Congratulations to PRSA An Evening of Stars Award Recipents

The Southwest Missouri Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) held its second annual dinner and awards banquet, An Evening of Stars, Nov. 15 at Wellington South, 5021 S. National Ave. Three individuals and three organizations were recognized for their contributions to the public relations profession or service to the chapter.

Jessica Clements, new media specialist at Missouri State University, 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. 

Claire Faucett, owner of engage5w, 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 Intrepid Award was given to Don Hendricks, director of University communications at Missouri State University. 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. 

Missouri State University received two organizational awards: the Events and Observances and the Marketing/Public Relations Campaign awards. The Events and Observances award showcases events or programs that fulfilled at least one of the organization’s public relations goals. This may include commemorations, observances, openings, celebrations or other special activities.

The Marketing/Public Relations Campaign is given for outstanding campaigns – including programs, communications or publications – that seek to fulfill the organization’s marketing or public relations goals.

Better Business Bureau serving Southwest Missouri received the Community Relations award, recognizing the organization’s programs that aim to improve relations with or seek to win the support/cooperation of, people or organizations in communities in which the sponsoring organization has an interest, need or opportunity.

Congratulations to all the award winners!

AWC's October Meeting

October Meeting
Join us for AWC’s October meeting on Tuesday, October 2. The program will feature Joel Doepker, College Director of Communications and Marketing, Ozarks Technical Community College. Joel will be speaking on The Role Effective Videos Play in Communications. As always, networking will start at 11:30 and the program will begin at noon. Please RSVP to meetingrsvp@awcspringfieldmo.org, or by replying to this email no later than Friday, September 28.


The Role Effective Videos Play in Communications
Joel Doepker, College Director of Communications and Marketing, OTC
In a fragmented world where messages are heard across several communication channels, more corporations and organizations are looking to further enhance their message by adding videos to their communication strategies. Joel Doepker from OTC will show how the College uses videos to communicate its message and discuss the effectiveness of video across different communication platforms. Joel will also explain how video production can be simple and cost effective.

Joel Doepker has served as the College Director of Communications and Marketing for the Ozarks Technical Community College system since August 2006. He is responsible for developing and implementing the College’s marketing and advertising strategies and campaigns. He also oversees the public, community and media relations for the College as well as the social media initiatives.

His career started as a television news videographer/editor at television stations in Michigan, Ohio and Georgia. He received 5 Michigan Emmys for videography and video editing and was named Michigan’s videographer of the year in 1998. He spent 6 years as on-air news reporter at WJRT-TV in Flint/Saginaw, Michigan and KTUL in Tulsa, Oklahoma before coming to OTC.

He is an active member of PRSA, MCCA and NCMPR and has volunteered at the United Way of the Ozarks, Champion Athletes of the Ozarks and Southwest Missouri chapter of Autism Speaks.

He has given presentations on topics such as media relations, community events and video production at the League of Innovation conference, NCMPR regional and national conferences and the annual conference of the Missouri Community College Association.


Meeting Information
The cost for the luncheon is $15 for members and first time guests, $18 for returning guests and $14 for AWC student members and full-time degree-seeking students. If you have special dietary requests please specify in your RSVP.


Meeting Location
Our meeting location is 425 Downtown and is located at 425 W. Walnut, Springfield 65806.  View Map. Parking is available across the street in the lot marked 425 Downtown, as well as in the garage on Campbell Avenue.

And there I was...

We'd like to interject some personal stories into this year's Evening of Stars event. Submit short stories or quips about your life in PR to nickidonnelson@missouristate.edu before Halloween.

Share those "And there I was...." moments: Stories about showing up to an event without an important piece of equipment...stories about your moment on camera...stories that showcase a learning moment....stories where you look back and laugh.

Thanks!

Register for An Evening of Stars

The submission deadline has passed for our annual holiday banquet, An Evening of Stars, but you won't want to miss this great opportunity to join your colleagues in celebrating the best PR work of southwest Missouri. Register now at http://swmoprsa.org/an-evening-of-stars. Reservations are only $25 per person.

It's membership promotion time!

Joining PRSA right now could save you $35 on professional membership costs during July and August, 2012!

If you know a colleague who has expressed interest, please tell them about this promotion.   Membership benefits of networking, professional development, exchanging ideas and product discounts will pay for your membership many times over as your career takes off.  You can sign up either online or by mail.

