PRSA President’s Message
Barbara A. Byers, APR
Last week, I had the pleasure of handing out 34 awards to talented individuals who included members of our profession, an outstanding practitioner, as well as two students and a young professional who have unlimited potential for a successful career in public relations, and an executive who embodies the values of PR throughout his organization. The event culminated in the presentation of two platinum awards, which proved once again that our chapter and region boasts truly creative practitioners who are inspirations to us all.
The 16th annual Excalibur Awards dinner was held June 23 at Shanghai Red’s, against the backdrop of a gorgeous summer sunset on Lake Erie. The new venue proved to be ideal and the crowd of 120 enjoyed a wonderful evening. I’d like to thank the entire Excalibur committee for all their hard work in making the event a success: co-chairs Kathryn Good and Tom Lucia, and members John Della Contrada, Kate Lewis, Virginia McAuliffe and Lori Vallon.
Our next big event is also a celebration. The PRSA Buffalo/Niagara Chapter will hold its 40th anniversary party Thursday, July 21 at the Buffalo Launch Club. I would like to personally invite all of you to join us as we raise a glass and toast an impressive 40 years of advancing the profession and the professional. Please come ready to mingle and socialize, to catch up with some members and former members you may not have seen in a while, to recognize past leadership, and to congratulate yourselves on your contributions to making our chapter a success. You’ll also be brought up to date on the latest in American pop culture from our guest speaker, Robert Thompson, from Syracuse University. He is a renowned expert on all the latest trends. I hope to see you there!
Finally, our Sunrise Seminar Series will continue this August with four sessions that focus on career development. Be sure to check the Web site for further details and registration information.
PRSA Buffalo/Niagara bestows Excalibur Awards
A campaign aimed at informing and engaging the public about the Peace Bridge redesign project, and another that sought to share the expertise of a stellar university faculty with the nation won the best-of-show awards June 23 at the PRSA Buffalo/Niagara Chapter’s 16th Annual Excalibur Awards Dinner at Shanghai Red’s Restaurant on the waterfront.
Travers Collins won its seventh best-of-show award for the Peace Bridge campaign, which invited people to choose their favorite bridge design, casting their votes online, by phone or by mail.
The University at Buffalo Office of News Services won the second best-of-show award for its efforts to gain national publicity for UB faculty members, which resulted in those experts being included in more than 40 news stories in national media, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Associated Press, USA Today, ABC and CBS News Radio.
Judges from the PRSA Portland, Oregon, chapter chose a total of 34 winners from among 70 submitted entries. Gold award winners included Susan Asquith and Hadley Pawlak of Travers Collins for the Peace Bridge project; John Della Contrada, UB director of media relations, for the faculty publicity campaign; Julie Coppola Cox of National Fuel Gas, for publicity on a new gas pipeline; Jeff Paterson, APR, Health Association of Niagara County, publicizing a concert series; Jacqueline Ghosen, UB School of Management, for the school’s alumni magazine; and Mike Barone, Travers Collins, for the Community Bank Systems 2004 annual report.
Individual awards also went to John W. Kinner of the Health Association of Niagara County, Inc., named Outstanding Executive; Virginia McAuliffe of Univera Healthcare, named Rising Star; and Coppola Cox of National Fuel, who received the May C. Randazzo Outstanding Practitioner award.
Kinner, executive director of Health Association of Niagara County, Inc. (HANCI), leads an organization of 140 full- and part-time employees. Since arriving at HANCI in 2000, he has put public relations on a par with human resources and finance as a vital part of the agency’s management team.
Since joining the communications team at Univera Healthcare in 2002, McAuliffe has become an enthusiastic and valued contributor, heading up a number of existing and new initiatives. In addition, she is an active member of the chapter, serving on the finance and Excalibur awards committees.
Arriving at National Fuel as a student intern in the late 1980s, Coppola Cox was promoted to the corporate communications team in 1993 and, four years later, was named the company’s primary spokesperson. She is an active member of the chapter and the community, assisting several local non-profit agencies.
Happy Anniversary PRSA Buffalo/Niagara!
 All current and former PRSA members are cordially invited to join us for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at our 40th anniversary party at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 21, at the scenic Buffalo Launch Club on the shores of the Niagara River.
