NC|Com NC3C’s Magazine for Communication Professionals Fall/Winter 2014
Member Profiles Page
If you’re a member and you’re not on this page, this is for you!
Save the Date!
Get some preliminary info on the 2015 annual conference
Keeping in Constant Contact
A new way to communicate with members and a listserv you gotta join
Should I...?
Attend the 2015 regional conferences
Volume Three. Number Eight
NC|Com
®
NC3C’s Magazine for Communication Professionals
published by the Pitt County Office of Public Information for NC3C Volume Three. Number Eight
nc3c executive officers president vice president secretary treasurer past president
Kiara Jones, Pitt County Glenn Hargett, City of Jacksonville Kevin Elwood, City of Greensboro (GTA) Stacie Galloway, City of Apex Mandy Pitts, City of Hickory
contributors writers
Kiara Jones, Pitt County Stacie Galloway, City of Apex Mandy Pitts, City of Hickory
images
Digital Juice Kiara Jones, Pitt County Jennifer Isbell, City of Wilmington (OBX ad) Kevin Elwood, City of Greensboro, GTA (Regionals map) www.biltmore.com/visit/photo-gallery nbcnews.com/id/33796159/?q=Asheville,%20North%20Carolina
NC Com magazine, established in 2011, is published quarterly in Pitt County, North Carolina, by the Pitt County Office of Public Information for the North Carolina City and County Communicators (NC3C). Subscriptions: visit www.nc3c.com or the site of any executive officer for your free subscription. Magazine is published online only. To request a high-quality printed version, call 252.902.2955 or e-mail pittinfo@pittcountync.gov. Allow 10-15 days for delivery. For costs, contact the Office of Public Information. Advertising: Rate card available upon request from Publisher. © 2014 Pitt County Office of Public Information for NC3C (All Rights Reserved.)
Cover Photo: Christmas at the Biltmore, located in Asheville.
NC|Com
®
NC3C’s Magazine for Communication Professionals Volume Three. Number Eight
In This Issue Fall/Winter 2014
cover stories 7
Save the Date!
Wondering when and where the 2015 conference will be held? Check out this ad and find out!
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Member Profiles Page
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Keeping in Constant Contact
Can’t recall the name of that cool person you met at the annual conference? This page makes that a problem solved!
NC3C has a cool new way to keep up with its members. And, there’s a listserv you HAVE to join if you’re a PIO in NC.
2014 NC3C Conference at the Kitty Hawk Hilton Garden Inn
Thanks,
fixtures 6 8
President’s Message Should I...?
fall leaves and winter snow. such a beautiful combo, don’t you think? like PIOs and microphones!
for a great conference! Pix from the conference can be found at www.nc3c.com
President’s Message
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Dear NC3C Members,
The site of this year’s conference is where NC3C was born. Let’s take a tour
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Greensboro.
NC3C President Kiara Jones
For many outside of the Tar Heel state, the sprawling metropolis of some 272,000 residents is not the first city to come to mind when North Carolina is mentioned, despite being the third largest city in the state. “Charlotte”...oh yeah, the financial center...the Panthers...NASCAR. “Raleigh”...the capital...Research Triangle Park...the Wolfpack.
It’s hard to believe that 2014 is already drawing to a close. It’s also hard to believe that I’m serving my second term as NC3C president, a job I have been extremely honored to hold. When I first “ran” for secretary, I thought, no one knows me and no one will vote for me. Well, two terms as secretary and two as president later, I am humbled that you’ve allowed me to serve you, such a wonderful group of communicators.
Even the mention of Chapel Hill and Durham brings vehement responses both for and against those Tar Heels and Blue Devils. But what about the “Gate City” of Greensboro, North Carolina? If its remarkable history and recent achievements are any indication, this city is poised to make its mark on many levels, earning coveted one-word recognition like Miami, London and, Paris (the city...not the woman).
There are a few things I wanted to cover in this message. First, speaking of serving, I’d like to encourage you to start thinking about who you’d like to elect to the NC3C executive board at our 2015 conference. We have a talented group of professionals in our organization, and deciding who will lead us for 2015-2016 is an important decision.
