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.

Job - Padilla Speer Beardsley & Weber Shandwick

Padilla Speer Beardsley - Account Supervisor/Director, Technology

Weber Shandwick - Senior Account Executive, Financial Services

PRSA May & June Membership Promotion

During May and June, PRSA is offering new members a free, one-year Chapter membership when they join PRSA National at the regular price. Former members who have been inactive for at least one year also may participate. This offer is not valid for Associate memberships.

To join online, go directly to http://www.prsa.org/membership/freechapter.html and use the promotion code CHAP2008.

Please spread the word with your co-workers and at upcoming networking and programming events, and help them reap the benefits of membership in PRSA!

Please Join Me and the MNPR group on LinkedIn

Starting today you can perfect your social networking skills by joining me on the new MNPR LinkedIn group. Just click here to join.

Entertainment PR

I got a questions from someone visiting MNPR Blog last week asking me about names of agencies that have worked in the entertainment arena and have an office in located here in Minnesota.

I realized that I don't know much about entertainment PR in Minnesota. Anyone have any names of agencies that specialize in this area? Let me know.

Thanks.

-Ryan

Minnesota Core Training: Inside the Republican National Convention - April 17

Want to know how to help your organization or clients work with media covering the Republican National Convention?

Interested in learning how an organization manages PR and communications logistics for such a monumental event?

Curious about the ethical and legal issues surrounding a politically-driven event such as the Republican National Convention?

Then, the April Core Training session is for you. No matter your political affiliation, you are likely to come into contact with the Republican National Convention when it is hosted in the Twin Cities on September 1-4, 2008. Join us as panelists discuss what the convention means for the Twin Cities and our local PR industry, what protocols are in place for communications during the convention and details on the media likely to be in town and the story angles they may be pursuing.

Panel Members:

Tom Jollie, senior vice president, Padilla Speer Beardsley and contributor to the “Minneapolis Saint Paul More to Life” Campaign

Matt Burns, director of communications and spokesman for the Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 Republican National Convention

About the “Minneapolis Saint Paul More to Life” campaign:
Minneapolis/Saint Paul residents know they live in an extraordinary place, but many people outside the Midwest still think of it as flyover country. A new branding initiative is working to eradicate those misconceptions. Public relations agencies Padilla Speer Beardsley, Tunheim Partners and Weber Shandwick are leading the effort, which aims to dispel myths and introduce the country to the true Minneapolis/Saint Paul: a vibrant, diverse community with strong businesses and abundant cultural opportunities. The More to Life Campaign was instrumental in bringing the 2008 Republican National Convention to the Twin Cities.

About the Speakers:
Thomas J. Jollie, APR has more than 20 years of professional experience in public relations and marketing communications and leads Padilla Speer Beardsley’s consumer marketing communications practice. For consumer products and service companies, Tom has planned and completed new product introductions, promotions and ongoing communications programs to internal, trade and consumer audiences.

Tom is an accredited and active member of PRSA and formerly served as Minnesota Chapter President and Midwest District Director. Tom is currently the director for the Children’s Cancer Research Fund and is active on the Minneapolis St. Paul More to Life Campaign. He received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of Minnesota.

Matt Burns serves as Director of Communications and Spokesman for the Committee on Arrangements for the 2008 Republican National Convention. Prior to joining the convention, Burns served as Press Secretary and chief spokesman for the Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. He has been a member of numerous Presidential Advance teams, including teams that organized President Bush’s visits to New York to commemorate the one-year anniversary of 9/11 and the Gulf Coast region following Hurricane Katrina. Burns previously held several positions in former New York Governor George Pataki’s Administration – and served as Deputy Director for Transportation at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, where he oversaw all aspects of planning the mass transportation system utilized by convention attendees.

Details & Registration:

Price:

PRSA Member $30
Nonmember $45
Student $15

Registration:
Register online or contact the PRSA office by April 15th.

MINNESOTA PRSA TO HONOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC RELATIONS AT THE 30TH ANNUAL MINNESOTA PRSA CLASSICS AWARDS

WHAT:The 30th Annual Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards, which will recognize the best in Minnesota public relations from the past year, will be held on Thursday, March 27 at the Graves 601 Hotel in Minneapolis. Each year, the Minnesota chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) presents these awards to public relations practitioners who, in the judgment of their peers, have successfully addressed a communications challenge with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. In addition, area college students will showcase their work during the 6th annual PRSA Student Classics, held during the ceremony.

