It’s been a month since NDPC hosted the NFPW national conference, and we can hardly believe how fast that month has flown by. It was a delight to have so many NFPW members join us in Fargo and experience so much of what our incredible community has to offer. 

As we organize our conference notes and begin to apply what we learned, we wanted to share a few important takeaways:

• Nicole Phillips, Kindness advocate, taught us that we are in control of our thoughts and it’s important for us to be aware of where our thoughts are throughout the day; in fact, she challenged us to set an alarm as a reminder to stop and think about what you’re thinking about as well as to create a mantra to reject and replace unhelpful thoughts.
  
  

• Former Washington Post reporter and “If You Lived Here You’d Be Home by Now” author Chris Ingraham delighted us with stories about his entertaining experiences in Red Lake Falls, but also shared the challenges of publishing work through a newsletter versus a larger distribution method. 
  
  

• Bold North brand creator and former Michelle Obama staffer Andrea Mokros enlightened us on building a brand that is both authentic (real and true) and accessible (everyone can embrace and relate to) and reminded us that a brand is not just what you say but what you do and how people experience it.
  
  

• In his delightful presentation, consultant and fundraiser Patrick Kirby gave us several ideas for treating customers/clients like nonprofit donors, such as leading with appreciation, engaging creatively and not being afraid to pick the phone to make a phone call or send a thank you note (or five!). Patrick also mentioned some important questions to ask donors/clients/customers to get to know them and said he'd send those later, which he did. These are the questions:

1. In your own words, tell me a bit about the work you do! (My website interpretation is only so good!)
2. What are you most proud of in the last year?
3. What are you most excited about in the next year?
4. Where are you seeing others struggle in your industry?
5. What are innovations that make you excited for the future of your work?
6. What do you love the most about your job? Your team?
7. Where do you see your team focusing their efforts? How do you show up for each other?
8. What issues is your team passionate about?
9. Where do you look for ideas to innovate your work?
10. Is there anything I can do to help?

• Public relations exec Michelle Olson enlightened us on why diversity and inclusion is so important in communications professions, pointing us to the many resources available at voices4everyone.prsa.org. 
  
  

• For anyone who attended the passion panel, Rebecca Undem published the blog post she mentioned about how burnout can actually be about being snuffed out. She mentioned during the panel that she was writing this and had not yet published it. Attendees might be interested in reading the final post.
  
  

• For anyone who attended the podcasting panel, Jessie Woinarowicz from Glaze and Grit put together some great notes and information about podcasting available at https://www.glazeandgritpodcast.com/nfpw. Password is nfpw.

The conference was full of so much more information, but those are some highlights and follow-up info we wanted to share. You can read so much more in the July edition of Agenda, including more about LuAnn Schindler, the national COA; our very own Tracy Frank, the sweepstakes winner, and so much more from the national conference.

We can't wait to see everyone again in 2023 in Cincinnati!

North Dakota Professional Communicators recently selected Sarah Mudder of Mandan, N.D., as its 2022 Communicator of Achievement.

“Being named Communicator of Achievement is a great honor that recognizes both excellence in the communications field as well as service to NFPW and the community,” said Tammy Fogle, the statewide organization’s president. NDPC is an affiliate of NFPW, a nationwide organization of professional women and men pursuing careers across the spectrum of journalism and communications.

Mudder currently serves as NDPC’s southwest district chair and is a member of its board. She pushed for and is leading a movement for a united statewide organization with a consistent dues structure and branding. At the on-set of the pandemic, Mudder recommended that NDPC invest in a virtual meeting platform that is now used to host rotating monthly meetings allowing the members to learn from and make connections outside their immediate geographic area.

“Sarah has been instrumental in the survival of NDPC during the height of the pandemic and beyond,” added Fogle. “It is evident how much she values NFPW and our local affiliate by her actions to promote the organization and the programs we offer.”

Mudder is the communications and events coordinator at North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) where she works to bring awareness to the state’s most pressing housing issues.

“I have worked with Sarah since 2002 and appreciate the professionalism she has brought to the agency,” said NDHFA Executive Director Dave Flohr. “She has a demonstrated commitment to our mission of providing affordable housing opportunities for all North Dakotans.”

In addition to serving as NDHFA’s primary liaison to the media and the director of its educational and promotional efforts, Mudder manages the agency’s social media channels, edits and produces newsletters and other announcements, is NDHFA’s go-to editor and its records manager.

Connections made through years of government service have provided Mudder with unique community service opportunities. She has used her communications skills to help with a handful of mostly successful political campaigns and she was honored to serve as the media coordinator for Roughrider Honor Flight.

Married to Layn Mudder, a freelance photographer, the Mudders have a very spoiled English Cocker Spaniel named Annie. In their downtime, they enjoy traveling to visit historic sites and museums, kayaking calm waterways, attending stock car races and trying out new restaurants. Her favorite adventures include trips to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s home sites in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and Missouri.

