PIC Newsletter - April 2015
Greetings! 
Hope you enjoy the latest edition of The Buzz!

An invitation from the PIC chair, Sharon Aschaiek

Ask not what the communications profession can do for you, ask what you can do for the communications profession.

OK, it's not the most artful adaptation of John F. Kennedy's famous quote, but it nonetheless serves the purpose of this message. We have openings on the 2015-16 PIC executive, and to borrow from the army this time -- we want you! That is, we want you if you're interested in helping independent communicators advance their careers while strengthening your own professional development.

This fall, I'll be returning to the PIC executive as past chair, along with Sohini Bhattacharya in membership and Sue Horner in communications. That leaves three openings for 2015-2016:

  • Chair
  • Director of programming
  • Director of social media

The PIC year runs from September to August, and each position is for a one-year term. We rotate between two types of monthly events -- evening seminars and social networking events. These typically take place on a weekday evening the first week of each month. During the summer months, we ease up the pace by sticking with patio socials. PIC executive members each have their own responsibilities related to their portfolio, but everyone assists in their own way with executing our seminars.

Telling a group of independent businesspeople about the benefits of volunteering for your profession feels a bit like preaching to the choir. We all understand the importance of taking initiative to get ahead, since our livelihoods depend on it. But it's still worth mentioning the specific rewards of getting involved with PIC.

I've been serving on the executive for the last three years -- the first as chair of membership, and the last two as chair. One of the biggest benefits has been collaborating with a group of smart, capable and hard-working people who are committed to being a quality resource for independent communicators. These are interesting, dynamic professionals who bring bright ideas and passion to the group. They know how to get things done, and they have helped make this one of my most enjoyable volunteer experiences.

Other important highlights of volunteering for PIC worth mentioning:

  • exploring new ways to expose our members to the best practices, latest trends and leading expertise of the craft and business of communications;
  • enjoying greater opportunities to engage in valuable networking and insightful conversations with our members;
  • helping to promote the success of other independent communicators and the profession as a whole; and
  • ensuring that the needs and views of independent communicators are met and represented within IABC/Toronto.

You can go here to learn more about the responsibilities of the three open positions on next year's executive. You can also ask those now in those roles about what they do, and what it's like to volunteer for PIC. We'll be happy to answer any questions about PIC volunteering at our upcoming events. You can also direct any questions you may have directly to me at [email protected]

Continued success,

Sharon

In This Issue
An invitation from the PIC chair
April 1 report
May 6: The perfect pitch
One spot left in social media workshop
Your feedback
Networking tips from the Queen
Ask Gary about Prime Ministers
Meet Tracy Chisholm, ABC
Need a mentor? Want to be a mentor?
Update your profile
Quick Links
Newsletter archives
Join Our Mailing List!
We want your talents!
PIC 2014-2015 Executive
April 1: No pranks, just prime networking
PIC social April 2015
If you attend our PIC socials, we can pretty much guarantee you'll meet and/or have a great conversation with at least three people. Such was the case on April 1 when PIC members and friends met at the O+B Canteen on King Street West.

The events aren't just an excuse to eat, drink and be merry (although we do that, too!). Getting together in a casual setting helps us get to know each other, share successes and challenges, ask for and get advice and more.

What do you think of the way we change it up -- alternating professional development meetings with social events? Let PIC Programming Director Jane Langille know!

Photo: Sue Bowness, Sohini Bhattacharya and Heather West enjoy networking at O+B Canteen. Photo by Sharon Aschaiek.

May 6 (next week!): Learn how to make the perfect pitch

Wednesday, May 6, 2015, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto, Room 308 (closest subway stop: St. Andrew station)


When talking to someone new, you have just seven seconds to spark interest in what you do. That earns you the next 23 seconds to finish your elevator pitch.

How do you structure and build the perfect elevator pitch? Find out in this session! You'll have time to work with others to perfect your pitch. A few lucky participants will get to "trial run" theirs and get live feedback to make them better. You'll leave this session with a much better way to introduce yourself to and articulate your value to potential clients. It's a session you won't want to miss!

