2010 Making Media Connections Conference

I’m excited to be moderating a panel Thursday afternoon (June 10, 2-3 p.m.) at Making Media Connections 2010 on the intersection of strategic communications and story-telling.

We’re fortunate to have an all-star panel to lead a great discussion and to answer your questions. Let’s meet them:

Alex Pope: Alex is executive development officer, operations at Advocate Charitable Foundation, the fundraising arm of Advocate Health Care. Advocate is one of the nation’s top 10 health systems based on clinical performance and is the largest health care provider in Illinois. Alex is the past vice president, fundraising at National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. He has been a development officer for nearly 20 years, and has served in leadership roles with a number of not-for-profit organizations, including the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Earthwatch Institute, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. A Certified Fund Raising Executive, Alex serves as President of the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and sits on the Board of Directors for Community Media Workshop.

Barbara Talisman: Barbara is President of Talisman Associates, Inc., a consulting firm that provides hands-on fundraising, Board training and development, and executive coaching services to the nonprofit sector. She has been in development since 1983, and her experience ranges from corporate partnerships and special events to board and membership development, grant writing and major gift solicitation. Barbara is a social media early adopter and is constantly learning, updating and sharing her knowledge with her clients. She began her development experience on the campaign trail for national and local political candidates. Her fund development experience began at the American Heart Association and continued at the Anti-Defamation League. Barbara is an Association of Fundraising Professional Master Trainer, has published articles in several philanthropy and fundraising publications, speaks throughout the world on fundraising, blogs regularly at Talisman Thinking Out Loud and uses her radio program, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to connect people, information and resources.

Celeste Wrobolewski: Celeste is Vice President of External Relations for Donors Forum, a nonprofit membership association that promotes philanthropy and a strong nonprofit sector in Illinois. In this role, Celeste directs the organization’s statewide marketing, communications, and fundraising activities. She has worked in many roles in the nonprofit sector, holding executive leadership positions in marketing, communications, volunteer development, fundraising, and management. Before coming to Donors Forum, Celeste has worked at Anixter Center, Lakefront Supportive Housing, Public Allies, and YMCA of the USA, where she authored the YMCA Communications Handbook, The Seven Rs of Volunteer Development and other publications. Celeste has previously served on the national Communications Committee of Independent Sector and is a graduate of Leadership Greater Chicago.

Topics
Before opening up to your questions, we intend to tee off the discussion with a few questions:
What are the elements of an effective communications and messaging strategy that achieves both communications and fundraising goals? How might social media fit into this strategy?
What are the elements of a good story that works for all purposes?
Do you have any tips for collecting good stories?
But what are your questions? Please leave them in the comments or send them to me via Twitter (I’m @egculbertson). Hope to see you Thursday! Online registration is now closed but you can still walk in to register and participate!