WMPRSA August 2004 E-Newsletter

President's Message

Baseball is like public relations: individual specialties are needed but there still needs to be a team effort, there can be long periods of calm before a flurry of excitement, there's strategy involved, and sometimes you're eager to run home:).

Seriously, we had a great time to combine baseball and PR with our annual summer "social" event August 10 when we came together to relax, network and watch the West Michigan Whitecaps. Those of us in leadership of PRSA hear again and again, at the local and national level, that networking with other PR professionals is one of the most appreciated membership values. We have tried to add more fun, non-programmed events to bring PR professionals together. Please let me or any board member know if you want more networking events,and if you have good ideas for them. Meanwhile, be sure to plan now for our September 13  event, when we'll pair with the Econ Club to hear John Paluszek of Ketchum PR in New York talk about corporate social responsibility. More info about that event is online at www.wmprsa.org.

Also, look for an e-mail program announcement soon.

Tim Penning, APR
2004 West Michigan PRSA President 

SEPTEMBER MEETING
Corporate Social Responsibility: A PR Imperative (A joint event with the Economic Club of Grand Rapids)

Sponsored by: Seyferth, Spaulding & Tennyson

PR always wants a seat at the table with other managers, and on September 13 we have it! WMPRSA joins the Economic Club of Grand Rapids to hear a presentation on Corporate Social Responsibility by veteran PR practitioner and longtime CSR advocate John Paluszek, APR. Paluszek is senior counsel at Ketchum Public Relations in New York, a PRSA Fellow, co-chair of the Commission on Public Relations Education, and PRSA's liaison to the United Nations. He is in demand nationally as a speaker and we are fortunate to have him speak to us here in West Michigan, thanks to generous sponsorship of the local public relations firm, Seyferth, Spaulding, and Tennyson. He will address how a corporation's social responsibility is inherently tied to its business strategy and why how public relations is the function that ties the two together.

WHEN: Monday, September 13, 2004
Registration/networking:11:30, food served at 12:00, presentation at 12:30

WHERE: Ambassador Ballroom, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Address: Pearl and Monroe, downtown Grand Rapids

COST: Member $30, Non-Member $35, Full time student $25
RSVP DEADLINE: Tuesday, September 7, 2004

TO REGISTER, call the WMPRSA hotline at 616-336-0678 or fax to 616-451-3108 or send an e-mail to Julie Metsker at admin@wmprsa.org. All program reservations MUST be guaranteed with VISA or MASTER CARD. You can still pay the day of the event with a check.

When you make a reservation we will need your name, company name, phone number, membership status and credit card number and expiration date, and credit card billing address (including ZIP code) of where you receive your credit card bills. "No shows" will be billed. 24-hour notice required for full refund.

Share  Learning and Support by Participating in Training and Education Through WMPRSA
By Anna Bryce

The West Michigan PRSA is always looking for ways to expand educational opportunities for its membership, and it's icing on the cake when those opportunities also raise funds for future WMPRSA programs and services. The Public Relations department at Quixtar Inc. recently registered for a Bulldog Reporter audio conference, "Pitching Technology Stories to Top Media: Tips, Trends, and Editorial Hot Buttons," and invited interested members of WMPRSA to sit in on the $249 conference call for just $25. Quixtar covered the cost of the call, enabling members to take advantage of the educational opportunity for a very affordable fee, and donated all proceeds to WMPRSA. Six chapter members joined Quixtar PR staff for the call, which featured a panel of tech editors from media outlets Business 2.0,  Forbes, CIO, CBS MarketWatch and USA Today. The group not only gained insight into the interests and pitching preferences of these editors, but also was able to discuss the content presented, exchange information about their own professional experiences, and get to know one another a little bit better.

If you or your organization plans to participate in any upcoming educational, training, or professional development opportunities, please keep in mind the possibility of inviting WMPRSA members as a way to share knowledge, network, diffuse costs, and even raise funds. Just contact Chapter Administrator Julie Metsker at admin@wmprsa.org with questions, or to invite membership to future events.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Web Page Copy Writing Tips

• Be brief. It's harder to read a computer screen. One expert, stated that reading from a computer screen is about 25 percent slower than reading from paper.
• Use short sentences and short paragraphs.  Keep one idea per paragraph. Cut and compress.  Write text then edit savagely to the fewest words possible.
• Use bullets. Bullets set off points so that they can be seen better.
• Highlight keywords and use subheads. Because readers skim, help them spot information they need.
• Be familiar: Carry on a literate conversation with friends. Avoid jargon and promotional hype.
• Chunk information. Group information into logical, short units and hyperlink it according to importance.  Web writing is a tree of information that starts with the essential point then moves through hyperlinking to fine detail supporting the point.

NEW MEMBER PROFILE
Compiled by Anne Veltema

Tara Prasad is the first public relations practitioner ever employed at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. She is a media relations guru and prepares all press materials.  The press and publicity Tara helped garner during her first year paved the way for the highest annual attendance ever. She has placed the organization in publications such as TIME, The New York Times, Midwest Living, and the Chicago Tribune.  Tara's biggest PR success thus far is placing the Gardens in the prominent art magazine, American Art Review. "Initially, the editor didn't think that the Gardens was the right type of place to highlight, but after some continued pitching, we got a seven page article with 13 color images," said Tara.

