As I watch the presidential debate unfold last night, I was reminded of how important it is to be kind to one another. What’s wrong with following the Golden Rule even when deep down it’s the last thing we want to do? I think this above all else applies to our adversaries. We all have those people we encounter who we just know they don’t like us. Maybe they are just a little too snarky at the office or maybe they just flat out snub you every chance they get, but everyone has at least one of those people in our lives.

If everyone adopted the attitude that ugliness and spite were not acceptable behaviors, can you imagine what the world would be like? Just think about how pleasant our lives would be!  How work and business dealings would go so much more smoothly and we wouldn’t have to waste unnecessary energy on negative feelings and watching our back for the knife that is always so perilously close.

I don’t even dare to contemplate what other atrocities in the world would be eliminated if we all just followed the simple principle of treating others as we would have them treat us. 

Tracey

You know the saying; we are only as good as the company we keep. That is so true. October is membership month for IABC. It’s typically a month that we reach out to those fellow communicators who we know would be a good addition to organization and who would benefit from all we have to offer. Yeah, I know, October is nearly over, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t take an active role in recruiting new members.

We want and need to grow our chapter in order to make it stronger. It’s better for all of us. It’s not just up to the membership VPs on the board, it every member’s responsibility to help promote our organization and sustain our chapter’s viability.

I challenge everyone to invite and bring prospective members to the professional development meetings. We have a lot to offer, right? Our monthly meetings are not only a great resource for ongoing education, but also provide an environment for professional collaboration, mentorship and comradery. 

Do you know a recent grad; someone looking for a new job; someone new to the community and the profession? Invite them and bring them. I dare you! Let’s make IABC Topeka great again.

Tracey Stratton
IABC/Topeka President