AgWired

Learn About TOCA

Right after my presentation on new media here at the TOCA meeting the next session featured editors and public relations people. They discussed the relationship dynamics between the two groups.

My presentation went okay even though I didn’t have internet access. Don’t ask me how but it got done. It’s kind of a challenge though when everything we do and that I wanted to show is online.

You can find an online photo album with pictures I’ve taken today here: TOCA Photo Album

This morning before we went out to Hazeltine National Golf Club for the tournament I interviewed TOCA President, Ed Hiscock, Golf Course Management Magazine. Ed says that there are about 200 members of the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association which will be celebrating 20 years next year. He says the organization was formed to bring together editors and public relations people and set standards for how they work together. I asked him about new media and how it’s changing the way we communicate and he says that new technology is allowing us to extend what we’re already doing. You can find his publication’s blog here.

Listen to my interview with Ed here:

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I’ve found a lot of similarities between the membership of TOCA and other groups I belong to like AAEA, LPC, IFAJ and NAFB. For one thing we share some of the same advertisers and sponsors. You’ll notice some of the same corporate names represented here in the chemical and equipment business, just different divisions. The media and public relations representatives are no different and facing the same challenges as in other industries. I’ve also seen several people I know who are also doing work on the ag side.

Filed as: Audio / TOCA

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Posted by Chuck • May 7, 2008 • 6:15 pm

TOCA Presentation

Here’s my audience for my presentation on blogging and podcasting here at the TOCA meeting in Minneapolis.

As I write this post we’re just about to start. Den Gardner is actually just starting to introduce me so I’ll quit for now and have more to post soon.

Filed as: TOCA

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Posted by Chuck • May 7, 2008 • 3:16 pm

Going To a TOCA Party

This week I’ll be attending the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association annual meeting in Minneapolis. This will be my first experience with this group. I’m curious to find out who I’ll know there. Of course Den Gardner will be there. He also manages AAEA.

The Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) serves communicators in the Green Industry by fostering an open exchange of information regarding issues that affect how we communicate to our various audiences.

One of the things they’ve done which is very helpful to those of us who are doing presentations at the meeting is a survey of members. For example, I’ve got a pretty good idea how many of them have or contribute to a blog or podcast and subscribe to rss feeds. It’s a higher number than you might think. And the internet seems to be solidly in the lead as a news source.

Filed as: TOCA

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Posted by Chuck • May 5, 2008 • 12:36 pm