WMPRSA 

April 2005

E-Newsletter

In this issue you’ll find:

• May event
• Seven members complete APR Readiness Review 
• 2006 State Conference Update
• Summary of last month's event
• WMPRSA Current & New Member Profiles
• Job listings and jobs wanted
  

So read on, and plan to join us on May 24 for WMPRSA's next great event...

Crisis Communications: Is your organization prepared?

Are you ready to respond in a crisis or catastrophe? What’s the most significant threat to your organization?

Since 1982’s Tylenol poisonings, crisis communication planning has gotten lots of verbal homage from the public relations profession. But most companies still don’t have crisis communications in place.

Listen, learn and ask questions of two of West Michigan’s veteran public relations practitioners, Rick Chambers of Pfizer and Ruth Steele Walker of Foremost. They’ll talk about how they handle crises in two very different indutries and how to tailor communications.

April Event Summary:
20th Annual PRoof Awards, a roaring good time!

WMPRSA members and community leaders gathered Wednesday, April 13 to honor the best PR projects and campaigns of 2004. PRoof Award winners for 2005 include:

• Alticor Inc.—4 Gold and 1 Silver
• Foremost Insurance Company—3 Gold and 3 Silver
• Grand Valley State University News and Information Services—4 Gold and 4 Silver
• Grand Valley State University School of Communications—1 Gold
• Lambert, Edwards and Associates—2 Gold and 2 Silver
• Penning Ink—1 Gold
• Pfizer—1 Silver
• Professional Marketing—1 Gold
• Straightline Public Relations—2 Gold and 2 Silver
• Wondergem Consulting—1 Gold and 1 Silver

Also honored were:

Steve Wilson, the president of the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau, has been named “Communicator of the Year” by the West Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (WMPRSA). The award is unique in that it is given each year to a someone who is not a communicator by profession.

Rich Jones, News Director at WOOD AM 1300, who was named “Journalist of the Year”;

Anne Veltema of Metropolitan Hospital awarded as “Newcomer of the Year”;

Tim Penning, APR, an assistant professor of communications at Grand Valley State University and owner of his own PR consulting firm, Penning Ink, honored as “Distinguished PR Practitioner.”

Congratulations to all the awardees! 

Seven members complete APR readiness review

Warren Berckmann, Nicole Tallman, Alan Blanchard, Sarah Oomen, Susan Krieger, Ron Koehler and Carol Tanis have completed the Readiness Review and are now eligible to sit for the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) exam.

Thanks go out to Molly Klimas, APR, who guided the seven PRSA members through the APR review process. Molly, senior counsel at Seyferth Spaulding Tennyson, Inc., generously volunteered countless hours to help our members review and study for the APR exam.

Although that may sound simple, it is not. Molly had to coordinate everyone's schedules and after the 'students' finished meeting with her several times over the winter months she then had to coordinate Readiness Review panelists to further assist the APR candidates' reviews. After each candidate has completed their Readiness Review they are eligible to sit for the written exam.

"We're extremely pleased to have so many PRSA members from the West Michigan Chapter pursuing their professional designation. It speaks well of the caliber and commitment of public relations professionals who work in West Michigan," says Ruth Walker, WMPRSA President.

Readiness Review assistants also deserving kudos and thanks include: Roberta King, APR, Beth Dornan, APR, Bruce Schedlbauer, APR, Dave Roznowski, APR, Cindy Droog, APR, Terri Howe, APR, Robin Luymes, APR, Anna Bryce, APR, Kate Washburn, APR, Ron Greenfield, APR, and Joe Yantis, APR.

Established in 1964, the Accreditation in Public Relations is a voluntary certification program for public relations professionals, administered by the Universal Accreditation Board through the Public Relations Society of America. The purpose of the certification is to unify and advance the profession by identifying those who have  demonstrated broad knowledge, experience and professional judgment in the field. The program seeks to improve public relations practice. The designation Accredited in Public Relations (APR) signifies a high professional level of experience and competence.

PRSA members Accredited after January 1, 1993 must accumulate a required number of points in continuing education, professionalism or service categories as part of the Maintenance of Accreditation Program to maintain their certification. This further strengthens the value of the APR credential and keeps professionals actively involved in the currents of the public relations profession.

From National PRSA:
Brag about your Chapter, and everyone’s a winner!

Share examples of successful programs, practices or tactics (best practices) that have helped your Chapter to recruit or retain members, and we’ll not only post them on our web site for the benefit of all Chapters, but you’ll be a winner too!

To view the Best Practices library (small but growing!) and to access the simple template to submit yours, visit  www.prsa.org, select Chapters, then Chapter Resources, and scroll to the bottom.

Be a winner:  Names of individuals who submit a best practice by April 30, 2005, will be put into a drawing for the following prizes from PRSA. Past Chapter officers are eligible to submit.  Act now!

• TWO grand prizes: A free registration to a PRSA National teleseminar.
• 1st Prize:   Waterman Ballpoint Pen and Pencil set (color choices: stainless silver or mineral blue)
• 2nd Prize: 3-in-1 World Time Clock; displays time (in 16 world cities), temperature and date, with monthly calendar.
• 3rd Prize: Black pigskin leather backpack, with pockets.

All entrants who do not receive the above prizes will receive a travel clock with calculator/calendar.

This offer will also be extended to all those who submitted a best practice in 2005.

For questions contact
Kelly.albanese@prsa.org, Chapter/District Relationship Coordinator or Jennifer.ian@prsa.org, VP, Member Service

State Conference needs volunteers

The 2006 PRSA Michigan State Conference will be held Thursday and Friday, May 4-5, 2006 at the Marriott at Centerpoint in Pontiac, the same location as in 2004, which received rave reviews from attendees.