For additional concerns or questions, please contact Paula Ringer, 2012 Membership Chair at large. 417-818-1339 or e-mail to: paula@plankproductions.com

Get your communication skills in shape at the PR Boot Camp

The Southwest Missouri Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) will hold a Public Relations Boot Camp workshop on Friday, July 13 for individuals wanting to build or improve their public relations skills. This one-day event will be held from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

The Public Relations Boot Camp is designed to help people who want to learn or brush up on tools to promote their business or organization, whether it’s a small business, non-profit, church or public office. The event includes four sessions presented by area public relations professionals and current and former members of the news media. The sessions include:

·      The power of words: What you say is more important than where you say it.
Dr. Regina Waters, Chair of the Dept. of Communication at Drury University

·      Managing issues and what to do when a reporter comes knocking.
Mark Miller, M.A., Associate Director of Marketing and Communications at Drury

·      Putting it all together: Developing a public relations plan.
Cora Scott, Director of Public Information and Civic Engagement, City of Springfield

·      Media Panel.

News professionals from local print, radio and television outlets will tell you what makes a good news story and how and when to contact them with news.

To register and for more information, please visit http://swmoprsa.org/events/pr-bootcamp/. The cost for this one-day workshop is $40 for PRSA member, Chamber of Commerce members and students. The cost is only $50 for non-members. This fee includes a light breakfast, lunch and all program materials. For more information, contact Dan Ortega at 573-201-1408 or danortegaPR@gmail.com.

Submit your work for An Evening of Stars

In addition to honoring our local chapter members for their service, this year's An Evening of Stars will feature awards for four new categories:

Community Relations - Recognizes an organization’s programs that aim to improve relations with or seek to win the support/cooperation of, people or organizations in communities in which the sponsoring organization has an interest, need or opportunity.

Events and Observances - Showcases events or programs that fulfilled at least one of the organization’s public relations goals. This may include commemorations, observances, openings, celebrations or other special activities.

Integrated Communications - Awarded to a program that demonstrates leadership of public relations strategies and tactics in a creative and effective integrated campaign, along with other marketing or communications. The program must demonstrate the clear leadership of public relations, along with its integration with other disciplines.

Marketing/Public Relations Campaign - Given for outstanding campaigns – including programs, communications or publications – that seek to fulfill the organization’s marketing or public relations goals.

Start thinking now about what you might like to submit. The early bird deadline is Aug. 20, and the final deadline for submissions is Sept. 4.

Visit http://swmoprsa.org/an-evening-of-stars/ for all the details. 

Social Media conference planned Aug. 23

“Social Media for Non-Profit Organizations” will be presented Aug. 23 in Springfield by Social: IRL, a social media training and consulting firm in Lawrence, Kan.  The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Veridian Event Center, 309 South Avenue. 

Non-profit organizations may send up to two registrants free of charge, subject to approval to assure they meet requirements for non-profit status.  Because the Southwest Missouri Chapter of PRSA is a sponsor, any of our members who do not qualify for non-profit status may attend at a discounted rate of $50, a $25 savings. 

Event information and registration is at: http://socialirl.com/social-media-for-non-profit-organizations/.  Use discount code PRSA to receive the $50 rate.

You can also view the current attendee list at: http://nonprofitssgf.eventbrite.com/.

Attendees will learn from each other – connecting, sharing, hearing case studies, discussing what’s worked and how challenges have been overcome. Attendees will also learn through expert lead sessions covering important practical issues such as social media integration, community management, monitoring and measurement, handling negative PR, crisis response, developing an effective social media strategy, best practices, creating and sharing social media friendly content, and content marketing. The conference also will explore the latest social networks and trends. A powerful combination of practical advice and support along with valuable "lessons from the front lines.”

For more information, visit http://socialirl.com/social-media-for-non-profit-organizations/ or contact Social: IRL at http://socialirl.com/contact/.

Accreditation Month

If you are interested in enhancing your career with public relations accreditation, keep reading.

If you want to gain a deeper knowledge about the PR industry's only post-graduate certification program, don’t stop now.

APR is a mark of distinction for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice, and who are selected based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective, and sound professional judgment.

PRSA has designated April as Accreditation Month.

Our chapter has registered for the national presentation of the Accreditation Power Play webinar from 2 – 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at the Great Southern Bank Operations Center Board Conference Room, 218 S. Glenstone just south of St. Louis Street in Springfield.  (Where our March meeting was held.  Go to the main entrance at the sound end of the building.)  This gives the chapter one Internet connection in one room at one time for any participant(s).

If there is enough interest among Joplin members, a location could be established there.

If you are interested in the April 19 webinar, please send an email to Rod Surber at surber-r@mssu.edu by noon Friday, April 6.

Members can learn more about APR through this webinar and other special events, including:

• Free Online Course Open House – 2 p.m. (CDT), April 24;
• Free On Demand Webinars:
  - Knowing Your Business is Good PR          

- Getting Ready for the Readiness Review

• Members are encouraged to use the "Invite-a-Peer" tool at http://www.prsa.org/Learning/Accreditation/APRInviteAPeer to help spread the word about APR.