Welcome to PRVisions Cincinnati Chapter Newsletter.

Tell us about promotions, success stories or failures in your work world and let us share them with fellow PRSA members. To read about your fellow members, please click here.  Please email Shasta Taber (srtaber@hotmail.com) with your news. 

-Rob Pasquinucci, APR (Cincinnati PRSA Chapter President)

Inside you'll find the most up to date PRSA news:

On the local front:         

     November Luncheon - click here

     Blacksmith Awards Request - click here

     New Diversity Section - click here

     New Professionals' Pictures- click here

     New Volunteer Bank Opportunities - click here

New articles from PRSSA chapters from:    

     Northern Kentucky University – click here                

Also find out about other news about our chapter and more on the National PRSA front (including an opportunity to become involved on the national level) and many other amazing opportunities for our members to help each other, non-profit organizations and many others.  Including an opportunity to help Hamilton County’s Foster Care Program - click here.

Editor's Note

Pictures, Comments ... All are Welcome!

By Shasta Taber

Dear Members:

As always, if you take any pictures from any of our upcoming events (whether from luncheons, Blacksmith Awards, APR classes, New Pros events, etc.) please send them to me with some basic information.  Thanks!  

If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the newsletter, please feel free to let me know by emailing me at srtaber@hotmail.com.  ALSO please let us know what you think of the format of the  Email Blasts announcing the Newsletter... or at least let us know if you receive them as HTML or plain-text?

Shasta Taber

Newsletter Editor

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President's Letter

2009 Cincinnati PRSA Board & Leadership Team

Contact:  Rob Pasquinucci, APR

Are you interested in becoming more involved in the chapter?  Then consider becoming involved with the Leadership Team!  If interested, please contact Rob at robpasq@fuse.net

The nominating committee is meeting this month and will be preparing a slate of candidates for 2009.

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Chapter Administrator's Note

EVENT REGISTRATION MADE EASIER

By Anne Campbell

Online event registration will now be available for all monthly luncheons.  Go to the meetings page of our website, www.cincinnatiprsa.org and click on the link for the event you wish to register for.  You will be taken to a page to give contact information for the event attendee.  Once you click submit you will be taken to a shopping page to select a registration option (Member, Non-Member, etc.).  After you click on the “Buy Now” button a secure window, hosted by PayPal, will open for you to view your cart.  You can continue to shop or check-out.  While PayPal hosts the online registration, you do not need a PayPal account to pay.  All major credit cards are also accepted.

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Chapter News

Sponsorship Opportunity - Luncheon Raffles

By Sarah Pasquinucci, APR

Want two minutes to speak to the chapter without forking over the money to sponsor an event? Now you can! Just donate an item for a raffle (Must be $25 value or more) – whether it is Zoo tickets, Reds tickets, an ipod gift card or something related to your company or business. Just donate an item for a raffle and you can pick the winner at the meeting and give a brief elevator pitch about your business. Email Sarah Pasquinucci at spasquinucci@cgmarcom.com to set up your month for a drawing!

2008 New Sponsorship Structure

By Sarah Pasquinucci, APR

With the anticipation of ground-breaking speakers, unbeatable networking and dynamic events in 2008, we are changing our sponsorship structure to give our sponsors more opportunities.

Our growing chapter includes 260 members – communication going to more than 450 - who specialize in public relations, communications and marketing within corporations, agencies and non-profit. Our meetings fill ballrooms with nationally-known speakers and local experts. Our Web page receives countless visitors, accommodating those seeking information about the organization and the industry.

Please review the opportunities below. With our increased attendance and high-level speakers, we anticipate sponsorships will go fast. So, please contact Sarah Pasquinucci at spasquinucci@cgmarcom.com as soon as possible to secure your spot.

Corporate Sponsor (1) - $1,500 (pro-rated due to start in March)

• One ticket to every monthly luncheon
• $230 value (approx.)
• Right of first refusal for presenting sponsor at the Blacksmiths 2008
• Logo displayed on Cincinnati PRSA Web site for entire year (Jan-Dec)
• Logo on every postcard and meeting reminder
• One program sponsorship of your choice (first come first served re: date)
• $400 value

NOTE: The corporate sponsor availability is a premier offering that will only include one company, agency or non-profit. It will be on a first come, first served basis.

