Upcoming Events & Meetings

July Meeting
Tue, July 8, 2008
August Meeting
Tue, August 12, 2008
Annual Membership Reception
Tue, September 9, 2008

Letter from the President

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Hello, everyone! My name is Amanda Spencer and I am honored to write my first column as president of the Oklahoma City Chapter of AWC. You’ve elected an excellent board of directors for 2008-2009. I am proud to be a part of the team and look forward to visiting with all members and guests at upcoming monthly meetings, generally held the second Tuesday of each month at the Will RogersTheater.  

Mickie Lara – Thanks!

I want to take a moment to thank Mickie Lara for her leadership over the course of the last year as president. For more than a decade, she’s been a guiding force and volunteer —professionally and proudly representing the high standards of our membership. Of course, she will continue to keep an active role in the organization as past-president.

 

A Little Background

For those who don’t know me very well, yet, I work at Third Degree Advertising and Communications in Oklahoma City. I’ve been with the firm for seven years and currently serve as vice president, strategic communications—overseeing the account service side of the agency. Prior to this position, I worked in public relations and marketing at OmniplexScienceMuseum and the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, right after attending the University of Oklahoma.

 

AWC :  Life-Changing

I’ve been a member of AWC since 1997 and can honestly say that this organization has truly provided me with some life-changing opportunities. Because of my volunteer work with AWC, another member at the time—Bridget Young—took note and referred me to Third Degree Advertising’s CEO Roy Page as a candidate for a position at the firm. Had it not been for serving as an AWC volunteer and demonstrating my work ethic to Bridget, I would have never had the opportunity to interview and ultimately work at the firm which has been an excellent professional experience.

 

Getting Involved

Whether on the board or involved as an active member, I encourage everyone to make the most of the networking opportunities available through this organization. Our group consists of many top-notch professionals at all stages and interests in their professional careers. Several of the board chairs would greatly welcome your involvement as a committee member and volunteer, particularly through spearheading student chapter relations, Byliner Awards, membership recruitment, sponsorship, newsletter and web, and the holiday party. Please don’t hesitate to contact me or any other board member should you wish to identify the perfect area for you to get involved.

 

Thanks again to the membership for your confidence in me as your president. I’ll see you at our next meeting on July 8th!

 

Sincerely,

Amanda Spencer

AWC President

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The Oklahoma City Chapter of The Association for Women in Communications is proud to be part of the prevailing communications organization for those working in the diverse, but related, communications professions.

Lt. Governor Jeri Askins to Speak at July Meeting

 

Join us at our monthly meeting to hear Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins speak about her life, her jurist, legislative and comprehensive political career and describe what it’s like being a successful woman in Oklahoma politics.

 

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Born and reared in Duncan, Oklahoma, Jari Askins was sworn in as Oklahoma’s 15th Lieutenant Governor in 2007, giving her the rare distinction of being involved in public service in all three branches of government.

 

Lt. Governor Askins received her BA in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and earned a Juris Doctorate from the OU College of Law. She served as Special District Judge for the District Court of Stephens County for eight years, from 1982-1990.  In 1991, the Governor appointed her to the Pardon and Parole Board, which elected her as its first woman Chairman. She later served as Executive Director of the Pardon and Parole Board and as Deputy General Counsel to the Governor. 

 

Askins was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1994 from District 50 and served for 12 years, earning the position of Democratic House Leader in 2005. She won the statewide election as Lieutenant Governor in 2006, becoming the first Democratic woman to serve in that office. 

 

As Lt. Governor, Askins is President of the State Senate. She also serves on numerous boards and commissions and chairs the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission and the Oklahoma Film and Music Advisory Commission. The Lieutenant Governor is an advocate for children and for greater efficiency in government. Governor Henry has named her as Oklahoma’s Small Business Advocate.  She participates in and promotes various economic development projects and supports legislation and innovative means of providing greater hope and opportunity for Oklahoma’s citizens. 

 

RSVP to Tina Evans at tevans@wn.org by Friday, July 4.

