Event Profile

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Who Should Attend:

Anyone that uses written communication, including emails, memos, reports, etc., as part of their job.

Overview: 

This two-day workshop will sharpen your everyday English skills to make you a better writer at the office. You'll learn to apply the following 17 effective writing principles for clear, persuasive workplace documents that are to the point.

1. Resisting pressures that lead to gobbledygook. 
2. Understanding experience vs. education as a basis for writing confidence. 
3. Serving your reader, not yourself.
4. Defining what is good job-related writing.
5. Using practical grammar: clarity over correctness.
6. Organizing ideas quickly and effectively.
7. Writing paragraphs to make key ideas easy to spot.
8. Learning how to write the memo report.
9. Building bridges between paragraphs.
10. Shrinking sentences to readable size.
11. Keeping only what's meaningful.
12. Writing in the active voice—the key to powerful writing.
13. Choosing the right keywords.
14. Punctuating properly.
15. Learning the seven word-focus faults for revising.
16. Editing techniques that place words in clear order.
17. Measuring reading difficulty with the Gunning Fog Index.

Instructor: 

Jordan Peabody, Peabody Communications

Schedule: 

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Pacific Time on the first day. The class will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days. Lunch and refreshments will be provided both days.

Location: 

Northwest Public Power Association
9817 NE 54th St., Suite 200
Vancouver, WA 98662
(360) 254-0109

Suggested Hotels:

Heathman Lodge 
7801 NE Greenwood Drive 
Vancouver, WA 98662 
(360) 254-3100 
Ask for the NWPPA rate for 15% off advertised prices.

Residence Inn Portland Vancouver
411 SE 123rd Ave.
Vancouver, WA 98662
(360) 892-4404
Ask for the NWPPA group discount.

Fees: 

Utility Member Early Bird (ends 7/18/2025): $790
Utility Member Standard: $865

Associate Member Early Bird (ends 7/18/2025): $1,185
Associate Member Standard: $1,260

Non-Member Early Bird (ends 7/18/2025): $1,580
Non-Member Standard: $1,655

Note: Organizations that register a group of employees will receive every fifth registration for free. For example, if you register five employees, you only pay for four; register 10 employees, you only pay for eight; and so on. There is nothing additional you need to do to receive this discount.

Cancellation Policy: 

For webinars, virtual classes, and section meetings: cancellations at least five days prior to the event will receive a full refund; within 1-4 days or no show, the charge will be 100% of the registration fee. 

For in-person events: cancellations at least 30 days prior to the event will receive a full refund; within 15-29 days there will be a $100 fee; and within 1-14 days or no show, the charge will be 100% of the registration fee. 

When possible, please send a substitute instead of canceling. NWPPA does not charge a fee for substitutions. To request a refund, please contact us at registration@nwppa.org or (360) 254-0109.

Continuing Hours: 

This course qualifies for 6 continuing hours. Certificates are issued upon full completion of the course.