April Newsletter - 2010

4/2010

PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Hello.  April – an important month for many, what with holidays, observances and events. You’re likely to think of Passover, Easter, Spring Break, Tax Day or Earth Day, for starters. But for our Greater Spokane PRSA members, I want to point out two important events you need to get on your calendar.
 
Personal Invitation
I especially want to call your attention to information about an event on our PRSA calendar that I believe all area communications professionals should attend; it’s the student-sponsored “Gonzaga PRSSA Networking Event”, on Tuesday, April 13th from 6 – 7 pm. There is more about this event both on our website and elsewhere in this newsletter, but this is my personal invitation to you to take an hour out of your busy day to network with some of our areas’ brightest rising communications stars. Please plan to attend. (See additional details further on in this newsletter.)

I know it makes for a busy week, but I also want to invite you to our April 15th “Third at Four” professional development meeting. This month we feature a national speaker by teleconference, and a local discussion facilitator, Gallatin Public Affairs’ Eric Williams. Their topic – is a very timely topic – how to build community relationships. (More information follows regarding that event in this newsletter and at PRSASpokane.org.)
-- Cher Merrill, APR
PRSA President

Thursday, April 15th: Teleseminar and Networking Event
Building Community Relationships:
Overcome Opposition and Gain Community Consent
Public consent is an ongoing concern – in communications and beyond. Permission for expansions, new projects, new services and growth in today’s opposition-rich, contentious environment can be extremely difficult, even for the best companies and organizations. People ask more questions and decisions take longer. Jim Lukaszewski, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, CCEP, is chairman and president of The Lukaszewski Group, Inc. Jim is one of the most widely quoted and prolific authors/crisis communication management consultants in the US today, will share the specific strategies he recommends (and that you’ll need) to reduce contention and establish highly-effective community relationships.

You’ll learn about:
• The 10 rules for deflecting, deflating and defeating mindless activism.
• Building community trust while reducing the power of the new and old media.
• How to win, even when people are angry, the media are meddling or opposed, and public officials and neighbors are irritated.
• The five axioms of influence and the six realities of audience behavior.
• Avoiding the 10 mistakes that destroy trust, credibility — and your project.
Following the teleseminar, Eric Williams from Gallatin Public Affairs in Spokane will lead a discussion and answer questions specific to our region. Time for networking and refreshments too! Don’t miss this valuable session.
Cost: Registration is free to PRSA members; $15 for non-members; $10 for students (includes the teleseminar and refreshments.)
Date:  April 15, 2010
Time:      4 – 6 pm
Location: Inland Northwest Blood Center
210 West Cataldo Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201 Get Map

Contact:  Nick Lawhead nickl@desautelhege.com 509.444.2350 x114
APR Accreditation Maintenance Credits = 1.0
- Register for this event

Thursday May 20th: Professional Development Meeting
What is Your Plan for an Ethical Dilemma at Work?
What is your strategy for managing a conflict of interest within your organization or with clients?  Are you considering “ghost writing” for someone and think you might be identified?  These are the types of issues and questions that organizations need to take a close look at.  Many times, it is appropriate to incorporate an ethics professional also. 

We went straight to the Ethics Officers. On May 20, PRSA will host a panel discussion with these experts:
Marie Rice
Heiskell MacGillivray & Associates

Ed Jolicoeur
LeMaster Daniels

Kristine Blanco
Wells Fargo Insurance Services
This is a session you will not want to miss! $15 for PRSA members & students and $20 for non-members.
Cost: Registration is$15 for PRSA members & students; $20 for non-members
Location: Wolff Auditorium in the Jepsen Business Center, Gonzaga University Campus
Date:   May 20th
Time:  4 pm – 6 pm
Contact:  Nick Lawhead nickl@desautelhege.com 509.444.2350 x114
APR Accreditation Maintenance Credits = 1.0
- Register for this event

Join the Gonzaga PRSSA for a networking event
 
GU PRSSA Student Networking Event
April 13, 2010
6 – 7 p.m.
Gonzaga University McCarthey Athletic Center, Herak Club Room
801 N. Cincinnati St.

Looking for a talented communications professional? Hoping to add an intern to your PR staff? Think it’s important to keep our young professionals local?

