NIRI Philadelphia - Regulatory Update – February 3, 2012 

As the SEC seemingly exhausts its resources working to fulfill Dodd-Frank requirements, where has SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro set the focus for 2012? What changes should we anticipate impacting our field?
 
Jeff Morgan, President & CEO of the National Investor Relations Institute, will address these questions, and more, as he provides his Washington, DC update to include Dodd-Frank requirements, proxy advisors changes, and other regulatory issues.  
 
After that, Jeff will present the recently completed and approved long-term strategic plan, OneNIRI, including how it may affect members in the months and years ahead.
 
Don't miss this information-packed, must-attend breakfast session!  

NIRI Silicon Valley – Social Media and Investor Relations – February 3, 2012

As an Investor Relations professional, you serve as a strategic advisor to your business.   Are you “Charging Ahead” with your use of Social Media in Investor Relations?   “According to a 2011 AIIM survey, over 50 percent of user organizations now consider becoming a Social Business to be imperative or significant to their business goals.” Source: IBM Press Release Jan.11, 2012.

Join our expert panel as they discuss:
• Social Media and Investor Relations best practices;
• How to monitor, message and measure Investor Relations use of Social Media given  Investor Relations risk/rewards/compliance;
• Tools, tricks, and tall tales of Investor Relations use of social media.

You will be able to ask the panel questions as well.  So please join us to listen, learn, and share valuable insights on Social Media and Investor Relations.

NIRI Chicago - Turn the Page: Discover What It Takes to Be an IRO of the Future – February 8, 2012

Over the past 25 years Investor Relations has evolved to be a key function in many companies. What does the future have in store? Please join us to hear the views of three seasoned professionals who have worked in the IR arena in various capacities to hear what they think the IRO of the future will need to bring to the table. Our panelist will be Lou Thompson, founder and principal at Thompson Value Creation and Governance Strategies; Pepper Binner, senior client partner, corporate affairs, Korn/Ferry International, and Elizabeth Higashi, president of Higashi Advisors. 

NIRI Seattle - 2012 Economic Outlook – February 8, 2012

Consumer confidence, unemployment, commodities, European economies and a dozen other key indicators are up and down more often than the Space Needle elevator these days. Unless a new, improved HAL 10000 comes along to provide accurate predictive analytics for each of our respective industries, we're in for an interesting year.

How do we forecast in such a volatile environment? What new angles will entice investors and analysts to buy, hold or recommend positions in our organizations?

Start by arming yourself with insights from the Chief Economist of the NASDAQ OMX Group, Dr. Frank Hatheway. Dr. Hatheway will provide expert guidance around the 2012 economic environment to help you best position your organization among the investor community.

Please join us for what is sure to be an educational and lively discussion. 

NIRI South Florida - Market Risk: Communicating the Right Message in 2012 - February 8, 2012

NIRI South Florida invites you to attend a dinner meeting and discussion about the economic outlook in 2012 and the implications for corporate communications.  What are the challenges for companies with exposures to commodities, and those with international and domestic risk? How should investor relations professionals communicate the right message to investors in 2012?

We are pleased to have Jason Schenker as our speaker.  He manages the consulting projects of Prestige Economics, LLC and is responsible for writing commentary, giving external presentations, and producing economic and market forecasts.  Mr. Schenker is considered to be one of the most accurate commodity and financial market forecasters in the world. 

NIRI Cleveland / Northern Ohio - Sustainability Reporting and the Investment Community: Basics, Benefits and Trends – February 9, 2012

In conjunction with the Society of Corporate Secretaries, please join our speaker Barbara Brown,   Principal/Co-Owner, BrownFlynn, Ltd., as she leads a program on Sustainability Reporting.

Sustainability (or non-financial) reporting has become widely adopted by large publicly-traded companies in recent years, and investors are increasingly factoring this information into their investment decisions. The sustainability landscape includes everything from ratings and rankings on environmental, social and governance (ESG) indices, standard reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), and grassroots efforts by companies to embed sustainability into their culture.  

NIRI Boston - SEC Hot Topics – February 15, 2012

Please join NIRI Boston and featured speaker David Bergers for an update on the SEC, including recent actions that have impacted IROs, their organizations and Wall Street.  Topics will include whistle blowing, insider training, FBI probes, trading scandals, and the SEC's latest initiatives.