Program Sponsors (2) - must be non-competing businesses - $400 each

• Two tickets to program
• $46 value
• Two minutes to speak about service/company before luncheon
• Ability to have a trade show booth, provided by sponsor
• Logo on all meeting materials
• Logo on Web site during month of the meeting
• Ability to put materials on tables during the meeting
• Ability to give away a prize – collect business cards

NOTE: This year we will be accepting up to two program sponsors. These sponsors cannot be competing businesses, so it is also on a first come, first served basis.

Sponsor Drawing

In December, we will hold a sponsor drawing. Each program sponsor gets one entry per sponsorship and the corporate sponsor gets five entries. The drawing winner will receive an ad on our home page for the entire year of 2009.

Sponsorships can be secured up to 12 months in advance. You can secure a date, a subject (ex: ethics luncheon) or a specific speaker once known. Because of the increased demand this year, we recommend you secure your spot as soon as you can.

In addition to our luncheon sponsorships, we will have additional opportunities such as media day, happy hours, New Professionals events, brown bag lunches and Blacksmith Awards. We will make you aware of these opportunities as they arise.

Sponsorship opportunities are available beginning with our March program (in order to receive full exposure benefits, they must be secured soon).  Our March program will feature Buzz Buse from the Chamber.

Please secure your spot today!

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Mark Your Calendar

November 11, 2008 - Monthly Luncheon - Jim Wiseman, VP External Affairs, Toyota

Going Green

Toyota Confronts An Environmental Challenge

              James M. Wiseman

For over 20 years, Toyota has experienced constant growth in North America; in fact, new plants are currently under construction in Ontario and Mississippi. In the next few years, Toyota will build 14 vehicles in North America. Thanks to its team members, suppliers and affiliates, Toyota vehicles continue to be amongst the market's top choice when it comes to quality, safety and value.

Jim Wiseman, External Affairs Vice President for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America will discuss Toyota's environmental journey in an era of heightened environmental consciousness.

Learn how Toyota responds to an increasingly skeptical public and more discriminating customer. Mr. Wiseman will share insights into how Toyota is communicating its message and addressing environmental concerns.

December 12, 2008 - Joint Holiday Luncheon with AMA

Click here to check out further details on upcoming luncheons and other events on the Cincinnati Chapter’s website.  (http://www.cincinnatiprsa.org/meetings.htm)

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Accreditation Corner

Calling Current Chapter APRs: Readiness Review Help Needed

Are you an APR interested in sitting on a local APR Readiness Review panel? You’ll earn one (1) APR maintenance point for each panel on which you sit and help your fellow chapter members achieve the designation. We need three APRs per Readiness Review panel. We will help get you up to speed beforehand on how to serve as a panelist.

New E-mail Address, APR?  Let Us Know!

By Connie Kolita, APR

APRs: Anytime you get a new e-mail address (position change, etc.), please inform us via Accreditation Chair Connie Kolita (e-mail KolitaCM@fhlbcin.com). We strive to have the most current chapter APR list possible. Thanks!

For more information about any of the blurbs above, contact Cincinnati Accreditation Chair Connie Kolita at KolitaCM@fhlbcin.com. You can also read about accreditation on the PRSA National web site, www.prsa.org, click on Accreditation (APR) link.

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Blacksmith Awards

Request for Design Firm

By Megan Licursi

The Blacksmith Committee has been very busy identifying opportunities to improve Cincinnati PRSA’s annual awards program. 

Our priority right now is getting a Call for Entries out. And, we’re looking for a design firm that can help us accomplish that. If you’re interested, please e-mail megan@licursi.net. We can work out a sponsorship package in exchange for the help. 

When you get your Call for Entries, you’ll notice that we’ve redefined the categories, and added new ones. This year, the campaigns will be submitted by industry and projects will be submitted by tactic (i.e. best press release, best annual report, best media clip, etc). 

We’re also expanding the Best Of The Year awards to include students, non-profit and corporate teams as well as agencies. 