Meet Spokane’s next generation of public relations and communications professionals at the Gonzaga University PRSSA student networking event. The event takes place Tuesday, April 13 at 6 p.m. in the Herak Club Room at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Students from all communications majors will be in attendance, so whether you’re a marketing director or PR executive, please join us!

The event is free and open to PRSA members and non-members.  Light hors d’oeuvres refreshments will be served.

Visit www.prsaspokane.org for more information.

April is APR month! Calling all curious!

Are you curious about those PRSA members who put the letters APR behind their name? Are you interested in showing the world that you know enough about your profession to test your skills against a national test and become Accredited in Public Relations? (APR)

The Greater Spokane Chapter of PRSA conducts APR training semi-annually. The national course is taught by your local APR professionals and is supported with national websites and webinars. It is a 12 week course that will take you through all aspects of public relations including how to create a PR plan, the history, research, ethics, business, finance, legal & PR, technology, communications theory and crisis preparation.

The classes are free to Greater Spokane PRSA members, however, you will be responsible to purchase related books. When you are ready to take the national accreditation test your will enroll with PRSA national, pay a fee of $385 to take the test.  For more information look at www.PRSA.org/Learning/Accreditation/index.html.  You can take the local class without taking the national test.

Are you curious yet? The course will be conducted once we have enough, (3-6), candidates. Class times & locations will be established through the participants. If you are interested in being a part of this next APR class please contact Maggie Crabtree, APR at maggie@crabbytrees.com.

Another successful year for PRSA Day on the Job

A total of 25 student completed job shadows during this year’s PRSA Day on the Job. Students from universities throughout the region experienced a day in the life of a communications professional. A big thank you goes to those professionals who volunteered to host a student!
Any questions about Day on the Job can be directed to PRSA board member Alison Mallahan at 509-744-3350 or alison.mallahan@hillandknowlton.com.

NATIONAL NEWS

Receive a Free PRSA Chapter Membership
Get the best of both for one price. Receive a free one-year local Chapter membership when you join PRSA National in April.* Be a part of a community you can count on at any level of your career.

With PRSA National membership, you will:
• Advocate for the profession by contributing to the "Business Case for Public Relations™"
• Enhance your daily performance with the latest issues, case studies and research analysis
• Benefit from members-only offers, including discounts on professional development seminars, conferences and events
• Connect with other members and access industry tools with your personalized homepage
With PRSA Local Chapter membership, you will:
• Become a visibly-engaged member of your Spokane public relations community
• Expand your circle of colleagues and contacts
• Take advantage of local seminars, meeting and programs – often free or discounted for chapter members
• Step into leadership roles and advocate for the public relations profession
• Learn about business development and job opportunities in your local community
Connect with a vibrant community of more than 22,000 PR professionals. Join Online Now with promotion code SPRING2010 or mail/fax the application.  *This offer may not be combined with other offers. Associate members may not apply. PRSA National membership dues are $225 annually. Questions? Send an e-mail to Member Services or call (212) 460-1400.

June 10:
Reserve your space today at PRSA’s special event: a Night at the Ballet!
Program
Creativity and inspiration are drivers in our success as communicators - influenced by new ideas and experiences. PRSA is partnering with the Pacific Northwest Ballet for a series of firsts. Join us for substantial hors d’oeuvres and drinks at McCaw Hall. Gary Tucker, Media Relations manager for PNB, will share how PNB uses traditional and social media to build awareness, audience and support for this world-class dance company.
Time:  5:30 p.m. gather, 6 p.m. program
Refreshments:  Hors d’oeuvre buffet, coffee/tea/soft drinks, No-host bar
Cost:  $45 members and students; $52 nonmembers
Ballet – Performance of “Coppelia”
Then join us for Coppelia, a new production of a classic story, at a 20 percent discount. As you’ll read on the PNB web site, Artistic Director Peter Boal “realized a fond aspiration with an all-new production of George Balanchine’s classic Coppelia (1974).” The story dates back originally to 19th Century France and Russia and is considered “one of the triumphant comic ballets” of the period. Find more information on the PNB web site.
Time:  7:30 p.m.
Cost:  Choose one of two ticket levels: $82 or $47
Both are at a 20% discount. We will sit together in sections.
Reservation Deadline for program and performance: May 10
To reserve your seat today, call the PRSA office at 206-623-8632.
Reservations will be taken only by phone for this special event.