Internal communications is crucial to the success of any business or organization, but many find themselves confused and frustrated by the actions and words of those they work with.

Join Lake Communicators for a picnic lunch at Lake Metroparks Veterans Park on Hopkins Road, Wednesday, Aug. 8, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., to listen to Wendy Bower, founder and president of Bower Communication Consulting LLC. She will discuss how to improve your communications.

“Internal communication skills are important to possess because you can be really good at other skills your job requires, but if you aren’t able to communicate well with your fellow employees and employers, you won’t be as successful as you could be,” Bower said.

Bower has been delivering communication skills training for professionals and students for more than 16 years. Bower received her B.S. in communication from Ohio University and her M.A. in communication from Kent State University; she

is also a qualified MBTI facilitator. An MBTI Facilitator is someone who is trained to give workshops about interpersonal communication using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Test.

Bower currently teaches interpersonal communication and public speaking courses at Baldwin-Wallace College and provides a variety of communication workshops and skills training for businesses and nonprofit organizations in the area. In addition to teaching at Baldwin-Wallace, she has also taught communication courses at Kent State University, Lakeland Community College and Cuyahoga Community College.

“I believe that the key to having successful internal communications within an organization is having a complete understanding of yourself and good self-awareness,” Bower said. “You must understand how you come across to others and also why you say and do the things you do.”

Reservations are required by Friday, Aug. 3 by calling Diana Lewis at 440-255-8932 or sending an e-mail to wolfeshirley@yahoo.com. Guests are always welcome. Cost is $13 for members and $15 for nonmembers.

The average number of monthly visitors to U.S. newspaper Web sites rose by nearly a third in the first half of 2006, according to a study released in October by the Newspaper Association of America. The study found, however, that print readership at some larger U.S. newspapers fell.

The study underscores the Internet’s importance

to papers beset by falling circulation and advertising revenue in their print editions.

According to Nielsen/Net ratings, the average number of unique visitors to online newspaper sites in the first half was more than 55.5 million a month. That compares with more than 42 million in 2005.

The Lake County Council on Aging Bridge newspaper was a winner in the 16th annual National Mature Media Awards program.

This program, presented by the Mature Market Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for the senior market, recognizes the nation’s finest advertising, marketing and educational materials designed and produced for older adults.

Nearly 1,000 entries were judged for their excellence of design, content, creativity and relevance to the senior market.

Bridge Winter 2006 issue received a Bronze Award for the Newspaper/Tabloid division. Bridge is targeted to those 55 and over. It is available

More Americans choose local television news as one of their top three sources for news than any other form of traditional or new media according to the latest Future for News Survey conducted for the Radio and Television News Directors.

A total of 65.5 percent named local television news, compared with 28.4 percent who named local newspapers and 28.3 percent who named national network television news. The Internet was one of the top three choices for 11.2 percent of those surveyed.

Additionally, the public shows a strong interest in serious news. National and international news rank second and third, just behind weather, in interest. Information about sports and

entertainment ranked at the bottom.

Those surveyed desired more interactivity with television news, such as developing their own newscasts. More than 75 percent preferred to watch news on a television rather than a computer or handheld electronic device.

Also, more than 90 percent said it was very important or somewhat important for news to be right up to the minute. In a fast-paced, digital world it is easier to obtain up to the minute news information.

For complete survey results visit www.rtnda.org.

Diana Nichols is the procurement director for the Lake County Board of MR/DD. She has worked for the board for 20 years. She is involved with many Lake County charity events throughout the year and volunteers many hours to help raise money for persons with disabilities.

Three years ago she was fortunate enough to become involved with the Vinton County Board of MR/DD in southern Ohio and has helped to make some dreams come true for many children and adults with disabilities.

She and husband Greg are on the board of Doc’s Deepwood Run, a motorcycle run held annually in Lake County with proceeds benefiting those with disabilities. She is proud of the organization and its benefits as a result of many Lake County citizens coming together for a cause.

She and Greg live in Mentor and have three children -- Ashley, Ryan (Tina and Hannah) and Nicki.

She can be reached at 440-350-5055 or via e-mail at diana.nichols@lakemrdd.org.

Here are a few best-practice strategies from enhancing customer loyalty from remarks by Philip Kotler and Fred Reichheld at the Customer Loyalty and Retention Symposium.

1. Choose Customers Carefully. If you attract the right customers, they are more likely to stay. Avoid attracting new customers through low price, one-time special deals, or exaggerating the products quality or performance.

2. Appoint account managers to manager best customers/key accounts. Analyze customers on their current profitability to the company and their strategic/future profitability. Determine whom your most profitable customers are then divide your customer base into 20 percent segments, beginning with the most valuable. Put managers in charge of handholding these most valued customers.

3. Reward your most valuable customers. Reward programs offering discounts and other perks are most effective when directed to the top 5 percent of customers. Re-allocate your marketing resources toward those who are loyal and profitable.

August 8
Join Lake Communicators for a picnic lunch at Veterans Park in Mentor, networking and a presentation by Wendy Bower of Bower Communications.

RSVP Deadline: August 3