Of course, if any of you have any suggestions for improving the awards program, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

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Diversity Section

October is National Diversity Month

By Renea Morris

National Diversity Month is a time to reflect on and learn about different cultures and ideologies. A time to vow acceptance and tolerance. Taken from the Celebrate Diversity Month website are the following Six Key Celebrate Diversity Month Tenets:

• Dedicate time to learning about the diversity surrounding us.
• Appreciate our differences and similarities by exploring the cultural celebrations and significant life events of others.
• Build connections with those we don't usually get the opportunity to know.
• Include everyone. Each of us represents unique dimensions of diversity. Our uniqueness is our difference.
• Recognize that one person does not represent an entire group – great variation exists within all groups.
• Realize that we each have the power to create a better world by reaching out across differences one person at a time.

For more information on Celebrate Diversity Month, visit the website at http://www.celebratediversitymonth.org.

PRSA and Diversity

By Renea Morris

PRSA began its first diversity outreach more than 20 years ago, forming a multicultural communications committee. Under the leadership of Debra Miller, APR, Fellow PRSA, this committee was then rolled into a professional interest section — the Multicultural Communications Section — in 1997. In 2000, PRSA's national leadership selected Ofield Dukes, APR, Fellow PRSA, to lead its first official National Diversity Initiative. Mr. Dukes began an educational campaign throughout the country, taking the diversity message across Chapters as one of the top priorities of the national leadership. In conjunction with the Multicultural Communications Professional Interest Section and the College of Fellows initiative in 2001, the Society made strides in educating members about diversity and multiculturalism.

The 2008 PRSA Chapter Diversity Awards has been announced at the National Assembly luncheon this month in Detroit.

 Up to four chapters will be awarded Chapter Diversity Awards from the National Diversity Committee. The Chapter Diversity Award, sponsored by the PRSA National Diversity Committee, is given to PRSA Chapters that embody and demonstrate key values in diversity, and that have:

• Initiated and maintained a successful diversity program between January 1, 2008 and June 30, 2008; 
• Recruited or mentored members with interests and expertise in diversity;
• Demonstrated a significant contribution toward diversity; and
• Showcased diversity as one of the top three strategic goals for the Chapter

Last year, Greater Cleveland, New York and Orange County chapters were recognized for their efforts in advancing PRSA’s national diversity initiative, representing the first time that Chapter Awards for Diversity were given to PRSA Chapters. 

Monthly PRSA Diversity Podcasts
By Renea Morris

PRSA Diversity Today is a free monthly podcast diversity series produced by Diversity Committee at PRSA, to explore how the many facets of diversity in America apply to communicators.  Previous topics include – “Why is Diversity So Important?”, “Corporate Best Practices in Diversity,” and “Endangered Species – Men in Public Relations.” Tune in every month for a new discussion at http://diversity.prsa.org/

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Ethics Brief

Clean & Fair Campaign 2008

By Lisa Desatnik

Hi Everyone, 

It’d be hard to turn on a television or radio these days and not see advertisements finding fault with a candidate or issue. Fact or fiction? It’s not always easy sifting through the messages.  

As you know, PRSA is committed to ethical communication practices and the free flow of accurate and truthful information, which is why the organization has formed a group on Facebook called the ‘Clean & Fair Campaign 2008’. By joining the group, you’re helping to make a statement to the campaigns and all those who are covering it, that there is a voice urging them to run a ‘clean & fair’ campaign.  

If you’re a member of Facebook, please check out the group and consider joining. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at 513-984-5474 or lisadesatnik@fuse.net. I’m a member of the group, so you’ll see the logo in my groups listing on my profile page. 

Thanks!

Lisa

Communication Consultant and Contractor
PRSA PR Chair

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New Members

NEW:

Warner A. Allen

External Affairs/Public Relations

Toyota Boshoku America

1360 Dolwick Dr, Ste 125

Erlanger, KY  41018

w.allen@tb-america.com

(transfer)

Helena Bouchez

Principal

Helena B Communication

1707 Run Way

Middletown, OH  45042

312-919-1968

helena@helenabcommunications.com

Crystal Kendrick

President

The Voice of Your Customer

1119 E McMillan Ave, Unit B

Cincinnati, OH  45206

513-281-3228

crystal@thevoiceofyourcustomer.com

Amber Danielle Parker

Prof & PRSSA Adviser

Xavier University

3800 Victory Pkwy

Cincinnati, OH  45207

513-745-2954

parkera2@xu.edu  

REINSTATED:

Joy T. Maples

Owner

Maples Communications, Inc.

