Past Events

Introduction to Search Marketing
presented Tuesday, March 18, 2008
With over 8 billion searches per month in the US, Search Engine Marketing and Optimization are of the most efficient and effective forms of advertising and marketing today. Not only are people using search engines to research before they buy, they are turning more and more to search engines to find local companies rather than using the phone book or yellow pages. Is your company positioned for success on the web? Learn why you should use pay-per-click search engine marketing and search engine optimization to ensure your company web site appears in search results when people search Google, Yahoo! and other major search engines to find products and services you offer.


This month's presenter, Shane Vaughn, Vice President, Marketing for Balihoo, is responsible for all marketing activities including website development, customer acquisition and public relations as well as currently overseeing business development. Prior to Balihoo, Shane was the Global Search Engine Marketing Manager at Hewlett-Packard, setting the strategic direction and overall investment strategies for HP’s world wide annual search spend. He has also led business development, customer acquisition and marketing programs for businesses of all sizes including Hewlett-Packard, Dailey & Associates Advertising and Wirestone. Shane is also a former Google Tech Council member, a 10 person advisory council chartered with providing search and internet marketing insight to Google.

"Surveying – Doing it Right the First Time”
presented Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The advent of the Internet has placed powerful surveying tools at everyone’s fingertips. It’s easier than ever! But “easy” doesn’t mean “good.” The fundamentals of survey research have remained the same. Todd Chavez with Chavez Survey Research will walk you through the survey process and address key issues that determine how useful the information you gather will ultimately be.

Crisis Communications: How to Stay out of the Frying Pan on a Really, Really Bad Day
presented Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Lynn Hightower, Communications Director for the Boise Police Department, will discuss crisis communications planning and how to work with the Boise Police Department in a time of crisis.

Ho Ho Holiday Party
presented Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Ho-Ho-Ho Holiday Party!
presented December 18th, 11:30 to 1:30
’Tis the season to attend the annual CCC Holiday Party. This fun-filled event will feature our famous Holiday Gift Raffle* with goodies from local businesses, lottery tickets, and cash prizes. Everybody will win something!
There is no speaker for this luncheon, so you’ll have more time to socialize with CCC members. The December party is the perfect opportunity to introduce a guest to our organization in a more relaxed setting. REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR BUSINESS CARD FOR THE RAFFLE.

*We still need goodies for the raffle. If you’d like to donate an item, e-mail a description of your donation BEFORE DECEMBER 12 to Melissa Bixby (bixbym@SLRMC.org), so she can add it to the “goody list.” We’ll accept T-shirts left over from your special event, nifty hats or mugs with your company logo, gift certificates, goody baskets, chocolates, or anything else you’re willing to provide.

Is a Picture Worth 1,000 Words? (How to find truly memorable images) by Glenn Oakley, Glenn Oakley Photography
presented Tuesday, November 20, 2007
It is believed that the modern use of the phrase stems from an article by Fred R. Barnard in the advertising trade journal Printer's Ink, promoting the use of images in advertisements that appeared on the sides of streetcards. The December 8, 1921, issue carries an ad entitled, "One Look is Worth a Thousand Words." The power of images can cement an idea more strongly than hundreds of words of text (think Nike), so learn to choose the best!

The Brutal Truth: What the Media Really Want to Get from Communicators
presented Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Are we boring them with press releases, do they hate email, do they just want the facts with no additional verbiage? Find out what the media really want from us with a great panel of media members including Ken Dey with the Idaho Statesman; Yvonne Simons, with KBCI-TV, CBS 2; NPR's Samantha Wright, and Robb Hicken with the Idaho Business Review.

Blogging for Beginners
presented Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Sarah Lewis with BloggingExpertise.com tells you everything you ever wanted to know about blogging.

Sarah is a well-known blogger and sought after blogging expert with consulting contracts all across the country.

Menu: Chicken Fettuccine, mixed greens with assorted dressings, rolls with butter, steamed broccoli, beverages, lemon cake.

Speed Meet and Greet
presented June 19, 2007, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Doubletree Riverside Hotel
Promote yourself to other communications professionals in this fast-paced meet-and-greet session similar to speed dating. Whether you're one of our new members, a veteran, or a guest in the communications field, here's your chance to meet new folks and expand your professional contacts. You’ll need to bring plenty of business cards for this session!

