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WMPRSA

August 2006 E-Newsletter

In this issue

September event:

Raise Your Life Sciences I.Q.

$100 million and counting.

West Michigan is making a staggering investment in building a premiere life sciences corridor.  The potential impact on the region is equally dramatic, forever changing the region’s business landscape.

As the area shifts its base from manufacturing to life sciences, the transformation affects all companies, communities and communications.  

Public relations practitioners will play an essential role in connecting with this new economy.  That’s why being “in the know” has never been more important.

Tap into the perspectives of some of the leading forces who are fueling West Michigan’s dynamic change.

Speakers:

John Van Fossen, Director of External Affairs, Van Andel Institute

Linda R. Chamberlain, Ph.D. Commercialization Director, West Michigan Science and Technology Initiative – Grand Valley State University

More details forthcoming!

Gold Sponsor: Pfizer, Inc. 

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 21, 11: 30 a.m. (Registration/Networking),

           noon – 1 p.m. (Lunch /Presentation)

WHERE: Grand Rapids University/Press Club (in the Fifth Third Building), 111 Lyon NW, 10th floor

COST: Member $25; non-member $35; student $20 

PARKING:  Park in the Fifth Third Bank Lot and bring your ticket to the meeting.  Get your ticket stamped for a discount on your parking.

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, NOON

Seating is limited – register soon!

To register, call the WMPRSA hotline at 616-336-0678 or fax to 616-451-3108 or send an e-mail to Sue Ann Clark at admin@WMPRSA.org.

All program reservations MUST be guaranteed with VISA or MASTER CARD.When you make a reservation we will need your name, company name, phone number, membership status, cr. cd. number and expiration date, and the zipcode where you receive your statement.

"No shows" will be billed. 48-hour notice required for full refund.

October event:
Special Events on a Grand Scale - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

October 2006

Who could know more about setting up special events on a grand scale than those individuals who coordinate our West Michigan festivals?  Join us as we hear from several area experts on the ins and outs of throwing special events.  We will hear about best practices on coordinating volunteers, managing sponsorships, scheduling events and utilizing the Web.  There will even be time to ask the experts for tips in coordinating your own special events.

Where:  Priority Health's Holland Office
        250 East Eighth Street (Parking is available on Ninth Street)
        Holland, MI 49423

When:  Networking will begin at 11:30 and the luncheon will begin at noon.

Check wmprsa.org for final details.

Student Job Preparation Planning

October 12

Speaker:  Matt Friedman, a former TV news reporter and producer now enjoying a successful PR career as a partner at Marx Layne & Co., one of the premier public-relations agencies in Michigan.  Matt offers students his perspective on how to get a career in public relations underway.  After his presentation, there will be time for students to network with PR professionals to discuss resumes, portfolios and job tips.  An optional, informal networking time will take place at Old Burdick’s restaurant, 100 W. Michigan Ave. (at the Radisson), immediately after the session.

Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce Building

SAVE THE DATE

Pitching to National Media – November 2006

Be sure to check www.wmprsa.org for updates.

  Event Recaps:

Meijer Gardens networking event - nice of you to say!

From an attendee at the WMPRSA social event, held Aug. 18 at Frederick Meijer Gardens:

"I want to compliment the West Michigan PRSA on another excellent event. The gathering at the Frederick Meijer Garden's outdoor amphitheater was very enjoyable. The music, socializing and relaxation are a hallmark ofthe West Michigan PRSA chapter's summer fun event.  

 

I've attended the chapter's events for three years now and each one is informative, educational and attended by a very nice group of people. Please keep up the good work and my compliments to the organizations volunteers. You are doing an excellent job."

 Chapter News

Welcome new members!

Janine Johnson

Janine joined Heart of West Michigan United Way as Vice President of Marketing in June.  Janine and her family are newcomers to West Michigan.  Stops along her career path include being community affairs manager for Pfizer Global Research & Development in Ann Arbor; public affairs manager for Merck & Co. in New Jersey; director of business development for Union County Economic Development Corp. in New Jersey; downtown manager for the Township of Cranford in New Jersey; and senior public relations specialist for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis.  Janine enjoys the areas of community and public relations, grant funding and administration, program development and implementation, special events, communications, fundraising, and employee advocacy. 

Thanks to Megan Anton for interviewing Janine

PRSA ACCREDITATION MARKETING COMMITTEE LAUNCHES PODCAST SERIES ON VALUE OF APR CREDENTIAL

NEW YORK (Aug. 16, 2006) –- The Accreditation Marketing Committee of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is offering a series of podcast programs for PR professionals about the value of earning the "Accredited in Public Relations" or APR credential. The APR is earned by taking the rigorous examination offered by PRSA and eight other partner organizations that comprise the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB).

PRSA’s Accreditation Marketing Committee is producing, in conjunction with Cherry Hill, N.J.-based Professional Podcasts LLC, podcast interviews describing different aspects of the accreditation process and their meaning and value for practitioners who have earned the credential. Steve Lubetkin, APR, Fellow, PRSA, managing partner of Professional Podcasts, is hosting the programs.

The first podcast features an interview with Accreditation Marketing Committee chair Edward M. Bury, APR, director of public relations at the CCIM Institute. In the podcast, Bury describes how he decided to become Accredited and the value of the APR to his professional career. Future podcasts will feature conversations with other Accredited PR professionals about different aspects of preparation for the APR examination, the exam readiness review process and other topics related to the Accreditation credential.

