Calendar of Events

Walt Mateja, DPA Programs VP
Ph: 302-377-1077
E-mail: wam@dca.net
 

      APRIL   |   MAY   |   SEPTEMBER 

  

 

APRIL 2012

Taming the Chaos: A Tumultuous Election Year with Incredible Twists

How much to attribute to the traditional media? How much from other forces?

	“Taming the Chaos” has been the overarching theme of our DPA meetings this year, and the topic for our April meeting is no exception. Events in presidential politics this year have moved at a dizzying speed. A good number of presidential hopefuls have popped up but soon have imploded. In the modern 24/7 news cycle, sometimes developments have cascaded not just day by day but hour by hour. A single day in January – the 19th – saw surging polls for Newt Gingrich in South Carolina; Rick Perry's withdrawal and endorsement of Gingrich; Rick Santorum suddenly emerging as the winner of Iowa's presidential caucuses; and Gingrich's ex-wife declaring that her former husband had sought an open marriage. Even longtime veterans of past elections have been left breathless by days like that one. How much of this tumult results from "traditional" media, albeit in modern 24/7 mode? How much from new social media and the white-hot light of modern presidential politics? How much from the peculiarities of the candidates themselves? Do the issues get short shrift even more than previously? On Wednesday, April 4, Delaware Press Association will bring you a panel of political pundits – respected Delaware Valley political expert and pollster Dr. Terry Madonna from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. (often seen as a political analyst on Lancaster and Philadelphia TV, and frequently heard as a guest on WDEL), plus two Delaware political players who live and breathe politics: Brian Selander, chief strategy officer / spokesman for Delaware Governor Jack Markell, and longtime Delaware GOP national committeewoman Priscilla Rakestraw – who together will examine these intriguing issues. They will discuss how the relentless turmoil translates to Delaware and neighboring state politics and what we should be looking for as elections approach later in the year. There will be Q&A following the discussion, so come prepared with questions for the panel and take the opportunity to help explore these fascinating questions and this fascinating political year. Please join us on April 4 at the Brandywine Hundred Library, 1300 Foulk Road, Wilmington, at 6:15 p.m. for light refreshments and networking with DPA friends and colleagues. The program starts at 7 p.m.

Directions to the Brandywine Hundred Library

The library, located just north of the intersection at Foulk and Shipley roads, is in Tally Day Park between Foulk Manor North and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. Click here for a map to the Brandywine Hundred Library.

Cost: Free and open to the public.

For more info, contact Allan Loudell: 302-478-2700 or aloudell@wdel.com.

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MAY 2012

DPA Awards Banquet & 35th Anniversary Celebration

Speakers to Give Tips for Taming the Chaos at Home and at Work

“From the Floor to the Filing Cabinet; from the Computer to the Cloud”

Do you picture yourself when you hear the term “home wrecker” (you are unable to get the piles of unread newspapers and the clothes you haven’t worn for 15 years out of the house; you can’t see the top of your desk; and you no longer can get your car into the garage)? Or do you find yourself falling ever further behind at work because you are unable to effectively master your schedule, your projects and the jumble of digital clutter on your computer? If so, you won’t want to miss hearing from two members of the National Association of Professional Organizers – DPA member Karen Jessee, a professional organizer, and Jocelyn Coverdale, a specialist in helping busy professionals create a productive work environment – when they give us the lowdown on organization at home and at work, in “Taming the Information Chaos: From the Floor to the Filing Cabinet; from the Computer to the Cloud,” at this year’s DPA Awards Banquet.

Since 2004, writer, speaker and professional organizer Karen Jessee, of Simply Organized, has been making a difference when stepping in to help bring order to the chaos in the homes of her clients. She tells them: “It’s a no-shame / no-blame project. Let’s just see what we can do to make sense of it again.” She says, “All of my clients have lives that are challenging. Any of us can lose our way, and when we do, our rooms can lose their purpose for any number of reasons – and they’re all good ones. I guarantee them we’ll make a difference, and we’ll have a good time.” Karen has won several awards from DPA for articles on the topics of hoarding, organizing and letting go.

Jocelyn Coverdale, president/founder of Ballantrae Solutions and its subsidiary, Tech Savvy Organizing, helps her clients live by the motto: “On top of the workload, not buried by it!” She says, “I help people tame the chaos in their work lives. I have developed successful systems and training programs to help clients recapture lost time, improve efficiency, grow the bottom line and become more effective at what they do.” With twenty-plus years in education and training, Jocelyn effectively teaches a variety of workshops in productivity improvement, and she consults closely with clients (either face-to-face or virtually) to implement the productivity techniques and technology tools that are right for their needs.
 

Communications Contest Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting

Join us in the ballroom at the University & Whist Club, 805 N. Broom Street, Wilmington, on Thursday, May 3, to help celebrate the 35th anniversary of DPA’s founding, to honor those who entered the 2012 DPA Communications Contest and to enjoy a display of the award-winning contest entries. Social hour with cash bar begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Following dinner and our speakers, the Communications Contest awards will be announced, certificates will be presented to the contest award winners and $500 in cash prizes will be given to the contest sweepstakes winners.

There is a parking lot at the club (to the left and to the rear), as well as free on-street parking on adjacent streets should the lot be full. For a small fee, valet parking is available at the front door, and there is a handicap access ramp into the club from the parking area at the rear of the building.

Directions to the University & Whist Club

From Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 52) heading south into Wilmington, turn right onto Broom Street (if heading north out of the city, turn left onto Broom). Landmark: The Church of the Holy City is on the SW corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Broom Street. After the turn onto Broom, go past Padua Academy (on right) to the next stop sign. Cross through the intersection and turn right into the University & Whist driveway (on the corner of 9th & Broom).

Reservations

Cost: Members & Guests $45. Collegiate Division Entrants $25.

Registration and Payment Options: – MAKE DPA BANQUET RESERVATIONS –

Please sign up no later than Wednesday, April 25.

See you on May 3!

Walt Mateja is the DPA Programs Vice President. For more information, contact Walt at 302-377-1077 or wam@dca.net.

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SEPTEMBER 2012

NFPW National Communications Conference, “Making History in Arizona,” hosted by Arizona Press Women, will be held September 20–22 at Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale, Arizona. Celebrating NFPW’s 75th anniversary. Celebrating Arizona’s Centennial. Sessions and workshops will cover a variety of professional skills and communication trends. Tentative workshop tracks and preliminary details on registration and pre- and post-conference tours may be found on the NFPW website. Conference director: Pam Knight Stevenson, 480-839-2676, pstevensonaz@cox.net.

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