Author: Paul Lagasse

Paul Lagasse provides expert-to-expert communications services to nonprofit, business, and government clients in the metro Baltimore-DC area. Specialties include science and medical writing, technical report editing, and content marketing.

S4Carlisle Publishing Services

www.s4carlisle.com

Mission:

A global leader in publication services for transforming and enriching the learning experience.

Services:

Technical writing and editing for a wide range of professional training and classroom textbooks.

For the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)

Writing and editing of textbooks and supporting educational materials for NCCER’s comprehensive suite of apprentice-training curricula, including:

  • Working closely with project managers and subject matter experts to develop and revise outlines for curricula and chapters
  • Developing and revising student learning objectives and performance evaluation criteria
  • Researching and writing new content
  • Editing and revising existing content
  • Writing and editing test questions
  • Researching new and replacement figures and artwork
  • Writing and editing instructor materials such as lesson plans and PowerPoint decks
  • Profiling subject matter experts for biographical features
  • Writing summaries of textbooks for the NCCER catalog

Curricula included:

  • Plumbing Levels 2–4 (current edition) — lead technical writer
  • Masonry Levels 1–3 (current edition) — lead technical writer
  • Carpentry Levels 1–4 (current edition)
  • Pipeline Maintenance Levels 3–4 (current edition)
  • Scaffolding (current edition)

For Cengage Learning

Revising and writing PowerPoint decks for a new edition of a criminal justice textbook.

Tools and Tips for Rapid Transcription, Part 1

Conference room and podiumA client recently asked me to provide on-site reporting and same-day summary preparation services for a day-long conference in downtown DC. The job provided me with an excellent opportunity to try out a combination of various tools and techniques — some new, some old — that I had used separately for individual projects, but until then had not used together.

All the pieces worked and played well together, and I was so pleased with the results that I wanted to share them with other writers who are, like me, always looking for ways to improve their writing and editing techniques in the field. Over the course of three brief posts I’ll be summarizing my experiences before, during, and after the conference.

Before the Conference

Although for on-site reporting projects I have generally preferred to use my laptop (a late-2013 MacBook Pro) for taking notes and recording, for this trip I wanted to travel light because I knew I would be taking the Metro and walking a lot. That meant using my trusty iPad and its Logitech Ultrathin keyboard cover. Here’s how I got my iPad ready:

Continue reading “Tools and Tips for Rapid Transcription, Part 1”

Dravet.org

Organization consolidated with Dravet Syndrome Foundation in 2014

Mission:

To educate, inform, assist, and advocate for the families and caregivers of children with Dravet Spectrum Disorders, a class of rare genetic epilepsies.

Services:

As Dravet.org’s Patient Information Specialist, I was responsible for:

  • Preparing and disseminating information, news, and educational materials related to Dravet Spectrum Disorders, the organization’s activities, and constituent activities
  • Writing, editing, and publishing a biweekly e-newsletter and e-mail blasts
  • Maintaining the website’s “News & Events” and “Ask the Expert” sections
  • Writing patient education brochures and reports, press releases, advertisements, and other media materials as requested
  • Designing graphics for the website, publications, and events
  • Preparing and implementing policies and procedures for communications and social media

Association of Fundraising Professionals

www.afpnet.org

Mission:

Since 1960, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has inspired global change and supported efforts that generated over $1 trillion. AFP’s nearly 30,000 individual and organizational members raise over $100 billion annually, equivalent to one-third of all charitable giving in North America and millions more around the world.

Services:

Features writer for Advancing Philanthropy, the AFP’s quarterly membership magazine. Recent clips:

