November, 2007 Vol 1, Issue 3 - A monthly e-newsletter for IABC T&T Members From the President: Just last week I was chatting with some friends and I asked them to think about the words that comprise IABC-International, Association, Business, Communicators and give me the top reason why they decided to join the Chapter.      While some said that it was the word 'International'  that attracted them, others opined that the word 'Business' and 'Communicators' mattered most since it was in the corporate  world that they  communicated and joining a group where there was such strong focus in both areas was critical. However, the overwhelming majority said they felt 'Association' was the most important word in IABC because it suggested a connection among like minded professionals that would facilitate the sharing of ideas, the advancing of careers and the creation of new opportunities to  build professional and personal bonds.       The feedback didn't surprise me. As President, I get to see the 'A' of IABC at work every day.  The five Trinibagonians who gave a cheer worthy of 1,000 when member Gina Joseph of the North West Regional Authority collected her Silver Quill award in Tampa, Florida demonstrated the 'A' at work.  When IABC-ers Anna Kurbanali, Nicole Duke Westfield, Carol Mc Kenzie took up the leadership mantle of various IABC committees without blinking an eye it also showed the power of the community at work and last week when I used my IABC connections to find a job for a recent UWI communications graduate, it demonstrated the depth of the connections I have formed with fellow members.      I encourage you not to miss out on the most important part of being an IABC-er.  Undoubtedly for our Association to grow even stronger we need you to volunteer on projects in whatever capacity you can offer and for whatever period of time you can serve.           Thanks to those of you who work to make IABC T&T the fastest growing Association for communications, marketing and PR professionals and for those of you still sitting on the fence, not quite sure of your role within the Association. Come on down.      I promise you will find IABC T&T a rewarding place to be. Best Judette Coward-Puglisi Founder & President 2007-2008 Lost in Translation  We were thrilled that 56 IABCers and their guests joined us Queen's Hall yesterday to hear from some of the country's leading advertising executives. To download their presentations please log on to:  http://www.iabctt.com/ under Media Centre/News Section and join the conversation on Facebook on IABC T&T's page, starting from Saturday 24th November. Dexter Charles, Manager, Group Corporate Communications, First Citizens participating in the Open Discussion Session during Lost in Translation.  Seated next to him are Wynell Gregorio, Marketing Manager, CLICO (Trinidad) Ltd and Maria Rivas Mc Millan, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Guardian Holdings Ltd. (Photo:  Kenhong Mack, Studio Works Ltd.) IABC T&T member Gina Joseph wins a Silver Quill Award  IABC T&T member Gina Joseph  (third from left) takes centre stage with her sister  to accept their  Silver Quill Award for excellence in an external communications project. They stand next to Todd Hattori, IABC's Chair 2007-2008.    "Never ignore an IABC call for entry," says Gina Joseph who picked up a Silver Quill Award in Tampa, Florida last month.      Gina is a Communications Officer at the  North West Regional Health Authority but her winning submission had nothing to do with work there. Instead, along with her sister, Gina entered a volunteer health project that she initiated in the  St Ann's community.  To view Gina's entry log on to: http://www.iabctt.com/ under Media Centre/News Section. Communications Cafe IABCTT.com Gets Glam Quick Links IABC T&T Chapter Website IABC International Member-Get-A-Member Promotion IABCTT.com Gets Glam IABC T&T's Vice President of Branding & Visual Communications, Brevard Nelson, has been nipping and tucking at iabctt.com with a view to making the website more interactive and dynamic. Included in the upgrade is a portal page with a repository of information for members, and new revenue generating features, with appropriate backend Metrics to help measure ROI.  Some final stitching will be done over the next 2 weeks and members will be informed when she is ready to go. IABC T& T hits 70 Last month we welcomed our first communicators from the oil and gas industry, hitting the 70 member mark.        Welcome Sharon Lee Assang of Repsol and Heidi Batson of Atlantic  LNG, both are communications managers at their respective energy companies. As we increase our numbers, VP of Membership Giselle La Ronde West will turn her attention to providing more value to members by seeking IABC T&T group discount at some of your favourite suppliers and retailers. Member-Get-A-Member Promotion Returns Want a year's membership for free? Then recruit new members to IABC T&T and consider it done. We recognise that the value of a network increases exponentially with each new member and current members are the best marketing resource we have to recruit new members. So, we're bringing back the popular Member-Get-A-Member promotion, starting 1st December 2007 and running through the end of the year. Members who recruit new members get  three free months of membership for each new member they bring in...up to a full year at no charge.  See rules for more details. Attend the IABC 2008 International Conference in the city that never sleeps! Mark your calendars for the 2008 International Conference, happening 22 - 25 June in New York City. The conference will focus on communicators as the catalysts for change in an interconnected world. The Global Trends track will cover communication issues that affect organizations, including demographic shifts, climate change and trust in brands and business. IABC is also moving toward a "green" conference experience in New York City with environmental initiatives that will prevent and reduce waste. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a community relations project on Friday, 20 June. Early registration and the preliminary programme  for the conference will be available in December. Go to  IABC 2008 Conference for more details. Leadership Institute in San Antonio The holidays are fast approaching, which means another key IABC conference is just around the corner. Join fellow communicators  from across the globe at IABC 's Leadership Institute (LI)  from 21 - 23 February 2008 in sunny San Antonio, Texas.      For more details please click LI 2008 Members' Notes Congratulations to IABC T&T member Adrian Benjamin of Powergen on the birth his new baby girl.   Happy Birthday to IABC-ers Maria Mohammed of Kamo Designs and Wynell Gregorio of Clico.            Hats off to Judette Coward Puglisi who will speak at IABC's Leadership Institute in San Antonio, Texas. IABC-er Nadine Johnson is looking for a  one  or two bedroom apartment in POS and environs for a short term lease (2-3 months). Contact Nadine at 740-8450 Need an expreienced communications / advertising manager in your organisation? IABC T&T has on file the CV of an oustanding manager with a proven track record. For more information contact president@iabctt.com  Want to share news of your promotion, personal or professional success, please write membership@iabctt.com.