communicators Published by the National Association of Bar Executives – Communication Section | Spring/Summertalk 2012 | www.nabenet.org The Justice League of Bar Communicators Jenna Grubb | Chair, NABE Communications Section If you were a superhero, what would But sometimes, even a superhero needs a league of power- YOUR super power be? ful allies. And that’s where NABE comes in—specifically, the NABE Communications Section. The COMM Section is like In our professional lives, we regularly the Bat Cave – equipped with all the tricks of the trade. The use countless special powers. For ex- Listserv is like Alfred – ready to share research and experi- ample, lightening speed—sometimes ence. we can’t even see our own fingers on the keyboard! And when we need the Fortress of (not-too-much) Solitude, we can retreat to the COMM Section Workshop, this year in And our super connections—The Flash Denver, October 11-13. The Workshop renews and refreshes on speed dial, ready to run with your latest pitch. And the us, and then sends us out to do what we superbly do! printer who will transform your last-minute publication with the wave of an arm, or a web press. So please renew your NABE COMM Section membership to- day. It may be the only thing that stands between you and There’s not a soul in the office who understands the voodoo Kryptonite! we use to make the website (or InDesign) obey our com- mands. And let’s not forget the magic of words that we em- Jenna Giudici Grubb serves as chair of the NABE Communi- ploy deftly across all media. cations Section for 2011-12. She is a 1976 honors graduate of Saint Louis University who received a master’s degree in liberal On top of all of this, add invisibility! When we do our jobs studies from the University of Toledo in 2003. Before joining the right, no one even sees us. The Bar’s officers and administra- Toledo Bar Association in 1998, she taught school and served tors appear and deliver brilliant words and ideas, seemingly as director of public relations for Lourdes University, where she without effort. also studied fine arts. Inside this Issue 3 | Section Spotlight: Sharon Nolan 6 | Sound Bytes (New Orleans) 4 | 12 Ideas for a “WOW” Member Welcome 7 | NABE’s New Look 5 | Section Spotlight: Rick DeBruhl 8 | Elevated Learning: Denver 2012 communicators talk Published by the National Association of Bar Executives Communications Section Spring/Summer 2012 Chair Jenna Grubb Toledo Bar Association Chair-Elect Sharon Nolan The Chicago Bar Association Treasurer Mark Tarasiewicz Philadelphia Bar Association Secretary Register Now for the Barry Kolar Tennessee Bar Association NABE Annual Meeting Council Members Ken Brown (2012) Ohio State Bar Association Chicago, July 31 - August 2, 2012 Leanna Dickstein (2012) The State Bar of California Tim Eigo (2013) You are invited to join us for the NABE 2012 Annual Meeting July State Bar of Arizona 31-August 2, in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago, celebrated for its art, ar- Ann Murphy (2013) chitecture and some of the most exceptional cuisine in the country, Bar Association of San Francisco once again will be the setting for programs and events specifically Russell Rawlings (2013) North Carolina Bar Association planned for the staff of bar organizations nationwide. NABE meet- Steven Valdez (2012) ings and workshops will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (151 Louisville Bar Association East Wacker Drive). You won’t want to miss the instructive seminars, Kelly Jones King, workshops and networking opportunities at this year’s meeting. Immediate Past Chair State Bar of Texas Editor | Graphic Design To online click here Anne Roth Strickland register North Carolina Bar Association For form click here Editorial Address faxable registration Communicators Talk c/o N.C. Bar Association P.O. Box 3688 For program preview click here Cary, NC 27519-3688 © 2012 NABE Communications Section For scholarships click here No portion of the publication may be reprinted without permission. Views and opinions expressed in articles For sponsorship opportunities click here published herein are the authors’ only and are not to be attributed to Communica- tors Talk, the Communications Section or NABE unless expressly stated. Authors are responsible for the accuracy of all citations https://m360.nabenet.org/ViewEvent.aspx?id=45426&instance=0 and quotations. Section Spotlight Sharon Nolan | Chicago Bar Association Incoming Chair of the NABE Communications Section This summer’s annual meetings of the National Association of Bar Ex- “I was part of the team that developed our first website,” No- ecutives and the American Bar As- lan said, “and now I am involved in our email marketing. It sociation in Chicago will be most is exciting to be a part of developing new communications noteworthy for