954 Aristides Dr

Union, KY  41091

907-349-9662

jtmaples@insightbb.com

Preeti Thakar

Asst Dir, Commun

Cincinnati Art Museum

953 Eden Park Dr

Cincinnati, OH  45202

513-639-2954

pretti.thakar@cincyart.org

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New Professionals

PR Horror Stories
Presented by Jackie Reau

Oct. 7 Event Recap: Award Winning Campaigns

By Jonathan Kissell

Thank you to Pam Gilchrist and Lisa Desatnik for presenting their award-winning PR campaigns with the New Pros on Oct. 7. (Pictured: Jonathan Kissell, Darcy Little, Pam Gilchrist, Lisa Desatnik)

Be Part of the 2009 New Pros Committee

By Jonathan Kissell

Are you looking for a way to enhance your career? Do you have ideas about what is important to new PR practitioners?  If so, you may be the perfect candidate for the PRSA New Pros planning committee.

The New Pros group is seeking members to serve on the 2009 planning committee. Members of the committee develop, plan and implement monthly events and programs for the New Pros group. The New Pros committee usually meets four times each year to discuss the upcoming programs. The meetings typically last about an hour.

If interested, please contact Jonathan Kissell at cincynewpros@yahoo.com with your name and contact information.

About the PRSA New Professionals

The New Professionals group is a network of PR practitioners new to the industry, typically with five or fewer years experience. Our meetings address issues pertinent to a new PR professional. There are many benefits for becoming involved in the New Pros group, including:

• To establish relationships with fellow new professionals,
• To develop your professional career,
• To learn more about PRSA and its offerings.

Membership is free. You do not have to be a member of PRSA to attend New Pros functions, but we highly encourage you to join PRSA. Please send an e-mail to cincynewpros@yahoo.com if you would like to be added to our e-mail list or if you would like additional information

Call for Experts

Are you a PRSA member searching for a way to give back to your chapter? The New Pros group continually searches for experts willing to speak at our events. Please e-mail cincynewpros@yahoo.com if you are interested in becoming a featured speaker.

Join the New Pros on Facebook

There’s an easy way to stay connected with the New Pros group – join our Facebook group. The group’s name is “PRSA New Professionals Cincinnati Chapter.” We look forward to seeing you there.

New Pros 2008 Committee

The committee plans, implements and evaluates the New Pros events and programs.

• Katie Busching
• Emily Carpenter
• Susan Eggemeier
• Jessie Erickson Folmar
• Lauren Doyle
• Stephanie Kehn
• Jonathan Kissell, chair
• Darcy Little

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Job Bank

To post a job or circulate your resume, please contact Maureen at mrichmond@northlich.com. Job bank policies can be found at http://www.cincinnatiprsa.org/jobBank/index.php.

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Volunteer Bank

The Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky
Requesting PR Volunteer!
By Pat Seuberling

Pat Seuberling is the Development Director and PR/Marketing Department for the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky. They are located in Devou Park, Covington in Kentucky. They are in the process of putting a PR Crisis Plan together and would like to request PR help.  Seuberling is looking for someone willing to give a few hours to script the questions so answers can be written to several possible scenarios. Contact information is below:

Pat Seuberling, Development Director
Children's Home of Northern Kentucky
200 Home Road, Devou Park
Covington, KY 41011
859-261-8768
pseuberling@chnk.org
www.chnk.org 

Our mission is to be a community leader providing children and families hope and opportunity for better lives.

WE NEED A FEW GOOD PEOPLE!

Do you have skills in: administration? Bookkeeping? Fundraising? Graphic design?

The Mental Health Association of Southwest Ohio needs volunteers to help with administrative and office work. It's a chance to give an important gift - your time and your skill. 

Please contact MHA Executive Director Nancy Minson by phone at (513) 721-2910, ext. 13 or via e-mail at nminson@mhaswoh.org.

Give Back Cincinnati (GBC) Seeks Volunteers for Communications Committee
By Cheryl Besl

Give Back Cincinnati (GBC) is looking for several volunteers for its Communications Committee.  GBC holds approximately 10 large-scale volunteer and civic engagement activities, as well as social events each year.  Members of the Communications Committee will help post events on calendar listings and generate media interest and coverage of the events.  GBC is a Cincinnati-based nonprofit organization of approximately 2,700 members that works to enhance its communities through volunteerism. In addition, the organization partners with local and regional nonprofits to broaden the scope of their impact outside the Cincinnati community. For more information, visit www.givebackcincinnati.org, and to express interest in the Communications Committee, please email communications@givebackcincinnati.org

Foster Parents Needed:  Collaboration Brings New Campaign for Hamilton County Foster Care Program

By Mike Boehmer, APR

More than 800 Hamilton County kids in foster homes and 260 awaiting adoption need your help.

