It takes a village to make Wichita Professional Communicators work. This month, I want to talk about the hard work and dedication our board puts in each month to organize events and work to provide scholarships to communications students. Your vice president/president-elect, Naomi Shapiro, is a digital genius who keeps tabs on our email accounts and alerts board members of new memberships and payments. Her work doing this helps keep us all on track and Read more…
I’m writing this month’s column during our second snowstorm in a matter of weeks — only this time, instead of eating take out Chinese food and watching “Kill Bill” with my partner, I’m nestled away in my office at the Library. I hope everyone has stayed warm and safe during these blasts of winter weather, and is looking forward to the warm temperatures ahead of us. I, for one, am ready for patio season. It’s Read more…
Kansas Professional Communicators is accepting nominations for its highest award, the Kansas Communicator of Achievement. Nominate an outstanding member by emailing a cover letter detailing the KPC member’s professional achievements, community service and KPC/NFPW service, plus the nominee’s resume to Cheryl Miller, KPC COA co-coordinator, at cheryl.miller@wichita.edu. The award criteria include professional achievement (50%), community service (20%) and 15% each for NFPW and KPC affiliate service. Many WPC members have been named the Kansas COA Read more…
Wichita Professional Communicators is proud to offer an annual $2,000 scholarship to students pursuing a communication field of study at Wichita-area colleges and universities. Do you know a student who could benefit? Fields of study include journalism, graphic design, photography, public relations, advertising, marketing, digital media and more. WPC is now accepting applications for our 2022 scholarship, and the complete application must be submitted by March 7 to be considered. Students can find the application Read more…
I spent one week in January in isolation due to a close COVID-19 exposure. It brought flashbacks to the onset of the pandemic in 2020 when our lives were uprooted and we had to learn how to adapt to working from home, have meals delivered to our doors, and find creative outlets to keep our minds occupied during long days and nights without much human interaction. This time around was a little different, though. I Read more…
Two women with ties to Kansas Professional Communicators — including a former longtime member of Wichita Professional Communicators — were among the more than 30 NFPW members who were recognized for reaching milestone years of membership at the June NFPW conference. Jane Lee of Kansas City, Missouri, was honored for reaching 55 years, while Elizabeth “Liz” Kennedy, now a member of the Oregon Press Women, was recognized for her 35-year membership. Lee began her career Read more…
Happy 2022! I hope this post finds you well and energized to tackle a new year. I don’t know about you, but I’m still tired from 2020 and 2021. I don’t think there are enough vacation days in the world to catch up from all of the constant movement, pivoting and communicating we all had to do for our respective organizations during the pandemic. As the pandemic surges on, I encourage all of you to Read more…
Earn recognition for the great work you do! The National Federation of Press Women’s 2022 Communications Contest is accepting entries online, and the early bird deadline is Jan. 19. This two-tiered professional contest is open to both members and non-members, with entry fees discounted for members. The first tier of the contest is run at the state level. First-place winners from the state-level contest advance to the national level of judging. To be eligible to Read more…
By Wilma Moore-Black Learning a new craft while volunteering is a remarkable experience. Add an opportunity to be engaged with 113 worldwide filmmakers, see KAKE-TV friends, and five action-packed days of fun and great food—you’re in paradise. I’m talking about my first volunteering experience at the 19th annual Tallgrass Film Festival in Wichita, where 187 films were screened from 58 countries and in 18 languages. Was I tired going into the festival? Yes! But it Read more…
As I wrap up my year as president of Wichita Professional Communicators, I am grateful for the team of board members I had the pleasure of working with this year as well as the new leaders coming on board in 2022. Teamwork makes the dream work. There’s no “I” in team. Ah, so many clichés come to mind, but I will not torture you with more. In my experience, these phrases ring true. I could Read more…