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WMPRSA

May 2006 E-Newsletter

In this issue

May event:

Publicity Hound: How do you promote your media expertise?

Thursday, May 25  at 3 p.m.

Participate in this seminar from your own desk!

The media flock to experts. They interview them. They put them on the covers of magazines. They feature them on TV shows like "60 Minutes" and "Nightline" and on hundreds of radio shows on National Public Radio and in your own community.

Joan Stewart, a.k.a. The Publicity Hound, is a publicity expert who will share the secrets of how to position yourself and your clients as experts so the media start flocking to you too. Joan, a former editor of three daily newspapers and a weekly business journal, has accepted and rejected thousands of story ideas from experts, so she knows the kinds of sources the media seek out, and the kinds they ignore. 

During our teleseminar, which will be like a telephone conference call, you will learn:

• Why it's important to become an expert, and then promote your expertise
• Where to find a valuable document--for free--that will explain the 6 levels of expertise and how to achieve each level
• Where to begin a publicity campaign so you do the important legwork that will pay off months later
• How to create a "Top 25 Media Hit List" of your key media contacts who are in the best position to help you
• The Number One thing journalists will expect you to do before they agree to cover you
• How to pitch story ideas so you hit every journalist's hot button
• When you want the media to write about you, and when you want to write articles yourself
• Why "how to" articles written by experts help them sell a product, service, cause or issue
• Joan's favorite fun things to do for getting publicity (there's something here for everybody!) 
• The easiest way imaginable to get into big national magazines over and over again
• The one thing you must NEVER do during your publicity campaign so you don't embarrass yourself
• More ways to build relationships with the media so you stay on their radar screens
• Q&A sessions.

Attend this informative session from your own desk and using your own telephone.  However, you will still need to register in advance.  A phone number and code will be emailed to you the day before the teleseminar.

WHEN: Thursday, May 25  at 3 p.m.

WHERE: Teleseminar. Attend from your own desk and with your own telephone.
 
COST: Member $15; Non-member $20; Student $15

We look forward to your participation!

Registration deadline: Friday, May 19 at 5 p.m.

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.

Member Mixer - now with Ad Club & AD2!

See you at McFaddens, May 11 @ 6 p.m.

Join the Ad Club of West Michigan, AD2 of West Michigan and WMPRSA for an informal gathering of our industry comrades and a relaxing evening of wit and wisdom. Network, converse, learn from industry veterans, or just enjoy great drink specials and complimentary appetizers with friends, both old and new. All Advertising, Public Relations, Marketing and Communication Professionals, and students are invited to come and check it out - even if you are not yet a member. Mention one of the leading assocations and McFadden's staff will direct you.

Where:McFaddens (58 Ionia Ave. SW, downtown Grand Rapids)

When:Thursday, May 11 at 6 p.m.

See our  website for the flyer.

New Media Technologies
Thursday, June 15

 Recap: 2006 PRoof Awards

PRoof Awards Dinner Spotlights ‘PRiceless’ Best

The annual WMPRSA PRoof Awards dinner brought together about 150 people to applaud the best in public relations and communications across west Michigan.  WZZM-TV morning co-anchor Lauren Stanton hosted the April 20 event, which was held at the Press Club in downtown Grand Rapids.

A total of 29 awards were given, including six individual awards, three Best of Show, nine Gold and 11 Silver.  Dr. Betty Pritchard, APR (Grand Valley State University), and Ruth Steele-Walker (Foremost Insurance) received Lifetime Achievement Awards for their invaluable contributions to public relations practice.

For a complete list of award winners, visit the WMPRSA web site at http://www.wmprsa.org/Chapter_Info/awards.htm.

 Chapter News

Going for your APR? Readiness Reviews being held this spring (probably early May)

PR practitioners who want to become Accredited have an opportunity to go through the first part of Accreditation -- a Readiness Review -- this spring. Typically, RRs are held locally only twice a year (spring and fall). If you want to go through your RR this spring, then please contact local APR Chair Molly Klimas by April 7 at klimas@sstpr.com or 616-776-3511. For general information on Accreditation, go to www.praccreditation.org. Candidates don’t have to take the APR prep course in order to go through the RR and sit for the written exam; however, they do need to first apply and be approved to go through the process (again, details at www.praccreditation.org).

Welcome new member Jessica Ellis!

 Health & Beauty Writer
Quixtar, Inc.