NIRI San Diego – IR Roundtable - Best Practices - What Communication Tools & Applications to Use to Win and Keep Shareholder Support – February 15, 2012

Our February roundtable is an opportunity to come together in an intimate setting with your IRO peers to discuss best practices on how companies are applying unique communication tools and applications to win and keep shareholder support. Your current shareholder communications programs may be going great, but just think of the benefits of learning what others have done to boost their shareholder communications program to the next level.  

NIRI San Francisco - Communicating Financials: The Art of Presenting Numbers Clearly and Effectively - February 15, 2012

Please join NIRI San Francisco and SF IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) on Wednesday, February 15th for a lunch and discussion on Painting with Numbers: Presenting Financials and Other Numbers So People Will Understand You.  Author Randall Bolten shows that presenting numerical information coherently is a communication skill, not a math skill. It has rules and best practices not unlike the grammar, vocabulary, diction, and paragraph organization we spent years learning.  And like any other communication skill, how well you do it has a dramatic effect on your audience’s understanding of your narrative. For more information please email nirisf@gmail.com or go to our website at www.nirisf.org. To register, go to https://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaID=227499

NIRI Chicago - NIRI in Your Neighborhood: Downtown Networking Reception – February 16, 2012

Network and build relationships with your peers at this reception designed to help you meet and interact with other investor relations professionals.  

NIRI Pittsburgh - Networking Reception with Jeff Morgan – February 16, 2012

The NIRI Pittsburgh Chapter would like to invite you and your guest(s)/colleagues to the first chapter event for 2012 on Thursday, February 16th, beginning at 5:30 pm, at the Hyde Park Steakhouse. 

Joining us this year will be Jeff Morgan, NIRI President and CEO.  Jeff will conduct an informal discussion on what he sees as being hot topics for IR in 2012. 

To register, please contact Jackie Powell by phone - 864-486-8065 or niripittsburgh@bellsouth.net

NIRI Rocky Mountain - Wall Street is Asking: What are You Doing with Your Cash? Uses of Cash and Subsequent Returns on Share Prices – February 16, 2012

Companies are stockpiling cash at a historic rate. Given the unprecedented low interest rate environment, investors and analysts are increasingly asking: what are you doing with your cash? Companies must determine the most optimal uses of available cash, especially in today's market. Does it make more sense to reinvest internally? Or to distribute to shareholders by distributing dividends? Or buying back shares? Both?

Join us for a timely discussion regarding uses of cash and the subsequent returns on share prices. Mr. Meierhoffer presents an objective study of the different stock returns following alternative use of cash decisions. 

NIRI Kansas City - Investor Relations & Emerging Media What IROs Need to Know About Using New Media Channels – February 21, 2012

The media landscape has been changing at a faster pace than ever before, affecting the ability to reach key audiences effectively. Marketing and PR have jumped into the game, while IR has largely remained on the sidelines, questioning whether it should participate.

Michael Pranikoff, Global Director of Emerging Media at PR Newswire will discuss best practices for IROs in using emerging social media for IR. Note: This is a special addition to our regular meeting calendar.

NIRI Central Ohio – IR and the Boardroom: 2012 Board Concerns and IR’s Role – February 22, 2012

Eleanor Bloxham, an authority on corporate governance and valuation, will provide opening remarks and address our questions on the most pressing issues facing corporate governance and regulation in the coming year. Eleanor welcomes and appreciates any questions and topics you might have for submission prior to the luncheon. 

NIRI Arizona - Shareholder Communications: Leading the Way – February 23, 2012

Directors and CEOs are increasingly concerned about winning the support of shareholders, and they are looking to their IROs to manage the two-way communications needed to understand and respond to investor interests. One of your challenges will be in controlling the processes of communication, the same way marketing and political campaigners manage exchanges with their decision-makers.
• Are you able to reach and hear your shareholders – all of them, including the “street name” beneficial owners?
• Are your shareholders’ positions reliably verified?
• Are you able to comfortably assure your shareholders of whatever privacy they want in their communications with you?

Please join us for an open discussion with Salli Marinov, President and CEO for First American Stock Transfer.  

NIRI Chicago - NIRI in Your Neighborhood: Western Suburbs Networking Reception – February 23, 2012

Network and build relationships with your peers at this reception designed to help you meet and interact with other investor relations professionals. Join us at DOC Wine Bar.

NIRI Dallas*Ft. Worth - 2012 Economic Forecast - Better Here, Worse There – February 23, 2012

Please join us for lunch as Robert Dye, SVP and Chief Economist of Comerica Bank addresses the local, national and global economy. 