WHEN: Thursday, March 27, 2008
Program: 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Graves 601 Hotel
601 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55403

REGISTRATION:
Registration is $80 for PRSA members, $100 for non-members, and free for PRSSA Student Award finalists. Tables of 10 are still available and can be purchased for $800. The cost of admission includes dinner.

To register, visit www.mnprsa.com or call the Minnesota PRSA office at 651.917.6244.

Have you thought about APR?

APR Prep "Crunch" Course

MinnSPRA proudly presents this weekend prep course to its members as well as to colleagues in other fields of public relations who are members of Minnesota PRSA and MAGC.

The Crunch Course in intended to be an intensive study of APR relevant topics. Participants will learn what is needed to prepare for the Readiness Review and APR Examination. Topics include: introduction to the APR process; benefits of APR; Readiness Review preparation; public relations models and theories; information technology; research; PR planning and evaluation; media relations; crisis communications; business literacy; ethics and law; and advanced communications issues.

Time: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Location:
Minnetonka Public Schools District Service Center
5621 County Road 101, Minnetonka, MN 55345

Cost: FREE

Get Registration Information Here

Minnesota PRSA's Friday Roundtable

Recruiting the Industry’s Best ~ A Conversation with Minnesota’s Own Emerging Entrepreneur

Although it may sometimes feel like a crap shoot or a gut reaction, hiring and keeping top performers is anything but a game of chance. In other words, there are specific strategies you can use to recruit and retain your most productive employees.

The PRSA Friday Roundtable discussion will help Minnesota’s public relations industry leaders sharply focus on their recruiting practices. The roundtable will be led by Amy Langer, partner and co-founder of Sálo, which specializes in matching senior-level financial services professionals with positions that suit their skills. Langer was named “Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year” at the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® Awards. She’ll help guide the conversation through various staffing strategies, including the concept of Top Grading, which is applicable to all industries, whether it’s financial services or public relations. Top grading is the practice of filling every position in your company with an “A Player” at the appropriate level of compensation.

From the basic challenges facing recruiters today, to the qualities that make up a top job candidate, to the evaluation of top-performing employees, this will be an opportunity for discussion and idea sharing. Learn to watch for red flags during the interview process and find out how to ensure your newly-hired top performers succeed in their new environment. Your key hires ultimately lead to added value for your clients and your company. Attend this roundtable and help ensure the industry’s high performers don’t slip through your fingers.

Time:
7:30 a.m. Registration (continental breakfast provided)
8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Roundtable Discussion

Location:
Fast Horse Inc.
240 North 9th Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Cost: $25 for PRSA members, $35 for non-members

Register online!

Job - Special Events Internship @ Alzheimer's Association Minnesota North Dakota

Special Events Internship @ Alzheimer's Association Minnesota North Dakota

From Snoopy to SpongeBob

How Mall of America Brought Nickelodeon to the World’s Largest Indoor Amusement Park
Jill Renslow, Associate Director, Retail Marketing, Mall of America

When it is time to consider a new amusement park brand after 15 years with the world’s most famous beagle and his friends, it’s a job you take seriously. Jill Renslow will share the strategy behind the decision to move to a new partnership, the criteria they developed and how they found the right fit for the Mall and the families that visit to create a truly unique experience. You’ll get a sneak peek at what’s to come when the new Nickelodeon Universe opens in the spring of 2008.

What to Expect

Jill Renslow will address the following questions:

• What were the options at the outset?
• What were some of the considerations?
• Why Nickelodeon?
• What are the challenges of building the world’s largest exclusive Nickelodeon amusement park?
• What are the new rides and attractions?

About Jill Renslow

Jill Renslow is the Associate Director of Retail Marketing at Mall of America. Starting at the Mall over ten years ago, Jill began her career in event marketing coordinating hundreds of events with various celebrities, musical artists and touring shows. After a couple years of event life, Jill moved on to retail marketing and advertising where she has been involved with numerous advertising campaigns, media segments, fashion productions, trend analysis, retail enhancements, brand research projects and developments with the phase II expansion.

About Mall of America

Mall of America is the nation's largest retail and entertainment complex. The 4.2 million square foot complex is home to more than 520 world-class shops; the nation's largest indoor family amusement park; Underwater Adventures® Aquarium, a 1.2 million gallon walk-through aquarium; a 14-screen movie theater and more. The Mall opened in August of 1992 and is located in Bloomington, Minn., just minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul

Meeting Specifics - Date and Time
Tuesday December 11, 2007
7:30-8:00 AM: Registration & Networking
8:00-9:00 AM: Program
9:00-9:30 AM: Q&A / Meet the Speaker

Cost
Member $25
Guest $50
Student $15
(walk-ins add $10 to the prices above)

Location
*Please Note New Venue. If you arrive prior to 8am, you will need to park on the west side of the Mall*
Executive Center - Level 4, Mall of America
Directions

Registration

Register online here.