Prior to her time at the Gardens, Tara worked as an intern at Lambert Edwards and Associates. While at LE & A, she managed client expectations with senior members and partners of the firm for a diverse range of clientele in the technology, manufacturing, and consumer industries.

Tara holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and journalism. In her spare time, Tara enjoys hanging out with friends, working out, reading,and watching movies. She is also a punk music fan who enjoys gourmet cooking and cross country skiing.

JOB BOARD

Senior Healthcare Writer--Priority Health

The Senior Healthcare Writer will draft and edit original and existing copy for departmental and corporate communications consistent with the Priority Health brand and corporate standards, to include informational, persuasive and healthcare-specific text.  Specifically, the Senior Healthcare Writer will work with internal customers to: research and draft original copy for educational and sales material; see that all communications are consistent with corporate standards, NCQA requirements and documented to appropriate parties; and will read and analyze information for each new product/message or any existing product/message for newsletters, brochures or Internet presentations. 

The ideal candidate will have 5-10 years of writing in a healthcare or related field; will have applicable experience as a senior copywriter in an ad agency or corporate setting; and will be minimally Bachelor's-prepared in Marketing, English, Advertising or a related field.

Director, Web Experience

The Director, Web Experience, will be a senior leader on our Marketing team and responsible for the delivery of exceptional user experience across all Priority Health Internet applications.  This individual will oversee all development of Web product and process solutions around business initiatives, the management of all facets of Web user experience, monitoring and leading day-to-day Web site operations and utilizing measurements to ensure stability and design success. Requires at least five years experience leading the business design and development of a corporation's major Internet presence from a Marketing platform, five years of management experience in a marketing environment, a BA/BS in marketing, knowledge of Web architectures, online design, multimedia communications and
interface design. Must have demonstrated writing and editing experience, and excellent knowledge of HTML optimizing graphics and using web tools in order to communicate effectively with internal and external Web designers, programmers and vendors.

Priority Health, a mid-size managed care company serving 450,000+members in Michigan, has been ranked as one of the top 40 health plans in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.  The National Committee for Quality Assurance has rated Priority Health "excellent," its highest ranking.  The secret of our success is simple.  Priority Health people are dedicated professionals who share the common goal of providing quality, affordable medical care to our members. In an uncertain market, Priority Health has seen tremendous growth over the last number of years. 

Priority Health invests in the success of its employees, providing a host of benefits designed to fit both your professional and personal needs.  We are proud of our low employee turnover rates and our strong policies of development and promotion from within.  Our innovative team boasts excellent career paths and development opportunities.  We offer a 401K plan with matching options; educational assistance; a generous earned time off
program; medical coverage beginning day one of employment; access to discounted child care centers; more than 30 professional growth & development courses on-site; and flexible work schedule options.

For consideration, please forward your resume to: Shannon Grund,
Priority Health, 1231 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525, fax: 616 957-0853 or
e-mail: shannon.grund@priority-health.com

Positions with SPANUSA

SPANUSA is a search firm and was one of the first to specialize in the recruitment and placement of bilingual, multicultural executives and professionals throughout the United States and Latin  America.  Key areas of concentration are in the International and U.S. Emerging Markets, Diversity and Inclusion.  Below is a summary of the first "wave" of
assignments for their client, a leading Global 500 Consumer Package Goods company, as they strengthen the Marketing team for their North American Food & Beverage business. These positions create an excellent opportunity for the right candidates, as they play a key role in their client's strategy of consolidating key business units to create synergies, continue to leverage their core strengths and significantly increase market share.
Public Relations Director
Public Relations Manager
Promotions Managers
Preference will be given to Hispanic and other minority candidates. Bilingual (Spanish-English) and/or experience in the multicultural arena is highly desirable.

Contact: James Szurek Jr. at jszurek@spanusa.net  or visit
www.spanusa.net

PAID INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Corporation:            Independent Bank Corporation ­ Ionia, Michigan
Department:            Corporate Advertising/Public Relations
Title:                 Advertising/Public Relations Intern
Wage:                 $8/hr.
Length of Assignment:    Fall 2004 semester internship
Contact:             Marty Spencer, Human Resources­ (616) 527-5820 x 1438
This is a Part-Time position that will require 20-30 hours per week, with a Flexible schedule.

SPECIFIC POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Must be a current undergraduate student majoring in either, marketing, advertising, public relations and/or communications.  Internship experience will include ad design using Quark, newsletter development, writing of press releases, creating media plans, meeting with printers and coordinating projects, assisting with special projects such as grand opening events, customer appreciation days, etc. The student should have good communication skills, both written and verbal. Should be well organized, a self-starter, receptive to supervision, eager to learn and possess a professional attitude. Must be familiar with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Office.  Knowledge of Photoshop 6.0, QuarkXpress 5.0, and PageMaker 6.5 are a plus.

Subscriptions and 2004 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: Carol Tanis at ctanis@grsymphony.org.

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