The Update

12/2007

Welcome to the official newsletter of the Greater Spokane PRSA Chapter. Past issues can be found by going to www.prsaspokane.org and clicking on the "Newsletters" link.

Join a panel of marketing/communications professionals from local non-profits as they discuss fundraising strategies. Translate this information over to your own non-profit or for-profit organization to help make smart decisions about promoting your worth cause.

The panel includes Trish McFarland, Development Director for the YWCA (Women's empowerment and membership movement), Ann Price, Resource Director for Community Frameworks (Human Services and affordable housing), and Chris Martin, Executive Director, First Night Spokane (Community/Arts civic celebrations), who will share their experiences asking individual, corporate and foundation donors. The panel will be moderated by Teri Mathis, who's Pivot Point Financial Consulting business helps individuals and families make charitable decisions.

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 7, 7:30-9 a.m.
WHERE: Cataldo Room, Gonzaga University
COST: $10 (member RSVP/student member RSVP), $13 (non-member RSVP/student non-member RSVP), $15 at the door.
RSVP by Dec. 3 and save money by logging onto http://www.spokanemarcom.com/meetings/rsvp.asp?id=50

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The Magnum PR Wine Tasting and Holiday Auction is nearing! Support local PRSSA college students and celebrate the holidays at this gala event held at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox! Enjoy premium wines while bidding on unique gifts and packages for the holidays.

Some of this year's auction items include tickets to GU basketball, Mariners baseball, Chiefs hockey, and WSU Cougars and EWU Eagles athletic events; a photo shoot from Hamilton Studios; tickets to Spokane Symphony, Spokane String Quartet, Riverdance (opening night) and Doc Severinsen (in the Fox) performances; bottles of wine; and gift basket items. Stay tuned for more gifts to come!

When: Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, 6 p.m.
Where: Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox,  1005 W. Sprague Avenue
Cost: $25/ea. (includes wine and appetizers)

RSVP: http://www.prsaspokane.org/event.asp?id=135

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Dear fellow PRSA Members,
One undertaking that began this year and will continue through 2008 is the process of strategic planning for our chapter. Over the years, the makeup of our chapter has changed and our membership has grown.Your PRSA chapter board is in the process of looking at the needs of our chapter and how to best serve each of our members. I encourage each of you to get involved and share your opinions, knowledge and ideas as we move through this process. It is an exciting time for our chapter, and one that will lead to a great future.

One undertaking that began this year and will continue through 2008 is the process of strategic planning for our chapter. Over the years, the makeup of our chapter has changed and our membership has grown. Your PRSA chapter board is in the process of looking at the needs of our chapter and how to best serve each of our members. I encourage each of you to get involved and share your opinions, knowledge and ideas as we move through this process. It is an exciting time for our chapter, and one that will lead to a great future.

I look forward to seeing each of you at our Holiday Auction. Have a wonderful holiday season with your families and best wishes for a prosperous 2008.

Best wishes,
Tamitha

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Nominations for the Communicator of the Year, Educator of the Year and the Degerness Award for Excellence in Public Relations are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30. Last year, Cher Desautel from Desautel Hege Communications was awarded the Degerness Award, and Eckart Preu of the Spokane Symphony was awarded the Communicator of the Year Award.

Application materials are available online at http://www.prsaspokane.org/awards.asp

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Many of us in the communication business can identify an individual that helped us get started. We might still have a trusted individual that provides us guidance. We can repay that kindness by mentoring area communication students who are entering, or considering entering, the communication field.

PRSA board members have agreed to help match area students, who would like a mentor, with local professionals. If you are interested in mentoring a student and would like to be added to a list of potential mentors, please let any board member know of your interest.

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The Communicator’s Conference is an annual professional development conference held each spring in Portland for area, senior-level communications professionals. The North Pacific District of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and the Oregon Columbia Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) host the event, which will attract more than 200 professionals in Alaska, central and northern California, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Nevada.

For more information, including the opportunity to be a speaker, visit http://www.pdxcommconf.org/

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A local non profit is looking for PR professional to work pro bono, reviewing press releases, providing talking points and media training for it's board of directors and help composing letters to people that they serve and work with. Please contact Shannon Jordan at 509.473.7672 for more information.

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Your Spokane PRSA board of directors has been busy planning workshops, special events and conducting strategic planning meetings. The board last met on Tuesday, Nov. 13 and discussed the preceeding workshop, an action plan from the strategic planning session held in October, and plans for the upcoming holiday auction and wine tasting.

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Spokane PRSA welcomes new members who joined this year: Meredith Banka (People to People Ambassador Programs),  Kyle Cox, Dorothy Harris (Grant County PUD), Heather Keen (The Gallatin Group), Sally Mildren (Shriner's Hospital), Erin Miller (Longhorn BBQ and Black Tie Catering), Alison Moerschell (Rockey Hill & Knowlton), Breanne Rolando (YWCA Spokane), and Paul Warner (EWU graduate student).

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Have a story idea for the Spokane PRSA newsletter? Send your article, announcement or shameless plug to Lance Kissler by the 15th of the month.

Contact:
Lance Kissler
lkissler@pacificu.edu

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