IABC NSW in conjunction with AON Consulting are hosting an event with Russell Grossman, UK Change Communication expert. Russell, who led the cultural renewal program at the BBC will speak at an IABC function on Friday 27 October. Bookings are essential – full details at the IABCNSW site:
http://www.iabcnsw.com/default.asp?action=article&ID=148

OCTOBER 2006 IS ACCREDITATION MONTH
Thinking about becoming an Accredited Business Communicator (ABC)? Now is the time to act. IABC’s accreditation program offers professional communicators a way to demonstrate their ability to think and plan strategically and to successfully manage the skills essential to achieving effective organizational communication.
Submit your accreditation application and fee in October 2006 and receive a US$20 gift certificate to the IABC Knowledge Centre. In addition, your name will automatically be entered in a prize drawing for the chance to win:
One year of membership to IABC.
One regular conference registration to the IABC 2007 International Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
One registration for the IABC teleseminar “Developing Your Accreditation Portfolio.”
One coaching session with a member of the accreditation council.
An HP digital camera.
Visit http://www.iabc.com/abc/abcProCan.htm#abcAppForm to download an application form.

The NSW Chapter is hosting a free information session on October 18:

When: Wednesday 18 October, 12pm to 2pm
Where: QBE, 345
George St, Sydney
Asia Room, Level 7
BYO lunch. Seating is limited so be in quick!
Please RSVP to Simon Covill at scovill@cuscal.com.au by Friday 13
October.

One thing we strive for is to keep away from jargon, empty phases and spin. Lovers of clear language will have come across former speechwriter and “campaigner for plain talking” Don Watson’s book “Weasel Words”. Sadly, the supporting website (www.weaselwords.com.au) is to be shut down – “downsized”.
In memorium, here are a few classic corporate-speak examples:
‘OTIS AT YOUR SERVICE – RE-ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM’ To enhance the performance of the vertical transportation at 222, Exhibition St, we wish to advise that the lifts are going through a re-adjustment program. Please excuse any inconvenience that the process may contribute to the lift services during this period.’
‘Are you being impacted by a Reduction-In-Force (RIF) within your agency?’ Washington State Department of Personnel
‘Also as promised, I did speak to the High Performing Organisation Project Manager (Kathy). She stated that the progress needs to be on bedding down the design prior to then going about any assessment or implementation. Kathy mentioned that from a resourcing standpoint, currently it is only set up with 1.5 FTE to deliver the design work. Following the design signoff an assessment will need to be made around how to resource up for the site gap analysis … The purpose of the end user workshops is to validate and test the design. They will involve National reps from across the DC network from DC Manager to Team Manager…’ Email from a Change Management Advisor, Coles Myer Ltd (thanks to Rebecca who says, ‘if you can decipher what it means, please let me know.)

Since the first edition of Weekend Reading went off without incident, welcome to the next instalment.

In Weekend Reading Edition 1 the theme was the down side of our wired ways – how email addiction and the ‘crackberry’ phenomenon contributes to the breakdown of interpersonal communication. This week, Melcrum give us the good-grief guide to meetings.

Melcrum reports that most employees prefer meetings as a means of communicating despite the drawbacks of poorly planned agendas, politics and power-plays:

http://www.internalcommshub.com/open/news/meetings.shtml