Job - Minnesota Department of Revenue - Media Relations Coordinator

Minnesota Department of Revenue - Media Relations Coordinator

100,000th visitor

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

99,997 11:42 a.m.

99,998 11:44 a.m.

99,999 11:45 a.m.

100,000 11:49 a.m.

APR Candidates: New 2007 Study Guide Available Later This Year

In case you missed this in the last PRSA Link, I thought it was worth mentioning.

A dynamic online resource to help those pursuing Accreditation is slated to be released later this year. Visit the Universal Accreditation Board website at www.praccreditation.org to learn when you can download the study guide for the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations.

Compiled by the Universal Accreditation Board, the guide offers a tremendous amount of insight into the knowledge, skills and abilities that comprise the questions on the APR examination. The guide also includes preparation tips, recommendations on other study resources and three interesting case studies and public relations plan examples. Candidates who submit an application and pay the accompanying fee for the APR exam will be provided the guide at no charge.

Minnesota PRSA Fresh Thinking Fridays

1.6 Trillion Reasons:
Marketing to the most powerful economic force on the planet!

With buying power at $1.6 trillion, women are undeniably the most powerful economic force on the planet! As chief purchasing officer of the household, women make 85% of all purchase decisions, including: 88% of all packaged goods, 82% of all retail purchases, 68% of all cars…and yet, women feel mostly misunderstood by marketers.

As founder and CEO of WomanWise, Dori Molitor, will reveal her insights on marketing brands to women, why traditional marketing is failing, and how to gain a profound competitive advantage by fostering a deep soul connection with women.

After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, Molitor worked at General Mills across Big G and Betty Crocker portfolios. Since then, she has gone on to create an internationally-recognized brand marketing agency consulting companies such as Dunkin' Donuts, Hasbro, Serta, Land O'Lakes, and many other leading brands. Her firm has earned nine "Best in the World" honors, including eight Globe Awards from the Marketing Agencies Association Worldwide.

Location:
Metropolitan Ballroom
5418 Wayzata Blvd
Golden Valley, MN 55416

Time:
Friday, May 18, 2007
8:00 a.m. - Registration and Breakfast
8:30 to 10:00 a.m. - Program and Discussion

Cost:
Members $25
Nonmembers $35

Register online now!

MINNESOTA PRSA LAUNCHES ONLINE RESOURCE FOR COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONALS STATEWIDE

A new program from the Minnesota chapter, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), offers communication professionals and students access to career and industry guidance from local experts. Open to both members and nonmembers, students and seasoned veterans in the field, the Minnesota PRSA e-Mentor program is designed as a resource to help communication professionals address the opportunities and challenges presented to them throughout their careers. Questions are submitted online and responded to in a confidential and timely manner.

"Minnesota PRSA is proud to extend this tremendous and much-needed service to communication professionals throughout area," says Rose McKinney, APR, president of Minnesota PRSA. "The e-Mentor program helps individuals navigate career paths as well as advances the public relations profession as a whole."

Available to Minnesota PRSA members since October 2006, the program provides professional advice on a wide range of topics — from determining if an MBA is a worthwhile investment, to deciding if relocating to a different region of the country is a good career move, to finding the best way to submit a resume.

Questions can be submitted in one of five categories: ethical situations; management of the PR function/account management; career development and transitions; public relations strategies and tactics; and workplace, agency and client relationships.

Professionals who submit a question can anticipate a response within two business days from an accredited public relations (APR) counselor working within the Minnesota communications community.

For more information or to submit a question, visit www.mnprsa.com and click on "Minnesota PRSA Mentorship Program" under the Minnesota PRSA dropdown menu.

PRSA Online Job Board

Minnesota PRSA Online Job Board

Results from Classics

Last night the Minnesota chapter, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), celebrated the best public relations campaigns of 2006 during the 29th annual Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards, held at Solera in downtown Minneapolis.

The awards banquet, emceed by Sven Sundgaard, celebrated a record turnout, attracting more than 280 communications professionals from area boutique and large-scale agencies, corporations and non-profit organizations. The awards honored public relations campaigns and tactics that, in the judgment of their peers, successfully addressed communications challenges with exemplary skill, creativity and resourcefulness.

