May 2016 Leader Letter

A monthly newsletter for IABC leaders

There Is Still Time to Register for the 2016 World Conference!

#IABC16 is quickly approaching, but there is still time to register! We hope to see you in New Orleans from 5-8 June where we are bringing together some of the best in the communication field to share strategies and ideas to move your organization forward. As chapter leaders you can amplify the World Conference and share ideas by using the hashtag #IABC16. The hashtag creates an opportunity for members to be a part of the event, even if they are not on site. Let's #createconnection like never before!

Please remember that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been moved to a new time this year and will be taking place on Saturday, 4 June at 3:30pm CDT at the Hilton Riverside Hotel.The AGM will include ratification of the 2016-17 International Executive Board slate of officers, a discussion of IABC's financials, a revised Code of Ethics and revised Policy Manual. Check out the most recent Quarterly Report for an idea of what will be discussed during the AGM.

Be sure to register for the Leader Reception by Monday, 30 May. The reception is taking place from 6-7:30pm at the River Room at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans on 4 June. All current IABC leaders are invited to the reception as a small token of appreciation for all that you do for IABC. Guest tickets can also be purchased for USD$50. Please note: The location of the Leader Reception has been relocated to the Hilton Riverside River Room.

IABC Announces 2016 Fellows

Congratulations to the 2016 Fellows:

Priya Bates, ABC, MC, CMP
Alice Brink, ABC
Mary Hills, ABC,
Edward Lundquist, ABC
Bish Mukerjee, ABC

Read the 2016 Fellows Award Recipients Press Release on the IABC Website.

IABC Gets Gold Rating For Its Commitment to Transparency

The world's largest source of information on nonprofit organizations, Guidestar, has given IABC a Gold rating for its commitment to transparency. Learn more about this achievement on the IABC Chair Blog.

Member Services

At the beginning of March 2016, IABC implemented a rolling member service satisfaction survey to ensure that the team and the IEB have an open channel for receiving direct feedback from the members who engage with IABC. A survey link is included on every confirmation and receipt, and is sent by email after phone or email member service inquiries are handled by IABC staff. In addition to the links automatically included on confirmations and receipts, IABC staff have sent out 265 member service follow up emails requesting members to complete the survey and provide feedback on their experience. We have had 84 responses to date. Results are monitored on an ongoing basis by the Director of Membership and Executive Director, and reviewed monthly by the IEB. Aggregate current results are reported below for your visibility.

93.4% of all respondents rated their overall experience as good or excellent
100% of respondents who interacted with IABC staff (via phone and email) rated the staff member as polite, courteous, and helpful
100% of respondents reported that their email inquiry was responded to within 2 business days, 96% of which said they received a response less than or within one business day
100% of respondents who placed a call to IABC reported that they received a live answer or a return call within one business day

Certification Toolkit

A toolkit has been developed to help chapters promote the Communication Management Professional (CMP) exam. The toolkit is available on Leader Centre and includes information about the exam and communication tools that can be used to share information among chapters.

IABC Brand Adoption

The new IABC brand launched at the 2015 World Conference. Chapters and regions should continue taking measures to fully adopt the new brand within the next few months. There is a brand toolkit available on Leader Centre, which can be used to guide your chapter on the adoption process.

The most recent quarterly report introduced a new method on how the brand framework can also be used as a reflective model for where we’re at as an organization. Learn more about this unique idea on the IABC Chair Blog.

Chapter Spotlight: IABC London

The IABC London Chapter experienced a 28% growth in membership during the March 2016 Member Month campaign. We asked the chapter to share some insight into what made their Member Month campaign so successful.

What did the London Chapter do to prepare for the Member Month campaign?

As a team we reviewed our outlets (social media, newsletter, etc. ) and designed messaging for each. All of our key messages showcased current members and their thoughts on IABC, benefits and our often sold out PD events - all of which positioned IABC and IABC London as the place to be. Throughout the year our membership team, led by Laura Goncalves, has also done a wonderful job reinforcing the amazing benefits of being an IABC member.

What made the Member Month campaign so successful?

A big part of our communication community in London is the Western University and Fanshawe College students. As a chapter, we have been so fortunate to have faculty in each program that support and believe in IABC and in some cases, IABC is built into the program. This type of support and partnership is essential for our success.

What advice do you have to other chapters to prepare for the next Member Month campaign?

There are so many benefits to IABC, both internationally and locally. Take whatever opportunity you can to promote and educate these benefits - they are truly unique. Partnering with local educational institutions is critical. If you can prove the value to a student, they will undoubtedly support IABC throughout their career - through membership and service.