WMPRSA January 2004 E-Newsletter

President's Message

Greetings and Happy New Year!

I'm excited to be serving the West Michigan Chapter of PRSA as president this year. I'm fortunate to be following the excellent leadership of Robin Luymes and others, and to have outstanding support of a board that represents a diverse cross section of our chapter's geographical reaches and the various areas of PR practice. I encourage you to get familiar with who your board members are. The roster is online at www.wmprsa.org.

At our board retreat at the end of last year we discussed board priorities for the year. They are essentially consistent with the three priorities that the PRSA national board has stressed this past year: Professional Development, Advocacy for the PR Profession, and Diversifying the PR Profession.

In the area of Professional Development, we're excited about what we have to offer this year. We're working to secure program dates for the entire year soon so you can save the dates and be sure to attend more of our monthly programs, which members consistently say is the greatest value of PRSA membership. We also have worked hard to include some national caliber speakers this year, and I'm excited about the results. See for yourself in the program calendar included in this newsletter and in a member mailing you should receive soon. Always check the Web site for program updates and other announcements.

As most of you know, the PR profession is often misunderstood and even mischaracterized in a negative way. That's the reason for PRSA's advocacy efforts. The board is working on an advocacy plan for the chapter, which we will share with you as soon as it's completed, that will work to promote the PR profession and its reputation here in West Michigan. In fact, we've already begun. When the Traverse City Record Eagle published an editorial that complained about the city hiring a PR counselor, WMPRSA board member Chuck Lombardo and I immediately discussed a response. His "Forum" article in response to the op-ed was published a few days later and has been well received by fellow practitioners as well as the general community in Traverse City. Chuck eloquently pointed out with quotes from our Code of Ethics that PR is not about "spin," but is about honesty and advocacy.  The editorial and Chuck's response is posted on the Web site (www.wmprsa.org)  It provides some fascinating reading.

Finally, the national office has been pushing to diversify the PR profession. West Michigan is one of 14 chapters currently working on a diversity plan. We'll share that with you soon as well. But here too, we've hit the ground running. Our January 15 program was a "meet the media" focused on minority and alternative media. And in May we'll be hearing from Ofield Dukes, the award-winning PR practitioner currently in Washington DC who spearheaded PRSA's diversity efforts. His speech will be followed by a panel discussion by local diversity experts about why and how the PR profession includes more representatives of our increasingly diverse society.

Look for more details on these 2004 goals in upcoming newsletters. In the meantime, remember that there are things you can do to help the chapter as well:

-join a committee
-offer program ideas
-advocate for the profession by writing a letter to the editor or inviting a non-PR co-worker to one of our monthly meetings
-recruit a new member

Contact me or any board member if you have suggestions or are looking for a specific way to get involved.

Enhancing the profession,

Tim Penning, APR
WMPRSA 2004 President

FEBRUARY PROGRAM:

Issues/Crises in our schools

Mark Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004 on your calendars for a stimulating discussion about issues/crises in our schools with four leading West Michigan educators. Joining the Western Michigan Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America will be (in alpha order):

• Bert Bleke, superintendent of the Grand Rapids Public Schools
• Jim O'Donnell, superintendent of the Diocese of Grand Rapids' schools
• Juan Olivarez, Ph.D., president of Grand Rapids Community College
• Peter Ruppert, president of National Heritage Academies.

Our panelists will share war stories and lessons learned about specific issues they have faced; they will be joined by their public relations counsel to help outline how key messages were shaped and shared with internal and external audiences. There will be time for questions/answers and discussion.

The specifics: February 26 in Room 120 of the Applied Technology Center at Grand Rapids Community College, 151 Fountain NE. Networking will begin at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will begin at noon.

Cost: Members - $20; Non Members $30 and Full Time Students $15.
We should have you out of there by 1:15 p.m. Other information available via our program notice to be sent soon. RSVP to WMPRSA office at 616-336-0678.

Mark Your Calendars Now for April 1, 2004 and Save The Date!

Don't miss WMPRSA's annual premier awards ceremony at The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids.

The 2004 WMPRSA Awards Call to Entries will be posted on the WMPRSA web site shortly. Entries are due at 5 p.m. on February 26, so why not take a few minutes now to think about those projects you want to enter.

Then, check the Web site (www.wmprsa.org) regularly for the call to entries.  If you need a hard copy of the rules faxed to you,  please contact the WMPRSA office: admin@wmprsa.org  or by calling 616-336-0678.