The evening's keynote speaker is Robert Thompson, Syracuse University professor and pop culture guru. The event will also feature a representative from PRSA National and a silent auction to raise funds for the scholarship committee. We'll salute our 40 years of success with a champagne toast, have a souvenir giveaway, and enjoy food, fun, and more past presidents than an American history textbook! It's a night you won't want to miss.
Clear your schedule and plan on joining us for the party that's been 40 years in the making! In order to reserve your spot, you can: reply to an invitation that will be mailed soon, contact Brenda Schwamborn at 879-0942 or b_schwamborn@msn.com, or register through the website by clicking here.
Chapter wins award for growth
The PRSA Buffalo Niagara Chapter won an incentive award for its performance during the national Section Appreciation membership promotion during October and November 2004. The $100 award can be applied toward the chapter's professional development expenses.
The chapter won the award in the greatest chapter growth category, reflecting growth in the number of national members from our area during the promotion: a 3.8 percent increase, from 157 to 163 members. The increase was the biggest among chapters of our size (100-199 members).
Congratulations to the membership committee, led by John Senall and Kathy Kirst, for their ongoing efforts in promoting new membership and retention.
Silver Anvil award for Travers Collins and Co.
William M. Collins, APR, accepts the Silver Anvil award on June 9 at the Equitable Tower, New York, from celebrity presenter Ted Allen of Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
Travers Collins & Co. won a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence for its 2004 “Break a Treaty, Break the Law” campaign on the Seneca Nation.
The Buffalo agency was among 100 finalists, chosen from 666 entries in the 2004 Silver Anvil category. Travers Collins was one of three winners in the category of Integrated Communications, and was a runner-up to Fleishman-Hillard and the U.S. Potato Board for a campaign to thwart the low-carb diet trend.
Travers Collins developed the campaign to help the Seneca Nation of Indians forestall a plan to collect taxes on Indian territory. Former Travers Collins vice president, now stay-at-home-mom, Beth Kelly, APR, led the account team which included Tara Erwin, Peter Cutler and Hadley Pawlak. Travers Collins’ integrated program captured the moral high ground of the tax issue; blocked a $100 million hit to the Seneca economy; protected priceless sovereignty; and prevented violent protests.
The Silver Anvil, established by the Public Relations Society of America in 1946 to symbolize the forging of public opinion, is annually awarded to organizations that have successfully addressed a contemporary issue with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness.
New Professionals Affinity Group for those new to PRSA
PRSA’s New Professionals Affinity Group is geared for recent public relations graduates just hitting the job market, PRSSA alumni making a transition to PRSA, or seasoned pros from another career discipline switching to public relations. This group offers valuable career development support and other services and benefits aimed specifically at new public relations professionals (those with three or fewer years of public relations experience – regardless of age). Dues are $15 per year. PRSA membership is required to join New Pros. For more information, click here.
New Professionals Affinity Group is seeking mentors
The New Professionals Affinity Group is in great need of seasoned professionals who are willing to serve as mentors to New Professionals members. Look at what some mentors have to say about their mentoring experiences:
“My experience with the mentoring program has so far been terrific. I've had several phone and e-mail connections, and since we live only about 100 miles apart, we had the opportunity for a great lunch meeting. We're working on day-to-day management issues, big project concerns and career progression matters, and will be speaking with one another regularly.” – George L. Johnson, APR, Fellow PRSA
“I have enjoyed it. My protégé and I have had several beneficial phone conversations. It's always nice to have new ways to network and learn from one another.” – Jessica Jacobsen
“The experience is going well. I have had numerous conversations (phone and e-mail). We have spent time discussing her career path and worked on her resume. I believe strongly in these types of programs.” – Carl Langsenkamp
Mentors do not have to be a member of the College of Fellows or be accredited. We are seeking enthusiastic professionals who have a desire to help people with three years or fewer of experience. Contact Julia Kang, chair, at juliakang727@hotmail.com for more information regarding the program.
E-mail options are your choice
Members now have options for the e-mails they receive from national, and the best part is that they may change their options at any time simply by clicking the link provided at the end of all PRSA e-mail messages. To view or change the present e-mail choices, click here.
Choose all or any combination from the following five e-mail categories.
I wish to receive e-mails about
1. PRSA membership
2. PRSA professional development
3. PRSA news
4. Urgent/emergency matters
5. Opt-out of all e-mail communications
If you check number 5, you will receive NO e-mail information from any of the categories above. Additionally, your e-mail address will NOT be included in any subsequent Blue Book Member Directories or in the online member directory, MemberNet. |