They would greatly appreciate your assistance in getting the word out about the need for foster and adoptive parents.  

Invite a speaker to talk to your employees -- or request a supply of brochures or posters. Run an article in your an internal newsletter. Any other ideas welcome! 

Hamilton County suffers from a critical shortage of foster homes, placing our most vulnerable children at great risk.   

Foster home capacity has reached a critical low point. 

In Hamilton County, there are more than 800 children in foster care on any given day, while less than half the number of parents who expressed interest in years past have stepped forward this year.  

Among the factors contributing to this decline is media coverage surrounding the Marcus Feisel case, which painted foster parenting in a negative light, stigmatizing what is an honorable and respected service.   

With fewer homes available, about a third of Hamilton County foster children must be placed in homes outside of the county -- a practice that has harmful consequences for their long-term success.   

• The transition into foster care is even more traumatic, magnifying behavior issues.
• Changing schools makes academic success even more unlikely.
• Keeping siblings together becomes more difficult.
• Reunification is more complicated, causing longer stays in foster care. 

Our community must increase the number of local foster homes to ensure that children stay in familiar surroundings.  A coalition of community leaders has developed a publicity campaign aimed at recruiting new foster parents. This collaborative includes all three Hamilton County Commissioners, Northlich, the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, Clerk of Courts Greg Hartmann, Hamilton County Job and Family Services, the Foster Child Enrichment Council and eight of the region's private foster care providers.   

This campaign, developed pro bono by Northlich, has raised awareness and generated interest in foster parenting.  The theme, "Everyday Heroes," presents foster parents as heroes for providing stable homes to children in need.   

This message has been incorporated in a television commercial, outdoor advertising and a grassroots recruitment effort.  Several media outlets and advertising companies are donating airtime and billboard space. 

We have begun to support those efforts with grassroots efforts such as community presentations and literature distribution. 

Any help from you would be greatly appreciated.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati Flier

The Cincinnati PRSA Volunteer Bank Is Open for Business

Volunteer your PR skills to a worthy cause and you can make new contacts, add material to your portfolio and earn APR maintenance points.

To post your volunteer request, email a description of your needs to Shasta Taber, srtaber@hotmail.com.  Be sure to include contact information for potential volunteers.

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College View

University of Cincinnati PRSSA:

Miami University PRSSA:
http://www.orgs.muohio.edu/muprssa

Northern Kentucky University:

www.nkuprssa.org

The PRSSA at Northern Kentucky University is having a Fall fundraiser!!!

Come join us on Thursday Nov. 6th at the Hofbrauhaus at Newport on the Levy for food and drinks.

20% of your bill will be donated to our Chapter!!

Bring your co-workers out anytime on Nov.6th to help support NKU’s PRSSA

Email Jena Crawford for the link to print out the flyer, which is required to have 20% go to the fundraiser (crawfordj2@nku.edu)

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Xavier University PRSSA:

Contact Taryn Kukucka, Member, 412-292-0699

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Visions Viewpoint

CyberAlert, Inc.’s Public Relations Grants

Contact:  Kristin O'Connor

For the sixth consecutive year, CyberAlert, Inc. will award public relations grants to a minimum of 10 not-for-profit organizations in the U.S. and Canada.  Each grant consists of one full year of free press clipping/media monitoring service from CyberAlert.  Each grant ranges in value from $2,700 to $3,900.

CyberAlert is accepting grant applications until December 31 and will announce grant recipients in early January.  A simple and secure grant application is available online at https://secure.cyberalert.com/grants.html

Pitch Guests & Topics to Business Focus

By Rodger Roeser, APR

Eisen Management Group president Rodger Roeser is returning to his roots and parlaying his success with current radio talk show That Marketing Show into its online television counterpart – Business Focus. The online show, which features many local and national business leaders, is slated to debut at www.eisenmanagementgroup.com in October. The show records at the Greater Cincinnati EMG location in downtown Newport, Kentucky in their new online television recording and editing studio. The show will also do remote shoots on location for certain high profile guests.

