PRSA-NCC Providing Value in 2009

We had a great turnout for our annual Leadership Rally and Networking event on January 15!  We want to keep up that momentum and consistently show PRSA-NCC’s value to you - its membership.  We have several opportunities for you coming up this spring.

I also want to encourage everyone to sign up for one (or more) of our many committees.  In addition to the usual list, the Host Conference Committee is looking for members to help prepare for the 2010 International PRSA Conference which will be held right here in Washington, DC.

Providing value to members in 2009:

Membership – PRSA-NCC remains the largest PRSA chapter!  For many of us, it’s time to renew, but for prospective members, PRSA National has kicked off a membership drive from February through March.  Let potential members know about this great money-saving opportunity – they can get one year of chapter dues for free!  This offer also applies to former PRSA members who have been lapsed for more than one year.  Details are on our chapter home page at: www.prsa-ncc.org

Events – Our professional development committee and co-chairs Phil Rabin and Debbie Friez are bringing back several events by popular demand, and they are setting up many other opportunities to expand your perspective and expertise. View a list of upcoming events at: http://www.prsa-ncc.org/.

Accreditation – The 2009 calendar is all set, and all you need to do is sign up! Accreditation is close to my heart, and you will frequently see me encouraging APR candidates to attend the “JumpStart” preparation courses offered throughout the year. Our first JumpStart class is March 14. This is a great opportunity for professional development and to further expand your career. NCC’s preparation course is one of the best, and our Accreditation Committee will help guide you through the process. For more information, visit the Web site at: http://www.prsa-ncc.org/accreditation_(apr)/. 

Sponsorship – PRSA-NCC currently has more than 19 chapter sponsors who support our events and enable NCC to offer excellent professional development and networking opportunities. If you have a sponsorship idea or prospect or want to be part of this important committee, please contact our outstanding committee chair, Robert Udowitz.

Ethics – Gwyn Walcoff, APR, continues to work on PRSA-NCC‘s Ethics Resource Panel and creating a dedicated page on our Web site for ethics-related articles, information and resources. Visit the Web site at: http://www.prsa-ncc.org/ethics_%26_advocacy/ .

Technology/New Media – PRSA-NCC is expanding the use of new technology – including the launch of a Twitter account. Check the PRSA-NCC Web site for webinars and podcasts, as well as the widget-like National Capital Channel for instant access to PR blogs, videos and local events.

There’s still time to get involved and join a committee! For a description of current committees see our PRSA-NCC Web site, and simply e-mail or call the committee chairperson, or send a “Get Involved form” to me at:  barbara.burfeind@dma.mil.  I can also be reached at: 703-428-0712.

Being involved is the best way for you to get the most out of your Chapter membership. I encourage you to register now for the next PRSA-NCC event. Better yet, bring along a colleague or two! See you there!

Sincerely,

Barbara A. Burfeind, APR
2009 PRSA-NCC President

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PRSA-NCC Gets Social

The Chapter’s Marketing & PR Committee has set up several social media tools to provide current and prospective members an additional opportunity to network, stay informed of chapter events, and share ideas on hot topics and trends. PRSA-NCC is now on:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• and
• Twitter

As a member of each group, you can initiate or comment on discussions related to our industry, post information about PRSA-NCC events, upload photos and video from PRSA-NCC events, and connect with your colleagues.

If you have any questions about these tools please contact marketing@prsa-ncc.org. If you are interested in joining the marketing committee, please contact the committee chairs, Shannon Joyce at sjoyce@focusedimage.com or Mary Fletcher Jones at mary@fletcherprince.com.

Number of Mentors Swells. . .Now looking for Protégés

More than 60 members of the National Capital Chapter have offered to be mentors over the coming year, responding to a personal appeal for experienced professionals to help PR/communications and news writing students at the University of Maryland. 

It all started with instructor Rich Toth, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, who decided that he would require all of his 55 student news writers and reporters for PR to find and interview a mentor for writing and career tips.  Although the PRSA-NCC Mentoring program was primarily designed to match “seasoned” professionals with less experienced practitioners, we decided to see if there was an interest in mentoring students. 

Within days, the number of available mentors swelled from eight to 63.  Soon after, 34 University of Maryland students submitted the Protégé Profile form and were quickly paired with mentors. 

That leaves more than 30 available mentors to be matched.  If you are PR practitioner in the Washington metropolitan area or a student enrolled in a local public relations or communications program and would like to have someone to talk to occasionally about the public relations profession, just complete and submit the Protégé Profile form. 

Public Service Committee Seeking PR Counselors

Add to your resume, expand your breadth of experience, help the world become a better place, and make new friends and business connections! Whether you have just a little time to donate or a lot, the NCC Public Service Committee needs you. In 2009, we will continue to offer public relations and marketing assistance to our two adopted nonprofits:  Bethany House of Northern Virginia – a local nonprofit offering shelter and other services to victims of domestic abuse in our LOCAL area; and “Save Darfur” - the coalition of organizations dedicated to ending the genocide and violence in Sudan.  You can help!  Pitch a story, write a press release, or provide strategic counsel – the opportunities are endless.  For more information, please contact Deborah Deal at deborah@saintblackwell.com.

