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Most Innovative Membership Programming Large – Austin, TX, Professional Chapter
We all look for those creative ideas that will attract and retain members.
AWC Austin keeps busy all year focused on recruitment and retention.
They provide special programming that is limited only to members, making it an enticing benefit.
They host mixers and encourage guest participation.
And, they place special emphasis on making guests feel welcomed with notes and emails before and after meetings.
They must be doing something right because they gained 28 new members this past year.
Most Creative Program/Event – Tulsa, OK, Professional Chapter
This category calls for an event that advances the practice of communications.
Tulsa’s March “Communications Boot Camp” event targeted participants involved in communications more than other entered events.
Also the military M*A*S*H*-like theme was judged the most creative, as it carried through graphics in the program, the titles of the sessions and even the centerpieces – plants in camouflage hats.
Attendance at the event was enhanced by a reduction in cost, which was made more affordable in tough economic times.
Tulsa also provided the judges with event results and conducted a post-event survey, which will certainly aid in planning future events.
Student Chapter Programming – San Antonio, TX, Professional Chapter
While all of the chapter entries in this category show aggressive and successful Student Programming, San Antonio showed the judges great growth and opportunity for area students in multiple chapters.
Specifically, maintaining and improving the traditional “Annual Meet the Pros” event, providing networking opportunities and
a nicely composed Job Bank gave San Antonio the edge to be honored with the Professional Chapter Award in Student Programming.
Best Fundraising Program – Topeka, KS, Professional Chapter
The Topeka Chapter has been an avid supporter of college women and local community events.
For many years, the chapter has recognized a local student from Wahsburn University who is studying communications.
Funds for this $500 annual scholarship come primarily from the annual Headliner awards, which recognizes local Topeka women for their outstanding efforts in the fields of communications.
Funds raised from this annual event also support chapter monthly programming and special events.
In 2010, the annual Headliner awards event raised more than $3,600.
When combined with the funds raised the previous year, the chapter collected more than $4,500.
This amount gave the chapter a solid foundation from which to build their scholarship program.
In addition to awarding annual scholarships, the Topeka Chapter also uses fundraising dollars to augment their annual membership drive and
support the annual Vanguard and Rising Star awards which honor local chapter members.
Best Website – Springfield, IL, Professional Chapter
Colorful and engaging describes this chapter’s website.
It includes all the elements for an easily navigable website.
They took a team approach toward developing the website with multiple meetings to plan, design and test each step of the way.
They wanted their final product to be easy to maintain, update and keep current.
All of their hard work has produced a winner and here’s why:
- The AWC logo is prominently displayed throughout.
- Clearly displayed topic tabs that make finding information quick and easy.
- The membership page describes the benefits for becoming a member with links to the appropriate forms for signing up.
- The information is current and the photos include their members actively participating in meetings and programs.
They also placed special emphasis on promoting the National Conference.
Best Awards/Recognition Event – Austin, TX, Professional Chapter
The program was well planned and executed, well publicized to maximize attendance and sponsors/advertisers and received good visibility in the local media.
It exceeded goals for the event in terms of attendance and fund-raising.
They had a cohesive look to all their pieces which included information about AWC and promoted upcoming meetings and programs.
They provided a purpose, background information and summarized at the end.
They also incorporated social media for promotion of their event, as well as an online auction element.
Most Innovative Career Services Programming – San Antonio, TX, Professional Chapter
In presenting the program, “What You Don’t Know, But Should,” the San Antonio Chapter definitely leveraged the term “innovative” career programming to the benefit of job-seekers and career-changers in their area. They seized on a little publicized but powerful industry in San Antonio – film, usually associated with California – as well as the fact that many in communications don’t readily think of the film industry as a communications field, but rather as entertainment.
By thinking outside the box, the chapter shattered those misconceptions, and in the process,
San Antonio also showed those who attended the program to think outside the box when looking to change careers or find a first job after college.
The chapter rounded up a strong mix of experts in all aspects of film, from script-writing to editing and camera work,
again opening the eyes of participants to career options they previously might not have considered.
Best Newsletter – Tulsa, OK, Professional Chapter
A newsletter must communicate a message and be readable.
There needs to be a flow throughout that takes the reader from article to article.
AWC Tulsa Chapter does this very well and keeps their diverse membership informed about chapter activities in the process.
Because the AWC Tulsa Chapter is so large and so active, they appreciate the monthly e-newsletter to keep them informed of the speaker/topic of their monthly luncheon;
the many “bull sessions” offered by the chapter; upcoming committee meetings; honors and awards of members; and other news about chapter events and members.
It is one of their best tools for keeping members connected.
Overall Outstanding Chapter – Austin, TX, and Springfield, IL, Professional Chapters
Small chapter – Springfield, IL, Professional Chapter
This chapter made great strides in improving programming quality and variety, increasing attendance at events and growing membership.
It overhauled its communications to members and reintroduced its awards programs.
Large chapter – Austin, TX, Professional Chapter
Based on submission and documentation, Austin had another outstanding year – huge number of quality, member-focused events, growth in membership and productive fund-raising.
Also, their extensive use of a broad array of social media demonstrates that the chapter lives up to the mission and goals of AWC.
Most Improved Chapter – Springfield, IL, Professional Chapter
For the last three years, The Springfield, IL, chapter has hovered around 25 members, with monthly program attendance around 16 – 17.
The chapter was losing its reputation as a prominent organization with great member benefits.
Under the direction of a new board for 2009 – 2010, and nearly the same board for 2010 – 2011, AWC Springfield laid out an ambitious growth plan over two yearly board retreats and 20 monthly meetings.
Two new Membership VPs who shared responsibilities, streamlined their membership retention and recruiting process.
An AWC Springfield scholarship program was implemented for existing members to apply for a $50 grant to cover a portion of their yearly dues.
The Membership VPs asked board members to update a “potential member” list.
With the attitude that “we are all on the Membership Committee,” every board member was asked to contact selected potential members,
inviting them to the next meeting and to act as a type of mentor for these prospects.
During the last season, the Program VPs planned a diverse, relevant group of topics that ranged from Social Media Strategies to Writing for the Web.
Each topic and speaker was carefully selected based on relevancy.
Compared to previous years, the average monthly attendance grew from 17.4 to 25.6 attendees.
All communications to current and potential members were completely re-examined and updated.
The AWC website was overhauled, utilizing Dreamweaver and CSS style sheets.
The Member’s Only section was re-invigorated with job listings, resources and links.
Email notices to members, potential members and the board about upcoming programs, meetings or events were redesigned using MailChimp.
AWC Springfield added a Facebook page, a Flicker account and a LinkedIn profile.
All of these mediums are designed and managed to push out relevant information about AWC Springfield with the purpose of maintaining and
recruiting new members and to position AWC and its members as the “go to” communicators.
This successful reinvention was a two-year process.
Everyone did their part and was held accountable by each other.
To date, the Springfield Chapter increased its membership by more than 30 percent in the last 12 months while winning the National Membership drive held in the Fall of 2010.
The attendance at monthly programs has increased approximately 35 percent during the 2010 – 2011 year.
At the same time, approximately 20 percent of the members serve on a committee.
Chapter Excellence Award – Austin, TX, Topeka, KS, and Tulsa, OK, Professional Chapters
Eligibility for the Chapter Excellence Award requires a professional chapter to complete at least 14 of the 17 listed award criteria. From increasing membership to holding awards events and programming requirements, meeting these criteria is no easy task. This is a feat that requires planning and organization from the beginning to the end of the fiscal year. Congratulations to AWC Austin, AWC Topeka and AWC Tulsa Professional Chapters for achieving chapter excellence!
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