IABC/Washington is the largest chapter in the United States and second (behind only Toronto) on the international front. We offer member value through networking opportunities and wonderful professional development programs. The board decided to offer one additional benefit. We will be hosting IABC webinars free to members on a quarterly basis. This will enable you to get a quality program, while networking with your fellow communicators. We are very exited about this offering, but we can hardly rest on our laurels.
Your board has undertaken the task of developing a strategic plan for our chapter to help us anticipate future growth and changing member needs over the next five years. While we are still in the draft stages of the plan, I can shed some light on the course that was unveiled at the board mid-year retreat.
A good plan always starts with a mission statement, and ours reads as follows: IABC/Washington provides top-notch, diversified professional development and networking opportunities to, and is the voice for, business communicators across the Greater Washington and Baltimore region.
Our vision reads as follows: To be the premier international professional organization for strategic business communicators in the Greater Washington and Baltimore region.
Daria Steigman, our past president, and Randi Hicks Rowe, our president-elect, have drafted the strategic plan so your voice will Be Heard. Be Heard is the international tagline that encapsulates how membership in IABC can improve a professional communicator's ability to effectively deliver their message to both internal and external audiences. The goals for our chapter are segmented in four areas that include communications, an awards program, membership, and outreach to reflect our board makeup.
Our first goal is to build on the quality professional development and networking opportunities across the Greater Washington and Baltimore region.
Our second goal is to communicate the value of membership on a regular basis and to keep members informed of chapter developments, events, showcase volunteer activities, and community involvement. Another goal is to foster relationships with business reporters in the region to become the local and national media connection for the communications field. We will also build a dynamic Web community for IABC/Washington. This might be in the form of member chat rooms and/or forums.
Our third strategic goal is to offer Silver Inkwell as a national caliber awards program for business communicators.
The fourth goal is to attain and sustain a membership of 750 across the Greater Washington and Baltimore region. This would include members along I-66 and the Dulles corridor. We would accomplish this by increasing our programming across the region and by matching up members with volunteer opportunities.
Our last goal is to expand our outreach efforts. This would include building a vibrant student member base that offers an internship referral service and a mentorship program. Our business outreach would enable our chapter to offer a rich talent pool that would serve as a resource for business groups that are seeking speakers on communications topics. In addition, we would brand the Pinnacle Award as an award that links communications to business excellence. IABC/Washington's community involvement would increase to provide strategic planning to nonprofit organizations.
As you can see, we have ambitious, but achievable, goals to hit in the next five years. But without a roadmap, it is just all talk. The strategic plan will enable IABC/Washington to thrive as the communications organization of choice in the Greater Washington and Baltimore region. It is my goal to encourage more of you to take an active volunteer role in our chapter. We will all benefit by it.
Howard Clare
President
IABC/Washington