PRSA-NCC’s Public Service Committee Requests Donations

If you have a retail or wholesale contact that could possibly supply small “pampering” items for the female clients of nonprofit Bethany House, please contact Claire or Deb at Saint Blackwell – deborah@saintblackwell.com or 703-722-2821. Offering shelter and other services for victims of domestic abuse, Bethany House of Northern Virginia is one of the two nonprofits that are being assisted on a pro bono basis by NCC’s Public Service Committee.

The items are needed for Bethany House’s Women’s Day event on April 30, 2009. They are holding this event to bring some much-needed cheer to their clients and would like to provide small gift packages with some items to help the women “pamper” themselves. Some suggested donations are coffee mugs, tea bags, cookies, manicure kits, cosmetics as well as gift bags or baskets.  For this event, Bethany House is requesting enough of each product to be included in 50 gift bags.

In this time of economic downturn, domestic abuse is up and now, more than ever, Bethany House needs donations for their thrift shop, Joseph’s Coat, located at 3022 Annandale Road, Falls Church, Virginia. The following items are needed for the thrift shop: clothing, gently-used household goods, furniture, lamps, pictures, beds, toys, games, books, etc.  Please call 703-538-6289 if you would like to have a local donation of furniture or household items picked up. More information can be found at www.bhnv.org.  If you make a cash or item donation, please mention that you read about their need in the PRSA-NCC newsletter.

IPRA Members Offer PR/Communications Relief in Tough Economic Times

In these tough economic times, many corporations, nonprofits and government agencies are considering cutting back on their communication staff or delaying hiring. But NOW is the best time to let your constituents know who you are and what services you provide. Enter the members of IPRA: senior-level communications executives who own or operate independent practices in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Read the full article here.

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This month’s Spotlight features PRSA-NCC’s new President, Barbara Burfeind. Barbara has been a member of PRSA for many years, but she is being featured to provide more information as she takes on her role as President this year.

Barbara Burfeind, APR
Strategic Communication Director
Department of Defense - Defense Visual Information (DVI)

1)    Why did you join PRSA? 

For the professional network, the professional development, and to pursue my APR.

2)    How long have you been in the PR field?  

18+ years

3)    What skills are required to do your job?  

Background in DoD's use of visual imagery, speaking and writing skills, as well as strategic planning, coordination between various individuals and offices, and research, analysis, and assessment skills. 

4)    What's your greatest career achievement? 

My military career - becoming and working as a photojournalist, earning my bachelor's and master's degrees, and becoming a public affairs officer - all the while having wonderful opportunities for travel and living in other cultures.

5)    Where would you like to see yourself in five years?

Teaching at a university and mentoring PR/PA professionals.

6)    How do you begin each day? 

A 10 minute yoga routine that gets me started on the right track everyday.

7)    What's your dream job? 

Working as a pro-bono strategic communication consultant.

8)    Who's your role model, and why do you admire him/her? 

President Obama and his wife Michelle - they are a great example of a loving family.  They have set a great standard for cooperation and collaboration, for valuing public service, and for promoting a sense of community for our country.  Their attitude has set a hopeful tone during these challenging economic times.

9)    What's the last book you read or movie you saw?

The book "Bel Canto," by Ann Patchett

10)    Tips for maintaining the elusive work/life balance? 

Make time for yourself and your family; take care not to let work take over everything.  Network and stay in touch with friends and family.  Life really is too short - make sure you are doing what you love and spending time with the people you love.

If you’ve 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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What do you look for in students applying for internships?

—KP, College Park, MD

I look for examples of the kinds of experiences they’ve had in and outside of the classroom. If I have a PR internship to fill, I’d like to know what kind of projects you were involved in as an undergraduate. Did you work with others? Did you serve as a team leader? What did you accomplish? What have you done as a volunteer in your community? How might those activities contribute to my organization? And what makes you stand apart from all of the other intern applications piled on my desk? What uniquely qualifies you to work for me?

PRSSA involvement definitely scores points with me, because it suggests you have a working acquaintance with my world. I probably won’t have to explain what I mean by “publics” vs. “the media” or the basic elements of writing a news release, constructing a communication plan, conducting research or evaluating a campaign. It also suggests you work well with others, because increasingly these days, most PR/communication activities are conducted by teams. Also, it certainly helps if you have some experience working on the media side, because that tells me you have an idea of what the media want and how and when they want it, rather than what the organization thinks they should cover. The best PR advice I ever got was “Think like a reporter.”

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 or just go to http://www.prsa-ncc.org/component/option,com_philaform/Itemid,125/form_id,14/

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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