The history buff would find no shortage of historical resources in the former Greensborough. Founded in 1808, many significant moments in American history have been made in our fair city. Namesake General Nathanael Greene’s southern campaign during the Revolutionary War included the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Greene lost the battle here, but along with other strategic conflicts in the area helped weaken the enemy and liberate the southern states from British control. A chronology of his role in the war is available at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (www.nps. gov/guco) off of Battleground Avenue.
Attending the upcoming regional conferences in January is a great opportunity to spend time with and meet NC3C members, and to also get some ideas of who our next board will be. I want to take this time to thank the hosts of these “mini conferences,” and to urge all of you to make plans to attend as many as possible, or at least the one nearest your jurisdiction. There will be valuable information shared at these meetings, and you can find out more about them on pages 8 and 9.
The Civil Rights movement made an appearance on the local railway line with Charlotte Hawkins Brown’s eviction from a passenger train and subsequent ten-year lawsuit against the Pullman company. Also, a sit-in protest at a Woolworth's lunch counter with the “Greensboro Four” rivaled more publicized protests in Alabama and worked together to introduce civil rights for African-Americans. A visit to the International Civil Rights Museum (www.sitinmovement.org) is the perfect way to experience a wide range of civil rights events and people from Greensboro to Birmingham. The Greensboro Historical Museum (www. PGA Golf Tournament. The Wyndham Championship Tournament is held in Greensboro an- greensborohistory.org), just a few blocks north, offers a retrospective of the area's extensive history, including the creation of Vick’s VapoRub, nually at the Sedgefield Country Club. author O.Henry, and favorite First Lady Dolley Madison. For views of exciting historic architecture, visit Blandwood Mansion (www.blandwood.org), the former home of Governor John Motley Morehead, or the historic Carolina Theater (www.carolinatheatre.com), a couple of blocks east. Even the Irving Park neighborhood offers fantastic examples of residential design as it mirrors designs found in the Pinehurst golf community.
Thirdly, official information about the 2015 Awards of Excellence Program will be coming next month, but NOW is the time to begin preparing your entries. Rules are essentially the same as before, but please be advised that the entry fee is now $30/entry. And remember, only members can enter. And while we’re on the topic of awards, congrats to all NC3C members who won 3CMA Savvys this year! Keep up the outstanding work. I’m closing now, but I want to say have a happy and safe holiday season and see you at the 2015 regional and annual conferences. God bless,
2015 NC3C Conference Planning Committee Glenn Hargett (City of Jacksonville) • Mandy Pitts (City of Hickory) • Dorothy Hester (Dare County) • Dana Kaminske (City of Hickory) • Jennifer Isbell (City of Wilmington) • Kaye Reynolds (City of Lenoir) • Jessica Wells (City of Raleigh) • Catherine Lazorko (Town of Chapel Hill)
Here in Greensboro we love to eat. While we have down home “cue” joints worthy of presidential appetites like Stamey’s (www.stameys.com), we know it takes more to please our diverse palates. Downtown offers a wide range of culinary delights ranging from Asian to pizza to cheesecake. If you’re in the mood for a song with your meal, be
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Should I... Attend the 2015 Regionals
See the NC Regionals, by Region
Of course!! Contributed by Mandy Pitts, City of Hickory, NC3C Past President NC3C Regional meetings are a great opportunity for members to reconnect with peers, invite perspective members, share stories, and learn something to help us in our government communications career. There is no cost to attend regional meetings and yes that includes lunch (it’s part of your annual $50 dues). All guests are also free and we encourage you to invite others in your area interested in joining NC3C. You can choose the regional meeting close to your city or county and/or go to another one that topic is what you need help with and/or go to more than one. All you need to do is RSVP to the host by the deadline. Once you have registered with the Host of the meeting, they will send you directions, as well as an agenda for the meeting. When you register, please let the Host know if you are a vegetarian and/or have any other dietary guidelines to be met, example, and gluten-free. NC3C Regional Meetings are important and a great way to re-energize and re-connect with others. We hope you can make at least one!