We are in the beginning stages of planning for this very successful event and the planning committee needs your help. The Michigan State Conference is a joint event planned by all four Michigan PRSA Chapters and representation from all four chapters on the planning committee is important. They are still in need of representatives from West Michigan and White Pine.  This conference is a huge undertaking, but incredibly rewarding for those who participate in its planning and execution. We have great people signed up so far, but the more we have working on all the different pieces, the easier it is for everyone involved. This would be a great opportunity for students to get involved as well.

For more information or to volunteer contact:  Tyler Andrew, tandrew@xrite.com, WMPRSA President -Elect.

Job Listings and Jobs Wanted

Chandler Group Executive Search, Inc.
On behalf of our client, a large Minnesota-based health care system, Chandler Group Executive Search, Inc., is conducting a retained search for a VP of Communications. Our client is an innovative and nationally recognized non-profit network of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. They currently have a need for a someone to be responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the organization's internal and external communication, as well as align the organization around more efficient and effective internal and external communication practices.

Successful candidates will be seasoned communications professionals with at least 12 to 15 years of corporate communications experience including employee communications, media relations, public affairs, and crisis communications. He/she must have extensive problem solving, critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as strong verbal and written communications skills, including public speaking. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of and ability to collaborate with many constituents to develop and implement communication programs that support business strategies.

Additionally, the candidate must be able to organize and clearly communicate information to diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing. He/she will have the demonstrated ability to combine creative and analytical thinking to support business and public policy objectives. A bachelor's degree is required and a Masters degree in Marketing Communications or MBA preferred.

Please contact us if you know anyone who may be qualified for either of these positions and/or feel free to pass this along to others in your network. Your assistance is appreciated!

For additional information about these positions, please contact either:

Cindy Chandler (cchandler@chandgroup.com) or Nancy Hovren (nhovren@chandgroup.com) at 952-471-3000.

Chandler Group Executive Search, Inc
4165 Shoreline Drive, Suite 220
Spring Park, MN 55384
www.chandgroup.com

 
ADAC Plastics, Inc.
Communications Specialist: Research, write, edit and produce internal communications pieces. Communicate corporate policies and programs through vehicles such as newsletters, e-mail, bulletins and electronic media. Assist with various Public Relations activities as needed. The successful candidate must have a Bachelor's degree, min. 3 - 5 years of experience writing and editing communications in an agency or corporate setting. Other skills include:

• Exceptional writing and editing skills, including writing for intranet or Web.
• Strong verbal, written, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent communication planning skills.
• Experience with PageMaker and PhotoShop publishing software. Experience with HTML preferred.
• Advanced presentation, writing and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work with individuals from diverse areas and different levels within the company, from senior leaders to individual contributors.
• Understand and use technology, in particular intranet and Web technology, to maximize the effectiveness of communications.

ADAC Plastics offers a competitive wage and benefits package that includes medical, dental, life and short-term disability insurance, profit sharing, 401-k, tuition reimbursement, paid vacations and a bonus program.

Qualified candidates send your resume, cover letter and salary history to:

Communications Specialist
ADAC Plastics
PO Box 888375
5920 Tahoe Drive
Grand Rapids, MI 49588-8375

EOE

WMPRSA Current Member Profile

Say hello to Diane Carnevale Jones. Diane owns her own Public Relations Firm, Professional Marketing, and employs eight full or part time people.  Her clients include eBay's collectibles category, Marie Osmond's doll company, and many other gift and home furnishing firms.
 
She is a University of Michigan graduate with a double major in English and Journalism. While in college she worked 20 hours a week in the business department for the Michigan Daily newspaper. She has also taught high school English and Journalism and advised the school paper and yearbook.
 
One of her greatest PR successes was a one year pro-bono with Hospice of Michigan where her firm provided public relations event and marketing support to "The Big Picture Project," a $1.2 million fundraiser to provide awareness of pediatric hospice, consisting of a red carpet movie premiere of "The Polar Express."
 
While doing this, her firm also assisted with celebrity handling, author signings, and worked with media outlets in Michigan to place over 300 stories.
 
Currently her firm is offering PR support to Calvin College's world-class exhibit, Petra: Lost City of Stone, which she invites everyone to visit.  More information is available at www.calvin.edu/petra.
 
In her spare time she loves to read, travel to warm climates, spend time at her cottage, volunteer, golf, play tennis, walk, cross-stitch and play bridge.  Diane is married, with two grown children.

WMPRSA New Member Profile

Volunteers Make WMPRSA a Success

A big thank you to Melissa Charles who chaired the PRoof Awards and her committee of talented and creative event organizers/planners:  Christy Kobeszka, Jenna Kyser, Sara Middlebrook and Stacy Dean, for their efforts to make the April 13 PRoof Awards event such a resounding success.

Twenty gold awards, 14 silver awards, three best-of-show awards and four individual honors were presented that evening.  Over 100 WMPRSA members and their guests turned out for this very special event.

Thanks again Melissa, Christy, Jenna, Sara and Stacy for making this such a success.

Thanks to all our volunteers.  If your name wasn't included and you deserve recognition, please let me know.  I?m working from memory and that gets harder every year ;-).   Or, if you know a WMPRSA volunteer who should be recognized, contact Ruth Steele Walker at ruth.walker@foremost.com.

Subscriptions and 2005 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 website.

WMPRSA
PO Box 68124
Grand Rapids, MI 49516
Phone: 616-336-0678
Fax: 616-451-3108
http://www.wmprsa.org

Send newsletter feedback, ideas and accompanying color or b&w photos in jpeg format to: Ruth Steele Walker at ruth.walker@foremost.com.

Deadline for newsletter content is the 1st of each month.