Dialogue in the Desert Blog Site

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Joe Williams Named an IABC Fellow

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) has named Joe Williams and Pixie Malherbe Emslie as this year’s IABC Fellows. The IABC Fellow Award is the highest honor the association can bestow on an individual and acknowledges outstanding leadership, professional accomplishment and service to IABC and the profession. The award will be presented at the opening general session at the World Conference in San Francisco on June 7, 2009. Fellow selection criteria includes contribution to the organizational communication field and profession; career achievement; authorship, speaking and lecturing; contributions to IABC; and other professional recognition such as community activities and other business-related activities.

 

John Williams speaks at IABC-Tulsa monthly meeting

John Williams recently spoke at the May IABC-Tulsa chapter meeting. The subject: Strategic Planning in Times of Change. With the economic downturn, it is critical that we respond to the changing issues in a strategic manner, and not a knee-jerk manner. As our budgets are cut and we find we are having to do more with fewer resources, now is the most important time to focus on our strategy and ensure that our actions will move the organization in the right direction. During the IABC-Tulsa meeting, John provided a planning map to the meeting participants, and showed them how to use this tool as a method for strategic planning during times of change.

 

JWC Celebrates 24 Years in Business!

On April 1, 2009 (and that's no joke!), we celebrated 24 years of business. Back in 1985, when JWC incorporated, our business focused on corporate communications, our Dialogue in the Desert Strategic Planning Workshop, and research. Back in 1985 we were really the first to apply quantitative measurement and strategic planning practices to internal communications. Our roots began with the successful Dialogue in the Desert Workshops, and we produced two newsletters (yes, printed and snail-mailed), focused on internal communications and public relations strategies. Today, in addition to our strategic planning services, we also offer measurement and communication training for clients throughout the U.S., Canada and around the world. While technology has changed how people communicate, we remain true to the basic concept of using communication to build trust and understanding, to inform and engage our audiences.

 

Taking Dialogue in the Desert outside the desert

To Canada: In January through April of 2009, we took Dialogue on the road to the frozen North, conducting 1-day workshops in various Canada cities. The sessions were a great success, and we met many wonderful participants that we hope to one day see in the five-day desert program. We will always remember the 40-degree below day in Regina, when Claire Watson said, “The building is just a short walk across the parking lot...”

 

We also conducted strategic planning sessions for MTS Allstream in Toronto, the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia and for Alberta Electric in Calgary. Canadians are the best!

 

To Indiana:

Dialogue Indiana: Calling All Nonprofits! Know of any colleagues in nonprofit organizations who would like to experience some of the tools of Dialogue, but without the week-long trip and expense of it in Arizona? Then refer them to the third annual Dialogue Indiana – a special two-day strategic thinking and planning program for nonprofits that will take place December 4-5, 2009, at the Waycross Conference Center, outside Bloomington, Indiana. It’s not ranch, but it’s an amazing retreat center. And in the two years we’ve done the program, participants walk away with some amazing tools and connections. There is simply nothing else like it.

 

Dialogue Indiana is hosted by a group of Bloomington-area professionals who have participated in Dialogue in the Desert. They have taken the initiative to design a special program, using some of the tools from Dialogue in the Desert, for the educational benefit of nonprofit organizations in the Indiana area. We are building on the Workshop for a third year by expanding the program to all nonprofits. We are holding a Dialogue Indiana reunion for the first two classes and all prospective participants on the evening of July 9 at the Indiana University Art Museum, graciously hosted by Paul Sturm, development director of the Museum and participant in last year’s Dialogue Indiana workshop. If you are in a nonprofit organization, but not in Indiana, and would like to attend the workshop this coming December 4-5, contact us (800.833.5946) and watch our web site for more details to follow. Better yet, come to the get-together at the IU Art Museum in July!