Events ArchiveMAY MEETING: Tuesday, May 17
“Service Awards & Brainstorming”
Carol Yoho, VP Membership, presented the 2007 Member Service Awards: Kerrice Mapes, Rising Star, and Mary Napier, Vanguard and Chapter Star Award.
Then Mary Napier, incoming president, introduced the new board members and lead into a brainstorming session to help focus on pertinent chapter business and events for the coming year. The board seeks member opinions on the speakers, socials, and other AWC events we can have in the coming year.
APRIL MEETING: Tuesday, April 16
“Second Life: a Global Community”
Jean Gardner
was assisted by Nancy Overmyer,
both employees of Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Jean demonstrated this online virtual world, started in 2003 by Linden Labs. Second City is a 3-D Internet community created entirely by the members of the site, about 2.5 million worldwide.
Individuals create online personas, called avatars, and interact with one another just as they would in real life. Avatars can buy land, build houses and create businesses, having a “second life” online.
Large companies, including Ford and Coca Cola, small businesses, universities and other libraries have taken up residence in Second Life as well. The program allows any user, any age, to interact with members all over the world, see one other, talk, and virtually interact. Jean is Young Adult Librarian and Nancy coordinates Event Resources.
Also at this meeting, our Student Scholarship was awarded to Washburn University student Alicia Phillips.
MARCH MEETING: Tuesday, March 20
“Making the Latino Connection”
Michelle Stubblefield, Michelle De La Isla, and Gaberiala Vega
Examples, themselves, of cultural diversity within the local Latino community, our speakers discussed the differences and similarities among Latino consumers —and the impact that culture has upon strategies for marketing and communication. Michelle Stubblefield is Creative Director for Jones Huyett Partners, Advertising Marketing and Public Relation, and is involved in the community through various organizations. Michelle De La Isla works as as Director of Operations and Finance for HCCI, and Gaberiala Vega is with Kansas Trial Lawyers Association as the Director of Membership and Development.
FEBRUARY MEETING: Tuesday, February 20
“Delivering the News Online”
Phil Thompson, Online Operations Manager at The Topeka Capital-Journal, recently debuted a new look for CJ Online, the web version of our local newspaper. Phil's staff spent months researching and testing design strategies that would best meet their needs, including developing an all new navigation system.
Phil shared the site's new look with members, comparing the new site structure with previous versions of the online news, and discussing marketing strategies to help make reading our local news online both easy for the reader and profitable for Morris Communications.
JANUARY MEETING: Tuesday, January 16
“Crises Management: Learning from Experience”
Mike Broemmel, author & lecturer,. spoke about past triumphs and challenges of a career in media relations, law, and the not-for-profit realm. He had jobs in Washington D.C., Denver, and Topeka. Flying high as a civic leader, Mike was shot down with personal problems, disbarment, and incarceration for "white collar" crimes. During this time, he developed chronic alcoholism and severe depression and truly lost control over his personal and professional life. He has learned from his experiences and shared personal insights into crises management, dealing with clients and the media.
DECEMBER MEETING: Tuesday, December 19
“Networking Lunch”
NOVEMBER MEETING: Tuesday, November 21
“Building Media Partnerships”
Lt. John Eichkorn, Kansas Highway Patrol Public Information Officer, facilitates public and governmental relations for the agency. He talked about his experiences of working with the media across the state over the past ten years and offeed simple strategies that have helped the Patrol build better and more effective relationships with media partners. John has been a trooper with the Kansas Highway Patrol for over 18 years and has served in Osage and Shawnee Counties. During his time spent as a road trooper, he also taught D.A.R.E to 5th grade classes at Overbrook and Scranton Elementary schools.
OCTOBER MEETING: Tuesday, October 17
“Meth Problems in Shawnee County” 
Cristi Cain and Loretta Wyrick Severin, Kansas Methamphetamine Prevention Project (KMPP). Cain is a certified prevention professional and has worked in substance abuse prevention for more than 10 years. Severin is the assistant coordinator of the program. Cain and Severin discussed the problem of access to drug paraphernalia at retail stores, affects of addiction, impact on infants and children, how addiction affects local crime rates, offender treatment options, and what is being done by local law enforcement officials to crack down on those who misuse meth.
SEPTEMBER MEETING: Tuesday, September 19
“Radio Chat” Chris Gallagher with KMAJ 107.7 radio shared an audio recording from station program manager Rose Diehl and spoke about challenges women face in 
the media business and balancing business and home responsibilities. She currently is an on-air personality on KMAJ's Morning Show with Mike Mans and John Lee Hooker. Gallagher began her career in radio in 1980, worked for several years in as a television reporter, producer and anchor and reported from Desert Shield in 1990. Chris reports that her life's work really began 16 years ago with the birth of her first child. Gallagher and husbandm Curtis Snedenm have three children---Celsie, Curtis and Caroline.
AUGUST MEETING: Tuesday, August 15
“seveneightfive: premiere entertainment”
Kerrice Mapes
& Jamie Kennedy
Kerrice Mapes and Jamie Kennedy discussed the launch of "seveneightfive," Topeka's newest entertainment magazine, premiering Summer 2006. They told of the process used in developing the concept for the magazine, the challenge of selling advertising for a product that didn't yet exist, and their plans for the future. Kerrice Mapes is a marketing specialist for Family Service and Guidance Center. She graduated in May 2005 from Washburn University with a mass media degree and a minor in art/design. Jamie Kennedy is the marketing director for the YWCA. She founded the Washburn University chapter of the Public Relations Society of America while studying mass media and English at the university.
JULY MEETING: Tuesday, July 18
“Popular Travel Trends” Marge Herman, 
Go Away with Marge Travel
Marge shared valuable travel insight and new vacation ideas: popular travel trends such as "girlfriend getaways," spa trips, cruising and adventure travel. As a seasoned traveler, she also offered tips on packing for a trip (yes, there is a right and wrong way to pack!), airport security, and personal safety advice for women travelers..
JUNE MEETING : Tuesday, June 20
“The Impostor Syndrome ” Mindi Higgins Kessler, LCMFT, PhD
The impostor syndrome affects capable, competent, intelligent women who happen to lack self-esteem and confidence. Despite successes in school, work and family life, they may feel like a “fraud” and are constantly looking over their shoulder and wondering when others will discover their supposed inadequacies. !
Higgins Kessler is in private practice in Topeka, working with mental health of adults, couples, adolescents, and children. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Emporia State, a master's degree in human development and family studies from Colorado State, and a PhD from Kansas State.
See also:
Current Events Page
2006-2007 Meeting Archives
2005-2006 Meeting Archives
2004-2005 Meeting Archives
2003-2004 Meeting Archives
