Two big deadlines for speechwriters and executive communicators

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:””; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> • The deadline for the Cicero Speechwriting Awards is Jan. 15. So go through your files, peruse our categories and enter your best speeches from 2009.

• Dec. 31 is the earlybird deadline to register for the biggest executive communication event of the year, taking place in Scottsdale, February 24-25. Read all about Building and Protecting Reputation 2010, and then save $300 off the $895 price of the conference by registering before midnight on New Year’s Eve! (And get an extra $50 off if you use the code, mcmurry2010.)

(If you’re reading this after the deadline, I think you’ll agree after seeing the speaker lineup that $845 is a great deal, whereas $545 was a crime! —ed.)