In this issue:
- A preview of our February meeting with guest speakers John and Jill Parham of J&P Cycles in Anamosa.
- The January meeting recap.
 
"The J&P Cycles Story"
Guest
Speakers: John & Jill Parham, J&P Cycles
Thursday, February 11, 2010 - 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Clarion Hotel & Convention Center (Map)
Cost: $15.00
The meeting will conclude at approximately 1
p.m.
Reservations are
required and
are due by
5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 5.
About the February 2010 Program:
John Parham was bitten by the motorcycle bug early in his life. His enthusiasm led to a partnership in a small motorcycle shop from 1975 to 1979. In 1979 he and his wife, Jill, established J. Parham Enterprises, Inc., the predecessor to the present J&P Cycles, Inc. The following years brought about a great deal of change and a few hurdles, but through it all John and Jill persevered.
Today, J&P Cycles has grown from one employee to over 300. In addition to the Anamosa, Iowa, location warehouse, a new 35,000 square foot facility opened in Ormond Beach, Florida, in 2007. The Florida location features a 1,500 square foot retail space and call center.
Join us for our February meeting to hear, "The J&P Cycles Story." It's an Iowa business story of dreams, adversity and determination.
Submit
your reservation for the February meeting
CRPRA meets the 2nd Thursday of each month, September through May.
Mark your calendars!
by Sher Jasperse
January 2010 Meeting Recap:
"
How Technology is Changing the Way We Communicate"
Maureen Osako, Vice President at Informatics ("All Things Internet"), made her annual visit to the CRPRA speaker's podium in January to throw us a technology trends lifeline with the latest information and advice about Internet usage and social networking tools. She talked about the speed with which computer technology has become part of daily life worldwide, compared with earlier communication media such as radio and television, and highlighted some of the new tools and gadgets coming our way. Unlike previous media, which handed us content without an opportunity for input or interaction, Internet-based social media provide ways to share ideas, content, thoughts and relationships on-line, allowing anyone to create content using text, audio, video and images. Although social media seem to have permeated every facet of our lives and work, Maureen said that we're still at an early stage in this revolution, with many people and businesses questioning the long-term, tangible benefits of using social media.
Maureen suggested that social media users profile themselves along the following spectrum to determine which tools are most valuable for their purposes:
| User |
Creator |
Creator |
blogs |
Critic |
wikis |
Collector |
RSS feeds |
Joiner |
social networks |
Spectator |
brand monitoring tools |
Inactive |
search |
Expect to invest three to six months in social media before seeing measurable results for your business or organization, and follow these five steps to develop your social media strategy:
- Listen to what other people are saying about your company/organizations.
- Set your terms of engagement and prepare by finding/using existing social networking approaches and strategies.
- Engage, using whatever tools work for you, from blogs to podcasts.
- Don't forget the importance of face-to-face contact.
- Measure your results in terms of hours invested versus return, using metrics such as brand awareness, lead generation, and revenue.
The bottom line: embrace change, because that's where new opportunity lies.
|
"I did not start blogging to get around the press. That is yet another example of the press not letting a few facts get in the way of telling a good story. The press reports mythology, not facts."
- David Winer, on the press account that his desire to bypass the media motivated him to begin blogging.
Learn about David Winer on Wikipedia
We Want to
Hear From You!
Are you...
...changing jobs?
...adding a new certification
to your resume?
...the recipient of an award?
Please email Member
News to Eric Wylie at:
eric@wyliecc.com
We'll include your
news
in future newsletters!
|
 |
 Want
some free PR? Donate a door prize!
Oh, how we love our door prizes! Thank you to all who have contributed in the past! It makes our meetings that much more enjoyable and your business or organization gets great exposure when you stand up to briefly explain your prize donation.
Door prizes can be any items such
as coffee mugs, notebooks, candles and the ever-popular food items
(especially chocolate!), etc.
We'll
draw names each month and hand out the door prizes and spotlight the
businesses and individuals who donated. It's a win-win situation for
everyone! To donate an item, please contact any CRPRA steering
committee member when you arrive for the meeting.
Thank you for helping to make each CRPRA meeting a fun event!
If you have a suggestion for a guest speaker or topic you would like
to see offered at a future meeting, or have any questions about
CRPRA, please contact
any of the Steering Committee members listed below.
You may use the
online email form or call
the numbers listed.
Warren Byerly - Visual Images Productions, 360-7567
Connie Fullmer Dunkin - Dunkin One, 396-0185
Sher Jasperse - Writer/Editor, 364-2535
Carol Myers - J&A Printing Inc., 393-1781 ext. 249
Amber O'Connor - Erb's,
364-5159 ext.
126
Wilma Shadle - Retired Communications Professional,
363-6254
Eric Wylie - Wylie Creative Communications,
832-2916
|
