Chic-ahhhhh-go! Messages profound and clear came home from the IABC international conference

So what did you miss?

SUNDAY

At Sunday evening's opening session, sponsored by Deloitte & Touche, outgoing IABC Chairman John Clemons, ABC, APR, bounced onstage to the tune of "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow." The troops thus revved, Clemons shared the news and spread the thank-you's around. The association welcomed 55 new accredited members since last June, he reported. On that list was IABC's own president, Julie Freeman, ABC, APR, who passed her accreditation exam a week before the conference. Kudos went to Wilma Mathews, ABC, and the program advisory committee for putting together an outstanding lineup of speakers; to the Chicago chapter hospitality task force chaired by Peg Wander; and to lead sponsor Watson Wyatt Worldwide.

Marie T. Raperto, president of the Cantor Concern of New York, graciously accepted the Chairman's Award. She was called a woman who "evangelizes" our profession. "When I transitioned into communication, I had a lot to learn," Raperto told the crowd. "So I joined a variety of organizations and asked for help along the way. Every person who responded was an IABC member."

Following Raperto was the keynote address from Andrea Mitchell, chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC News in the U.S. She offered a sobering look at "new realities" in light of 9/11. Mitchell discussed her travels overseas and her attempts to understand what people don't "get" about the United States.

Brian Humphreys, from Canberra, Australia, enjoyed the speech, although he felt that Mitchell generalized a bit about the worldview of 9/11. "In Australia, we took it very, very seriously," he said.

Sue Yund, from Minnesota, thought Mitchell was a wonderful choice. "She was very natural and personable; she spoke from the heart."

Sunday night's "Welcoming Reception - A World of Rhythms" embodied the sights and sounds of a Korean percussion troupe, Spanish flamenco dancers dressed in flouncy red flowered dresses and a country clogger in overalls accompanied by fiddle and guitar. All were woven into one terrific show. Coordinating the action and adding special Chicago pizzazz was tap-dancing emcee Reggio "The Hoofer." He dazzled the audience with his own skill, and then brought on ruffle-shirted, 86-year-old tapper Ernest "Brownie" Brown for a final flourish.

MONDAY

At the orientation session, bright and early Monday morning, John Clemons, ABC, APR, Wilma Mathews, ABC, Peg Wander and IABC staff members shared tips on how to get the most out of the next three days.

Sponsored by Towers Perrin, Monday morning's general session honored IABC's 2002 EXCEL award winner Richard M. Schulze, founder, chairman and CEO of Best Buy Co. Inc. (See interview on page 48.) "Why isn't my boss like that?" lamented one communicator, as she headed to the exhibit hall after the session. "I want to work for him,'' said another.

As the four o'clock hour drew near, conference-goers circled the IABC silent auction tables. Pens in hand, they scrambled to scrawl a final number before the bell tolled an end to the bidding. This year's auction raised close to US$10,000, the proceeds earmarked for enhancing online member services. Lucky winners walked away with travel bargains (Jamaica, anyone?), distinctive merchandise (pass the Tiffany bowl, please), fine wines, baseball tickets and myriad professional development programs, services and publications.