IABC Fort Worth - Today's Communications Professionals

I am expecting my first child at the end of December and will be out on maternity leave for the next couple of months. I want to thank the IABC Board Members in advance for the wonderful job they are doing this year and the great job they will continue to do. President Elect Cheryl Hart will get her feet wet early and bravely step into the role of President during my absence. Cheryl, thank you for all of your help!

We had a great Networking event in November at Pappadeaux. Great food, great company, great networking. Special thanks to Pam Huff for planning this great event.

We will take the month of December off from our monthly luncheon, but not before spending some time with our communicator counterparts at the Joint Holiday Party on December 3 at Coors. IABC is working hard to make your Christmas shopping easy and fun. We have gathered gifts ranging from tickets to ICE 2008 at the Gaylord Texan, to museum packages to a private tour at Chandor Gardens. We will see you all there!

We will resume our monthly luncheons in January with Mailing Tips and Tricks for the Layperson from GM Direct.

I think you for your continued support of IABC Fort Worth. We hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities planned during the coming year.

Betsy Deck
IABC Fort Worth President

How to avoid direct mail pitfalls

Are you prepared for the new NCOA rulings, flat addressing rules coming in March and IMB rules coming a few months later? Who has the time to sort through postal guidelines and learn what they all mean? Learn from direct mail guru Kathy Wolfe How to Avoid Direct Mail Pitfalls before they occur.

Kathy started at Global Mail, a subsidiary of GM Direct Marketing, learning the direct mail business from the ground up. For the past few years, Kathy has been Sales Manager, which included managing the print shop as well as consulting with major nonprofits and companies on marketing campaigns. Over the years, Kathy has developed seminars for our customers covering practical information such as how to design your direct mail piece to quality for the lowest possible postage or how to increase the effectiveness of your direct mail.

Last year, Kathy was voted the Employee of the Year by the Fort Worth Postal Customer Council for her advocacy of the industry.

Please join us for the next IABC Fort Worth luncheon on Tuesday, January 27 at the Fort Worth Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St. in downtown Fort Worth, from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. The cost is $25 for IABC Fort Worth members, $30 for nonmembers.

RSVP by noon, Friday, January 23. Pay for the luncheon online!

Nintendo is Ad Age's Marketer of the Year
In much the way Apple made music aficionados out of mere music buyers, Nintendo via its Wii system has created a passionate group of devotees out of people who previously couldn't have cared less about video games. Wii broke open a market long confined predominantly to young men and welcomed in the rest of the family.

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