Spring Seminar: Using the New Media to Engage Your Customers - How blogs, podcasts, and other Web 2.0 tools are changing the way we market
presented Tuesday, May 15, 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Doubletree Hotel Boise--Riverside
The advent of blogs, podcasts, and vlogs has changed the way businesses communicate with the press and their customers. The new media, known as Web 2.0, is more interactive and community-oriented and has created a new style of marketing. Some businesses are ahead of the curve and adapting to this radical change, while others are starting to fall behind. Come to the Capital City Communicators 14th Annual Spring Seminar and learn about the potential and perils of marketing in the Web 2.0 environment.

The seminar will feature:

•Keynote Speaker Greg Stielstra, author of "PyroMarketing: The Four Step Strategy to Ignite Customer Evangelists and Keep Them For Life," discussing the impact of new media on “PyroMarketing.”

•John Foster, managing editor of Idaho Business Review; Bill Manny, managing editor of the Idaho Statesman; and Mark Danielson, executive news director of KTVB-TV discussing the way Web 2.0 is changing the dialogue between journalists and marketing communications professionals.

•Ryan DeLuc of BodyBuilding.com, Trey Langford of Buildingcredibility.com, Kevin Donaldson of Ballihoo, and other Treasure Valley business leaders sharing how they’re using the new media to build community.

April CCC Program: The New Rules of PR
presented Tuesday, April 17 2007, 11:30 a.m to 1:00 p.m.
You won't learn how to write a better press release at April's lunch meeting--instead you'll learn why you may never write a press release again. Justin Foster of BlueLine will explore the changing world of public relations and using new media communication tools and platforms to gain visibility and credibility for your organization.

The Internet as New Media--Legal Issues for Communicators
presented Tuesday, March 20, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
Popular presenter Brad Frazer is not only Senior Counsel for Technology Law Group, LLC., he is also an active blogger and writer. His March session will cover current developments in Internet law, including domain names, linking, copyright and content protection, fair use, file sharing ("P2P"), social networking, viral marketing, blogging, and related new media legal issues for communicators.

A Look at Strategic Communications and the Influence of Language on Our Thoughts
presented Tuesday, February 20th (11:30 to 1:00)
Speaker Michael E. Tomlin of George Fox University will show you how to increase your precision of language to better improve the strategic position of your organizations. If you swim in the flummery of words trying to represent clients, constituencies, agencies and corporations, understanding how our thoughts are influenced through biased perceptual filters will help you make the right, correct, precise, exact and strategic choice at the keyboard or microphone.

Four Steps to Hitting a Home Run on Your Next Presentation… and Every One After That!
presented Jan. 16th, 11:30 to 1:00
If you present your work to individuals and small groups this is one presentation you won’t want to miss. Learn the secrets to getting more prospects to say “yes” to working with you, discovering what matters most to your clients and prospective customers, and making an impression that lasts long after the presentation is over.

Deborah Olson is an active member of Toastmasters International, where she has earned the Competent Communicator award twice and has nearly completed the requirements for the highly-esteemed Triple Crown award. She has been a licensed Realtor since 2000, recently earned her Idaho Broker’s License, and spent last year as a coach and trainer at Keller Williams Realty. Most recently, Deborah has just launched her own coaching business.

Ho-Ho-Ho Holiday Party!
presented December 19th, 11:30 to 1:00
’Tis the season to attend the annual CCC Holiday Party. This fun-filled event will feature our famous Holiday Gift Raffle* with goodies from local businesses, lottery tickets, and cash prizes. Everybody will win something!
There is no speaker for this luncheon, so you’ll have more time to socialize with CCC members. The December party is the perfect opportunity to introduce a guest to our organization in a more relaxed setting. REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR BUSINESS CARD FOR THE RAFFLE.

*We still need goodies for the raffle. If you’d like to donate an item, e-mail a description of your donation BEFORE DECEMBER 21 to Melissa Bixby (bixbym@SLRMC.ORG), so she can add it to the “goody list.” We’ll accept T-shirts left over from your special event, nifty hats or mugs with your company logo, gift certificates, goody baskets, chocolates, or anything else you’re willing to provide.

Building Brands by Design with Karl Bischoff and David Miller
presented Tuesday, November 21st, from 11:30 to 1:00
Consumers face an incredible array of choices, and have less time to make informed, discerning choices. As a result, the value of having a clear brand has never been more difficult, nor more necessary. A recent study of Northwest business executives shows that the ability to develop a clear brand difference and measure the performance of marketing are the most pressing needs of the marketing industry.
David Miller and Karl Bischoff from Seattle/Ketchum-based Phinney Bischoff Design House will review the results of the 2006 Northwest Marketing Insight Study, to help you understand the climate for marketers and the companies they represent at the November 21 meeting. The company will share tools and insights it has developed for clients such as GE, Healthcare, and Starbucks to prove the effectiveness of brand design investments, and their inspired vision for “brand design” that has led the firm to be named one of the Puget Sound’s fastest-growing private companies.