The Chicago Bar As- methods to serve our members.” sociation. The Chicago Bar Association, founded in 1874, is one of the For starters, CBA Past-President oldest and largest metropolitan bars in the nation, with Laurel Bellows will take over as 22,000 members. president of the ABA. On the NABE front, the CBA’s director of market- Nolan and her husband, Jason, have two children, Madeline, ing, Sharon Nolan, will become Sharon Nolan 8, and Jameson, 6. Her son’s name, she said, is spelled like the chair of the NABE Communications whiskey, in deference to her husband’s Irish roots. Section. During her year as chair, Nolan anticipates that the Commu- Nolan is perfectly suited for this task, having distinguished nications Section will play a key role in helping NABE with herself as a dedicated bar executive and section volunteer its social networking initiative and with making the website throughout her tenure with the CBA. more robust. “I really enjoy getting to know all of the different types of “And just this week,” Nolan said, “Jenna (Grubb, current sec- communicators we have in the bar world,” Nolan said. “It has tion chair) reached out to NABE leadership regarding how been an invaluable resource for me to see what other bars the Technology Section is charting a new course, and sug- have done.” gested that the Communications Section will help in any way to make the transition easier and/or provide member Nolan credits Mark Mathewson of the Illinois State Bar Asso- access to technology training.” ciation for encouraging her involvement in the section. “There are some ideas floating around out there. We see a “Kelly Jones King (State Bar of Texas) and Kevin Ryan (Ver- lot of correlation between the two sections such as how we mont Bar Association) are definitely some of the past chairs all use technology to help our members. And we hope to be who have encouraged me to participate in the section,” No- able to help NABE form a new direction for the Technology lan said. “And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Francine Section” Walker (The Florida Bar) who really encouraged me at first to get involved.” Nolan added that she was looking forward to the section hosting a great workshop in Denver (Oct. 9-12, 2012). Nolan grew up in Chicago and the surrounding area and never realty left. She earned her undergraduate degree at “I am excited to serve as chair.” Northern Illinois University before going to work for The Chi- cago Bar Association 17 years ago. Column contributed by Russell Rawlings She worked with the YLD for almost five years before going Rawlings serves on the NABE Communications Section Council back to school, with the support of the CBA, to earn her mas- and is the director of communications for the North Carolina ter’s degree in business administration from Loyola Univer- Bar Association. sity of Chicago. 3 12 Ideas for a “WOW” Member Welcome Pecanne Eby | Brand Mentoring Speaker, NABE Communications Workshop 2012 | Denver Have you ever joined a professional 6. A gift sent in the mail, something of value (branded mer- membership group and had a com- chandise, article on a practice area of interest, annual survey pletely forgettable welcome experi- study your association produces). ence? More often than not, the new member welcome is a form letter 7. One-minute video “tour” of the association website point- and an automated email. It’s not an ing out key areas for new members. “event”— it’s more of a non-event. 8. Invitation to volunteer on a committee. Why do so many associations blow 9. Invitation to answer an online poll (one-question with this opportunity when they want ability to see results instantly). to build a lifelong relationship with their members? If your new member Pecanne Eby 10. Invitation to join the association’s online forums, groups welcome is not a “WOW” Welcome, or Special Interest Group (SIG), this may be a group you have then consider the 12 ideas below. hosted on a site like LinkedIn or on your own association You don’t have to all of them, consider the ones that fit your website. current strengths and feel right for your next generation of members. 11. A Continuing Education Calendar for the coming year highlighting CE opportunities. 1. Personal welcome email from a board member or an as- 12. Downloadable “cheat sheet” of member benefits with sociation ambassador (i.e. someone on an actual welcome key website links and high-level descriptions. committee doing outreach), consider including a link to a digital member badge. Pecanne Eby, MBA, is a marketing consultant who specializes 2. Press release form announcing the new member’s mem- in association branding and marketing. The founder of Brand bership for the member to complete and send to their local Mentoring, she will be conducting a breakout session at NABE’s paper.