Meeting Archives

Summary of SPC meetings for 2005/2006.

September 13, 2005
Mary C. Casey, attorney and founder of The Harbor Law Group (located in Shrewsbury, MA, http://www.harborlaw.com), gave an insightful presentation about the basics regarding copyright law. Topics discussed: who owns the copyrights to the work you produce and why; How it differs for freelancers/contractors and full-time employees; How you can protect your work; and what can you do if someone has used your work without permission.

For additional information on copyrights, check out: http://www.copyright.gov.

October 11, 2005
Storytelling: From Cave to Cyberspace

Marc Smith (playwright, film writer, entertainment producer and co-founder of Worcester’s Foothills Theatre) discussed the origins and ever-changing development of his latest project, the play A Journey to Kreisau. Based on interviews with Freya von Moltke, the 94 year-old widow of Helmuth James von Moltke, a leader of Germany’s anti-Nazi resistance movement, this play is just part of a multi-year creative effort that tells the little-known story of a couple who were at the center of German resistance to the Nazis. For more information about this fascinating work, or about Marc himself, please visit his web site: http://www.bluepumpkinproductions.com.

November 8, 2005
Busting Disability Stereotypes
Everything you wanted to know about disability reporting but didn't know to ask

Suzanne Levine, founder of the National Center on Disability and Journalism (http://www.ncdj.org) and a freelance photographer since 1993, gave a presentation about her organization and its mission: to educate journalists and educators about disability reporting issues.

December 13, 2005
CBS-4 News in Worcester
Why here, why now?

Ron Sanders, a veteran New England reporter, talked to SPC members and guests about the state of television news in the region and CBS-4’s recent decision to site its first satellite bureau in Worcester. (In addition to this presenation, SPC collected donations for two local charities. For more information about what was collected and how you can contribute to these groups, click here for information.)

January 10, 2006
The Courage Muscle
A different take on "crisis communications"

What happened when Worcester-native Monique Doyle Spencer, a professional communicator, was diagnosed with breast cancer? She wrote a book, of course! While in treatment at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Monique wrote down what worked for her in developing the famous positive attitude that cancer patients are urged to have. After two years of rejection, The Courage Muscle: A Chicken's Guide to Living with Breast Cancer was published by Worcester's own Tatnuck Bookseller (with Beth Israel Deaconess). Monique gave SPC members and guests a behind-the-scenes look at her experiences in taking the book from its earliest inception to published work.

February 14, 2006
Public Communications
Connecting state/local government with the community

Robert Bliss, a veteran journalist, state agency spokesman, and current communications director for the city of Worcester discussed how state and local governments can and should connect with the media and the audiences they serve.

March 14, 2006
Full Circle
Tracking a writing life

It makes sense that a child who devoured every book she could get her hands on would grow up into a writer ... but Loree Griffin Burns' path to authorship was roundabout and anything but straightforward. She spoke to SPC members and guests about this path and the important lessons she's found in it. Loree also shared her thoughts on the responsibilities of this career she has “chosen," the making of her book Tracking Trash, and some tough truths about the business of writing for children. More information about Loree and her books can be found at her web site.

April 11, 2006
Hold the Presses!
Communicating in the Digital Age... The new process of printing

SPC Members and friends were taken on a tour of Mercantile Image Press where SPC member Jeff Frost and his colleagues provided a tour of the facility and educated the groups about the processes in the digital printing realm.

May 9, 2006
Massachusetts and the Movies
Attracting and facilitating commercial, documentary, television and independent/feature film production to the Commonwealth

The SPC was honored to have Robin Dawson, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Film Bureau (MFB), on hand as the keynote speaker for its 2005/06 Annual Meeting. She discussed the role of the MFB in putting out the "welcome mat" for film-making in Massachusetts, as well as shared a few anecdotes about notable names such as Steven Spielberg, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Robin Williams.

This meeting also provided SPC Members and guests with a recap of this past membership year, as well as an opportunity to renew and/or join for the 2006/2007 membership year.

2006-2007 SPC meetings

Summaries of SPC meetings in 2007-2008.

Click here for current meeting information

Guests always welcomed! Email register@spcgroup.org

Good Ideas

Do you have a topic of meeting idea that would be of interest to SPC?

Would you like to be a speaker at one of our regular meetings?

Please contact Susan Smith, Programming Chair.