“As a whole, the public relations industry in Minnesota is thriving, as evidenced by the high-quality, high-impact work showcased during this year's Classics Awards,” said Rose McKinney, APR, president of Minnesota PRSA. “Practitioners across the profession, from nonprofits to agencies and corporate teams, continue to demonstrate the importance and ever-growing value of strategic public relations to businesses and industries through their hard work, creativity and dedication to the profession.”

The Classics Awards are divided into two categories: elements and programs. Classics Element Awards honor the best program tactics, while Classics Program Awards honor the best overall public relations campaigns.

Winners in the Program Awards category were eligible for the top honor of the evening –Best of Show. The award for Best of Show was presented to Minneapolis-based Exponent Public Relations for its work on behalf of client Novartis Animal Health. The campaign, titled “The Power of Pet-ometers on the Path to Play More,” teamed the creation of a patented, first-of-its- kind pet pedometer with grassroots, media relations and education initiatives to promote playtime for all dogs, especially arthritic dogs that need to exercise to fight age-related health problems.

Savvy Students

Minnesota PRSA also bestowed its 5th Annual PRSA Student Classics awards for the best in student public relations among Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin undergraduate students. Awards were presented in five categories for projects completed for class work, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter activities, internship projects and volunteer work.

Six recipients of this year’s Dr. Willard Thompson Scholarships also were recognized for their excellence in the study of public relations and communications. Meghan Stafford of the University of Minnesota was awarded Best of PRSSA and a $2,000 scholarship. Sarah Ryder (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities) won a $1,000 award, and Sarah Kathryn Rydland (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities), Maria Fedorova (St. Cloud State University), Jessica Mongeon (University of North Dakota) and William P. Brozak (Minnesota State University, Mankato) each won $500 awards.

A total of 47 Classics Awards were presented during the evening to public relations agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations and students from the metro and out-state areas. Attached is a list of all winners, which also can be found on the Minnesota PRSA Web site (www.mnprsa.com).

---

BEST OF SHOW

The Power of Pet-ometers on the Path to Play More
Novartis Animal Health with Exponent Public Relations

ELEMENTS

Brochures (up to two colors)
Graffiti Brochure
Communications Department, City of Minneapolis

Brochures (three or more colors)
Community United for the Better
Cub Foods with Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc.

Special Purpose Publications
Follow Your Heart - Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation with Risdall McKinney Public
Relations

Video (Programs)
Forward: Living Life After Transplant
National Marrow Donor Program with Weber Shandwick

Video (Public Service Announcements - PSA)
There's No Place Like Home: Giving Hope to Homeowners
Homeownership Preservation Foundation with Exponent Public Relations

Audio (Public Service Announcements - PSA)
Raising the Foreclosure Flag for Homeowners
Homeownership Preservation Foundation with Exponent Public Relations

Annual Reports (Business/Industry)
2006 Annual Report
St. Jude Medical, Inc.

Annual Reports (Government/Nonprofit)
The Butterfly Effect: 2006 CCRF Annual Report
Children's Cancer Research Fund with Greer and Associates

Media Kits (Products)
Through the Power of Scratch
Minnesota State Lottery with Exponent Public Relations

Media Kits (Services)
Fast-Due: Sharing the Foreclosure Message with Media
Homeownership Preservation Foundation with Exponent Public Relations

Media Kits (Events)
Sunflower Market: Sowing the Seeds of Awareness. OLSON with Sunflower Market.

Media Kits (Other)
Museum Adventure Presented by Macy's
Macy's and MELSA with Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc.

Newsletters (Three or more colors)
Opus Building Beyond Newsletter
The Opus Group with Weber Shandwick

Magazines (Internal)
Cooperative Profiles: Business Consulting at Your Doorstep
CHS-Land O Lakes with Exponent Public Relations

Magazines (External)
Latitude
BASF Professional Vegetation Management with Padilla Speer Beardsley,
Inc.

Media Relations (Business/Industry - Budget less than $25,000)
Museum Adventure Pass
Macy's and MELSA with Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc.

Media Relations (Business/Industry - Budget greater than $25,000)
A Star is Born
Macy's with Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc.

Media Relations (Government/Nonprofit)
Pour on the Olive Oil, and On and On and On
North American Olive Oil Association with Exponent Public Relations

Feature Writing
We All Scream for RFID on Ice Cream
Rockwell Automation with Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc.