“We are very excited to take advantage of podcasting technology to reach our members and other interested audiences to reinforce the value of professional PR accreditation,” said Bury. “Podcasting is an excellent way to distribute this kind of professional development content to our members and friends, and we can demonstrate how useful podcasting can be for disseminating educational programming worldwide.”

“Using a podcast to provide Accreditation information to its members and their customers demonstrates that PRSA and the Universal Accreditation Board have a clear vision for best-practices integration of such new social media into business applications, and underscores PRSA’s support for, and interest in, these technologies,” said Lubetkin. “Like PRSA, companies should understand that podcasts can provide clients and other constituencies’ mission-critical information conveniently, without tying those audiences to a less-flexible programming format like a conference call or a Web stream, where busy and time-constrained participants must gather at a common time. Podcast listeners get the information they need — at a time when they want it.”

The Accreditation podcast programs are available for downloading and listening on computers or digital audio players capable of playing MP3 formatted files at no charge on the UAB Web site.

The podcast is also available on the APR Podcast blog and in the Apple iTunes Music Store.

To access the podcasts through iTunes, you must have the free iTunes software installed on your computer, but it is not necessary to have an Apple iPod to use iTunes, or to listen to podcasts. Interested listeners can also subscribe to the podcast series RSS feed. There is no charge for downloading or subscribing to these podcasts.

Podcasts are digital audio or video recordings distributed using Internet technology. Visitors to an organization’s Web site can download podcast programs for review on their desktop computers or synchronize them with a portable digital media device. Software programs called “feed readers” or “podcatchers” allow users to “subscribe” to podcasts at no cost and receive new programs in a podcast series automatically.  Listeners can subscribe to the podcast RSS feed.

About Professional Podcasts LLC

Professional Podcasts LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lubetkin Communications, is a leading provider of business podcasting services for corporations and organizations. The firm launched its Internet broadcasting practice in April 2005, counseling clients about the effective use of podcasts and weblogs, or “blogs,” online journals that facilitate two-way communications with customers, employees, and others. More information is available at www.lubetkin.net or at www.professionalpodcasts.com.

About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

The Public Relations Society of America (www.prsa.org), based in New York City, is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. The Society has more than 30,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into 112 Chapters nationwide, 19 Professional Interest Sections, along with Affinity Groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has 275 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

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Job Listings and Jobs Wanted

Senior Marketing Outreach Program Manager

Herman Miller

 Seeking a Creative Diplomatic Leader to Develop Our Newest Marketing Communications Program!

This senior marketing outreach program manager will spearhead the development and execution of Herman Miller's new Speakers Bureau as well as create additional strategic sponsorships for our Work, Learning and/or Healthcare markets.

Specific first year performance expectations will focus highly on your expert project management skills from inception through delivery of the speakers bureau.  You will be reviewed on independently planning and establishing goals and objectives for the Bureau while staying on budgets, on time, and delivering a quality program.

Key deliverables will include: developing overall construct of the program, identifying target audiences, creating content and framework, negotiate and administer multiple contracts with speakers, and manages budget to support objectives.  In addition you will design and execute marketing materials and promotions to brand awareness for Herman Miller and Speakers Bureau.  Effectively serve as a diplomatic liaison between speakers, customers, and field sales.  Establish metrics to assess and report HMI Speakers Bureau performance.

This marketing leader will be seasoned with 5+ years of solid work experience that demonstrates expertise in marketing communications, developing marketing strategies/ plans, and project/ program management experience.  A bachelor’s degree in marketing is required; masters preferred.  Demonstrated ability to investigate and analyze information to make concrete recommendations for success and continuous improvement.  Proven skills in negotiating and managing vendors/ contractual agreements.  Solid interpersonal skills that reflect the ability to build relationships with both internal and external business partners is a non negotiable. 

To explore how you can apply to join one of Fortune’s Top Companies to Work for please visit http://www.hermanmiller.com/careers.

Request for Proposal:  Communications Partner

The West Michigan Strategic Alliance (WMSA) is requesting proposals for ongoing strategic communication and outreach services in conjunction with the federally funded WIRED (Workforce Innovation for Economic Development) initiative for West Michigan.

You may access and download the forms from our WIRED website www.wiredwestmi.org

Proposals are due by September 18, 2006. 

The role of the Communications Partner will be to create and manage along with the WIRED West Michigan Core Team an outcome-based strategic plan for communications and public engagement.  The Communications Partner will take a leadership role in leveraging media strategies to help people in West Michigan make a shift in consciousness to the Innovation Economy and its underlying human and social capital systems.  The desired outcomes include:

• Increased awareness of WIRED throughout the community with measurable engagement of the total spectrum of perspectives, backgrounds, sectors and geographies. 
• A new attitude in West Michigan evidenced as a shift from concern about the status quo to accelerated activity toward building a region equipped to compete and win in the Innovation Economy. 

Additional details on requirements and evaluation criteria are available in the RFP.

Subscriptions and 2006 Newsletter

Editor Contact

This monthly electronic newsletter comes from the West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.  Sponsorship of the newsletter is provided by http://www.pathwaynet.com, which also hosts the WMPRSA Web site.

WMPRSA
PO Box 68124
Grand Rapids, MI 49516
Phone: 616.336.0678
Fax: 616.451.3108

admin@wmprsa.org

www.wmprsa.org

Send newsletter feedback, ideas and accompanying photos to newsletter editor/webmaster Jill Ward at jhward@gmail.com.