 

DATE:  Tuesday, July 8

TIME:  11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

LOCATION:  Will Rogers Theatre

4322 North Western Ave., Oklahoma City

COST: $20 for members

$23 for guests

$15 for AWC National Student Members

 

An invoice will be sent to anyone who cancels a reservation within 48 hours prior to the meeting or makes a reservation and does not attend. 

 

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Women Impacting Public Policy Announce Scholarship Opportunities for Young Female Business Owners

 

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Women Impacting Public Policy is pleased to announce the release of the application for the 2008 Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship; this year’s application deadline is June 30th.  The Scholarship, established in 2006 honoring Senator Dole as the WIPP Congressional Award Winner, is completing its first program year watching young women business owners grow and thrive in their community.  It has been an exciting and educational process and we are eager to begin the process for the coming program year.

 

WIPP needs your help finding the best and the brightest young women entrepreneur community leaders to apply for the next class of the Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship.  The scholarship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain knowledge, skills and guidance from successful women business owners – as well as have a chance to receive a cash award to help grow their business!

 

The Elizabeth Dole Young Entrepreneur Scholarship is a bi-partisan effort, established to recognize high potential young women business owners who are leaders in their community, with resources and guidance to excel their businesses and personal success.

 

Here are the qualifications you will be looking for:

  • At least 51% woman-owned
  • Entrepreneur between the ages of 21-35
  • U.S. Citizen
  • Business 5 years old or less
  • Revenue of $500, 000 or less for service industries OR $1milion or less for manufacturing industries
  • The business has capacity to assume more debt
  • Owner has a satisfactory personal credit history

 

2008 Scholarship Application

2008 Letter of Recommendation Form

Fact Sheet


Mark Your Calendars

 

Mark your calendar for Sept. 25-27, 2008 to join communicators from across the country as they descend on Washington, DC, for the 2008 AWC National Conference. The Crystal City Doubletree Hotel , which overlooks the Pentagon, will be the site of the conference. Watch this site for details of topics and speakers as they unfold.

 


AWC Grants $6,500 in Scholarships to Local College Students

Six college students majoring in the field of communications were award scholarships in mid May by AWC at the annual Bosses Breakfast held at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Downtown Oklahoma City.  Fifty AWC members and guests were on hand to congratulate the winners at the breakfast.  The scholarship funds were raised in conjunction with the Byliners Awards Dinner held annually in February.

Applications for the scholarship were submitted to the board during the month of April.  After sifting through many applications, the board chose the scholarship recipients and the winners were notified of their award. 

Scholarship winners are as follows:

  • Christi Mitchell from Oklahoma Baptist University- Ann Simmons Alspaugh Scholarship recipient in the amount of $2,000.
  • Ann Michele King from Oklahoma City University- Chesapeake Scholarship recipient in the amount of $1,500.
  • Cassie Bacon from Oklahoma State University- Martha Collar Scholarship recipient in the amount of $1,000.
  • Johnna Stevenson from Oklahoma State University- Martha Collar Scholarship recipient in the amount of $1,000.
  • Lindsay Bingham from Oklahoma Christian University- Scholarship recipient in the amount of $500.
  • Ashleigh Dunham from Oklahoma State University- Scholarship recipient in the amount of $500.

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Martha Burger presents the Chesapeake Scholarship to Ann Michele King.

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Jana Gridley awards Christi Mitchell with the $2k Ann Simmons Alspaugh Scholarship. 


 

Caroline Little to Open AWC National Conference

 

Caroline Little has been chosen to kick off the 2008 AWC National Conference as the opening keynote speaker on Friday, September 25.  Little is the CEO and publisher of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive (WPNI).  This year's conference is scheduled for September 25 - 27 , 2008 and will be held at the Crystal City Doubletree Hotel overlooking the Pentagon.  

 

Little joined WPNI in 1997 as General Counsel and later became Senior Vice President in Administration and General Counsel in 1999.  She was name COO in 2000 and President in early 2003.

