NAGC News

NAGC News | NAGC Member Spotlight Archive | NAGC News Archive 2008


NAGC's Next Generation of Communicators "The Rising Stars of Government Communications" Mixer

May 11, 2010, BlackFinn DC, Washington, DC

This event was presented by NAGC's Next Generation of Communicators, as an opportunity to network with other young communications professionals, meet new people, make new friends and find out more about the world of communications! As an added benefit, anyone who attended received a complimentary pass to Brad Blake's presentation on "Social Media" at the NAGC 2010 Communication School.

D.C. Rocks!

March 11, 2010, Tonic Restaurant, Washington, DC
A good time was had by all at NAGC's first networking event in too many years! On March 11th, more than 55 members and guests gathered at the Tonic restaurant to eat, drink, talk about life in D.C. and discuss opportunities. Janine Driver, author of "You Say More Than You Think," gave attendees a hilarious preview of her presentation at the 2010 Communications School in May. Didn't make it to this event? Not to worry, everyone agreed this would be the first of many local events!
See more photos here

Winner of Logo Design Contest

NAGC member Marisa Brown and graphic designer Dennis Forbis, Missouri Dept. of Transportation, were winners of the logo design contest for the NAGC 2010 Communications School.

Federal Guidelines Encourage Employers to Plan Now for Upcoming Influenza Season - Recommendations Range from Encouraging Hand Washing to Allowing Some Employees  to Stay Home  (08/19/09)

     Department of Commerce (DOC) Secretary Gary Locke, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced new guidance for businesses to plan for and respond to the upcoming flu season.      

     The guidance, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is designed to help employers prepare now for the impact of seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza could have this fall and winter on their employers and operations.

     Employers’ plans should address such points as encouraging employees with flu-like symptoms or illness to stay home, operating with reduced staffing, and possibly having employees who are at higher risk of serious medical complications from infection work from home, according to the CDC guidance.

     It is not known whether the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus will cause more illness or more severe illness in the coming months, but the CDC recommends that everyone be prepared for influenza.  Because seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza pose serious health threats, employers should work with employees to develop and implement plans that can reduce the spread of flu, and to encourage seasonal flu vaccination as well as H1N1 vaccination when that vaccine becomes available.

Principles of Crisis Emergency Risk Communication

Download this flyer from the CDC about risk communication during a crisis:

The Six Principles of Crisis Emergency Risk Communication.

Listen to the Federal News Radio Interview

with John Verrico, NAGC Communications Director
Topic: Tips for Effective Government Communication & the NAGC Communications School

listen online | download from the NAGC site (MP3)

On Apr. 21, 2009, NAGC Communications Director John Verrico was interviewed by Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris on the Daily Debrief, 1500 AM Federal News Radio. The topic was tips for effective government communication and the NAGC Communications School. John is the Science & Technology Spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate, Washington, DC.

Health Improvement Institute Call for Entries: Aesculapius Awards
Aesculapius Awards (of Excellence in Health Communication) are given to producers of health-related World Wide Web (WWW) sites and television and radio public service announcements (PSAs) that Health Improvement Institute judges consider excellent in communicating health information to the public. Each year, judges choose one Web site and one PSA to receive the Aesculapius Award. Deadline for entries: Sept. 5, 2008.

Smithsonian seeks volunteer exhibit hosts for new Ocean Hall exhibit, the largest permanent exhibit ever created in the Natural History Museum. Details here.

Congratulations to George Selby...
NAGC President-Elect George Selby is winner of the Toastmasters, Division E speech contest and will compete for the title of District 27 champion on May 24. Details here.

NAGC has entered the blogosphere...
Please visit NAGC's Government Communicators Blog, designed specifically for government communicators! NAGC encourages you to leave your comments on our posts and engage in a dialogue with your colleagues from across the country. Be sure to answer the current poll question and see how your answer compares with others.

An NAGC Must-Read
Outside Job, by Brian Friel, GovernmentExecutive.com e-newsletter, Feb. 6, 2008

An NAGC Must-Read
Agencies Share Information by Taking a Page from Wikipedia, by Stephen Barr, Federal Diary, Washington Post, Jan. 28, 2008

An NAGC Must-Read
State and Federal E-Government in the United States 2007, Darrell M. West, Taubman Center for Public Policy, Brown University

An NAGC Must-Read
Major Progress on the Plain Language Initiative in Government