Jessica Ellis graduated from Grand Valley State University last April 2005 with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations. She held an internship with Laker Late Night during college and was Membership Coordinator of the PRSSA chapter at GVSU. Jessica immediately started working at Quixtar after graduation as an intern and was officially hired as a Writer in February of this year! She spends most of my time developing copy for Quixtar's core health and beauty brands and new program launches.

Welcome new member Linda Kotzian !

 communications specialist for Great Lakes Energy

Linda Kotzian is a communications specialist for Great Lakes Energy. She has worked for GLE for 11 years.  Prior to that, Linda was an advertising manager for 10 years for two weekly sister newspapers, Oceana's Herald-Journal in Hart and The White Lake Beacon in Whitehall.

Current responsibilities with Great Lakes Energy consist mainly of employee and customer communications through weekly and monthly publications and occasional presentations.  She also aids in marketing of products and services, media contact, and representing company-sponsored community programs.

Linda is also a Certified Toastmaster (CTM) through White Lake Toastmasters Club.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Linda has lived and thrived in west Michigan for over 30 years. She and her husband Carl  live in Shelby and have one son, Tyler, who is a student at GVSU and a U.S. Marine reservist.

 State News

MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell added as keynote speaker
For the PRSA 2006 Michigan Conference

The PRSA 2006 Michigan Conference welcomed new keynote speaker Norah O'Donnell - Chief Washington Correspondent for MSNBC.  O'Donnell replaced Tony Snow, former FOX News political analyst and the new Press Secretary for President George W. Bush. She presented the keynote address entitled "Inside the White House -- the President and the Press" at noon on Thursday, May 4.  O'Donnell gave a behind the scene look at the Bush White House and discussed the impact of Snow's recent appointment as press secretary. As a Washington insider, she provided attendees some takeaways about how to pitch their message to the national media.

O'Donnell is a veteran journalist and regular guest for NBC's Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Imus in the Morning and Hardball with Chris Matthews. She worked for NBC News as a White House correspondent and Congressional correspondent.  She covered the Pentagon following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and has traveled around the globe to every continent except Antarctica with President Bush, President Clinton and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to report on the war in Afghanistan and the war on terrorism.   

The Washingtonian Magazine named O'Donnell as one of Washington's 100 most powerful women. The PRSA 2006 Michigan Conference was held May 4-5 at the Detroit Marriott in Pontiac. For additional information, visit www.prsadetroit.org/StateConf/.

PRSA reports 2005 year-end results: Society’s net assets reach 59-year high

NEW YORK (Apr.25, 2006) - PRSA posted its fifth consecutive year of financial growth in 2005, according to the Society’s 2005 year-end financial results, released today. In 2005, PRSA’s net assets increased eight percent over 2004 to $2,444,000 – the highest level in the Society’s 59-year history. Total Assets increased 11 percent to $4,800,000 in 2005.

“Our strong financial performance speaks to our ability to deliver the member support and services today’s public relations professional values and has come to expect from the Society,” said PRSA President and CEO Cheryl I. Procter-Rogers, APR, Fellow PRSA. “It is through the effective leadership and execution of innovative strategies of our board of directors, volunteer leadership and staff that provides for measurable success year-after-year.”

Total revenues and gains for the world’s largest organization for PR professionals was $10,200,000 — a decrease of $700,000 from 2004. The decrease in revenue is attributed to the cancellation of the Society’s premier events — the PRSA International Conference and the PRSSA National Conference – both scheduled to take place October 2005 in Miami Beach, Fla., but were cancelled due to Hurricane Wilma. The PRSSA National Conference was rescheduled and held in December, but at a reduced size, with a little more than a quarter of the original registrants. Also included in the 2005 revenues and gains is $1,200,000 in related event cancellation insurance recoveries.

In addition to continued membership growth (3.5 percent increase to end 2005 with 20,874 members), 2005 represented a strong year for PRSA on many levels:

• A strong and visible record of advocacy for ethical, credible public relations including testimony before a U.S. Senate subcommittee and national media coverage
• The first-ever industry summit on ethical issues
• An expanded corporate partnership program (12 corporate partners, up from seven in 2004)
• Continued increase in JobCenter postings — 37 percent growth in 2005
• Greater participation in professional development programs (teleseminars saw significant increase) and Accreditation (nearly 50 percent increase in number of members sitting for Examination in 2005)
• Professional Interest Section growth — 6 percent membership increase over 2004
• A restructured Foundation — including the establishment of the first Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Diversity initiatives and activities that weave throughout the fabric of PRSA, including the launch of a new Affinity Group — Gay, lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT)
• Record-breaking PRSSA membership — 9,004 students at 271 Chapters nationwide.

