time & Date: Wednesday, March 10 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Place: The Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Avenue

Alterna Savings Office, 4th floor

Personal Branding for Independents - April 14th

Real Human: "Authentic Actions. Sustained Success" - May 12th

IABC world conference - June 6 to 9

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

AIP thanks the many members who have volunteered to join the executive, work on projects and write up events. We still require volunteers for:

Associate Director & Director Programming
With input from AIP Executive, the associate director and programming director will work together to:

Co-ordinate speaker information, equipment, needs, gift and handouts
Assist in contacting and securing speakers as required

The time commitment is about three hours a month, plus one evening a month to assist with our events. This includes participation in team teleconference calls. Interested candidates should email Donna Papacosta, AIP Chair.

AIP PROGRAM REPORT

LEARNING FROM THE INDEPENDENT PROS

By Donna Papacosta

On Wednesday night, January 27, 2010, the IABC/Toronto chapter's Alliance of Independent Practitioners (AIP) presented a panel discussion with successful communicators, who shared their insights and tips on setting and achieving business goals. We were really lucky to snag this panel:

Diana Degan Robinson, president of Diana Robinson & Associates and winner of IABC/Toronto's 2009 Award of Distinction for Independent and Small Agency of the Year; Paul Lima, freelance writer, trainer and author of Six-Figure Freelancer: How to Find, Price and Manage Corporate Writing Assignments, among other books; Ken Cherney, ABC, APR, MC, an award-winning senior communications practitioner at Ken Cherney and Associates Inc.; Annette Martell, ABC, MC, an award-winning management consultant and independent consulting associate at TWI Surveys Inc. She has been a guest speaker at IABC international conferences.

Here are my key take-aways:

You need a business plan. Paul Lima made this abundantly clear. As an independent communicator, you must know who you are, what kind of work you want to do, and which clients you want to work with. Sounds simple, right? But many of us don't take the time to write down our business vision.
You must network. Smartly. Annette Martell talked about strategic networking, and volunteering with groups that can help you to learn and to move you toward your goals.
You must be adaptable. Ken Cherney told us how he relocated to a smaller town for family reasons, and then had to adjust his business and his client base, in the face of a new location and a global recession.
You must be willing to take risks. Diane Degan Robinson spoke candidly about her experiences at big agencies, and her commitment to sticking with the independent life, despite the challenges. (In my own experience, I've turned down offers of full-time employment more than a few times, with no regrets.)

AIP is a special interest group of IABC Toronto. As the largest chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators, IABC Toronto provides access to products, services, activities and networking opportunities in Toronto and around the world. IABC helps people and organizations achieve excellence in corporate communications, public relations, employee communication, marketing communication, public affairs and other forms of communication. For more information, visit the IABC website.

Don't forget to connect with us on the web: www.aiptoronto.com