2008: Off to a Great Start!

Greetings Colleagues:

It’s only February, and PRSA-NCC is already off to a running start. I want to thank everyone who braved the elements to attend our first board meeting and leadership rally of 2008 at the historic DAR building last month. The room was chock-full of energy and excitement, and I spotted quite a few new faces among the tried and true. It was also a great night for committees—we added substantial manpower to the majority of our teams.

Last year, we asked you how we could make the Chapter better and one resounding reply was continued “professional development events.” To that end, our professional development committee, independent practitioner’s section, accreditation, ethics and international committees (just to name a few) are working hard to develop a dynamic calendar of events for 2008.  So far NCC has hosted four successful events and have many more planned for the coming months. Last month’s Web 2.0 seminar was an exciting, well-attended discussion about the future of the Web and social media in our profession.  NCC Member Jill Kurtz, APR, has a great recap of the seminar on her blog, which you can read here.

This year, in addition to offering more professional development opportunities, your Chapter leadership is committed to improving member communications.   As public relations professionals, we all know how important it is to stay abreast of the latest news and trends. So to help keep members informed, we’re offering an exciting new tool.  Launched just this month, the National Capital Channel is an instant live link that provides up-to-the-minute information on upcoming PRSA-NCC events, news, downloadable educational workshops, job announcements and more. Visit the chapter Web site and download it now.

Your committees have so many exciting things planned for 2008, so please register and take advantage.  For those who weren’t able to attend the opening board meeting, there’s still time to join a committee and get involved.  You can find a description of current committees on the PRSA-NCC Web site, and to join, simply e-mail or call the committee chairperson. Remember, to get the most out of your Chapter membership—get involved! Register for to the next PRSA-NCC event to meet and network with your colleagues.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,

Heathere Evans-Keenan, APR

PRSA-NCC President, 2008

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PRSA-NCC Launches National Capital Channel To Help Members Stay ‘In the Know’

PRSA-NCC has launched a free new tool for members that helps ensure they are aware of all upcoming chapter networking events, professional development opportunities and much more. The NCC Capital Channel is a new desktop application that has been developed specifically for the chapter and can be downloaded to your computer from the NCC home page. Once activated, it will appear as a small PRSA-branded icon on your tool bar, providing “all things PRSA-NCC” directly to your desktop including upcoming events, news and job postings. This application was donated to the chapter by a locally-based new media company called ActiveAccess.

Registration is available on our Web site.

Calling All Travel PR Professionals: New Travel and Tourism Section Starting

The PRSA National Capital Chapter is reactivating the local chapter of the PRSA Travel and Tourism Section, and the chapter is looking for interested persons who would like help organize events for 2008. If your organization or PR expertise relates to travel, tourism, hospitality, restaurants, entertainment, museums, airlines, etc. and you would like to see programming that is aimed at your subject area, plan to join this exciting new group. This is also a great opportunity to network with other professionals in the local travel and tourism community.

Contact Mike Pina, director of Public Relations, AAA at mpina@national.aaa.com or call (202) 942 2079 to sign-up or for more information.  You can also learn more about the national PRSA Travel and Tourism Section at www.travel.prsa.org.

Network at the Embassy of Finland on February 28

Learn more about the land of the midnight sun and polar nights by joining the International Committee for drinks and Finnish fare at the Embassy of Finland on Thursday, Feb. 28, from 6:30-9 p.m. Ambassador Pekka Lintu and other embassy staff will be on hand to introduce you to their country.

This networking event is presented by the PRSA-NCC International Committee and the Embassy of Finland. The cost is $20 for PRSA Members/students/retirees and $30 non-members.

Register online or call the office at 703.691.9212. The embassy is located at 3301 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC  20008.

Jump Start Your Career: Find Out How to Earn Your APR on March 15

“JumpStart” is an intense, informative, and supportive experience that builds a strong foundation for achieving your APR designation.  The “JumpStart” course offered by the National Capital Chapter of PRSA was listed as one of the top professional development activities according to a chapter survey in 2006.  Find out why so many APRs have found JumpStart to be an invaluable part of their preparation on Saturday, March 15, 2008. The cost is $99 for PRSA-NCC members; $120 for non-members and includes a study binder, breakfast, lunch and full day course.

For more information, or to register, visit here.

PRSA Health Academy Presents 2008 Conference on Health Care Communications Strategy April 2-4

Boomers, Xers and Nexters: Communicating in a Cross-Generational/Cross-Cultural Landscape is the focus of the 19th Annual PRSA Health Academy 2008 Conference on April 2-4. Held at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, the conference will address strategies for communicating in today's challenging world where “one size, same message” is no longer what the health care provider or consumer ordered. Conference highlights include:

·           April 2: Pre-Conference Seminar at the Journal of the American Medical Association

·           April 3: Keynote Speaker: Jane Brody, Newsweek Health Editor, Weekly New York Times Columnist and Author

·           April 3-4: Plenary and Concurrent Sessions with luncheon address by Jonathan Karl, senior national security correspondent, ABC News

Don't miss this opportunity to sharpen your public relations skills and network with colleagues as we dissect the DNA of the generations and cultures that are already having a profound effect on American health care. Visit http://healthacademy.prsa.org/2008conference.html for the most up-to-date information and registration form.