Technical Writing
ASV Makes Big Impact by Treading Lightly
ASV with Carmichael Lynch Spong

New Media/Technology (Websites - Internet or Intranet)
Chevy AVEO Livin Large Campus Challenge
Chevy AVEO with Weber Shandwick

New Media/Technology (Other)
My Face on MySpace
Aveda with Exponent Public Relations

Creative Tactics
Takin' Names and Raisin' Help
Gold'n Plump Poultry with Gabriel deGrood Bendt

Research
Research Gives Donaldsons the Air of Authority
Donaldson with Strother Communications Group

Evaluation
Adjusting the Mix
TOLD Development with Fast Horse, Inc.


PROGRAMS

Community Relations (Business/Industry)
Museum Adventure Pass Presented by Macy's
Macy's and MELSA with Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc.

Institutional Programs (Business/Industry)
A Star is Born: America's First National Department Store
Macy's with Padilla Speer Beardsley

Special Events/Observances - Less than Seven Days (Business/Industry)
VALUT Motobowling: A Strike Against the Competition
The Coca-Cola Company with Fast Horse, Inc.

Special Events/Observances - Less than Seven Days
(Government/Nonprofit)
2006 Minneapolis MOSAIC: Many Worlds. One Weekend.
Minneapolis MOSAIC with Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc.

Special Events/Observances - More than Seven Days (Business/Industry)
Nordic Ware's 60th Anniversary Campaign
Nordic Ware with Kohnstamm Communications

Special Events/Observances - More than Seven Days
(Government/Nonprofit)
K-12 Classrooms Go to the Dogs
Go North! with Strother Communications Group

Public Service (Government/Nonprofit)
Close the Gap Campaign
Itasca Project with Padilla Speer Beardsley, Inc.

Public Affairs (Government/Nonprofit)
Tides of Change: Rochester Coalition Influences Election Results in
Minnesota's First Congressional District
Rochester Coalition with Weber Shandwick

Marketing Services (Established) Budget greater than $25,000
Live the Moment
TOLD Development with Fast Horse, Inc.

Marketing Products (New) Budget less than $25,000
West Monitor Suite
Thomson West

Marketing Products (New) Budget greater than $25,000
A Strike Against the Competition
The Coca-Cola Company with Fast Horse, Inc.

Marketing Products (Established) Budget less than $25,000
Taking a Bite out of HoneyCrisp Season
Pepin Heights Orchard with Fast Horse, Inc.

Marketing Products (Established) Budget greater than $25,000
72,000 Reasons to Scratch Big
Minnesota State Lottery with Exponent Public Relations

Internal Communications
Movin' on Up - to Downtown
Colle + McVoy/Exponent Public Relations

Integrated Communications (Products)
The Power of Pet-ometers on the Path to Play More
Novartis Animal Health U.S. Inc. with Exponent Public Relations

Integrated Communications (Services)
Live the Moment
TOLD Development with Fast Horse, Inc.


5th ANNUAL MN PRSA STUDENT CLASSICS AWARDS

Special Purpose Publication
PRSSA Brochure
Sarah Ryder, University of Minnesota

News/Feature Writing
Moonlight Over Menomin
Sarah Ryder, University of Minnesota

Community Relations/Special Events
Sioux Empire Adopt
Kelly Nyberg, Augustana College

New Media/Technology
University of Minnesota School of Journalism Web site
Sarah McQuilkin, University of Minnesota

Public Relations Planning
Public Relations Campaign for Kuwait News Agency
Manaf Bashir, St. Cloud State University

29th Annual Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards

I will be at the Classics Awards tonight. Hope to see you there!

Tune in here, for a complete list of winners.

The Same Rowdy Crowd

A few weeks ago I was quoted in a Business Journal article saying that I thought that Minnesota had one of the best, most thought provoking PR communities in the world. In past month three electronic tools for public relations professionals have been started here in Minnesota. I told you about Public Relations Chat and Truth In PR last month, now another blog has come to my attention, help me welcome The Same Rowdy Crowd.

According to the site, The Same Rowdy Crowd was started by five guys who combine idiot idealism, a hairball or two of cynicism and an irresistible urge to shoot our mouths off about communication – good, bad and stupid.

We’ve been doing it for years in boardrooms, newsrooms, bars and the op-ed pages; amazingly, each of us has made a living in communications for decades. Some of us have worked for newspapers, some for government, some for companies large and small. Now we all work for ourselves, and we’re ruined for real jobs.

Rowdy crowd contributors include; Mark Andrew, Jon Austin, Bruce Benidt, Tony Carideo and Joe Loveland. To find out more about each of them, click here.

Looks like the Minnesota PR community is continuing to grow!