Can you help on the Contest Committee?

Lots of ways to help

No huge time commitment

Anyone can help (even entrants)

The APC Communications Contest is growing each year, becoming a serious competition for the best Alaskan communicators. The 2010 contest will again be open to all Alaska resident communicators, not just members. This leads to an increased number of entries and an opportunity to welcome new members (since those communicators who place first in the statewide contest need to become official members in order to have their entries sent forward to the national competition).

With more entries, however, we need more help! This is why we hope you’ll volunteer for the Contest Committee! No experience is needed. If you enter the contest, you’re still welcome – the only restriction is that you can’t help select a judge in a category that you plan to enter.

Contest committee members set contest deadlines, pick or reconfirm the judges, publicize the contest to members and nonmembers, prepare the certificates and write the script for the award presentation, and do the various clerical duties associated with the contest, including sending first-place winners on to the national competition.

Can you help us?
Please contact Carolyn Rinehart at ccrinehart@gci.net or 345-3961 if you’re interested. Or if you prefer, see Kay Vreeland, Elise Patkotak, or Amy Murphy at the September luncheon and tell ‘em. We need you!

Scott McMurren, self-proclaimed “Alaska travel evangelist,” will join members of Alaska Professional Communicators on Thursday, September 3, to discuss travel deals-of-the-day and how the online experience has changed the way we communicate.

Things have certainly changed since McMurren came to Alaska, the day after graduating from Journalism School at the University of Oregon. “Way back then, we still were typing headlines on half-sheets,” he said, “using manual typewriters and dealing with picas, points, inks and colors.”

For 26 years McMurren shared his passion for Alaska travel with Anchorage Daily News readers through a weekly travel column that offered tips and deals. He currently writes for Coast Magazine, the Alaska Dispatch, and is featured in a weekly tv segment on Thursday afternoons (Channel 11). He is also the author of an online travel newsletter, Alaska Travelgram. “Check it out for steals, deals and my favorite Alaska destinations….sometimes that’s even outside of Alaska!”

For the last 12 years, McMurren has partnered with friend Gary Blakely to produce a travel coupon book called the Great Alaskan TourSaver. He will have samples available at the luncheon. (The 2-for-1 book of travel deals retails for $99.95; a Seattle TourSaver product lists at $79.95.)

Luncheon Information
11:30 a.m., Thursday, September 3
Golden Lion Hotel, 1000 East 36th Avenue, Anchorage

Lunch: members $16; guests of members $18; others $20

Reservations:
1. RSVP and payment through PayPal.

2. Email: thetus at gci dot net by noon Tuesday, September 1.

3. Call 274-4723 and leave a message, including a phone number where you can be reached. When calling or sending an email, please include how many people are coming and their names.

Scott McMurren, Peter Dunlap-Shohl, and Mr. Whitekeys will be featured speakers this fall at luncheons hosted by Alaska Professional Communicators. Luncheons are held the first Thursday of each month and address a variety of topics related to the communications field. Reservations can be made online at www.akprocomm.org.

September 3 — Scott McMurren, a travel writer, on using social media and new media

October 1 — Political cartoonist Peter Dunlap-Shohl addresses how limits enhanced his creativity

November 5 — author/humorist/musician Mr. Whitekeys (topic TBA)