Tammy Vineberg, APR
Last month I hosted a potluck for our board and volunteers, many of who are new to their role at CPRS Edmonton. It’s exciting to hear fresh perspectives and new ideas, which I hope you will see in this coming year. We’re still getting all the new members orientated, but we’re also kicking off the year with many opportunities for the Edmonton communications community.
Over the summer, we did continue holding our monthly Communications Coffee Chats and to my surprise, the numbers did not diminish. They actually grew! For July and August, we had more than 20 people attend. I hope this attendance continues for our upcoming events.
I want to hear what you may want to learn from the many professional development opportunities we have scheduled. Artificial intelligence is a hot topic, and we can also go back to the basics for a refresher on communication planning, social media and relationship building.
One conference you don’t want to miss is Crisis Compass, on October 24 and 25, in Calgary. Dr. Vincent Covello and Dr. Timothy Coombs are presenters who have a vast knowledge in the area of crisis management. Dr. Coombs’s book on ongoing crisis communication was key for my APR preparation. CPRS Edmonton members receive 25 percent off the early bird pricing. If you do have any financial barriers, please reach out to info@centreforcrisiscommunications.com.
For our chapter, we have a busy September and October. The monthly Communications Coffee Chats continue on Saturday, September 14, at 10 am, at Awake Coffee with Elizabeth Bunney as our guest. Elizabeth will help lead a discussion on Truth and Reconciliation. The coffee chats are free and all are welcome.
A few days later, on Wednesday, September 18, is our fall mixer. Mixers are an excellent opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with other communication professionals. Please encourage others on your team to attend the event at Brewsters Unity Square. Tickets are on sale.
The October Communications Coffee Chat will be held at PACT Coffee on Whyte Avenue. We choose a new topic for each coffee conversation and I am open to suggestions. In the past, we have discussed digital marketing, crisis and reputation management, job hunting in Edmonton, and artificial intelligence. Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 12, at 10 am. For November, I am looking for someone to step in for me as I will be traveling for work.
From my own experience, I thought a session on changing your mindset from tactical to strategic would be helpful. What Sarah Doyle has lined up as a workshop on Thursday, October 17 should not be missed. The Leadership Shift: Cultivating a Strategic Communicator and People Leader Mindset will be an interactive, in-person session that will help you refine your leadership approach or prepare for a new management role. Tickets are now available.
While we are busy organizing these events, we are also recruiting for additional board members. The positions of accreditation, membership, vice-president are open for nominations. If you have any questions, please email me at president@cprsedmonton.ca.
If you are a member or a non-member, I hope you will attend at least one upcoming event to see what CPRS Edmonton has to offer. I look forward to touching base with you.