“Doing the news has always been in my blood, and I will always say that I am a news person first – always will be,” Roeser said. “Being a newspaper editor, and also working in broadcast for years helped shape how I approach public relations and marketing, and I believe that is a key reason why our clients and EMG have been so successful. This show is an extension of that success, and reflects things that I am truly passionate about – that is sharing expertise to make better business leaders and helping our business community to promote itself in this medium.” 

Roeser explained that the show will be a simple talk format with host and guest, and each segment will run approximately five minutes. Business leaders or their public relations representatives are encouraged to pitch show producers regarding guests and topics at businessfocus@eisenmanagementgroup.com.

This program continuing in 2008 … look for ID cards at a PRSA Luncheon

F.I.N.S. Program

(Flash ID –N- Save)

The F.I.N.S. program is designed to offer PRSA members an easy, short-step option toward purchasing tickets to the Newport Aquarium at a discount.

What is F.I.N.S.?  

F.I.N.S. is an acronym for “Flash ID -N- Save”.  When members come to the Newport Aquarium, have them show their organization’s ID badge at the ticket window.  The Newport Aquarium is able to provide preprinted cards with PRSA’s name on them to be distributed soon to members.  These cards will act as an ID badge.  The member and their guests will receive discounted ticket prices. (They must have their current, valid, organization ID to receive the discount.)  Showing their organization’s ID badge will provide a $2 discount for each adult and child ticket purchased and a $3 discount for every senior ticket purchased.  This discount will be taken off of the regular general admission price.

Some of the unique benefits of this program are:

• No out-of-pocket money needed prior to a visit.
• No worries about losing a paper ticket.
• Member discount applies every day of the year…. no expiration date.
• Discounts can be applied to every visit members make to the aquarium, as long as they show a current, valid, member ID badge at the ticket window.

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Member/Agency/Company News

Ted Bushelman: 

By Pamela J. Porter

At the annual June 2008 Marketing and Communications Conference in Pittsburgh the marketing and steering committee of the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) presented founding member Ted J. Bushelman, Senior Director of Communications at Cincinnati/Northern KY International Airport, with an award created in his honor.  The new “Ted Bushelman Legacy Award for Creativity and Excellence” honors Bushelman, who has handled communications for CVG since 1967.  He has been an ACI-NA committee member for 40 years.  The award will continue to annually honor an individual nominated by peers in the airport industry, and recognizes leadership and mentorship for media relations, marketing, customer service and air service development.

PR~Link's:

The Bulldog Reporter ran a story in The Daily 'Dog on October 1, 2008, bout PR~Link's award-winning campaign for Time Warner Cable and VH1 Save The Music Foundation.  Click to read the article on Bulldog Reporter 

Matthew 25: Ministries – Contact Joodi Archer

• Continuing to respond to the ongoing needs of hurricane victims in Galveston, TX and the surrounding area. 
• Third annual “Fighting Hunger” 5K Run and Walk on November 8 kicks off their annual “Staying on Top of Hunger” Food Drive (November 8 – 14), which benefits food pantries and shelters in the Greater Cincinnati area.  

Request for News!
By Shasta Taber

If you, or you know someone, that is a member of the Cincinnati Chapter of PRSA that has received an award, been promoted or recently hired, or even their company/agency has received an award, or new client please share it with the rest of the chapter by submitting a short article to Shasta Taber, newsletter editor at srtaber@hotmail.com.  Articles submitted in a Microsoft Word document would be greatly appreciated.

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PRSA National News (from www.prsa.org)

PRSA Announces 2009 Board Officers

NEW YORK (Oct. 25, 2008) – The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) today, during its Assembly in Detroit, announced the election of its officers and directors for the Society’s 2009 Board of Directors. The annual meeting took place prior to the PRSA 2008 International Conference, “The Point of Connection.”

