2009 TAMIO Annual Conference
Hilton Garden Inn
785 State Highway 121, Lewisville
June 18-19, 2009
Tentative Agenda
7:30 a.m.
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Legislative Wrap-Up
Rise and shine! Join us for breakfast and an overview of key, city-related legislation from the recently concluded legislative session.
Speaker: Shanna Igo, Director of Legislative Services, Texas Municipal League
9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Barbara Brescian, TAMIO President and Director of Communications, City of Missouri City
Whether you have a cable television station or not, learn how videos can liven up your Web site, presentations, and yes, even municipal TV. Review of some 2009 TAMI Award finalists and entries in the Public Service Announcement categories, complete with commentary from judges and entrants.
Speakers: Tom Bryson, Director of Communications, City of Farmers Branch; and Duane Bishop, Video Engineer, City of Farmers Branch
10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
- Media Roundtable
Learn from the experts what it takes to get your material off your desk and on the front page. Representatives of local print and broadcast news organizations speak on what they look for in story ideas about municipal government and how a city PIO can increase the odds of catching a reporter’s or editor’s attention.
Speakers: Four Dallas-area journalists will offer their perspective - Budget Busters: Effective Communications on a Shoestring
The budget cycle is tightening once again for many Texas cities, and where do many managers look for cuts? See how other communications professionals are meeting their goals, and preserving their vital programs, with fewer resources and smaller budgets.
Speakers: Carla Bolin, Coordinator of Public Information, City of Wichita Falls; Melissa Millecam, Communications Director, City of San Marcos; and Kim Womack, Director of Public Information, City of Corpus Christi
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Putting Pixie Dust into Communications Practices
Speakers:Jameson Tucker, Business Consultant and Disney Institute Alumnus, Plano
1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
- Word Power
Good writing is at the heart of nearly every effective communications program. Learn from a professional writing coach some effective techniques for improving your own writing skills and ways to adapt your writing to fit multiple outlets.
Speaker: Jacque Lambiase, Professor of Journalism, University of North Texas - In This Corner! Preparing for Contentious Meetings
The more people care about an issue, the more emotional they are. When it comes to handling emotional audiences, where strong feelings and controversy are likely to be present, preparation and discipline form basis for success with your next public presentation.
Speaker: Susan Guthrie, Communications Director, City of Tyler
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
3:15 – 4:00 p.m.
- By the Book: Vital Communications
Policies Cities use formal policies to regulate everything from road surfaces to coffee breaks, so shouldn’t the communications process also have some official—but flexible—guidelines? Review the advantages of policies in such areas as media relations, logo use, Web site links, cable channel access, and more.
Speakers: Tina Jauz, Public Information Officer, City of Midland; and James Kunke, Community Relations and Tourism Director, City of Lewisville - Dealing with the “Big One”
Handling “crisis” issues presents a flurry of variables in the 21st century information age. Dealing with constitutional issues from a broad perspective can help frame local response and ultimately focus local practitioners.
Speaker: Gary Greer, City Manager, City of Farmers Branch
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
Communicating Pension Benefits During These Unique Times
Speaker: Anthony Mills, Regional Manager - City Services, Texas Municipal Retirement System
9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
60 Great Ideas in 60 Minutes
Have your note-taking tools ready as TAMIO veterans share some of their best, and fastest, ideas in the areas of publications, technology, media relations, events marketing, and branding. This session is so popular, we are not scheduling any others during this time slot.
Speakers: CoCo Good, Marketing and Communications Director, City of McKinney; Will Hampton, Communications Director, City of Round Rock; Donna Huerta, Communications Manager/Public Information Officer, City of Rowlett; Laurie Kunke, Corporate Communications Director, City of Irving; and Janna Patrick, Arts and Communications Coordinator, City of Conroe
10:15 – 10:30 p.m.
10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
- The Social Media
No longer satisfied with being limited to their own Web site, local governments are turning to the world of social networking as they try to reach Internet-savvy residents. Hear about the latest trends, including blogs, podcasts, YouTube, and more.
Speakers: Shannon Gowan, Director of Communications, City of Temple; and Wayne Larson, Public Communications Director, City of College Station - Two to Tango: Forming a Partnership with Your City Manager
In this entertaining and informative session, discuss the benefits of an interactive partnership and how to work toward a similar partnership of your own.
Speakers: Tom Hart, City Manager, Grand Prairie; and Amy Sprinkles, Communications Director, Grand Prairie
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
1:45 – 3:00 p.m.
Disappointed you haven’t won a TAMI? Or wondered how you can? Listen to winners tell how it is done.
General Information
TAMIO Members: Register online by 5:00 p.m. (CST) on Friday, May 22, and receive the discounted
early registration fee of $155. For registrations received at TML by fax or e-mail or after 5:00 p.m. (CST) on May 22, the registration fee is $180.
Non-Members: The registration fee is $185.
The registration fee includes all sessions, handout materials, breakfasts, lunches, refreshment breaks, and reception.
Additional tickets can be purchased at $30 each for guests to attend the TAMI Awards Luncheon at noon on Friday, June 19.
The seminar will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, located at 785 State Highway 121 in Lewisville. The hotel is offering a special room rate of $119. For reservations, please call 972-459-4600 by May 18, 2009, and identify yourself as a Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO) Annual Conference participant.
If you are registered and cannot attend, we encourage you to send a substitute. If you cannot send a substitute, a $45 cancellation fee will be assessed if written cancellation is received by Friday, June 12. No refunds will be honored after that date.
Confirmations will be sent via e-mail at least one week prior to the conference, and conference badges will be mailed to you in advance. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR BADGE TO THE CONFERENCE.
Call Avis at 800-331-1600, or make reservations online at www.avis.com. The Avis World Wide Discount (AWD) Number is J867208 (Texas Municipal League).
Enterprise Corporate Class discounts are available at www.enterprise.com or by calling 800-736-8222. Your Corporate Class number is Y21222. Enter TEX for the company name.
The hotel offers self parking in surrounding surface lots.
Let us know on the registration form if you need special assistance of any kind. WE WANT TO HELP! In order to respond to any special request, we would appreciate as much advance notice as possible. Thank you.
You may contact the TML Program Development Department in the following ways:
- Phone: 512-231-7400, ext. 442
- Fax: 512-231-7494
- E-mail: kim@tml.org
- Mail: 1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400, Austin, Texas 78754-5128
You may also contact TAMIO President Barbara Brescian at bbrescian@missouricitytx.gov or 281-403-8531.
The Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO – www.texastamio.org) was created as a result of the increasingly complex role of public information in municipal government. TAMIO actively seeks to:
- Advance and promote the cooperation and exchange of information and ideas among Texas cities.
- Provide professional development for public information and communications professionals who work in municipal government or similar agencies.
- Provide public relations assistance where possible to municipalities and the Texas Municipal League (TML).
- Promote recognition outside the organization for achievement in communication with citizens.
Contact TAMIO President Barbara Brescian at bbrescian@missouricitytx.gov or 281-403-8531.
- Register online for the TAMIO Annual Conference now.
- Download and fax a .pdf version of the registration form to 512-231-7495.
- Mail the .pdf version of the registration form to:
TML Administrative Services
1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78754-5128