A message from your 2022-2023 IABC PPR Chair, Tammy Nienaber
I am honored to be your 2022-2023 Pacific Plains Region (PPR) board chair. As a member of PPR, you elected me and the rest of our volunteer board to lead the region.
The Road Ahead
If you read the annual audit or were at the annual meeting in New York City during the June 2022 World Conference, you know IABC as a whole is in a challenging spot.
Much like other volunteer-run membership associations, member counts have been declining, volunteers are burning out, and our value proposition is in question. This is particularly true for young professionals. Today’s digital world offers numerous ways to develop professionally with a few clicks.
For IABC to thrive in this reality, I believe we need to lean into the “I” in International and enable more connections across demographic and geographic boundaries. The recently launched Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) are one way IABC is embracing the “I”. Members from around the globe meet virtually on areas of shared interest such as change management, healthcare and education. There’s even a SIG led by young professionals for young professionals.
We’ve also seen more cross over in attendance at virtual chapter events. Check out this program on the role of the strategic communicator and employee well-being from IABC Minnesota!
If other IABC chapters are not on your radar, consider following them on LinkedIn to add value to your members by highlighting opportunities to engage beyond your chapter.
As the IABC strategic plan reinforces with its theme, we are stronger together. Read on for how PPR will do its part to bring that vision to life.
PPR Priorities
For 2022-2023, PPR will foster connections across and beyond the region while also recruiting and developing leaders to ensure a pipeline of volunteers. Some of the ways we will do this include:
- Virtual Coffee Connections: We will connect Members at Large with informal virtual networking opportunities. Watch for an invitation to join from Lynda Carlisle, PPR Member at Large advocate.
- Silver Quill Awards: We will recognize and celebrate excellence in communication across the PPR region through this annual program, which is a stepping stone to the international Gold Quill Award.
- Fall Leaders Meeting: We will engage and develop chapter leaders from across the region during this annual conference in San Diego.
- Virtual Career Fair: We will bring together great talent and great companies with a virtual career fair in 2023.
- PPR Reception at World Conference: We will host an in-person reception to build new relationships and enable deeper connections for all PPR participants in Toronto for the 2023 event.
Your Board
A big thank you to my fellow board members who will work alongside me to support PPR’s 2022-2023 priorities. With more than 100 years of collective IABC experience, these volunteers are committed to work on behalf of you and the organization.
- Ellen Vander Linden, SCMP – Vice Chair
- Krista Rausch – Past Chair
- Connie Mayse – Interim Communications Director
- Brook Wills – Finance Director
- Julie Knight – Chapter Advocate
- Bill Spaniel – Chapter Advocate
- Tami Wendt – Chapter Advocate
- Lynda Carlisle – Member at Large Advocate
We’d love to hear from you. Let us know how we can better serve you and further the value of your IABC membership.
Sincerely,
Tammy Nienaber, SCMP
IABC PPR Chair Nienaber.tammy@gmail.com