From the President: Congratulations to Excalibur Winners
Jeff Paterson, APR
It takes guts to open your work to the scrutiny of strangers. Fifteen organizations showed courage by entering this year’s Excalibur Awards program. Some won, others didn't, but all entrants deserve admiration for putting themselves on the line. Those who did win should be proud, especially Platinum Award winners Mitch Flynn of Flynn & Friends and Jillian Fiorella of Travers Collins & Company.
Excalibur accolades are within reach for all members of PRSA Buffalo Niagara, and I urge you to take part next year. Why enter? It’s a chance to receive objective peer feedback on your work, to demonstrate the value of public relations to your organization, and to reflect on your accomplishments during the previous year.
Also, I congratulate the recipients of our Special Honors: Karen Karaszewski, APR; Kate Lewis; Dr. Dennis Hefner; Sr. Edmunette Paczesny; and Abigail Losh. These five honorees embody the dignity, excellence, and openness that we seek in public relations.
Do you have a visionary boss who understands the power of public relations? Do you know someone who should be recognized for a career of achievement in the field, or perhaps a rising star who deserves a pat on the back? If so, be sure to nominate him or her for our Excalibur Special Honors Awards. As always, we rely on you to help us find the most deserving recipients in our region. (Applications may be filled out any time during the year.)
Best wishes, and enjoy the rest of your summer.
2006 Northeast District Conference Announced
“The PR pros are coming! The PR pros are coming!” This cry will be heard throughout the Boston area as PRSA members from New York state and New England descend on Waltham, Mass., for the 2006 Northeast District Conference. Slated for Friday, October 6, the all-day conference will provide top-notch speakers, professional development sessions, and networking opportunities to all attendees.
All PRSA Buffalo/Niagara chapter members are invited to attend the event, titled “Relevance: Communicating in a Changing World,” which will be held at the Conference Center at Bentley College. Registration and pricing information will be coming soon; in the meantime, please download a pdf of the conference flyer or contact Kirk Hazlett for more information.
Mark your calendars now for what will be a revolutionary day. (Pun intended.)
Program Committee Update
Kandis R. Fuller, APR
The Program Committee welcomes the following new members: John Fisher, Sharon Myers and Nancy Vargo. We have a great lineup of programs over the next few months, and we hope you can join us!
Upcoming Programs
Sunrise Seminars: Become Tech-Savvy
Learn about the latest technology tools and how they can assist us in our daily work at the 2006 Sunrise Seminar Series, to be held the first four Tuesdays in August at Daemen College. Topics for the series are:
* Advance Internet Searching
* Blogs
* Podcasting and Streaming Media
* Improving Search Engine Visibility
Find out more or register online.
Western New York’s Got Game
Today, many sports organizations rely on sports marketing tactics to make their teams successful on both a local and national front. In September, learn what sports marketing is, how it has evolved over the years and how local sports organizations create and gain maximum exposure through corporate and media sponsorships.
Panelists include Mike Gilbert from the Buffalo Sabres, Kristen Wood from the Buffalo Convention and Visitors Bureau, Larry Kitts from Wegmans, and John Cimperman from Cynergy.
Date: Tuesday, September 12 (TENTATIVE: watch your e-mail for final details soon)
Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Place: Holiday Inn on Niagara Falls Blvd., in Amherst
Cost: TBD
The PR Pro’s F-word…
Did you choose PR because you “can’t do math?” Are budgets and number crunching a mystery to you? When you hear that dreaded “f-word” (finance), do you break out in a cold sweat or start cursing? These are common issues for many a PR pro. But if you want to gain a seat at the table with management, a basic understanding is a must.
Now here’s the good news: it’s not as scary as you think!
“Budgeting Basics,” a program slated for October, will provide a lighthearted look at what PR people need to know about the budgeting process. We promise you won’t walk away with the urge to wear a pocket protector or green visor. But you will leave with more confidence to speak intelligently with management about dollars and cents – and a better position to cash in on your opportunities.
Watch the website for all the details soon. It’ll be fun. We swear.
