The Update

1/2008

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 us on Friday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 a.m. in Cataldo Hall on the campus of Gonzaga University for the joint PRSA/MarCom breakfast meeting. This month's meeting features Spokane PRSA's Communicator of the Year, Rich Hadley (CEO, Greater Spokane Incorporated) and Degerness award winner, Jennifer West (COO, Rockey, Hill & Knowlton). Rich will discuss communication in the business world and the importance it played in the formation of GSI. Jennifer will share how the profession has changed and what lies ahead in the future. Also join us we present our Educator of the Year award to Bruce Pinkleton (professor, WSU). The highest honors bestowed by the Greater Spokane Chapter of PRSA, these awards recognize excellence by a public relations practitioner, educator and business leader in our community.

More about our speakers:

Rich Hadley, President and CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated, is this year’s recipient of the Communicator of the Year award. This award recognizes excellence in communications leadership by a business leader in the Inland Northwest whose achievements include the effective use of communications to reach business objectives. As recipient of this award, Rich demonstrates that mutually beneficial relationships between Greater Spokane Incorporated and its publics play a critical role in maintaining long-term reputations. Throughout the creation of Greater Spokane Incorporated, and prior, Rich’s role in championing open communications with key stakeholders has served the organizations he leads well.

Jennifer West, COO of Rockey Hill & Knowlton is this year’s recipient of the Degerness Award. Named for PRSA Spokane founder Ken Degerness, this award honors a local PRSA member who has delivered outstanding service in support of chapter activities and who has contributed in important ways to the improvement of the public relations profession. Throughout her career, Jennifer has distinguished herself as an effective public relations strategist, champion of young people entering the profession of public relations and a leader who demonstrates through action and earned reputation the value of public relations in today’s society. Jennifer is accredited in public relations from PRSA, and a member of PRSA since 1988.

More about our Educator of the Year, Bruce Pinkleton:

Bruce Pinkleton, professor and public relations degree program head for Washington State University, is this year’s recipient of the Educator of the Year award. This award recognizes an educator who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of public relations through a college or university setting through teaching, research, community service and involvement with students. Bruce’s continuing involvement with his students by providing them with wise counsel, as well as his ongoing research and professional involvement throughout the region, has set a standard that his students will look up to throughout their professional careers.

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 4, 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. 31 and save money by logging onto http://www.spokanemarcom.com/meetings/rsvp.asp?id=136.

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2008 is closing fast. A new year brings new opportunities: for growth, change and improvement. This coming year, your Spokane PRSA chapter will be preparing for the future with a strategic plan, grounded in research from our membership. Your board members have taken hours of their time and will continue to do so over the coming months. During this period, I encourage you to step forth and help your chapter move forward. There are, of course, several ways to do this...

First, you can serve as a board member at the chapter level. This is your chance to shape programming, professional development, events and the value of your membership. It only takes several hours per month and they pay-off is ten-fold.

Second, consider approaching a company or organization that may be interested in sponsoring Spokane PRSA for the next year. We have many sponsorship levels available, including the opportunity to target funds for specific initiatives, such as student support, professional development, etc.

Third, tell a friend or a colleague about the value of your membership and the opportunity available to them to advance their knowledge, skills and their career. You can strengthen the chapter by expanding the size of its network. Maybe its the person in the office next to yours or perhaps its a contact at another company. Make the call; after all, we are professional communicators.

This next year will truly be exciting and your board will be meeting in early January to begin planning for the year's events. If you have ideas that you would like to share, I encourage you to e-mail one of us or pull us aside at the next breakfast meeting on Friday, January 4.

Lastly, I have been honored to serve as your president-elect for 2007 and am looking forward to transitioning into chapter president for 2008. Before this officially happens, we will be holding our annual vote (online) to elect new board members and approve officer positions. This should happen in mid-January. Although I am no longer in the Spokane community, the board has agreed to be my eyes and ears as we collaborate via conference calls and e-mails to move forward, together. If you have any questions regarding the board of directors or officer positions for the next year, please feel free to contact me at any time.
-Lance Kissler

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The Magnum PR Holiday Auction on Dec, 4 gave everyone attending an opportunity to enjoy a great party in the fabulous Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox and at the same time raise funds for the annual PRSSA scholarship and day-on-the-job event.

The final accounting is not complete but it appears we have a net profit of at least $2,500. That was accomplished through the sponsorship of Rocky Hill & Knowlton as well as auction donations from Desautel Hege, Eastern Washington University, Empire Health, Erica Austin, First Night Spokane, Hamilton Studios, Kirsten Carlile, KHQ. KXLY, Maggie Crabtree, Rocky Hill & Knowlton, Sally Mildren, Spokane String Quartet, Spokane Symphony, Spokesman-Review and Westcoast Entertainment.

As the campaign chair, I would like to thank all the PRSA members who pitched in to procure items for a really great auction, our very special auctioneer Steve Becker, as well as the staff of the Glover Mansion and Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox who made this event one we will remember. It’s always great when you are able to accomplish both your goals – a great party and an event that exceeds its financial goal.
– Annie Matlow

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Spokane PRSA is pleased to announce and congratulate Avista, for their support of Spokane PRSA at the silver sponsorship level during the 2008 year. Avista's generous support will be used to offset the costs of the PRSA day on the job event and the next Magnum PR holiday auction and wine tasting, both of which benefit local college students by providing mentorship opportunities and scholarships.

You can support PRSA, too!
If your business or organization would like to sponsor PRSA events and activities during the 2008 year, please contact one of our board members to determine which sponsorship level would work best for you.

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Now's your chance to get involved and shape the next year for Spokane PRSA! The board of directors has two open positions available, to start serving for the 2008 year; terms last 3 years. Nominate yourself or another PRSA member! Contact any of the current board members for more details.

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Take advantage of this special offer for new members: join PRSA National in December and receive one free year of local chapter membership! Do you have a colleague or friend who has been considering joining National PRSA? Now's the time to have them join and get the benefits of local chapter membership as well. Be sure to check out this offer by December 28!

For more information: www.prsa.org/membership/Dec2007Promotion.html

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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, visit http://www.pdxcommconf.org/

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The board held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 11. We debriefed the holiday auction/wine tasting event, continued discussions from the strategic planning retreat and reviewed nominations for the 2007 PRSA award recipients. Also noted were two positions opening up on the board of directors.

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Spokane PRSA is pleased to announce the availability of PR grants from CyberAlert to not-for-profit organizations. Each grant consists of one year of free media monitoring service. More detail and an application form are available at http://www.cyberalert.com/prgrants.html. Last year, CyberAlert awarded 24 grants worth more than $65,000.

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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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