Happy Independence Day!

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July! Thanks to all those who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for our freedom!

MNPR needs your assistance!!!

I will be out of the office on business next week and then on vacation the following week I am looking for volunteers that would be interested in guest blogging.

I will be out of the office from June 9 - June 24 and I would like to schedule sometimes for people to act as guest bloggers.

There are a couple of rules to being a guest blogger. They are as follows:

Don't say bad things about other companies.(even if they are true, this isn't the forum)

Don't use language that the FCC wouldn't approve

Don't post images of people or images that the FCC wouldn't approve

Don't get into personal attacks

Don't make unrealistic claims about your company (for example, "we are the greatest thing since sliced bread")

I think that covers it.

If you are willing to stick to these rules and you think you have some communications insights you want to share I am happy to have YOU as a guest blogger. Let me know and I will send you an invite. Also, if you could let me know what days you are interested in posting that would help me plan with other guest bloggers.

Advertise on MNPR Blog

I added a new feature on the blog today, because many of you from the agency world have been requesting information on how to advertise on this site. Now you can. Click here to find out more information.

Technical Difficulties

MNPR Blog is experiencing technical difficulties today. If you have trouble accessing the site please try back later.

Happy New Year!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break! Sorry for being absent over the holidays but I needed some time away from my computer. One of my resolutions was to not turn my computer on over the break and I successfully achieved it. Expect regular updates beginning today. Happy New Year!

BlogWorld

I am in sunny Las Vegas for the next two days for the BlogWorld conference. I am excited to see what I can learn about what's new in the virtual world.

Expect updates as I feel appropriate.

-Ryan

Work Downtown? Get a Complimentary Chair Massage!

To help introduce Twin Cities residents and downtown office workers to the new Ivy Spa Club, located at 201 Eleventh Street South in Minneapolis, owner Pamela Margolis is taking her show on the road by offering complimentary chair massages to downtown
Minneapolis employees.

From Nov. 27 through Dec. 21, 2007, Ivy Spa Club is sending out 20 of its top massage therapists and estheticians to the companies and skyways of downtown Minneapolis. Their mission is to ease the tense muscles in the backs, shoulders, necks, faces and hands of stressed-out downtown Minneapolis workers during the holiday season. To schedule a complimentary massage time block for your employees, contact Breanna Wagner at Ivy Spa Club at 612-343-3131 or breannaw@ivyspaclub.com.

The complimentary chair massages are just a taste of the services that will be offered by Ivy Spa Club. Other unique treatments available on-site at Ivy Spa Club will include:

Caviar Facial: Scientifically advanced, age-defying treatment containing
the latest phyto-extracts, a vegetal botoxine proven to visibly smooth
wrinkles and firm skin.

Four Hand Massage: Two therapists performing a choreographed massage in
unison that dissolves tension and transports recipient to a blissful place.

Ivy Ritual: Treatment begins with jojoba full body exfoliation, wrap and
scalp massage. A hydrotherapy anti-stress milk bath follows, during which
the recipient¹s face is cleansed, toned and moisturized. Then a water lily
body wrap is enjoyed with a de-stress and anti-puffiness eye mask and a hand
and foot massage. Finally, the session ends with a full body moisturizing
massage.

Rejuvenating Still Water Mud Mask: A cleansing and healing treatment
practiced throughout history by many cultures. A body scrub uncovers new
skin under a Vichy shower from multiple showerheads while the spa guest lies
on a cushioned wet table. Then the guest luxuriates in a cocoon of warm
aromatic pine and rich mineral mud. Treatment helps alleviate muscle aches,
reduce tension and relieve stress.

Ivy Spa Club also offers manicures, pedicures and a wide array of specially tailored packages for couples, newlyweds, parents-to-be and bridal parties. For the busy downtown worker there are several lunch express services.

In early December, spa owner Pamela Margolis launches her unique luxury destination spa located at 201 Eleventh Street South in downtown Minneapolis, at the historic Ivy Tower, on the second floor of the new Hotel Ivy, a Starwood Luxury Collection® Hotel. The 17,000 square-foot Ivy Spa Club will offer world-class spa services to soothe and relax, and fitness options tailored to invigorate and energize members and day guests alike.

Ivy Spa Club¹s exclusive list of more than 75 services has personally been developed by Ivy Spa Club Director Gary Duprat, who brings over 30 years of luxury spa experience, with more than 20 years as spa services director of the famed La Costa Spa in southern California. Facility features that members and day guests will enjoy at Ivy Spa Club include heavenly relaxation areas, dedicated couples¹ suites and hydrotherapy treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas, a co-ed whirlpool, Vichy shower, a cold plunge shower, Water TileTM shower by Kohler in the women¹s locker room, and much more. Ivy Spa Club¹s 14 treatment rooms will allow for ease of appointment
scheduling.

Because the historic Ivy Tower is a valued treasure to the Minneapolis area, spa owner, Pamela Margolis has taken care to use recycled and renewable materials wherever possible ­ from natural hemp uniforms for the staff to bamboo flooring, cork upholstery and teak custom furniture; and from organic menu selections in the café to botanicals and natural essential oils used in Ivy Spa Club¹s Signature Formula line of body care products.

Ivy Spa Club members and day guests may also benefit from state-of-the-art Matrix cardio and strength equipment with individual television monitors, vitalizing fitness classes, personal training and wellness options that fit personal requirements and schedules. For more information, visit www.ivyspaclub.com.

New Web Address for MNPR Blog

Minnesota Public Relations Blog has a new URL - http://www.mnprblog.com/. Now instead of getting confused with the www.mnpr.blogspot.com you can type it all in one word - www.mnprblog.com!