Sponsorship Update
In June, PRSA Buffalo Niagara welcomed two new Silver Sponsors: North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS) and Boncraft Printing. In addition, Eric Mower & Associates has continued its role as a Silver Sponsor, renewing its agreement for another year as well. Also, Realty USA is serving as the Featured Sponsor for our Sunrise Seminars this August. Learn more about all of our chapter’s sponsors, and please join us in thanking and supporting them.
Member News
Do you have a new job or have you been promoted? Have you been recognized in some way for your outstanding work? If so, be sure to let us know!
Congratulations to the following PRSA Buffalo Niagara members for their outstanding accomplishments:
PRSA Members Win APEX Awards
Three PRSA members won Awards for Publication Excellence (APEX) this month. APEX awards recognize excellence in publications work by professional communications based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content, and the ability to achieve overall communications excellence.
- Kandis Fuller, APR, communications manager for Univera Healthcare, won an APEX award in the “Web Sites” category for her program, “Univera Community Health.”
- Virginia McAuliffe, public relations coordinator for the Center for Better Health for Univera Healthcare, won two APEX awards, one in the “Media Kit & News Release Writing” category and another in the “Special Purpose Video & Electronic Publications” category for her program, “Fun 2B Fit.”
- Paula Witherell, public relations director at Hilbert College, won an APEX award for news releases in the “Media Kit & News Release Writing” category. She has received other APEX awards the past three years as well as in 2001.
Student Scholarships available from PRSA Foundation
PRSA Buffalo Niagara has made a two-year commitment to support the Betsy Plank Student Scholarship, awarded annually by the PRSA Foundation to deserving undergraduate students.
The Foundation is conducting a fundraising campaign to set up an endowment that will sustain the scholarship, whose goal is $100,000 by December. Total scholarship awards from these funds have been approximately $4,500. Scholarship criteria and details are available on the PRSA National Web site.
In addition to the Betsy Plank Student Scholarship, PRSA Buffalo also rewards deserving students with its own May C. Randazzo Scholarship, announced each summer at the Excalibur Awards ceremony. This year's winner was Abigail Losh, an upcoming senior who attends SUNY Fredonia.
If you know any qualified students, please encourage them to apply for both of these scholarships.
Blogging white paper
Bloggers and journalists publish their opinions about your company every day, and what they say can irreparably damage your company’s reputation. If you don’t have the capability to monitor what’s being written, it’s impossible to take advantage of opportunities or prevent damage from bad or inaccurate news. Factiva’s two-part white paper, “Blogging and Your Corporate Reputation,” is indispensable for PRSA members. It will help you better understand how blogs help you research marketplace perceptions and influence the worldwide online conversation. Download it now.
New Professionals Affinity Group Seeks Mentors
The New Professionals Affinity Group is in need of professionals who are willing to serve as mentors for New Professionals members. 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 individuals with three years of experience or less to grow professionally. Contact Katie Crabtree Thomas, New Pros Mentor Program chair, or visit the New Professionals section of PRSA’s Web site.
Coming in August: Member-Get-a-Member Promotion
Members who refer colleagues and friends to PRSA during August will get rewards for those referrals who join. Look for details on our home page next week, and via e-mail soon. As always, National will offer incentive awards to chapters that gain the most new members specifically through this offer, so please spread the word!
Research in Public Relations Grant
In its efforts to advance public relations research, the PRSA Foundation will offer up to three grants/fellowships annually (not to exceed $30,000 per year). Innovative research proposals pertaining to timely, relevant public relations topics are requested. Deadline: Monday, Oct. 2, 2006. Contact Ival Grant-Williams at 212-460-1424 or download the application guidelines.
Choose Your E-mail Options
As a member, you now have options for the e-mails you receive from PRSA National. And the best part is that you may change your options at any time simply by clicking the link provided at the end of all PRSA e-mail messages.You may choose all or any combination from the five e-mail categories:
1) PRSA Membership
2) PRSA Professional Development
3) PRSA News
4) Urgent/Emergency Matters
5) PR Issues and Trends (daily).
You may also elect to receive NO e-mails from PRSA. To view or change your present e-mail choices, click here or for more information on e-mail options, contact PRSA member services.
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