Past Events

January Hangover Mixer - NOT CANCELLED

Now that the presents have been opened and the relatives have finally left, come out for a reprieve - swap holiday horror stories and dieting tips with your colleagues. We promise everything will be lead-free, pre-assembled, and that no batteries are required. Join us for fusion-inspired hors d'oeurves and drinks at the new bistro and wine bar "Naya" on Thursday, Jan. 10, from 5:30 - ? Cost is NADA.

For more information:

Naya
1144 East Paris (just south of Cascade)
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
www.nayagr.com

January - Meet the Media

A unique opportunity to meet local media representatives, one-on-one, for two minute intervals.

Location:

Thursday, January 17, 2008
The University Club
111 Lyon NW
10th Floor of the 5/3rd Bank Building
11:30 PM – Registration
12:00 PM – Program Begins

Cost:

$25 – Members
$35 – Non-members, guests
$20 – Students

In the past, WMPRSA “Meet the Media” events provided useful information, but our membership rarely received the opportunity to meet the media. The format will be similar to “Speed Dating,” but this isn’t really a date, it’s only lunch!

Of course, there will be time to have lunch and network with other WMPRSA members and guests, but most importantly, you’ll have one-on-one time with members of the local media, including news directors, editors and reporters.

Invitations were sent to more than 25 news organizations from Muskegon to Greenville to Kalamazoo. A sample of confirmed participants to date include: WZZM TV13, WOOD TV8, WWMT TV3, WXMI FOX 17 and The Grand Rapids Press. We encourage you to bring your business cards!

If you’d like more information regarding the event, please contact Tim Pietryga at 616.530.4364 or tjpietryga@cmsenergy.com.

February - A PR Practitioner's Introduction to IR

Understanding the basics of investor relations, and how you can apply IR fundamentals and techniques to your own communications practice

Whether you work for a non-profit agency, small business or publicly traded corporation, the fundamental principals of investor relations can serve as an important and valuable communications foundation.  In this engaging session led by two senior IR executives , learn about the practice of investor relations, the “tools” and techniques of the trade, and how to integrate elements of this specialized discipline into your next news release, media pitch or CEO presentation . 

Featuring:

• Jeff Lambert , managing partner of Lambert, Edwards & Associates, one of the largest investor relations practices in the Midwest
• Joe Nowicki , treasurer and vice president of investor relations for Herman Miller ( NASDAQ: MLHR), a leading global provider of office furniture

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008

WHERE: The University Club, 10 th Floor, 111 Lyon NW

REGISTRATION : 11:30 a.m.

PROGRAM: Noon

COST: $25 Members, $30 Non-Members and $20 for Students

March - Speak Up! Part 1

Public relations professionals are often many steps ahead of the average person when it comes to strong communication skills, but delivering a powerful, entertaining and memorable speech or presentation is a talent few possess. Everyone improves with practice, but gleaning useable tips and insights from someone who has already mastered the art of public speaking can speed up progress significantly.

You'll walk away from this program with some "take it to the street" tips for delivering a clearer, more concise and persuasive message - and connect with old and new friends at the same time! Join us!

Featuring:

• Rob Pocock, AVP/Communications, Priority Health and Adjunct Faculty, Hope College

WHEN: Thursday, Mar. 20, 2008

WHERE: The University Club, 10 th Floor, 111 Lyon NW

REGISTRATION : 11:30 a.m.

PROGRAM: Noon

COST: $25 Members, $30 Non-Members and $20 for Students

Click Here to Register

April - Speak Up! Part 2: Writing for Public Speaking

At our March program, attendees learned useful and practical tips for delivering effective and memorable presentations. However, as communications professionals, we are often tapped to develop presentations and speeches for someone else to deliver.

In part II of our Speak Up! series, our presenter will draw on his rich experience to offer tips for crafting engaging speeches and presentations, and explain how writing for public speaking differs from writing for other mediums.

Marc Longstreet, currently vice president of communications at Davenport University , has written countless speeches for community and business leaders throughout the years. He will draw from his experience as speech writer for Amway executives during his tenure at Amway as well as his academic knowledge and community experience.

Join us!

Presenter: Marc Longstreet, vice president of communications at Davenport University

When: Thursday, April 17, 2008

Where: The University Club, 10 th Floor, 111 Lyon NW

Registration : 11:30 a.m.

Program: Noon

Cost: $25 members, $35 non-members and $20 students

Click Here to Register

June - How Beaner's Changed its Name in a BIG Way!

In 1995, Lansing-based Beaner's Coffee started as a small capitol coffee shop known only to students and local lawmakers. Today, the rapidly growing chain is in eight states and has more than 75 locations in Michigan alone. But when founder Bob Fish started expanding into other markets, he soon learned “beaner” – which he intended as a catchy, fresh name – was also a racial slur referring to persons of Mexican decent. Purely by choice, because it was the right thing to do, Beaner's announced it would change its name to Biggby, starting Jan. 31, 2008.