The PR Spin Cycle

The American University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) will host its fourth Regional Activity, “The PR Spin Cycle,” on February 29- March 1, 2008 at American University.

On Saturday, March 1, participants will attend a series of workshops to learn more about the various sectors of the public relations field, how it has changed over the past 40 years and where it will be in the next 40 years. You are invited to share your public relations experience with participants by designing a workshop to present at the conference. Speakers can present on a variety of topics that are essential to the field such as Media Relations, Technology, Crisis Communications, Public Affairs and Entertainment.

For more information, please contact Regional Activity Coordinator, Thalia Williams at thalia.williams@gmail.com.

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Colleen T. Butz
Assistant Account Executive
Spectrum Science Communications

• Why did you join PRSA?

In college, I was very active in Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH) PRSSA chapter and participated in many of the Cincinnati PRSA activities. It was a great way to network with communication professionals in diverse occupations and learn how others have managed to turn their client and work challenges into opportunities and successes. I joined PRSA-NCC after I moved to Washington in 2007 to keep my connection to PRSA and develop connections in the Greater Washington community to further expand and develop my profession.

• How long have you been in the PR field?

I have been working in the public relations field for 5 years now. My introduction to the field was at the Cincinnati-based Beach Waterpark where I coordinated and assisted with the promotion of the waterpark’s winter and summer events. Since then, I have worked at communications firms and non-profit organizations, such as the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

• What skills are required to do your job?

Atension too detale. I mean “attention to detail.” Whether I am writing an e-mail to the client, reporting the results of a campaign or creating new Web content – attention to detail is very important. Other skills I use at work problem solving, multi-tasking, strategic thinking and project management.

• What’s your greatest career achievement?

Currently I am the Webmaster of the redesigned 600+ page Procter & Gamble Beauty Science Web site www.pgbeautyscience.com. I coordinated the design of the Web site, built the site architecture and managed a great team to upload site content. I regularly upload new content to the Web site, report Web metrics analyses and provide recommendations to the client.

• Where would you like to see yourself in five years?

Not only will I be working with a great team of creative and forward-thinking professionals by day, but I will be working with the future of communications and Web design as an adjunct professor by night.

• How do you begin each day?

It takes me two “snoozes” each morning to get out of bed, but once I do, I rise and shine with a tall glass of orange juice and a multi-vitamin. No caffeine for me…at least not yet.

• What’s your dream job?

Translator of Spanish poetry who moonlights as a visual artist specializing in fiber materials and has her own gallery.

• Who’s your role model, and why do you admire him/her?

My late grandmother, Edna Croak Walsh, is my role model. Suddenly widowed at 42 with 6 young children, this French teacher turned farmer worked several odd jobs to keep her family together while shielding the light on their situation from her children. Until the day she died, she always saw the bright side of things and never bothered with the negative side of things. My mother told me that she never knew that they were poor. If they could not afford meals through the end of the week, they had special ice cream floats on Friday.

• What’s the last book you read or movie you saw?

Paulo Coelho’s book, BY THE RIVER PIEDRA I SAT DOWN AND WEPT. I really enjoyed The Alchemist and have continued to appreciate Coelho’s other books.

• Tips for maintaining the elusive work/life balance?

Food, friends and family. I like to cook – no matter how stressed I am, cooking involves not only melting butter but also melting away any work or personal stress. I try to cook at least four meals a week and invite friends and family to at least two of them.

If you have joined the Chapter within the past six months and would like to receive a questionnaire, please contact newsletter@prsa-ncc.org. To view past new Member Spotlights, visit the membership section of the Web site.

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I am doing a project for my public relations writing class. I am assigned a project to research the public relations for education and crisis management. Is there anyone in particular that I should speak to? Is there any information that the PRSA can give me? Or is there anywhere else you would suggest I look?—MHS, College Park

• Let me offer a few suggestions on how to go about doing research on crisis management.

• There is a list of resources available from PRSA on crisis management.   Many of these titles should be available in your school library.
• I would also look at the titles of professional development workshops being offered by both PRSA and PRSA's National Capital Chapter. You might contact the presenters and get information from them without necessarily paying to participate, since you're a student.
• Do a search for "crisis management" on the PRSA-NCC home page and you will get number of responses that might be helpful.

• It would be a good idea to try to focus a bit more narrowly on the topic. For example, limit your scope to crisis communications since technically speaking, crisis management is outside the realm of the PR practitioner. You might come up with a model for developing a crisis communication plan, perhaps for your college or university. I would start by contacting your school’s own PR department and asking if they have a crisis communication plan. If not, then you might develop one for them. Some of the questions you should address:

• Who would be the organization's primary spokesperson in the event of a crisis? If that person isn't available, who would be the next candidate?
• How would you go about prioritizing your media contacts (in some cases, a trade publication might be more important than the Wall Street Journal).
• What kinds of information materials should you have prepared in advance of a crisis?
• How would you measure outcomes and evaluate effects of your crisis communications effort?

I hope these suggestions help. Let me know how your project comes out!

Regards,

Fred Whiting, APR

Do you have a question concerning the practice of public relations that would be of interest to others? Ask a PRofessional! Click on Programs/Mentoring/Ask a Professional to pose your question and receive a personal reply. Your question and the answer may appear in a future issue of the PRSA-NCC Chapter newsletter.

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