There's a 50 percent chance that your nonprofit doesn't have a strategic plan, or is aware that it does. Evidence suggests that having a written, understood and accessible plan makes your organization stronger. More...
The National Recreation and Park Association uses interactive voting and crowdsourcing to pump up interest in local parks across the country. It's an idea we like. More...
The U.S. Tennis Association spends less on technology since hiring its CIO, but arguably is getting much more out of its investment. More...
A few state park systems have looked into the future and made some strategic decisions for growth. Their willingness to tie technology with nature and to bring in a new generation of attendees presents a lesson in how to stay relevant. More...
John Verrico has more than 32 years of experience as a public affairs professional in federal and state government agencies, working extensively in media, community and employee relations. Currently, he is the President of the National Association of Government Communicators and the Chief of Media Relations for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate. He's a professional speaker and trainer on communication and motivational leadership topics. More...
Ron Nichols is the Soil Health Communications Coordinator for the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In this interview he discusses his teams award-winning campaign, “Unlock the Secrets in the Soil.” More...
Attendees at meetings almost always get surveyed. But you could learn even more from those who didn't attend. More...
Strategic plans are critical. Day-to-day operations often keep organizations working in the weeds instead of looking at the forest at 20,000 feet above. More...
At Lego, "everything is awesome!" How did a company that flirted with bankruptcy become a model for organizational operations? A Fast Company article provides insight on steps your group should consider adopting. More...
Tell your story. You might inspire someone. A 13-year-old reads a bio of a New York Knicks player and now his basketball team is at the top of the charts in shooting percentage. More...
Businesses that continue to degrade and wash down their product would expect to see declining sales. That's what the newspaper industry did during the economic downturn and now are still paying the price. Can they learn from online organizations that know content is king? More...
Does your organization have a strategic plan in place? Creating a process and plan to help set goals and outcomes between now and the year 2020 is essential to keep focused on the big picture. More...
Should we be alarmed that only about one in three Americans can accurately respond to this query: name the three branches of government in the United States? Consider the competition for civics education: corporate advertising, entertainment programs, social media and political shows/networks that do more to inflame than inform civic distrust. More...
The number of full-time reporters covering state legislatures for daily newspapers has declined 35 percent since 2003 and offer clues to help us understand the broader implications of journalism’s ongoing transformation. More...
A free resource highlighting a five-step program on how to get your organization to the next level is available through At Last Communications. More...
During a recent tour of some legendary recording studios in Memphis and Muscle Shoals, Alabama, we were reminded of the lesson to always encourage customers to be actively engaged. More...
The National Association of Government Communicators now has new data on its members and potential members. At Last Communications produced a report on salary, benefits and industry trends that will assist the association over the next several months. In the report, we were able to outline a description of a typical member. To find out who she is, read on. More...
Too many nonprofits make decisions without the data to back them up. Developing an instrument to collect essential and reflective information is necessary to set baselines and identify trends. More...
For public service communications professionals, it's perhaps the pinnacle post -- serving as the president's press secretary. Jay Carney has decided to step away, providing a brief window to consider the job and the people who dare to stand behind the podium. More...
A few observations on some recent winners and losers in the public perception arena. More...
The Texas Youth Football and Cheer Association let Esquire Network film a reality TV program "Friday Night Tykes," featuring a league of 8- and 9-year-old players. As a result, coaches were suspended and fined, social media erupted with criticism and critics questioned whether children this young should be thrown into such a competitive environment. Given that the show's been renewed for a second season, what's the lesson for associations? More...
Nonprofits always are prepared to help their constituencies. But are they failing to protect themselves from natural disasters or emergencies that threaten internal operations? More...
What's the secret to having successful professional and personal relationships? Businesswoman Morag Barrett, owner of the HR consulting and leadership company SkyeTeam, just published a new book, Cultivate. The Power of Winning Relationships. In our interview with her, Barrett reveals the relationship question she gets asked the most. More...
Speech expert Joan Detz takes five questions on the re-release of her popular book, "How to Write & Give a Speech," originally published 30 years ago. The new version, available now, identifies critical tools and skills that speechwriters and presenters need. More...
Olympic champion Missy Franklin was inspired working with an incredible cast of people with physical disabilities. After watching "The Current," you'll understand why. More...
The National Association of Government Communicators is partnering with At Last Communications to produce a trends and salary survey for 2014. If you're a federal, state or local government communicator, we need your participation! More...
Gwen Ratermann's new book, "Healthy Mom Healthy Me" helps young people through challenging times when their mom has health problems. We were honored to work with Gwen and produce this video to help spread the word about her important book. More...
A look at the winners and failures during our trip to Super Bowl 48 in New Jersey. More...
Winston Churchill understood that the first tool of a great leader is the ability to communicate. More...
The trailer for "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" provides a lesson for organizations and associations: collaboration is critical to success. More...
When Connell Company decided to expand its forklift business into the Kansas City market, At Last Communications crafted a cost-effective and efficient plan to announce the company's arrival. More...
The question each association, business and entity needs to ask: With so many potential consumers, clients and members surfing the web, can you afford not to have a video presence? More...
I have something important to tell you. And, appreciating the irony of the statement, it’s this: “I listen.” Learning and growing are centered on two key traits: obtaining experience and listening to the advice and experiences of experts in your chosen field. More...
In this country, we tend to reward those who talk. The ones who get attention are those particularly with strong opinions. And our news media feeds that appetite, consistently being more interested in covering ill-informed opinions than providing thoughtful analysis. More...
Congress has adjourned for its August recess. For the thousands of staff, lobbyists, pundits and others that depend on Congress for its livelihood, it’s a welcome break from the daily grind of political gridlock. But for many non-profits and advocacy groups, there is actually some opportunity in the break. More...
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