Baptist Communicators Association

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BCA News - April 2001
Workshop Edition

1. BCA workshop draws 70-plus to South Carolina

BCA WORKSHOP DRAWS 70-PLUS TO SOUTH CAROLINA

More than 70 Baptist Communicators Association members attended the annual workshop and awards ceremony March 28-30 in Columbia, S.C.

Highlights of the event included Christian comedian Dennis Swanberg's opening night appearance and a luncheon at one of the nation's top zoos, Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Zoo executive director Satch Krantz outlined his marketing strategy for the multi-million-dollar tourist attraction in Columbia.

The workshop featured several professional development seminars on marketing, advertising and websites. "I especially enjoyed the conference on writing a marketing plan," said Scott Goggins, marketing specialist for national Woman's Missionary Union. "The participants were divided into two groups and given an outrageous mock product to market?it was a unique tool to get us thinking creatively."

BCA members also had many opportunities to build relationships. "I enjoyed getting to know people that are in the same field, deal with the same kind of budgets, deadlines and personalities," said Melissa Mann, graphic designer for Union University, Jackson, Tenn. "I especially enjoyed the zoo. It was not only fun, but educational."

In a business session, BCA members approved a lifetime membership for Ferrell Blankenship, who retired last year after 17 years as broadcast services director for the Mississippi Baptist Convention.

Members also approved a by-law change to add the position of president-elect to the officers. The change was made to facilitate continuity in the organization from year to year.

Diane Reasoner, communicators director for the Georgia Baptist Convention, was elected president. Other officers are Tim Yarbrough, Missouri Baptist Convention, president-elect; Denise Withers, Kentucky Baptist Convention, program vice president; Terry Barone, California Southern Baptist Convention, and Mark Wyatt, California Southern Baptist, program vice presidents-elect; Scott Vaughan, South Carolina Baptist Convention, membership vice president; Tanya Dawson, Woman's Missionary Union, missions vice president; Terri Lackey, LifeWay Christian Resources, awards chairman; Jim Edminson, Baptist Childen's Homes of North Carolina, professional development coordinator; Ken Camp, Baptist General Convention of Texas, treasurer; Stacey Hamby, Missouri Word&Way, newsletter editor; and Chip Turner, FamilyNet, historian.

Tamera Heitz-Peek, public relations director for Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., announced the recipients of BCA's annual scholarships.

The $1,000 Al Shackleford/Dan Martin Undergraduate Scholarship was divided and awarded to two students. They are Jennifer Baird, a junior English/communication major at Missouri Baptist College, St. Louis, and Emily Dockrey, a junior journalism/mass communication major at Samford University, Birmingham, Ala.

Rachel Zhang received the $500 Al Shackleford/Dan Martin Graduate Scholarship, and Laura Giminez received the $1,000 Alan Compton/Bob Stanley Minority and International Scholarship.

The $1,000 professional scholarship was divided between Debbie Moore, a freelance writer from Charleston, W. Va., and Robin Parrish, media services coordinator, Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee.

As a mission project, BCA members raised $300 and donated items such as diapers and GED books to Christian Women's Job Corps of the Midlands and Columbia Metro Association multi-housing ministry.

The workshop concluded with the annual awards banquet. A complete list of winners was emailed to BCA members April 3.

The 2002 BCA workshop will be April 4-6 in Louisville.

OTHER THOUGHTS FROM BCA:

"I've never been to a BCA meeting before, so it was a great first-time experience for me! I loved meeting people from so many different agencies and seeing the wealth of backgrounds and talents and skills. It's so wonderful to be a part of a professional organization whose purpose is really to serve God. Not many people get that opportunity! -- Jenny Rogers, staff writer, International Mission Board.

"I had a blast at my first BCA workshop. It was a great opportunity to meet and/or catch up with the people behind the scenes in Baptist life. The fellowship and sharing was a real boost to my professional view of Baptist communicators, and I came back feeling like I was part of a newfound family." -- Cam Tracy, web development agent, Union University, Jackson, Tenn.