January 2015 Regional Meetings
Friday, January 9 hosted by Catawba County
Co-hosts include Hickory, Newton, Morganton, Lenoir, Caldwell County and Alexander County Location: Catawba County Government Center, Second Floor Conference Room 100 A South West Blvd., Newton Time: 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Topics: After a meet and greet networking lunch, topics of discussion include tips on how to edit film on an iPhone and slices in the Communications Pie – how many different ways do you connect to citizens. It used to be about 5 effective ways to communicate with citizens of all ages (Circa 1998), and now it seems like there are 55 ways to communicate. RSVP: By January 2 to Dave Hardin at dave@catawbacountync.gov
Friday, January 16 hosted by Kannapolis
Co-hosts include Harrisburg, Concord and Cabarrus County Location: NC Research Campus, David H. Murdock Core Laboratory Building, Rm. #4522 212 N. Main Street, Kannapolis Time: Noon - 4:30 p.m. Topics: After a meet and greet networking lunch, topics of discussion include a roundtable discussion on current projects/hot topics in your organization, and communications budgets, how do you get the funds you need and how is your budget set up. RSVP: By January 9 to Annette Privette-Keller at aprivettekeller@kannapolisnc.gov 8
Friday, January 23 hosted by Chapel Hill
Location: Chapel Hill Public Library, Meeting Room B 100 Library Drive, Chapel Hill Time: 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Topics: After a meet and greet networking lunch, topics of discussion include hot topics in your organization/ emergency communications and more. RSVP: By January 16 to Catherine Lazorko at clazorko@townofchapelhill.org
Friday, January 30 hosted by Greensboro Transit Authority
Location: Greensboro Transit Authority Administrative Office 223 W. Meadowview Road, Greensboro Time: 11:30 – 3 p.m. Topics: After a meet and greet networking lunch topics include getting the most out of Adobe Creative Suite. An afternoon of tips and techniques to make your job easier and make your designs stand out. It would focus on Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Bridge. Attendees are welcome to bring their laptops with CS to follow along with the instruction. RSVP: By January 23 to Kevin Elwood at kevin.elwood@greensboro-nc.gov Keep track of the Regionals at any time by visiting our web site: www.nc3c.com/conferences/regionals
Keeping in Constant Contact
Member Profiles Page
PLUS, if you’re a PIO in NC, you need to join this listserv
We want to know who you are; so come on, send in your pic!
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If you’re an NC3C member, you know that one of the most benefical parts of that membership is the networking.
You have probably noticed a new form of communication from the NC3C President if you’re a new member or if you read about the latest job openings posted on nc3c.com. NC3C has adopted a more efficient and effective way to stay in contact with our members through the use of Constant Contact.®
When you attend an annual or regional conference, you have the opportunity to meet so many peers who are able to share wonderful and useful tips, hints, and skills - but what if you can’t recall that person’s name, or didn’t catch their jurisdiction or phone number?
NC3C members will now receive official communication using the email tool, which allows an easy way to reach out to ALL members, as choosing the list containing member email addresses is as simple as ever. That list is updated by NC3C Treasurer Stacie Galloway using email addresses taken from membership renewal forms. If you haven’t renewed this year, we may not have your most updated info. If your email address ever changes, please shoot her an email and let her know at stacie.galloway@apexnc.org.
That’s the beauty of the NC3C Member Profiles page. You can find all of that info in one location - a one-stop-shop for your networking needs. Click on the image below to check out the page. If you don’t see your picture there, just email it and your info to our secretary, Kevin Elwood. If you already know it’s not there, just click here.
NC3C has a cool new way to keep in contact with its members.
NCPIO Listserv The UNC School of Government manages a number of listservs that allow local government employees to seek and share information with peers. One of these (called NCPIO) exists just for us government communicators! In the last few months, many of our members have used NCPIO to talk about topics like web redesign, social media archiving, how to deal with various ordinances and policies, and much more. Take advantage of this and other groups by subscribing at: http://www.sog.unc.edu/node/265, or email NC3C Treasurer Stacie Galloway (who happens to be the listserv administrator) to add you directly NCPIO.
Kevin Elwood|City of Greensboro GTA Kevin is part of the conference planning committee. 10
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