global network communications professionals summer hosts day event professional development activities talks industry leaders decisions organization thirds vote executive board elected members members agree follow professional code ethics encourages members legal ethical good taste history predecessor founded member withdrew policy differences formed merged year operation association members focused internal communications research showed members moving positions broader public relations responsibilities association expanded scope merged association formed funded study organizations 1980s determine public relations teams effective study found executive involvement communications best effectiveness looked status pay women public relations field pioneering study called financial troubles losing million business initiative called grass roots initiative started membership eventually developed program members donated professional services local charities membership grew percent year 2000s increasing number practitioners field internal communications hosted annual world conference grew members year chinese citizens time abc program conducted survey found percent respondents frequently use social media communicate employees authored study following year found email common internal communications tools respondents years association offered program called abc time program ended total people earned abc status program stopped accepting new applicants september recognized long maintain membership new professional certification program replace affordable computer based process proposed january goal set international standard communications professionals recognized organization autonomous international group oversee creation new certification program appointed february organization offers professional corporate student retired representatives different chapters regions professional members vote annual general meeting elect members international executive board board change establish new chapters create remove members thirds vote committees focused ethics research finance positions filled volunteers chapters worldwide north_america africa europe services hosts networking events programs help recent graduates connect working public relations marketing corporate communications professionals professional members join career advancement professional development grow professional network longer accepting new applicants abc program new certification program initiated involve testing years new certification program levels level developed communications publishes code ethics principles professional communications legal ethical good taste says members sensitive cultural values accurate respectful code said encourage frequent communication messages honest content accurate appropriate needs organization audiences hosts bestowed levels gold silver bronze international awards program open members members silver conducted local chapter level open members non members awards bestowed creatively effectively communicating ways contribute local community divisions categories regional chapters offer special awards college students publishing august core communication guide organizational assessment planning improvement isbn january bias communication isbn march handbook organizational communication guide internal communication public relations marketing leadership isbn publishes monthly digital magazine recent issues shared researched person expert articles connecting social crisis communications
International Association of Business Communicators