About our presenter: As the Chief Story Architect for Impact Assured (soon to be The Story Architect), Kevin Smith helps startups, small businesses and social enterprises unleash their story by helping them understand what their core customer story is, and then helping them get their story to market.

Registration fees*:
IABC members: $16 ($18.08 with HST)
Non-members: $26 ($29.38 with HST)

*Please register and pay for this event in advance. Sorry, we can't accept payment at the door. 
Remember, to keep costs down, we no longer have refreshments at PIC meetings -- sorry, not even water! To give you time to fill your water bottle or grab a quick snack before the meeting, registration and informal networking will start at 6:30 p.m. (half an hour later than previously), and the panel discussion begins at 7 p.m.

Register now!  

One spot left in hands-on social media workshop May 1

Hands-on social media workshop

9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, May 1, 2015
Toronto Board of Trade, 1 First Canadian Place, 77 Adelaide Street West, Toronto

Are you tired of trying to figure out social media on your own? Would you like to get your burning questions about the WHY and HOW of social media answered? Do you want to get better at integrating social media into your day-to-day work so you can meet your goals? Then come to this workshop, where you'll learn more about blogging, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and more from presenter and PIC member Donna Papacosta of Trafalgar Communications. PIC members save 15% with discount code iabc2015.

Find out more and register 

Reasons why PIC members find our meetings valuable

Do you make a point of getting to PIC meetings? Here's why you should, according to comments on IABC's follow-up survey after our March panel discussion on pricing:

"Great to see so many independents -- it reminded me I'm not alone in trying to sustain my business and that other quality pros are dealing with many of the same challenges and opportunities."

"Well-organized event, in an informal atmosphere and with an extremely friendly group who openly share experiences and tips."

"It addressed the topic as advertised and I got some new ideas, there was lots of opportunity to ask questions, it started and ended on time."

Networking tips from the archives and the late Donna Messer

Sadly, "Networking Queen" Donna Messer passed away in early April due to cancer. Here's a flashback to some of her wise words to our group at a session in January 2013.

"Networking is the single most important thing you can do to get a job, keep a job, find a man, whatever!" Donna said. "It's magic."

She showed PIC members that networking is really business matchmaking, taking what you learn about a new contact and finding a match in your network. Use the 3 Ws: Who are you? What do you need? What are you willing to share?

Donna explained the "3 Cs of networking" as collaboration, communication and commitment, found in these four steps:

  1. Develop a "give before you get" approach. Think of someone you know who has something in common and help make the introduction without expecting anything in return. Find common ground by asking: What do you like to do? What associations do you belong to? What are your hobbies? Where do you volunteer? What's on your bucket list?
  2. Use social media wisely. Post information that others will want to share. Set Google Alerts for your own name and companies or people you want to connect with. If you don't have a blog yet, start one, writing about what you know and who you know.
  3. Follow up with new contacts. Give something - information, a link, a name. You want people to feel they've been given a gift.
  4. Measure results. Ask people to let you know what comes of the connections you made.

Done properly, Donna said, networking is "a systematic process that gets measurable results. If you aren't getting results, you aren't networking."

(Find more tips from the session in Sue Horner's Red Jacket Diaries blog.) 

Gary's in the news for his knowledge

Did you know that PIC member Gary Schlee, ABC, MC is an authority on Canadian Prime Ministers? Gary has been collecting facts on PMs since he was in high school, which he has compiled for his Canadian Prime Ministers: Date Book website and (future) book.

In an interview for the Leaders and Legacies website, Gary says, "My hope is that the end product will not only be a very accessible way to learn more about the men and woman who have served as PM, but will also convey a sense of fun."

About some of the facts he has unearthed, Gary says, "It's tough to make this stuff up." 

PIC Personalities
Meet Tracy Chisholm, ABC
 

Tracy Chisholm, Principal of T. Chisholm Communications, is an award-winning Accredited Business Communicator (ABC). She holds a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University and is certified in change management. She has worked with a number of industries in the public and private sectors to lead change, strategic communications, media relations, launches and employee engagement. Tracy can be reached at 416-400-1537 or by emailing [email protected].

