November 29, 2011

Invitation from Women in Communications

Invitation from Women in Communications:
Unravel the secrets of extracting creative thought from the right side of the brain. Dr. Jo Van Arkel, author and professor at Drury University, will guide us through time-proven exercises and techniques that will put more punch and color into everyday writing. Bring an open mind and a blank piece of paper!

Join the Association for Women in Communications on Tuesday, December 6 for this fun program. Networking at 11:30 am; program at noon. $15 for first time guests, $18 for returning guests, $14 for AWC student members and full-time degree-seeking students. Lunch catered by Olive Garden. Meeting location is Associated Electric Cooperative, 2814 S. Golden Ave., Springfield. RSVP to Ashley at awood@aeci.org by December 2 at 12 pm.

November 28, 2011

How to produce a social media news release


PR Daily Webinar
How to produce a social media news release
A webinar featuring Shel Holtz and Cassie Péan

Thursday, Dec. 8 2-3:45 p.m.
At the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce


Melinda Arnold, Friends of the Zoo, and Claire Faucett, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, are hosting this webinar for southwest Missouri public relations professionals and students. Cost* is $10/person for professionals and $5/person for university students. (The actual cost of the webinar is $139 – so $10 is a BARGAIN!)

Are you producing social media news releases?
Did you know they get picked up more frequently than traditional releases?
Want a practical, introductory course on how to produce a social media news release?

Join us for this NEW PR Daily webinar airing on Thursday, December 8 at 2:00 p.m. Central with online communications expert Shel Holtz and PR Manager for Vocus, Cassie Péan.

This session is filled with step-by-step instructions to write an SMNR, tag content, add important files, distribute releases to social media outlets and more.

PR pros should use social media news releases far more than they do. Research from Realwire shows that reporters and editors like them and that they get picked up more frequently than traditional releases do.

Veteran communications consultant Shel Holtz and PR practitioner Cassie Péan explain the components of the SMNR and offer tips on how to get online reporters and bloggers to read and watch these releases.

For more details on the sessions with Shel and Cassie, please visit the webinar description online.

To attend the webinar, please email your RSPV to Melinda Arnold by noon, Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Attendance is not limited to SWMO PRSA members. Please forward this to coworkers, colleagues and friends who might be interested in attending.

* The per-person cost will reimburse Friends of the Zoo for the webinar registration. Any amount exceeding the registration price will be given to SWMO PRSA.

November 18, 2011

Congrats to last night's award recipients

I really enjoyed the inaugural Evening of Stars event last night and appreciate all the positive feedback from members.

I especially want to congratulate the award recipients, all of whom were very deserving.

Dr. Regina Waters, associate professor and chair of the department of communication at Drury University, received the Outstanding Faculty Award. This award recognizes a public relations faculty member from a college or university within the Southwest Missouri PRSA service area for efforts supporting the education of future public relations professionals.

Andrea Harp, social media and marketing coordinator at Ozarks Community Hospital, received the Rising Star Award, which recognizes a professional with less than three years experience who shows dedication to the ethical and professional practice of public relations and engagement in the Southwest Missouri PRSA Chapter.

Lisa Cox, media relations specialist at St. John’s Health System, received the Legacy Award. This award recognizes a Southwest Missouri PRSA Chapter member’s contributions to the chapter through service on the Board of Directors or a committee.

The Booster Award was given to the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce for its support of the public relations profession and chapter. The Chamber has promoted events to its membership, hosted conferences and offered other support.

The Intrepid Award was given to Melinda Arnold, public relations and marketing manager for Dickerson Park Zoo/Friends of the Zoo. The Intrepid Award recognizes a senior practitioner with at least 10 years of experience who shows dedication to the ethical and professional practice of public relations and engagement in the Southwest Missouri PRSA Chapter.