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October
2003
BCA News
President's
Message: Dishin' with Doug
Officers
Gather in Nashville
Spirit
of St. Louis--Workshop
Call
for Entries Approaching
Do
you know a Communications Student?
Missions
Update
New
Members
Open
Positions
Professional
Development: BRAIN FOOD
Submit
news items
Dishin’
with Doug
2003-2004
BCA President
I
had been a communications student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
for just a few months when I first heard about Baptist Public Relations
Association. I was working part-time in the Office of Public Relations and,
like many of my fellow students, had no idea at the time what career God had in
store for me. With the encouragement of my supervisor, I became a member of
BPRA and attended my first workshop in 1987 in Atlanta. During those three
days, I learned a lesson which has stayed with me through these 17 years –
there is value and strength in gathering together with people you have
something in common with, vocationally and spiritually.
I
spoke recently with an Alabama pastor about a leadership development experience
he had at Glorieta Conference Center earlier this year.
When I asked what the most important thing he took from that conference
was – the one concept that would shape his ministry for years to come – he
stated “Just knowing that I’m not alone, and that there are others facing
the same struggles and challenges as me.” That’s what my involvement in
BPRA, now BCA, has meant to me. It’s a constant reminder that I’m not
alone. I’m part of a circle of friends and co-laborers walking along the same
pathway, who constantly provide me encouragement, insight and strength. Whether
it’s through face-to-face contact at the annual workshop or quick emails and
phone calls through the year, such opportunities for interaction have had worth
beyond measure.
The
writer of Hebrews knew all about this truth when he wrote, “let us be
concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not
staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each
other …” (Hebrews 10:24-25, HCSB). Whether it be regular worship
opportunities or special events like BCA’s 50th anniversary
workshop and celebration, times of gathering together are important.
I
hope you’re already making plans to be at the April workshop. I hope you’re
taking advantage of opportunities to be more involved in BCA. I hope you’re
inviting fellow communicators who are not in BCA to become members. But most of
all, I hope you are about the business of “promoting love and good works”
and “encouraging each other,” both through BCA and in whatever field of
ministry God has placed you.
Doug
Rogers is Communications Coordinator for the Alabama Baptist State Board of
Missions and has been a member of BCA since 1987. Contact him at drogers@alsbom.org.
Officers
Gather in Nashville
In
addition to appointing Polly House as scholarship committee chairman, BCA
president Doug Rogers named past-president Tim Yarbrough as chairman of the
nominating committee during a meeting of the association’s officers on
Friday, September 26 at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville. Rogers also
updated the officers on the re-design of the website and discussed his goals
for the year.
Paul
Huse, program vice president, outlined a tentative workshop schedule with
officers via a teleconference. Huse and his staff were still in negotiations
with a downtown hotel.
The
deadline for submitting entries in this year’s awards competition was set as
February 2 by awards chairperson Cathy Humphrey. Judging will take place in
Duluth, Ga., in March.
Membership
vice president Randy Cowling took suggestions on how to market the association
to prospective new members and students.
Historian
Chip Turner discussed updating the association’s written history and
formatting it to CD-ROM. Turner received further suggestions on commemorating
the 50th Anniversary during the workshop in St. Louis.
Joe
Conway reported the missions committee is talking with leaders at the East St.
Louis Community Center about doing a missions event at the center during this
year’s workshop. This year’s missions opportunity will be held during one
of the last days of the conference.
Items
tabled for further discussion included options for scholarship funding,
purchase of a copier for the BCA office and a proposed salary increase for
administrative coordinator Keith Beene.
The
next officers meeting will be held in February in Nashville. If you have an
item of business that you would like the officers to discuss, contact BCA
president Doug Rogers at drogers@alsbom.org.
“Spirit
of St. Louis”
The
2004 BCA Annual Workshop "Spirit of St. Louis" will celebrate the
association's 50th anniversary right where it all began in 1954 in St. Louis,
Mo. On April 14-17, join BCA in revisiting the history of our organization and
take advantage of all that St. Louis has to offer! In addition to specially
designed seminars that will sharpen and re-invigorate your communications
skills, the program committee is planning local trips to the fabulous Fox
Theatre, and a St. Louis Cardinals game for sports enthusiasts. The Westin-St.