  • “It’s All Relative: How Your Organization and Its Myriad Stakeholders Define and Measure Success,” Fall 2016 (PDF)
  • “Once Upon a Time: How Storytelling Can Motivate Donors to Support Your Nonprofit Without Being Asked,” Summer 2016 (PDF)
  • “Expect the Unexpected,” Summer 2016 (PDF)
  • “Inspiring Better: How Relationship Fundraising Can Win Back Skeptical Donors and Change the Way Fundraisers Think about Approaching Them,” Spring 2016 (PDF)
  • “What’s After Next? How Innovative Chief Executives Use Entrepreneurial Techniques to Lead and Motivate Their Staff and Volunteers to Succeed,” Winter 2016 (PDF)
  • “The Corner Office — Full Speed Ahead: How Development Directors are Taking a Leadership Role through Vision, Resilience, and Commitment to Mission,” Winter 2016 (PDF)
  • “Change for the Better: How CFRE International’s Updated Credential Reflects the Latest Best Practices,” Winter 2016 (PDF)
  • “The Domino Effect: How Community Foundations are Teaming Up with One Another and with Local Nonprofits, Businesses, and Government to Innovate Solutions in Their Communities,” Fall 2015 (PDF)
  • “Opening the Door: How Detroit’s Grand Bargain Illustrates Collaboration that has Provided New Opportunities, Unique Solutions, and Successful Outcomes,” Fall 2015 (PDF)
  • “Deciphering DAFs: How the Simplicity of Donor-Advised Funds May Be Creating Complex Issues for Fundraising Professionals,” Summer 2015 (PDF)
  • “See the Light: How a Culture of Philanthropy in Your Organization can Make a Difference in Morale, Board Motivation, and Donor Retention,” Winter 2015 (PDF)
  • “More than the Sum of the Parts: What Makes a Fundraiser?” Fall 2014 (PDF)
  • “Brilliant Ideas: How to Create an Unforgettable and Successful Event with Multimedia, Community Engagement, and Spotlighting Your Programs,” Summer 2014 (PDF)
  • “Not a Money Pit!: How Nonprofits Can Convince Donors and Funders that Outcomes Can Be Achieved More Effectively When They Support Overhead along with Programs,” Spring 2014 (PDF)

Additional and high-resolution clips available upon request.

International Association of Movers

www.iamovers.org

Mission:

The official membership magazine of the International Association of Movers magazine, The Portal is the organization’s premier information, advertising, and communications resource.

Services:

Wrote feature articles for The Portal magazine.

Sample clips:

  • “Security, Risk Management, and Your Bottom Line,” vol. XLIII, January/February 2011 (PDF)
  • “Supporting Charities, Causes, and Communities,” vol. XLII, January/February 2010 (PDF)

TMG Custom Media

Now McMurry/TMG

Mission:

The nation’s largest independent content marketing agency.

Services:

Contributing writer to the Summer 2010 issue of Cleveland Clinic Magazine:

Recreation News

www.recreationnews.com

Mission:

The largest monthly travel and leisure tabloid in the Mid-Atlantic, Recreation News offers travel coverage of the Mid-Atlantic, Caribbean destinations, and cruises with a print edition, online edition, weekly radio canada pharmacy no prescription adderall program, and weekly opt-in email blast.

Services:

Wrote travel articles on regional recreational interests, including the Southam Award-winning article “Taking it to the Wind: Learning How to Sail” (May 2001).

CFRE International

www.cfre.org

Mission:

CFRE International certifies experienced fundraising professionals who aspire to the highest standards of ethics, competence, and service to the philanthropic sector.

Services:

Write feature articles for CFRE Connect!, Leading Edge, and Leading Edge Special Edition. Sample issues:

CFRE Connect!:

Leading Edge:

Leading Edge Special Edition:

HEPdata

www.hepdata.com

Mission:

HEPdata is the industry leader in providing nonprofits with the tools they need to take advantage of corporate matching gift opportunities, serving over 6,000 customers in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, and Latin America.

Services:

Write, edit, design, and publish a wide purchase generic clonazepam range of print and digital marketing communications, including:

  • Match Points, HEPdata’s monthly e-newsletter of news and developments in matching gifts
  • White papers
  • Blog posts, press releases, and e-mail blasts

Sample Match Points issues:

APRA

The Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement
www.aprahome.org

Mission:

The premier organization for fundraising research, analytics, and relationship management professionals, APRA promotes the value and impact of prospect researchers.

Services:

Wrote and edited feature articles for Connections, “the premier information resource for professionals in fundraising research, analytics and relationship management.”