IABC Calgary Guest Blogger - Kim Yarmuch

Name:  Kim Yarmuch

Blog: Calgary IABC - Communicating Calgary to the World

Program/Graduation Year: Masters of Professional Communication 2011

What is your involvement with IABC Calgary?  
I joined just after graduation, and decided to contribute by putting my writing savvy to work.  I started as a blog writer in late 2011, and I work on assigned topics every month.  IABC has proved really valuable for making contacts, access to the international job boards, and the numerous ways to get involved as a volunteer.

Why do you want to share this particular post?  
This entry features my interview with Karen Ball, the executive director for Calgary 2012.  Karen gave a talk for IABC Calgary on Jan. 23, 2012, entitled Communicating Calgary to the World.  This year Calgary is celebrating its role as cultural leader, and I talked with Karen about her thoughts on culture, diaspora, our role as communicators, and how her team will communicate Calgary to the world (which tools; how will they use social media; etc.).  This interview and blog is directly aligned with my education experience at RRU.

What is your favourite Royal Roads University memory?
There are so many I could choose from, and some far too embarrassing (like starting the program with a hangover; let's not go there). But one from India stands out and I know Phillip Vannini, associate professor in the School of Communication and Culture, found it hugely entertaining. In India, he issued a challenge for us to partner up and assign each other a Get Out of Your Comfort Zone task. I was afraid of getting sick and was thus eating a lot of protein bars from Costco. My partner, Rohan, assigned me dinner out at Viva Goa.  About 15 of us went, and on account of our size the restaurant graciously accommodated us in the parking lot.  With the cows.  With a huge grin Phillip pointed out the one standing right behind me, staring directly at me, chewing her cud. Her eyes seemed to be saying, "Scared?  Huh? Ya gonna eat?  I dare ya. Big baby." Anyway it was very funny, the butter chicken with naan was incredibly delicious, and I did not get sick in the slightest.  

If you are a Royal Roads alumni and have a blog to share, contact Amy Dove, communications officer/writer, at amy.dove@royalroads.ca.

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