Hear from founder and CEO Bob Fish and Tara Powers , managing director/partner for Lambert, Edwards & Associates on the process behind the name change and how the team built a successful communications strategy that resulted in media coverage that focused not on the negative aspect of the name itself, but about Beaner's as a business “doing the right thing ."

Event details

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008
Location: The University Club, 10th Floor, 111 Lyon NW, Grand Rapids
Time: 11:30 a.m.-Registration, Noon-Program starts
Cost: $25 members, $35 non-members and $20 students. Cost includes lunch.

Register Here

Questions? Contact Kelly Smallegan-Maas at kmaas@lambert-edwards.com .

*Speaking of Coffee…ATTENTION WMPRSA Members-Coffee is on us! Bring a non-member guest to the June 26 program and you will be eligible to win a $10 gift certificate to an area café!

September - My candidate said what?!

With the campaign season in full swing, WMPRSA is bringing the pros to the table to share their insights on campaign communications, and how these tried-and-true techniques can be utilized across all communications professions.  From speechmaking and crisis messaging to grassroots and online viral marketing, learn about the nuances of the campaign trail from two veteran political communication strategists. Chris DeWitt , of DeWitt Communications, is Gov. Granholm's campaign communications director. John Truscott , of The John Truscott Group, served as communications director under former Gov. John Engler.

Date: Thurs., Sept. 18 at Noon
Location: University Club

October - Punk Marketing

The marketing revolution is here, so get on the right side of the barricade and become a part of it!

Punk Marketing Author Richard Laermer takes a look at the seismic change in the relationship between the people who sell stuff—products, services, entertainment—and those who purchase it. To survive in business, a revolutionary approach is needed—one Richard and his co-author have branded “Punk Marketing”—and it's one we all need to understand because the traditional divisions among commerce, content and consumers are continuing to blur ever more rapidly.

Now, about the presenter. A frequently-quoted authority on media culture and hype, Richard Laermer, the 2007 inductee into the PR Hall of Fame in Washington D.C., is a former magazine and newspaper journalist, CEO of RLM PR, bestselling author of the perennial PR handbook Full Frontal PR , widely sought-after speaker and media trainer, and the co-host of TLC's cult program Taking Care of Business . BadPitchBlog ( BadRelease.com ) is the industry's watchdog, and a recipient of PRSA's Bronze Anvil Medal for Best Blog. He is co-author of  hit book Punk Marketing: Get off your ass and join the revolution ( HarperCollins). His newest book, 2011: TrendSpotting for the Next Decade (McGraw-Hill), just hit bookstores. Books have been reviewed and featured on Today, CBS Sunday Morning , CNN, Public Radio's Marketplace, CNBC, American Airlines' Eye on American, and Fox's Good Day New York. His segment, Unspun with Laermer, is a regular feature on NY1 and his show Unspun Radio is aired nationally. Laermer's columns on the media businesses appear in Advertising Age, Ad Week, PR Week, PR News, MediaBistro, Bottom Line Personal, Chief Executive, and Conference Board.

The media guy's outlandish, though logical, speeches about trends, media and marketing have wowed audiences and intimate groups as he hosts seminars and keynotes for corporate and civic organizations, marketing groups, PR and sales forces, and genial gatherings at places like United Parcel Service, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Media Bistro, Comcast, REAL Trends Marketing & Technology Conference, International Association of Shopping Centers, Discovery Networks, International Association of Exhibit Managers, Public Relations Society of America, Government Communicators Council, Anheiser-Busch, the 92nd Street Y, Automotive Communication Council, Custom Publishing Council, National Homebuilder's Conference, Maryland Board of Tourism, the National Association of Realtors, Beckman Coulter, Fast Company, Bulldog Reporter, Healthcare Communicators of California, and the eager shopkeepers of Essex CT.

Join Richard and become a punk marketer at this summit brought to West Michigan by the American Marketing Association of West Michigan, Ad Club of West Michigan and PRSA.

Limited to the first 250 marketers, communicators and wannabes. Early bird registration ends August 1.

Register Here | Map of Pew Campus (.pdf)

Thursday, October 16, 2008 [CORRECTED]
Loosemore Auditorium, GVSU Downtown Campus
Cost:  $99 per person until September 26th, then $125 per person

7:30 registration
8:30 presentation
11:00 q&a
11:30 book signing

October - Take Advantage of Proximity: PRSA International Conference

This year's PRSA International Conference is in Detroit . Three days of great speakers and programs, without the travel expense. We encourage all members of WMPRSA to take advantage of this opportunity. www.prsa.org/conf2008

Interested in carpooling? E-mail WMPRSA programs chair, Kelly Smallegan-Maas. If enough are interested, we will explore options for chartering transportation.

Date: Oct. 25 - 28
Location: Detroit , MI