Meet Our Members
60 SECONDS…with Margaret Perry Daniel
What’s your name, job, Twitter handle, etc.?
Margaret Daniel, Independent Writing and Editing Professional, MPD Communications
How long have you been an IABC Atlanta member?
Since 1988!
Why did you join and what has kept you with the association?
I joined when I was Publications Manager at Scottish Rite (now Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite) because IABC offers excellent professional development for internal communications. Through IABC I’ve made contacts for great freelance projects; learned, by preparing and judging award entries, a tremendous amount about measuring results and documenting them, which is invaluable in the grant writing I do now for nonprofits; and made terrific friends. I am proud of IABC for recently circulating a petition stressing, in this age of “alternative facts,” the importance of truthful and ethical communications.
What do you love most about communications?
In grant writing, the best thing, of course, is when you get the grant, especially when it’s from a new funder. For my more creative work, like profiles, I love it when I’m told I really captured the essence of a person, or demonstrated why a program is so critical.
What do you see on the horizon for your line of work?
Most, although not all, of my clients are nonprofit, and I see more mergers on the horizon. Literacy Action, where I worked part-time for six years (a job I got through an IABC connection!) merged with Literacy Volunteers after I left, and Genesis, whose Board I served on for seven years, merged with Our House.
What is the strangest communication request you have ever received?
This was actually something I offered, but I helped a friend prepare an ad for Atlanta Singles magazine when she and I were both single.
Tell us something your IABC colleagues might be surprised to learn about you?
Most people who know me realize I’m not athletic and would be surprised to know I raised about $3,500 by participating in the 2016 Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer (10-miles on Sunday morning portion). Because I’m a soon-to-be three-year breast cancer survivor, this was a particularly happy and gratifying experience.
Books on your nightstand?
Franklin and Winston:- a “warts and all” portrait of these two men and their friendship, arguably the most important among 20th century world leaders. I love revisiting their words, which brought courage and hope to their citizens in the darkest days of World War II.
Favorite Atlanta spot?
I’d have to say our home, which has woods, a creek and 2 dogs that my husband and I have enjoyed for many years.