Louis, a four-star hotel located downtown, will serve as the conference hotel.
More information about registration and hotel costs will be mailed to you soon.
Continue to check the BCA website for further workshop details as they become
available http://www.baptistcommunicators.org/workshop/workshop.htm
“Catch
the Spirit” … Call for Entries Approaching
This
year’s awards competition theme is “Catch the Sprit of BCA in St. Louis.”
The Call for Entries packet will be sent out at the end of December, so be
looking for it in your mail after the holidays. Entry deadline will be Monday,
February 2 and winner letters will go out in March. For questions, contact Cathy
Humphrey, awards committee chair, at chumphrey@gbddm.org
Do
you know a Communications Student?
Our
association continues to help students train for careers in religious
communications through its scholarship programs.
BCA
will award three scholarships next spring for the 2004-2005 academic year. The
deadline for application is Friday, December 5, 2003.
A
scholarship for $1,000 will be awarded to an undergraduate student and one $500
scholarship to a graduate student in the name of Al Shackleford and Dan Martin.
The $1,000 Alan Compton/Bob Stanley Minority and International Scholarship is
given to an undergraduate student of minority ethnic or international origin.
Applicants
must have at least a 2.5 GPA and have vocational aspirations in religious
communications. Funds may be used for tuition, books, housing or food and will
be forwarded to the institution in which the student is enrolled no later than
August 1, 2004. Students may request an application by contacting Keith Beene,
BCA administrative coordinator, at (615) 904-0152 or by email at bca.office@comcast.net.
Missions
Update
Building
on the momentum of a terrific mission trip to Tijuana this past spring, 2004 in
St. Louis promises to raise the sights on the BCA mission experience. Planning
is still in the initial phases, but how would you like to help a boy or girl
write a letter to his or her mother, father, grandmother or grandfather?
In
marking BCA's 50-year heritage, Mission St. Louis will help celebrate the
heritage of family for these young people. What better way to use your
communication skills then to help share the gospel and recognize the
significant contributions of family members in the lives of children. Watch for
details in an upcoming issue of the BCA newsletter.
For
questions or more information, contact Joe
Conway at jconway@namb.net.
New
Members
Gerald
Harris is editor of the Christian Index.
You can contact him at gharris@christianindex.org.
Kristen
Owens is
assistant public relations director for the Georgia Baptist Developmental
Disabilities Ministries. You can contact her at Kristen@gbddm.org.
Laura
Rich is
graphic editor for the Biblical Recorder. You can contact her at laura@biblicalrecorder.org.
Open
Positions
The
Christian Index, the oldest continuously
published religious newspaper in the nation, is seeking a production editor.
Responsibilities include working with the graphic design editor in producing
each issue of the paper. Design skills not needed. Editing skills required;
writing and photography skills would not be a priority but would be an asset.
Salary commensurate with skill level; five years experience preferred. Position
open immediately.
Please
send resumes to Joe Westbury,
Managing Editor, at jwestbury@christianindex.org.The
Christian Index, which is published twice monthly, is owned and published by
the Georgia Baptist Convention in Atlanta.
Professional
Development: BRAIN FOOD
Designing
Brochures: Bring people into your cause.
It is most effective
when
it is intentional and targets an intended audience.
http://www.baptistcommunicators.org/dev/editorial.htm
Photo
Tips for Communicators: When it comes to communicating your work and
vision,
few things surpass the value of good pictures.
http://www.baptistcommunicators.org/dev/photo.htm
Articles
Requested: Do you have a how-to article?
How about a why-it-works white paper?
Have you ever written a critique on photography or Web sites?
If
you have an article that would help your fellow communicators, submit it for
consideration to the Professional Development Officer, Mark
Snowden, at
msnowden@imb.org.
Check out the papers we have already received which are published at http://www.baptistcommunicators.org/prodev.htm.
Don’t
Forget…
Visit
http://www.baptistcommunicators.org
for helpful articles, member info, personal
development articles, and news on
the upcoming conference in St. Louis!
HOW TO SUBMIT NEWS ITEMS
Send items for the BCA newsletter to Keith Beene at bca.office@att.net
or newsletter editor Sara Horn at sara.horn@lifeway.com.
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