As NDPC’s honoree, Mudder advanced to the national NFPW competition. She was one of six nominees recognized during NFPW’s annual conference, which was held in June 2022 in Fargo, N.D. LuAnn Schindler of Clearwater, Neb., co-publisher and editor-in-chief of the Summerland Advocate-Messenger, was chosen as NFPW’s 2022 Communicator of Achievement. NFPW has presented this prestigious award for 65 years.

A North Dakota multimedia storyteller has won the overall sweepstakes award in the National Federation of Press Women’s 2022 Professional Communications Contest. Tracy Frank of North Dakota was honored June 25, 2022, at the NFPW contest awards dinner and ceremony in Fargo.

Frank joined Bell Bank in 2016 as a marketing content writer after more than a decade as a respected local and regional journalist. She successfully made the transition from journalism to corporate marketing and communications, bringing her curiosity, perseverance, and love of a good story to her role at Bell, where she is now a senior multimedia storyteller, creating content for marketing campaigns, informational newsletters, feature articles, videos and more.

Originally from Casselton, N.D., Frank earned a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, where she studied abroad during a Semester at Sea (visiting 10 countries) and interned at ABC’s “20/20” news show in Washington, D.C. Returning to North Dakota, she was a reporter for 10 years at The Forum newspaper in Fargo before serving as a news reporter, fill-in anchor and producer at WDAY-TV.

A member of North Dakota Professional Communicators and NFPW since 2018, Frank has won numerous communications contest awards and was named the second-place Sweepstakes winner for NFPW’s national contest in 2020.

“Being named the 2022 National Sweepstakes Award winner is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the high quality of Tracy’s work,” said NFPW President Karen Rowley. “NFPW members adhere to the highest standards in their work, and we’re delighted to be able to recognize that. Congratulations to both Tracy and North Dakota Professional Communicators.”

Kindness is Contagious in the Workplace
Could kindness be the key to becoming a better leader and coworker? Yes! And it doesn’t take a complete overhaul of your workplace. Keynote Speaker Nicole Phillips will explain the research-based chain reaction that happens within our bodies when we lead with kindness. She will also explore an interactive and practical set of micro-actions anyone can do to foster kinder communication and bring out the best in each employee. These tips will have an immediate impact on your entire organization's culture. Hearing Nicole share how to say no to the negative and yes to kindness will leave you feeling uplifted, refreshed, and equipped to better enjoy your life both personally and professionally.

About Nicole Phillips
Nicole spreads the message of the healing power of kindness as host of the show “The Kindness Podcast,” which was named by Oprah Magazine as one of the Top Three Happiness Podcasts in 2021. She also has a weekly column called “Kindness is Contagious” that runs in newspapers across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

Nicole earned a Broadcast Journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin and has worked as a television anchor and reporter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Madison, Wisconsin; and Fargo, North Dakota. You may have seen her on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family show, HGTV’s House Hunters, or The Price is Right, where she learned a lot about kindness and won a car! Nicole is the author of five books, Kindness is Contagious, Kindness is Courageous, Workplace Positivity, The Negativity Remedy, and Borrow My Brave. As Miss Wisconsin 1997, she spent the year touring the state talking to kids and adults about overcoming crisis.

Nicole is married to her childhood crush who is a college men’s basketball coach at Northern State University. The couple lives in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with their three children and oversized Goldendoodle.

 2022 NFPW Conference Information

 

It’s time to prepare entries for NDPC's 2022 College Communications Contest. This contest is a great opportunity for college communications students in two-year or four-year colleges or universities in North Dakota or at Minnesota State University Moorhead and Concordia College to gain recognition for their work and receive feedback from judges in the communication profession. 

The deadline for entering the 2022 contest is Tuesday, March 1, 2022. 

Contest rules, categories and entry forms are available at https://www.aboutndpc.org/College-Communication-Contest.

All contest entries must have been published, aired or produced between March 1, 2021, through February 28, 2022.

Students can earn money through the sweepstakes prize. Points will be assigned for entries that place, and the two students who earn the most points will receive prizes in the amount of $100 and $50, respectively.

Email ndpccollegecontest@gmail.com with questions about the contest.

North Dakota Professional Communicators is excited to host the 85th Annual National Federation of Press Women Conference in Fargo. NDPC is affiliated with NFPW, an organization of communication professionals across the country. Hundreds of fellow communicators will travel here to “Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Legendary. Discover the Possibilities of the New Communications World.” The lineup of top-notch speakers will focus on ways professional communicators can adapt and achieve success in our constantly evolving industry.  NDPC President Tammy Fogle and Immediate Past President Sadie Rudolph are the 2022 conference co-directors. They are working with local committee members to ensure this conference is truly LEGENDARY and North Dakota’s warm hospitality welcomes those who travel here to attend. This is a perfect opportunity for those who have not made it to a NFPW conference previously to attend the national conference right here in North Dakota. In addition to networking opportunities, the annual NFPW conference features professional development, the awards banquet for the NFPW Professional and High School communications contests, local tours, and a chance to hear from regional, national, and possibly international speakers. Join us! Please check the NFPW’s conference page regularly for updates.

Three area college students have been awarded scholarships from North Dakota Professional Communicators to assist in their academic endeavors in the future.

