April 27, 2011

So many choices

Facebook, in a seemingly never-ending quest to become the "be all, end all" of social media, is launching a competitor to Groupon and LivingSocial. The blog "Search Engine Land" has the details this morning.

There are so many options with these national programs and the local media-based program. I'm curious what kinds of success you have seen if you have used them for your business.

And, do you buy them personally? (I do!) What's your pattern - businesses you already frequent? Places you'd like to try out, and the discount makes it more attractive?

April 14, 2011

The perfect opening

It’s that time of year again – students are scrambling for internships and many new graduates are looking for that perfect job. If you have a job or internship opening, or if you are currently seeking one (and don’t mind having your resume posted on our website), send the listing or your resume to communications@swmoprsa.org. We’ll post it to our website – it is just one more way to network with the great people in our organization.

April 13, 2011

Best in Business Brought to Springfield

You are invited to join us for the 2011 Professional Development Conference from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. This annual conference features national-level speakers in the communications profession and is rapidly becoming known in the business community as a must-attend event. Cost for PRSA members is $85, includes a light breakfast and lunch.

Speakers and sessions include:

• David Grossman, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, founder and CEO, The Grossman Group, in Chicago. The communications consultancy focuses on organizational, strategic leadership development and internal communications. David is one of America’s foremost authorities on communication inside organizations. He will talk about the importance of getting communication “right” and will provide proven and practical insights, methods and tools to enhance results and ensure overall organizational engagement.

• Mike Koehler, president and chief strategist, Smirk New Media in Oklahoma City. A Springfield native and graduate of Missouri State University, Mike is a leading social and new media strategist, having directed new media efforts for Oklahoma’s largest news website and the state’s largest public relations firm. Mike will delve into best practices and the how-to’s for effective online brand monitoring and engagement through social media networking -- in a way that provides tangible benefits for your business or organization.

Then stay tuned for student-professional speed-networking. Students will meet and ask questions of us about what the future in this profession holds and gain resume and interviewing tips. You will be able to target and meet potential candidates for internships/positions, along with gaining an understanding of the emerging talent from our area schools.

Questions? Contact Claire Faucett.

Lunch meeting April 26

The long, cold winter of 2010-2011 is finally over. Well, not quite. Bring your parkas and snow boots to our April meeting and learn how February’s blizzard challenged the communication skills of three chapter members in Joplin. Lynn Onstot with the city of Joplin and Wendy Brunner-Lewis and Lori Marble, both with the Missouri Department of Transportation, will discuss how the blizzard impacted their responsibilities as communicators and how they handled the situation. Here’s a question to ask during the Q-and-A: how does one communicate with frustrated long-haul truckers who just learned I-44 is closed?


The meeting will be held at 12 p.m. April 26 at the Midtown Carnegie Library, 397 E. Central St. (at the corner of Jefferson and Central). Arrive at 11:45 a.m. to network with your colleagues!

Please RSVP to rsvp@swmoprsa.org by noon

Friday, April 22. Cancellations must also be made by noon that day to avoid being invoiced for the cost of the meeting.

April 12, 2011

Kick your PR skills up a notch at the PR Boot Camp!

PRSA and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce will co-host the PR Boot Camp Thursday, July 28 for individuals wanting to build or improve their PR skills. The event will be held from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway.


The program incorporates five sessions designed to help individuals who want to learn or brush up on tools to promote their business or organization – whether it’s a small business, non-profit organization, church or public office. Those sessions will include information on starting a social media program, the importance of internal communications, working with the news media, and more.

To register, visit www.swmoprsa.org. The cost is $40 for PRSA and Chamber members, and $50 for other non-members.

This fee includes a light breakfast, lunch and all program materials. For more information, contact Stacy Fender at 417-269-4113.

April 7, 2011

Searching for Scholarships?

For those of you with direct student contact, now is your time to share some of the great benefits of PRSA! The Dr. Joe McAdoo Memorial Scholarship committee is again looking for the best and brightest to award this scholarship, and the deadline is May 27. For more information, visit http://swmoprsa.org/members/scholarships.