In addition choosing your entries, please start thinking now about who you'd like to recognize as:
• Communicator of the Year.  This unique award goes to a West Michigan community leader who does not belong to PRSA and is not a PR professional but who's actions and communications exemplify the practice of good public relations
• Journalist of the Year.   The winner in this category can be either a print or broadcast journalist who is based in West Michigan
• Distinguished PR Practitioner.  Recognition for a WMPRSA Chapter member who demonstrates excellence in one or more areas: contributions to the community, contributions to WMPRSA, to the public relations profession and PRSA or who demonstrates superior performance in meeting his or her daily public relations responsibilities.
• Newcomer of the year.   Recognizing newer members of WMPRSA, nominees for this award should be active public relations professions of three years or less who demonstrate potential to become an outstanding member of our profession.
• Hal Walton Scholarship.   For a PRSSA enrolled as a sophomore or junior at a four-year Michigan college or university.  This scholarship is named for the late Hal Walton who spent many years leading the public relations effort for the local Lear Siegler operation (now Smith's Industries).  Walton was an early president of WMPRSA.

If you have any questions about the awards program, please contact Melissa Fryling:  You can reach her by email at: MFryling@alticor.com  or by calling 616-787-4635.

Leadership Network Happy Hour

Join the Leadership Network at its first Happy Hour in 2004.  This promises to be a great opportunity to meet with fellow colleagues and meet new members.  Friends and potential members are welcome.  Please join the Leadership Network on Tuesday, February 3, from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. at Bar Divini, downtown Grand Rapids on Ionia Street.  There is no cost for this event.  Each participant will be responsible for the cost of their own food and drink.  If you have questions contact Amy Larson at amy.larson@priority-health.com.

Professional Development
In 2004, PRSA's Member-Get-A-Member (MGAM) campaign will be more than a two month promotion. Members will benefit from referring new members to PRSA all year long!  Recruit three or more members to PRSA in 2004 and you will receive a PRSA Dollars voucher that can be used towards PRSA books, gift merchandise, seminars or dues renewal. The more members you recruit, the more you win. And everyone who recruits a member is eligible to receive additional prizes and awards at the end of the year as part of a MGAM grand drawing. To ensure that your referral is counted, the new member must write your name on their application. Introduce a member to PRSA and everyone wins!  For details, visit www.prsa.org. and select Membership.

The national chapter of PRSA is beginning the  launch of its newest professional interest section. The PRSA Military and National Security Professional Interest Section will focus on the professional development needs of military and civilian public affairs personnel of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as those of civilian public relations professionals who work with DoD and the U.S. Armed Forces on national security issues.  Teleseminars and e-groups will be offered along with networking opportunities at the PRSA International Conference and Section events. Annual dues are $60. For general information on Professional Interest Sections, please contact Heather O¹Connor at 212-460-1438 or heather.oconnor@prsa.org.  For information about membership to this Section, please contact Rosa Paulsen at 212-460-1490 or rosa.paulsen@prsa.org.

JOB BOARD

Community Relations Coordinator
Kent County Department of Aeronautics
Gerald. R. Ford International Airport

Individual will produce informational material (e.g. newsletters, brochures, electronic presentations), coordinate airport website, manage advertising activities, plan and execute special events, and assist with public presentations, news media relations and air service marketing. Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or related field, with three years experience. Strong writing skills and computer literacy essential. Graphic layout/design experience preferred.

Starting salary: $19.38 per hour ($40,310 annual)
Salary following six-month probationary period: $20.33 per hour ($42,286 annual)

Application deadline is Friday, February 13, 2004.

For an application packet or additional information, please contact the Kent County Human Resources Department at (616) 336-3513. Application packets may also be downloaded from the Kent County website at www.accessKent.com/jobs.

_____________________________________________

FORAGER, an executive search firm is looking for candidates for the position of Vice President of Strategic Marketing. This opening is at one of their client companies. They are seeking candidates with a high degree of intelligence, classic marketing background and more than 10 years of diverse marketing experience in the following areas:

.  STRATEGIC MARKETING
.  MARKET RESEARCH/ANALYSIS, AND NEW MARKET PENETRATION
.  BRAND IDENTITY
.  WEB SITE DESIGN
.  INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
.  PROMOTIONAL AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL ANALYSIS

For immediate consideration, contact Anita Artner, FORAGER retained executive search, 815-344-0006 aaforager@imaxx.net.

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.