 

For more information about the upcoming National Conference, visit the National AWC website.


AWC Membership Opportunities for 2008-2009; Updated Dues

The Association for Women in Communications offers a variety of memberships to suit our diverse field of communicators.  Membership options, dues and descriptions are below.

Please note that our Local Chapter Dues of $20 apply to each membership.

Professional: $129 per year, $50 new member application fee.   Open to professionals currently employed in communications disciplines or who hold a communication degree.

Executive: $189 per year, $50 new member application fee.  Open to professionals in communications disciplines who must have ten years or more experience and are serving in an executive, managerial or senior position.

Entrepreneur: $114 per year, $50 new member application fee.  Open to freelancers or consultants in a communication discipline who are self-employed who have no employees.  Note - to qualify for this special rate, you must be actively in business, rather than simply contemplating working as a consultant, freelancer or sole proprietor.  You may be otherwise gainfully employed.  Please submit either a web address or a business card along with your application.

Collegiate/Recent Graduate: $34 per year, no application fee.  Open to women and men working full-time toward a degree (undergraduate or graduate) who demonstrate a commitment to a communication career.  This membership category is also available to new graduates for one year following their graduation.  Graduate date and school name are required for validation.

Retired: $34 per year, no application fee.  Open to retired communications professionals, age 62 or older who work less than 20 hours per week, or age 72 regardless of employment status.

Faculty Advisor Member: None.  Open to any faculty member of an accredited college or university who serves as the official advisor to a chartered and active AWC student chapter.  Faculty Advisor members must meet the other guidelines for AWC Professional membership. 

Emeritus Member: None and not available to new members.  Open to members who have been continuous members of AWC for 50 years or longer. For more information about AWC memberships, please contact Membership Recruitment Co-Chairs Mandi Briggs or Natalie Scott.


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The 50th Anniversary of the annual Byliner Awards proved to be a successful event with 200 people in attendance including 29 past Byliner Honorees.  All attendees gathered to pay tribute to the six 2008 inductees.  The purpose of this annual event is to raise money to provide scholarships to young women pursuing communications-related degrees at Oklahoma colleges and educational programs for professional members of the AWC chapter.  These donations will be distributed to the scholarship recipients in May of 2008.

 

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Past Honorees gather at the Annual Byliner Tea which was held in January at the home of Lil Ross.

 

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Five of the 2008 Byliner Honorees were photographed at the Annual Byliner Tea.  From left to right:  Jo Rowan, Gerry Bonds, Honorable Carol Hansen, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and Suzanne Edmondson.

 

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Past and current Byliner award winners from various years posed for a photo at the 50th Annual Byliner Awards event.

 

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Honorary Chair, Linda Cavanaugh presents one of the six awards for the evening to Dr. Susan Chambers.

 

2008 Byliner Honorees :

  • Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins - Public Service
  • Gerry Bonds - Communications
  • Dr. Susan Chambers - Medicine
  • Suzanne Edmondson - Education
  • Honorable Carol Hansen - Law
  • Jo Rowan - Arts

We would like to thank the 2008 Byliner Sponsors:

Nobel Laureate Level: Ann Simmons Alspaugh, Chesapeake Energy, Southwestern Stationery & Bank Supply* and Third Degree Advertising*

Pulitzer Level: Drew & Linda Edmondson / Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison and Lewis and Express Personnel Services, OETA*

PEN/Faulkner Level: McNeese Fitzgerald Associates*, The Oklahoman, Wolf Mailing* and Oklahoma City University

Caldecott: Anglin Public Relations, Bank of Oklahoma, Classic Printing, Jones Public Relations, Journal Record, Mercy Health Center, OGE Energy Corporation, Oklahoma Natural Gas and Southern Nazarene University

Booker: Foot Solutions

*In-Kind Sponsor

Employment Opportunities

Please check our Career(Jobs) section to view the latest job postings.

If you have a job you'd like to post, please e-mail Sara Lorenzen with your posting.