 
NOTE: PRSA Members may view detailed 2005 financial information at https://members.prsa.org/ScriptContent/Index.cfm?section=home (MemberNet login required).

Job Listings and Jobs Wanted

Public Relations Manager, Fifth Third Bank

GENERAL FUNCTION:
Successfully publicize and communicate corporate activities internally and externally. Manage major local initiative projects such as the Fifth Third River Bank Run

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Create and implement the FTWM public relations strategy aligned with Bancorp plan and in collaboration with the Affiliate Marketing Officer and the Marketing team.  
• Develop and ratify reputation management strategy/position consistent with Bancorp and FTWM Marketing goals and the Fifth Third brand.
• Generate $9 million in print and electronic No-Cost Advertising via news releases, pitch calls, special events
• Oversee development and timely dissemination of internal and external newsletters (Benchmarks, This Week @ Fifth Third, Club 53 Minutes, Community Banker, Community Investment Annual Report)
• Provide speech writing and presentation support for FTWM Executives and key major events. (Officer meetings, Quarterly conference calls, etc.)
• Mange the local initiatives budget and act as lead project manager on major events such as The Fifth Third River Bank Run. 
• Develop a pool of internal experts who will speak to the media and conduct presentations in order to strengthen the image of the bank as the thought leader in WM banking. 
• Implement new processes to collect market information and leverage local stories in all FTWM Regions to enhance brand equity.
• Develop and maintain contacts with national, local and regional media, local community and business leaders, Fifth Third business-line, philanthropic and staff department officers.
• Maintain awareness of current banking trends; bank's posture.
• Represent bank during at public, social and business gatherings.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Undergraduate degree in communications, journalism, public relations; graduate degree in related field. 
• Five or more years of media relations experience. 
• Expertise in managing/staffing political or issue campaigns preferred. 
• Excellent research, writing, and editorial skills, with demonstrated ability to communicate complex or technical information to the public. 
• Proven ability in successfully dealing with ambiguity. 
• Ability to understand and conceptualize specific ideas and theories. 

Thomas M. Brown
Executive Recruiter
Fifth Third Bank Western Michigan

RMOB3B

Tom.brown@53.com
616-653-5293

616-653-5825 FAX

Public Relations Representative, Haworth

At Haworth, Inc., a global leader in office furniture and architectural interiors in the role of Public Relations Representativeyour talents and abilities will be showcased by your ability to strategize, develop and produce corporate communications.  

This highly interactive and creative experience allows you to meet with national and international business' consumer and trade press representatives to uncover story opportunities relevant to Haworth.  As a Public Relations Administrator, You will work to develop story angels based on company products and capabilities that appeal to press representatives.  You will serve as public relations counsel to Haworth components in Europe, Asia, South America, and First Source to help develop regional public relations programs and extended Haworth's corporate public relations messages to regions.  Finally, you will also have the opportunity to develop corporate communication tools, such as speeches, by-line articles, and brochures, to be used to merchandise Haworth to media and other corporate stakeholders. 

We value continuous learning through education and experience. The ideal candidate will possess:

• A Bachelors degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, or equivalent. 
• Five years business communications experience including experience in public relations.
• Excellent written and verbal communications.  
• PC/CRT and keyboard skills required.

What do you value? Customers, Integrity, Results?  Then learn more about the possibilities at Haworth, www.Haworth.com.  Our beautiful, effective and adaptable workspaces will impress you, but more importantly the exciting and innovative culture will amaze you! 

EEO/AA Employer M/F/F/V

Community Relations Representative (CRR), Tendercare

New Wyoming and Holland, MI facilities opening in 2007

The CRR is responsible for conducting external sales activities designed to promote census development. Additional responsibilities include: developing and implementing internal and external marketing plans to increase center census and meet budgeted revenue goals. This includes providing information, tours and assistance to referral sources, community groups and prospective customers regarding the center, and completing outside sales calls, cold calls, tours and public relations activities.

Inside Sales 

• Works with the Administrator to develop and implement marketing plans designed to consistently meet the health center's budgeted census and payer mix. 
• Conducts professional tours of the center and gathers information from outside referral sources and key hospital personnel.
• Maintains direct knowledge of market area and outside referral sources.
• Participates in the center's marketing team meetings.
• Works with center personnel to follow-up on potential admission by visiting customers, referral sources, hospital personnel or others who are involved with the decision process.