Jeffrey Julin, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2008 PRSA chair and CEO, announced the new volunteer officers as follows: 2009 chair and CEO, Michael Cherenson, APR, executive vice president, Success Communications Group, Parsippany, N.J.; 2009 chair-elect Gary McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA, director, partnership development, HGTV, Scripps Networks, Knoxville, Tenn.; 2009 treasurer, Thomas E. Eppes, APR, Fellow PRSA, senior partner, general manager, Eric Mower and Associates, Charlotte, N.C.; and 2009 secretary, Leslie J. Backus, APR, president, Leslie J. Backus Public Relations, Davie, Fla., Officers are elected for one-year terms.

“PRSA’s team of volunteer and staff leaders offer enormous experience and talent to address the wide range of new external challenges such as an uncertain economy, greater competition, eroding trust in our institutions and rapid technological change,” said Cherenson. “Together, we will expand PRSA’s platform of thought leadership and research targeted to advocating for the public relations profession and providing members with a host of new benefits aimed at helping them advance in their careers.”

Elected to two-year terms as directors are: Catherine A. Huggins, APR, assistant vice president of corporate communications, Western & Southern Financial Group, Cincinnati, Ohio; Steven Lewis Grant, APR, senior manager, public relations, National Education Association, Washington, D.C.; Gail D. Liebl, APR, director, corporate communications, Travelers, St. Paul, Minn.; Gail A. Winslow-Pine, APR, director, marketing and corporate communications, Catholic Medical Center, Brentwood, N.H.; Kathy Nelson Barbour, APR, communications program manager, Mayo Clinic,  Jacksonville, Fla.; Lynn Appelbaum, APR, Fellow PRSA, associate professor advertising/public relations, program director, The City College of New York, New York; Donald P. Kirchoffner, APR, Fellow PRSA, senior communications consultant, Don Kirchoffner Consulting, Broomfield, Colo.; and Deborah A. Silverman, Ph.D., APR, assistant professor of communication, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, N.Y.

Continuing as directors in 2009 are: Kathryn D. Hubbell, APR, Fellow PRSA; Philip A. Tate, APR; Jim Haynes, APR, Fellow PRSA; and David M. Imre, APR. Julin will serve as 2009 immediate past chair. William M. Murray, PRSA president & chief operating officer, continues as an ex officio member of the board.

Search Thousands of Public Relations Jobs for Communications Professionals on PRSA’s Updated Jobcenter
Job Seekers Can Post Resumes Anonymously at No Cost; Pre-Screened Filters Helps Employers Narrow Down Candidates

NEW YORK (June 16, 2008) Using the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Jobcenter is now easier and more functional than ever when searching for communications and public relations jobs. PRSA recently launched the updated and redesigned Jobcenter, which is now a fully featured career resource site that offers more information and easy-to-use functionalities for job seekers and employers.

Posting a resume is FREE, and an anonymous resume posting option for job seekers is now available. Career resources also include a job alert system, career search management, access to Job Bulletin, a weekly e-newsletter, and a library offering more than 100 career-based articles. Posting a resume on Jobcenter provides members with career resources and access to a public relations and communications targeted community of more than 32,000 members, including more than 9,900 students, as well as a database of 45,000 public relations, corporate communications and other communication professionals from across the country.

“The PRSA Jobcenter now contains enhanced career development tools in a more user friendly platform,” said PRSA President and COO William Murray. “As the world’s largest and most targeted association for public relations professionals, it was only fitting for us to develop one of the most robust public relations and communications job centers in the industry. Our newly launched Jobcenter guides job seekers and employers with career-related articles, filtering capabilities, easy access for viewing resumes and job postings, career mentoring and increased coverage of listings for the functional areas of public relations, communications and marketing.”

Employers now have the benefit of pre-screen filters, bulk posting and a user-friendly candidate management system. Moreover, PRSA has developed a new heavily discounted pricing structure for members. A targeted public relations job board, designed for job seekers, saves time for employers when identifying prospects since candidates are asked their location preferences, job specializations and salary requests. 

In addition to enhancing the Jobcenter design and functionality, PRSA has engaged TopRank Online Marketing to provide search engine optimization and promotion services to extend the visibility of Jobcenter listings on Web sites, such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft Live. TopRank works with some of the largest companies on the Web.

Make a Difference - PRSA is Seeking Volunteers!

(found in March 2007 PRVisions)

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National PRSA Calendar of Events (November)

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Past PRVisions Issues

September 2008

August 2008

July 2008

June 2008

May 2008

April 2008

March 2008

February 2008

January 2008

December 2007

November 2007

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