What happens when you get a room full of community-minded people together?
The smiles on the faces in this photo say it all.
You no doubt know someone, or are that person yourself, who volunteers in a community group or not-for-profit organisation, giving back to your local community. Many of these groups are facing more demand with fewer resources. Sound familiar?
To support some of these groups, earlier this month, communication professionals from our region and Melbourne helped eight groups and small not-for-profits with their marketing and communication challenges. The Gift of Communication workshop saw two representatives from each group matched with an advisor, so the room was buzzing.
The workshop is a support initiative of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Asia Pacific delivered here in conjunction with the Border North East Communicators’ Network.
The Gift of Communication supported:
- Albury Wodonga U3A,
- NESAY,
- Lions Club of Wodonga,
- Wangaratta Artists Society,
- Alexandra Community Hub,
- Yackandandah Community Association,
- Beechworth Biennale and
- Alpine Valleys Community Leadership.
These groups were selected from 25 applications from across the region.
Community generosity
Once we started promoting the opportunity, many people offered to support it which meant it was free for the participating groups.
Thank you to North East Water who provided the venue for free and Helen Haines MP, Member for Indi who donated a prize. Mell Milgate from Starfish Marketing, Alison Foscholo from Oak Lane Consulting, Judy Charlton and Birgit Schonafinger from Fishbowl PR together covered the costs of catering.
In July and August Into Our Hands Foundation, Alpine Valleys Community Leadership, Border Trust, regional media, Helen Haines MP, Starfish Marketing, Fishbowl PR and councils helped spread the word about the opportunity through their networks.
We couldn’t have offered the workshop without the volunteer time of the 11 communications professionals. They have extensive skills and experience and provided insights and practical approaches to planning communications and marketing for the groups.
The community representatives told us they appreciated having someone dedicated to their questions and individual circumstances.
Helen McGowan from the Yackandandah Community Association said the workshop was a fresh, informal and yet highly productive way to learn.
The Gift of Communication has been delivered internationally for 14 years. This was the first time it had been offered in-person in Australia.
I’m really grateful to have so many collaborative and community-minded people in this region, for the support of the regional communications professionals who volunteered their time and The International Association of Business Communicators’ Asia Pacific.
You can read more about the Gift of Communication here.
Birgit Schonafinger
Convenor Border North East Communicators’ Network & Board Member IABC Asia Pacific