NIRI Orange County - Happy Hour Educational Series - Optimizing Your Website – February 23, 2012

This Happy Hour Educational Series, sponsored by PINT, will show you the key elements, in which to make your website successful for all of your constituents. PINT designs sites with your goals in mind, and gets you results you can measure.

Registration will be at 3:30pm with the event starting at 4:00pm. Happy Hour will follow at 5:00pm.

NIRI Twin Cities - Shareholder Engagement on the Social Web Featuring Marvin Sims & Mike Monstransky of Broadridge – February 23, 2012

Join us for a lively meeting with Marvin Sims and Mike Mostransky, who will discuss
shareholder engagement on the social web and the related evolution for investor relations
and corporate governance professionals. Bring your questions and get answers to IRO
need-to-knows, not limited to the following:
• How are regulatory activities and new media driving the need for greater collaboration
between investor relations and corporate governance?
• What are companies doing with all of these social web tools?
• How are companies connecting with shareholders on the social web?

NIRI Austin - San Antonio – View from the Experts: A Peek Inside the World of Hedge Funds – February 23, 2012

The NIRI Austin-San Antonio chapter is delighted to welcome two widely respected experts sharing their observations on hedge fund strategies, trends, trading patterns and evolution in the midst of today’s volatile market environment. The Employees Retirement System of Texas Investment Division’s Director of Strategic Research, Tom Tull, and Thomson Reuters Senior Director of Advisory Services, Sajid Daudi share their current insights into hedge funds.

Hosted by Freescale Semiconductor VP of Investor Relations Mitch Hawes, the discussion will give you insight into the often opaque world of hedge funds and help you forge effective investor relations strategies for these shareholders. 

NIRI Silicon Valley – Award Winning Annual Spring Seminar – March 2, 2012

In San Francisco? Marketing or vacationing in California? Wind up your week with colleagues at the Seminar!  Attending the 2012 Morgan Stanley Tech Conference in SF?  Stay an extra day! (Conference ends on Thursday)
• Keynote: Kara Swisher - Technology columnist, Wall Street Journal; and an author and commentator on the Internet http://allthingsd.com/author/kara/
• Jan Hargrave - Strictly Business Body Language – http://www.janhargrave.com/store/ 
• Smooch Repovich Reynolds - Partner/Leader, Investor Relations, Communications and Marketing Practice at The Caldwell Partners International
• CFO Panel - Robyn Denholm, Chief Financial Officer, Juniper Networks & Earl E. Fry, Chief Financial Officer, Informatica

NIRI St. Louis – Tales from the Street: Good IR, Bad IR – March 8, 2011

What makes an effective IR program in the eyes of sellside and buyside analysts? 
Join Brian Gamble (Simmons & Co.), Gary Taylor (Citigroup), and Tom Leritz (Kennedy Capital) for a panel discussion focusing on their perspective of good and bad IR practices.  

NIRI Twin Cities - A Regulatory Update with Jeff Morgan – March 14, 2012

As the SEC seemingly exhausts its resources working to fulfill Dodd-Frank requirements, where has SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro set the focus for 2012? What changes should we anticipate impacting our field?

 Jeff Morgan, President  & CEO of the National Investor Relations Institute, will address these questions, and more, as he provides his Washington, DC update to include Dodd-Frank requirements, proxy advisors changes, and other regulatory issues.  

 Jeff will also present the recently completed and approved long-term strategic plan, OneNIRI, including how it may affect members in the months and years ahead.

NIRI St. Louis - Leading Organizational Change – May 4, 2012

Join Lee Konczak, senior lecturer at Olin Business School, Washington University, for an engaging discussion of the factors that drive organizational change in today’s business environment and how to better manage and lead individuals through change.  (Includes an individual assessment for each attendee.) 

NIRI Cincinnati Tri State - Understanding Equity Trading in 2012: A Market Structure Boot Camp for IROs – March 21, 2012

For investor relations professionals tasked with offering good explanations to management about stock activity or hoping to use market behavior to measure investor sentiment, the landscape can seem bleak.

The best defense is a good offense!

If you want to understand why money speculates more than it invests today, how exchanges make money, what core rules govern trades, basic principles about trading behavior, and why global economics and currencies seem to whipsaw equities, then don't miss this Market Structure Boot Camp for IROs!

NIRI Dallas - Ft.Worth – Southwest Regional Conference – August 15 – 17, 2012

Save the Date!  You will not want to miss this interactive and informative regional event being held in New Orleans! Stay tuned for more information.