Outside Sales and Strategic Planning

• Makes outside sales calls to area hospital social workers, discharge planners, physicians, clergy, attorneys, trust officers, senior citizen centers, home health agencies and other referral sources.
• Completes weekly sales report and routes it to the Administrator and Market Development Consultants.
• Invites outside referral sources to tour health center. Develops and presents programs to community service organizations. Networks by attending meetings and volunteers as appropriate.
• Promotes center’s name recognition and reputation through educational presentations.
•  Visits competition and completes competitive market analysis. Maintains knowledge of served market area and relationship with all referral sources.
• Submits public relations and promotion ideas to local area media and maintains media relationships to promote center.
• Plans and coordinates special events and open houses where the community is invited to attend.
• Assists in the promotion of all Tendercare health centers both within and outside of their geographic area.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Works with the Market Development Consultant to develop and implement a marketing action plan.
• Works with corporate marketing to develop and maintain quality collateral and presentation materials.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Please send resume with salary requirements to:

FRAN VIAN
FVIAN@TENDERCARE.NET
22950 NORTHLINE RD.
TAYLOR, MI 48180
FAX: 734-374-2688

Corporate Communications Manager, Haworth

Are you looking for an opportunity to manage high visibility projects in an enthusiastic work place? At Haworth, Inc., a global leader in office furniture and architectural interiors for the role of Corporate Communications Manager we are looking for a passionate and engaged individual! 

In this high energy position, your passion will drive you to plan, manage, and implement public relations in national and international business media to promote awareness of Haworth and its leadership in the industry.  You will manage writings and publications of company periodicals.  You will manage day-to-day community relations activities in West Michigan and at remote locations with local media.  You will support company leaders with strategic communications, promoting understanding of corporate direction initiatives, and performance.  Finally, you will manage the department serving as the liaison and ‘Center of Expertise’ for all sectors’ member communication programs. 

We value continuous learning through education and experience. The ideal candidate will possess:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, English, or Equivalent.
• Ten years of experience in a corporate communications environment including member and organizational communications and public relations experience.

What do you value? Customers, Integrity, Results?  Then learn more about the possibilities at Haworth, www.Haworth.com.  Our beautiful, effective and adaptable workspaces will impress you, but more importantly the exciting and innovative culture will amaze you! 

Please submit resumes to dj.peck@haworth.com

EEO/AA Employer M/F/F/V

Public Relations Representative Intermediate, Frankel Center for Judaic Studies

Design, develop, and implement communication strategies to enhance the prominence and visibility of the Judaic Center. Work collaboratively with the Director, Assistant Director and Center Administrator to expand the Center and launch the Judaic Institute.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Public Relations/Communications
* Design and produce publications including, newsletters, brochures and flyers, academic course brochures, providing copy writing as needed
* Edit content for style and organization, proofread for typographical errors
* Work with research faculty, staff and others in the development of manuscripts for publication in formats including books, and occasional papers; compile and organize information for exhibits and lectures
* Produce mailing lists, create and maintain marketing database
* Publicity for Center events
* Promote integration and collaboration with Jewish community in SE MI
* Develop and staff annual events (lectures, symposia, exhibits (2 per year), conferences)
* Develop website and its content, manage updates

Administrative
* Initiate, draft, edit, and type correspondence, annual reports, manuscripts, etc., as requested
* Assist with fundraising efforts and grant writing
* Respond in a timely manner and act on behalf of the Director to inquiries from within the department, from the campus community and the external constituency; direct matters to appropriate individuals for action
* Provide functional supervision to student employee who would provide this position assistance
* Attend Center and Institute committee meetings
* Serve as a member of a four-person administrative/support team. Act as backup to team members as needed in providing general administrative support to program faculty and staff

DEPARTMENT QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelors degree or an equivalent combination of education; 3-5 years of experience; familiarity with Judaic Studies; knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of editing and writing; excellent writing skills; excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to work both independently and collaboratively on a team and to exercise diplomacy in working with donors and other professionals; ability to manage competing deadlines; excellent computer skills in the Windows PC environment including proficiency with word processing in MS Word,  and Office Suite; proficiency in desktop publishing software including In Design and Adobe Photoshop.

SALARY RANGE
$35 - $45K

POSTING DATES
April 25th - May 12th

Contact Jeanie Mahoney Laubenthal atlaubenth@umich.edu for more information.

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.