In case your worried the old URL will still work. No worries.

New look for MNPR Blog

You will notice today that Minnesota Public Relations Blog has a new look. Some additional features have been added including a more comprehensive archive as well as the ability to e-mail individual stories.

I am still getting the comment section up and running, in the meantime shoot me an e-mail and let me know what you think.

-Ryan

Download the audio version of this posting here .

100,000th visitor

Minnesota Public Relations reached 100,000 unique visitors today. Thanks to all the loyal readers and for your support.

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Changes to Minnesota Public Relations Blog

In the coming weeks you will notice some changes to Minnesota Public Relations Blog. With my busy schedule, I have not had time to comment on things happening in the region as much as I would like to, so I am bringing on a new team member, Catherine Wood.

Catherine is a new face to the Minnesota PR scene. Catherine has worked as a sales consultant for an employee benefits company selling insurance, since she graduated from USC in 2005. As a consultant, she learned to manage her time, to be self motivated and to be able to start a conversation with anyone, anywhere. Unfortunately this position did not provide her with the opportunity to write, to be creative or to use her communications skills in unique and valuable ways.

Now Catherine is looking for a position in public relations. While she waits for that perfect job, Catherine is hoping to learn about the PR world here in the Twin Cities. Showing her motivation, she has started her own blog aptly named mnprjobseeker.blogspot.com and she has asked to be a regular guest blogger on this site. Catherine will be posting every Wednesday, please help me welcome her to the PR community.

-Ryan

Speechless

It appears people are still missing as a result of the collapsed bridge on 35W yesterday. I am left speechless as a result of this senseless tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to those of you that may have lost loved ones.

Vacation and guest bloggers...

Next week I will be on vacation in the Dominican Republic city of Guayabal. Like many of my "vacations" this will be anything but typical. With a team from my church, I will be building homes for Haitian refugees, playing with the children and teaching Bible school!

In my absence, I have recruited three able bloggers to stand in for me; John Merritt, Katharine Kaboord and Sandy Sweep. Hope you all have a great week. Talk to you when I return.

Bios:
John Merritt
Merritt is the owner of White Pine Public Relations, which he founded in the spring of 2007. His experience includes clients ranging from Rapala, Harley-Davidson and Maytag to Northwest Area Foundation, New York University and the Rally for Ducks, Wetlands and Clean Water. Merritt’s work has been awarded on numerous occasions, including a PRSA Silver Anvil award and a PR Week Business-to-Business Campaign of the Year award. In addition to public relations and marketing communications, his background includes experience in e-commerce, operations management and higher education. A Minnetonka native, he holds bachelor’s degrees from the University of Minnesota and master’s degrees from New York University

Katharine Kaboord
An account manager at Beehive PR, Katharine¹s public relations and marketing experience spans local, national and international markets. Her current and previous agency work includes providing strategic media and community relations, market analysis, crisis communication, executive visibility, tradeshow, grassroots outreach and electronic communication counsel primarily for clients in the defense, energy and financial industries. She is an active member of the Minnesota PRSA chapter, serving on the Communications Committee

New PR Blog run by Minnesota Students

You may remember earlier this spring that I mentioned that I had the opportunity to speak with students at the University of Minnesota. During our brief conversation several students expressed an interest in learning to blog or starting their own site.

Well, I am pleased to announce the launch of "Minnesota STUDENT Public Relations Blog."

This summer Allison Dent, a junior at the University of Minnesota, will chronicle her summer internship experience and ask the professional world for advice. Last week Allison made her first post and I am excited to watch her progress through the summer. Please help me welcome Allison to the Minnesota PR community.

If you are a college student interested in PR and want to learn more about posting to this new blog, please shoot me an e-mail.

Bloggers Needed

If you are a regular reader of my blog you have probably noticed that I haven't been posting as much recently. I have been overwhelmed with work and I have been traveling too much. Of course, when I have been in town I have had endless amounts of work piled on me.

The good news is that I have vacation planned for next week. The bad news is that I won't be around a computer to catch up on my blogging. Which leads me to my point, is anyone interested in acting as a guest blogger while I am out of town. You offer your thoughts on PR to a large audience and get some networking exposure. Let me know ASAP and I will give you more details.

-Ryan

It's my birthday!

Yeah, I forgot that February marks the 4th birthday of this blog. It is hard to believe in someways that I have been doing this for four years. On the other hand, sometimes it feels like it has been a lot longer. Anyway, no need for presents :-)

-Ryan

Community

I like to think of this site as a community of my professional colleagues. As I stated in my post yesterday, relationships are everything in this business. Recently, I have noticed a number of rouge commenter's are trying to break up this community by posting inappropriate comments on this site. I am sure that whoever the perpetrator is, thinks it is rather funny. But this site was created to be a professional forum where Minnesota Public Relations practitioners can come and learn about what is going on in our industry.

Unfortunately, some have taken to making inappropriate comments about people or companies. This is creating quite the headache for me in trying to keep up with the unnecessary comments. In an effort to try and curtail this behavior I will now be sent and e-mail whenever anybody posts a comment. This will allow me the capability to screen posts almost as they happen.

While I am not looking forward to having to further babysit this site, I am concerned for the people who may have been hurt by the childish comments. So on behalf of MNPR Blog, let me thank you in advance for only posting congratulatory notes, strategic thoughts about our industry or professional related comments.

Thanks,

Ryan

Happy 2007!!!

Happy New Year to all the MNPR Blog Readers. Wishing you all the best in 2007!

-Ryan

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all MNPR Blog readers. Hope you have a relaxing and joyous holiday season!

-Ryan