http://WWW.blog.ragan.com/IABCSR/ 2008 IABC Southern Region Conference Speakers' Blog A blog from speakers presenting at the 2008 IABC Southern Region Confernce - Tell them what's on your mind en Copyright 2008 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:02:45 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss MacGyver Travel Trick to Banish Non-Closing Hotel Drapes: You know the ones I mean. The ones that never quite close (and you are ALWAYS facing East when this happens) and so at 5:00 AM, after a late night, there is a piercing beam of sunlight that strikes you smack in the face. Here's the trick - take a pants hanger. Turn it lengthwise and clip the drape together. Works like a charm… Hope you'll share your travel tricks (or favorite books) in your comments. Kathryn Yates, Watson Wyatt's Global Director, Communication and Change ]]> http://WWW.blog.ragan.com/IABCSR/2008/09/lets_say_hypothetically_of_cou.html http://WWW.blog.ragan.com/IABCSR/2008/09/lets_say_hypothetically_of_cou.html Kathryn Yates Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:02:45 -0600 @Barb_G. You might also want to follow @IABC, the official IABC twitterer. There are IABC groups on most of the others too. So wherever you are, speak up. I want to know who's going to be there, and I want anyone not planning to be there to realise what they're missing! I plan to post something on my eXchange page in a few days too. Let's get buzzing and tweeting! ]]> http://WWW.blog.ragan.com/IABCSR/2008/09/if_youre_coming_to_the_confere_1.html http://WWW.blog.ragan.com/IABCSR/2008/09/if_youre_coming_to_the_confere_1.html Barbara Gibson, ABC eXchange Facebook social media Twitter Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:55:09 -0600 ConocoPhillips in Bartlesville, Okla., and one of my projects is managing the PR and community relations for our campus-in-progress, which is located in Louisville, Colo. It could not be a more perfect location. Nestled at the foothills of the Flatiron mountains near Boulder and just minutes from Denver, it (to me) is about as close to heaven as one can get while still living. Ah, what a segue way to my point. You see, Oklahoma is beautiful and has nice hiking options. But to compare it to Colorado would be like comparing pinot noir and merlot (need I say more, Lynn?). So, needless to say, I'm not exactly equipped for hiking. Physically, maybe. Gear wise, heck no. Watch out, REI. Here I come! About $200 later and sporting a very chick-like Camelbak, I'm ready to take on Chatauqua's Royal Arch. Alone. I'm proud to say I survived and would make that climb every day to gaze upon the gorgeous terrain from up there. But I think I got a little too sure of myself. Next hike: Eldorado Canyon. Home of extreme rock climbers. In fact, fellow communicator Anders Gronstedt informed during lunch the same day that a climber friend of his recently died there. Well, I was just hiking. So on I went. It was about 6 p.m. and I had foolishly turned down a fabulous dinner offer from my friend Stacy Wilson because I needed to shop Pearl Street (check!). As I pulled into the park, I was absolutely amazed by its beauty. I couldn't wait to hit the trail. Looking like a pro, I was about a mile out from the trailhead when it started to drizzle. No big deal. It felt great. Then the winds shifted and the sky literally unload on me. I'm talking pouring rain, roaring winds, lighting and thunder. And, as if that wasn't enough, it started to hail and the temperature quickly dropped from a comfy 82 degrees to 64. OF COURSE I don't have a parka. I'm from Oklahoma! Not looking so pro anymore as I take cover under a rock. But I survived. And you know what? I would do it again. (Yes, I'll listen to the weather first.) It was that much fun. And it made me realize that so many aspects of my life really are a little extreme. Work, marriage, friends, kids. It's all a little crazy and we have to balance to make it work. And that applies to your communication teams. There is power in balance for the leader, communicator and customer. Join me on Sept. 29 for a not-so-extreme look at "The Power of a Balanced Communicator" in Denver. Who knows, I might even have met a mountain lion by then. Tracy Harlow, "Extreme" Speaker ]]> http://WWW.blog.ragan.com/IABCSR/2008/08/extreme_speaker.html http://WWW.blog.ragan.com/IABCSR/2008/08/extreme_speaker.html Tracy Harlow Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:00:04 -0600