Member benefit spotlight.

Lately, I've been thinking about what I have gotten out of IABC since I joined in February 2003. As the saying goes, you get out what you put in. Here's what I've gotten:

* Last year 20 percent of my income came from meeting someone at an IABC event.

* I used MyComm as a planning tool, which saved me time and money and gave me an instant structure and checklist for the communication plan I was creating.

* MemberSpeak provided a source of benchmarking when a client asked me what other organizations were doing in a specific area of communication.

* My network has grown exponentially, and I often get to know about new developments in the industry sooner.

* By volunteering, I am keeping my skills up-to-date and adding new ones in the bargain.

To learn more about IABC membership benefits, turn to page 11, or visit www.iabc.com.