October Luncheon Meeting
presented Tuesday, October 17, 2006 from 11:30-1:00 pm
October's Program: Optimizing Your Communication Strategy and Tactics
Presented by Rafe VanDenBerg, President of Business Development Xcellerator (BDXi)

BDXi works with companies to significantly improve their growth and profits by optimizing their sales and marketing systems and processes. At the October lunch Rafe will share actual client results to illustrate how you can make small improvements to your existing communications strategy and tactics – and significantly enhance your ROI. Prior to founding BDXi, Rafe held a number of executive-level sales and marketing positions with such local companies as Crucial Technology and Micron.

September luncheon
presented Tuesday, September 19th, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
September's Program--Customer Evangelism: How Customer Service Affects Your Brand
Presented by Brian Packer, BlueLine Marketing

June Program - Speed Networking
presented Tuesday, June 20, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Cinnabar Room, Doubletree Hotel Riverside
Promote your business and yourself in this fast-paced networking session similar to speed dating. Whether you're one of our new members, a veteran, or a guest, here's your chance to meet new folks and expand your professional contacts. Remember to bring at least 40 business cards!

RSVP BY FRIDAY, JUNE 16: Members should RSVP online through the "Members" page of this Web site. Once you’re signed into the secure "Member's Area," scroll down to "Invitations" and click "Want to RSVP"? Nonmembers should RSVP to Gemma Utting (gemma@compasswise.com) to confirm attendance.

PRICE: $15 for Members / $18 for Nonmembers. To save time at the registration table, please prewrite your checks for the appropriate amount. We can only accept cash or checks at the door. If you want to pay by credit card, please prepay through the CCC Web site using PayPal (www.cccboise.org/index.php, click on PREPAY), and pay by 10 a.m. on the day of the luncheon.

LUNCH MENU: Baked Potato Bar: Tossed garden greens with assorted dressings, tri-color pasta salad, fruit salad, baked Idaho russets, broccoli and cheese sauce, chili con carne, mushroom stroganoff, assorted rolls and butter, beverage service, and Doubletree cookie.

May Luncheon - The New Idaho Statesman
presented Tuesday, May 16 - Cinnabar Room, Doubletree Hotel Riverside, 2900 Chinden Blvd.
PROGRAM: Vicki Gowler, executive editor of The Idaho Statesman, will share the story behind the recent transformation of the newspaper, including a brief overview of the industry, the competitive landscape, what it takes to produce the new newspaper, and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions they've received. Here?s your chance to find out how these changes may impact your organization's efforts to get coverage by the Statesman.

Vicki has been the executive editor of The Idaho Statesman since October 2005. A 27-year veteran of Knight Ridder, she was the top editor and senior vice president of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2000. Vicki also has edited at the Miami Herald and the Duluth News-Tribune, and worked at the Knight Ridder Washington, D.C. bureau. Her goal is to make The Idaho Statesman an interesting and indispensable part of life in the Treasure Valley.

RSVP BY FRIDAY, MAY 12: Members should RSVP through this site using the secure "Members" page. Nonmembers should RSVP to Sonja Carter via our "Contact" page to confirm attendance.

PRICE: $15 for Members / $18 for Nonmembers. To save time at the registration table, please prewrite your checks for the appropriate amount. We can only accept cash or checks at the door. If you want to pay by credit card, please prepay through this site using the "Prepay" page and pay by 10 a.m. on the day of the luncheon

LUNCH MENU: Teriyaki Beef Salad. Marinated flank steak sliced over oriental greens, finished with touches of vegetables, noodles, and a ginger-soy vinaigrette; beverage service; chocolate cake.

John Alston: Setting Personal and Professional Goals: Go from Ordinary to Extraordinary
presented Tuesday, April 18th, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., including lunch
Speaker and author, John Alston MS., CSP, CPAE, will share the goal setting component of his Life Design Kit with ways and means for developing a clear vision for your future and a plan for designing and or repairing your life.

Freud said life has two aspects, work and love. Herein is an opportunity to work on either one or both aspects as you redesign or reinvigorate your life.