Anna Dragseth, a junior at North Dakota State University; Erick George, a junior at Minnesota State University Moorhead; and Marissa Shiock, a junior at Minnesota State University Moorhead, each received a $500 Marion J. Piper Scholarship. The award is named in honor of a longtime NDPC member who died in 1969.

Dragseth is majoring in broadcast journalism with a minor in political science. She worked as the NDSU University Relations student writer, is involved with KNDS Radio and serves as the communications coordinator for Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow. She also works as the assistant manager at Bison Information News Network, a student-run campus news organization. Dragseth is originally from Watford City, North Dakota.

"Thank you so much for choosing me as the 2021 NDPC scholarship recipient," Dragseth wrote in her thank you note to the scholarship committee. "I am beyond honored to receive this prestigious scholarship. I will be interning at RFD-TV this summer and Nashville and plan on putting the scholarship money towards living expenses."

George is majoring in broadcast journalism and multimedia journalism with a minor in mass communications and political science. For two years, he has been involved with the student-run Campus News program, serving as anchor this past year. He is originally from Battle Lake, Minnesota.

"This generous gift will be a great financial support toward my higher education. It is a great blessing and honor to have you give so generously and value my education," George wrote. "By awarding me the Marion J. Piper Scholarship, you have allowed me to focus my attention on my education without financial stress. Your generosity is an inspiration to me. I hope one day to help future students achieve their goals with a charitable spirit just as you have helped me."

Shiock is majoring in multimedia journalism, photojournalism and broadcast journalism with a minor in media analysis. She is involved with the student-run Campus News program, serving as head producer and news photographer, and also shoots photos for the MSUM Go!Team and the Dragon football team. She is originally from Bismarck, North Dakota.

North Dakota Professional Communicators announces the winners of the 2021 NDPC Communications Contest. Thirty-one NDPC members earned 145 awards for their work in writing, editing, photography, graphics and design, advertising, web and social media, communication programs and campaigns, public relations, information for the media and speeches. Read more>>

Tammy Fogle, digital marketing specialist for North Dakota State College of Science, has been selected as the 2021 Communicator of Achievement by the North Dakota Professional Communicators. The COA is the highest honor NDPC can bestow upon one of its members. It is presented annually to a member of NDPC and the National Federation of Press Women who has distinguished him or herself within and beyond his or her profession. Read more>>

Let's spruce things up!

With all the improvements we’ve made throughout the past year, it’s time to spruce up our brand too. The NDPC logo should be more modern and inviting. It should be professional and edgy, but communicators should feel welcomed to our organization when they see our logo. That’s where you come in. You are invited to participate in the NDPC Logo Design contest!

Here is the information you will need:

Name: North Dakota Professional Communicators (NDPC)

Industry: Non-profit organization supporting North Dakota communicator professional development

Audience: North Dakota communicators of all ages. Our membership is made up of men and women from college students all the way to retirement.

Color and Type Choice: Up to you! Flex your creative muscle.

How to submit: Please package all the above materials into a zipped folder and send to aboutndpc@gmail.com Feel free to send using file-sharing sites like Dropbox or Google drive.

Deadline to submit: April 21 at Midnight CST

Prize: a $250 Visa Gift Card

Questions: Feel free to email Sadie Rudolph, NDPC President.

 

Rules and Requirements

1. The entrant must be an NDPC member.

2. The entrant must submit two versions of the main logo.

• One logo should spell out North Dakota Professional Communicators
• One logo can be the NDPC acronym

3. The entrant must create four district logos that complement the NDPC logo. The four districts are: 

• Fargo-Moorhead Professional Communicators
• Minot Area Professional Communicators
• Prairie Communicators
• Valley MarComm

4. All assets should be submitted as both:

• PNG (for online applications)
• PDF (for print applications)

5. The logo(s) should work well on apparel, merchandise, digital and print platforms, including:

• Merchandise (mugs, T-shirts, etc.)
• Digital (website, ads, social media)
• Print (business cards, letterhead, brochures)

6. The entrant must submit a branded document or booklet that contains guidelines on logo usage. It should include basic standards for use of the below identity elements.

• NDCP Logo
• District Logos
• Color Palette
• Typography

7. The contest winner must release the logo rights to NDPC and agree to receive no additional compensation.

• NDCP Logo
• District Logos
• Color Palette
• Typography

8. If any of the above rules are not followed or requirements are not met, your entry will be disqualified.

 

Logo Contest Submission Checklist

• North Dakota Professional Communicators Logo PNG
• North Dakota Professional Communicators Logo PDF
• NDPC Logo PNG
• NDPC Logo PDF
• Fargo-Moorhead Professional Communicators Logo PNG
• Fargo-Moorhead Professional Communicators Logo PDF
• Minot Area Professional Communicators Logo PNG
• Minot Area Professional Communicators Logo PDF
• Prairie Communicators Logo PNG
• Prairie Communicators Logo PDF
• Valley MarComm Logo PNG
• Valley MarComm Logo PDF
• Logo Usage Guidelines PDF

 

The NDPC board will vote on entries at the Spring Board Meeting on April 22. The winner will be announced at the end of the NDPC Conference on April 23. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to seeing your entries!