How did you get into freelancing?

It was a personal decision I made to balance work and home. It was something I always wanted to try, and the timing was right. I'm lucky, I've always had pretty remarkable opportunities come to me. I worked in corporate communications for a variety of businesses including health care, insurance and retail organizations and I think my broad skill set has been a valuable asset.

What do you enjoy most about being independent?

I like the flexibility and the fact that every day is different. I work with a diverse range of companies and I get to learn a lot about different industries. I enjoy providing a solution and helping companies fix their challenges.

What don't you enjoy about being independent?

There isn't really much I can think of. I know a lot of people mention working alone, but I'm always on the phone with my clients. There's a great mix of being at home and getting out and about. I suppose sometimes it's hard that there are only 24 hours in a day and the ebb and flow of the work is challenging, but that's true for full-time employment too.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming an independent?

Trust in your abilities. You do need experience to be a freelancer; it's not for a junior-level person. But once you've been performing at certain level for a while you have to trust you have the skills to do the job. In the corporate world, we're the cheerleaders for everyone else. We have to give ourselves the same advice we give to others and listen to it.

What type of work are you doing right now?

I am doing a wide variety of work, which I love. I've worked for health care, transportation, mining, retail and not-for-profit organizations. I provide a lot of change management solutions -- working with executives and presidents. Support can range from writing plans to doing a full review, including stepping in as project lead, doing strategic planning and visioning, recruiting staff and building the team.

Every industry is run by people, and there are similar problems that come up when any organization goes through change regardless of the sector. Understanding people and predicting and preparing for how they will react is the same whether you're working with a mine or a hospital.

How long have you been a PIC member and what value do you get from your membership?

I've been an IABC member since 1993, and joining PIC was one of the first things I did when I went out on my own. It's so beneficial to talk to others and build a network. I don't look at it as a room full of competitors -- it's a wealth of knowledge and resources. We've all been in one another's shoes and we can help each other. And, when work comes to me that is outside of my expertise, I can say that I know someone who can help.

 

We count more than 160 members in PIC, offering a range of talent from coaching and media relations to video production and writing. Do you know everyone? Our PIC Personalities feature introduces new members and randomly profiles existing members. Let Sue Horner know if you'd like to be profiled and she'll be in touch to set it up! You can find previous PIC Personalities in The Buzz archives and on IABC/Toronto's CommVersations blog.

Need a mentor? Want to be a mentor? Sign up with Sharon

Our mentorship program is live, with two mentorship matches among our members. We're looking for more seasoned communicators to pair with aspiring mentees who may be new to being independent.

If you're willing to be a mentor or would like a mentor, email Sharon Aschaiek at [email protected].  We'll set up the connection and leave you to work out the details of how often to meet and where you want to take the relationship.

For some tips on making the most of a mentoring relationship, see Sharon's column in the January Buzz, recapped on the MentorCity blog.

Make sure your PIC member profile is current

As a member of PIC, you can promote yourself at no charge in the PIC directory, located on the IABC/Toronto website. Yes, it's f-r-e-e! Make sure you're taking advantage of this chance to share key details about your services.

If you want to add to your existing profile, or create a completely new one, email PIC's Director of Membership & Events, Sohini Bhattacharya. Sohini keeps a running list that she shares with IABC/Toronto every quarter, using your name, company name, location, email address, telephone, website, blog and a brief description of your business (up to 35 words).

 


 
PIC is a special interest group of IABC/Toronto. PIC's mission is to support independent IABC/Toronto communicators through professional development, networking and marketing. 
The Buzz is PIC's e-newsletter, intended to inform independent communicators about our activities, share professional development tips from past meetings and keep us aware of what's going on. Connect with us on the web at pictoronto.com.

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.

Sue Horner                                                           Heather West   
Director, Communications - PIC                              Copy editor