* Learn about and how to use the one thing for everything

* Discover and learn about how to identify and direct your passion

* Acquire skills and techniques for designing, redesigning or repairing your life

In this interactive presentation, participants will be equipped with skills and techniques for crafting viable and meaningful goals that benefit them personally and professionally.

Betsy Dunklin: Idaho's Nonprofit Sector: Influence, Impact, and Investment
presented Tuesday, March 21, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Join Betsy Dunklin, executive director of the Idaho Nonprofit Development Center, as she shares the latest findings on how nonprofit organizations contribute to our quality of life, and how you and your business can invest in nonprofits.

Betsy has nearly 30 years of experience working for a variety of small nonprofits as an employee, volunteer, and board member. As director of the Idaho Nonprofit Development Center, she works with nonprofits and public and private industries to build strong Idaho communities.

Dr. Heidi Reeder: Collaborative Negotiation in the Workplace
presented Tuesday, February 21, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The ability to negotiate mutually agreeable solutions is essential in many areas of our lives. While many of us want outcomes that benefit everyone involved, we don?t necessarily have the specific skills and perspectives that allow us to engage in collaborative negotiation successfully. In this interactive program, you?ll learn how to identify conflicts for which collaborative negotiation is appropriate, as well as how to use key communication strategies that lead to integrative solutions.

Heidi Reeder, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized expert on human communication. She is regularly quoted in top magazines such as Men?s Health, Psychology Today, and Time, and was recently featured on Life and Style and The Today Show. Her research on cultivating positive relationships has been published in leading communication journals such as Communication Monographs, Sex Roles, and The Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. As the owner of SuccessTracks and a faculty member at Boise State University, Dr. Reeder?s mission is to help teams and individuals communicate with confidence and authenticity and maximize their personal and professional effectiveness.

January CCC Program - Motivate Your Team!
presented January 17, 2006
Learn ?The Coach Approach? and elicit excellence, loyalty and resourcefulness from your team, one conversation at a time. Although we strive to choose talented people for our teams and have great expectations for them, we could be unknowingly undermining the very qualities we chose them for. Join life coach Gemma Utting in this lively, interactive session, as you learn the three sure-fire techniques successful coaches use to unleash the very best within their teams.

HO HO HO-liday Party
presented Tuesday, December 20th, from 11:30 to 1 p.m.
'Tis the season to attend the annual CCC Holiday Party. This fun-filled event will feature our famous Holiday Gift Raffle. Nobody will walk away empty-handed. Everybody will win something! There is no speaker for this luncheon, so you'll have more time to socialize with CCC members. The December party is a perfect opportunity for you to invite a guest to participate in the festivities and learn more about CCC.

LUNCH MENU: Turkey, mashed potatoes w/gravy, stuffing, fresh seasonal veggies, tossed salad, rolls with butter, pumpkin or apple pie.

No One is Listening: Marketing in the iPod Era
presented Tuesday, November 15th, from 11:30 to 1:00
BlueLine Marketing will provide an insightful, interactive 30 minute presentation of the continued erosion of traditional advertising and the growing trend of utilizing grassroots marketing to reach ever elusive audiences.

LUNCH MENU: Grilled lemon pepper chicken breast, rice pilaf, seasonal vegetables, tossed salad, rolls with butter, beverage service, apple pie.

Grace under pressure: tips for stress-free business writing
presented Tuesday, Oct. 18th, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Join Deborah Wessell, mystery author and technical writer, as she shares tips with us for stress-free business writing of our letters and e-mails.

Lunch Buffet: Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry - chicken and vegetables stir fried with seasoned yaki soba noodles, fortune cookies, lemon cake, and beverage service.

September Luncheon: A View From the Top
presented Tuesday, Sept. 20th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
What makes upper management executives tick? How do they perceive communications people? Join Leslie Kelly Hall, vice president and chief information officer for information technology, marketing, and communications for St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, as she explains the process she and her communications staff went through to choose a new ad agency for St. Al's, and the differences between her approach and the way her staff wanted to handle it. Learn how a numbers-oriented, big-picture executive worked to achieve mutual goals with creative folks who rely on their feelings and gut reactions.

Lunch Buffet: Baked Potato Bar - Baked Idaho russet potatoes with the following toppings: mushroom stroganoff, broccoli, cheese sauce, chili, butter, sour cream and bacon bits; tossed mixed greens with assorted dressing; tri-color pasta salad; fruit salad; rolls with butter; Doubletree cookie; and iced tea, coffee, and water.