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!

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 Classics Awards Honor Top PR Achievements from 2007

Erbert & Gerbert’s with Exponent Public Relations wins Best of Show for “Taking a Bite Out of the Saturated Sub Category” campaign

The Minnesota chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), celebrated the best public relations campaigns of 2007 during the 30th annual Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards, held at Graves 601 Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on Thursday night.

The awards banquet, emceed by Leah McLean, evening news anchor of KSTP-TV and Rose McKinney, president of Risdall McKinney Public Relations and Minnesota PRSA immediate past president, attracted nearly 300 communications professionals from agencies, corporations and nonprofit 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.

“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 Anna Lovely, 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 Erbert & Gerbert’s and public relations agency Exponent Public Relations for their campaign titled “Taking a Bite Out of the Saturated Sub Category.” The campaign helped Erbert & Gerbert’s share its unique brand essence by leveraging the power of nontraditional marketing into national and global buzz, multiple new franchisee stores, and the achievement of double-digit growth in a declining category.

Savvy Students
Minnesota PRSA also bestowed its 6th 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 four categories for projects completed for class work, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter activities, internship projects and volunteer work.

Five recipients of this year’s Dr. Willard Thompson Scholarships also were recognized for their excellence in the study of public relations and communications. Sarah Ryder of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities was awarded Best of PRSSA and a $2,000 scholarship. Laura Wightman (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities) won a $1,000 award, and Alyssa Atkins (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities), Bridget Jewell (University of St. Thomas) and Marit Karbowski (Augustana College) each won $500 awards.

In addition, four recipients of the President’s Award also were recognized for scoring the highest among applicants from their PRSSA chapter within the communications experience section of the scholarship entry. Those honored include: Sarah Ryder, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities; Bridget Jewell, University of St. Thomas; Jessica Mongeon, University of North Dakota; and Marit Karbowski, Augustana College.

A total of 50 Classics Awards were presented during the evening to corporations, public relations agencies, nonprofit organizations and students from the metro and outstate areas. Here is a list of all the winners, which also can be found on the Minnesota PRSA Web site.

Longtime Minnesota PRSA member remembered

Betty E. Watson, longtime PRSA member and former board member died last week. Watson began a career in Public Relations at Dayton's. After raising her beautiful daughters and pursuing graduate work at the U of M, she worked as a PR executive at Apache Corporation for 15 years.

Watson served as an officer of the state chapter of the Public Relation Society of America and participated in a business exchange program to China in 1987.

Get Watson's complete obituary and information on the memorial service here.

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

Communication: The Ingredients of Leadership

Council of Agency Executives (CAE) Seminar
Communication: The Ingredients of Leadership

Please join your colleagues for a stimulating discussion of public relations practice and the role of the top executive in any organization. Because of a new partnership between Minnesota PRSA and the Council of Agency Executives, we can offer you two hours in the company of two of the nation’s best-known counselors to CEOs and other top leaders.

You’ll hear James E. Lukaszewski’s seminar, "Communication: The Ingredients of Leadership," a talk which advises top leaders on how to establish a communication strategy, and their personal role in executing it. Author of hundreds of articles and several books, Jim’s newest book, Why Should the Boss Listen to You? will be released two weeks before the Feb. 21 event. Preceding Jim’s seminar, you’ll hear remarks by Lynn Casey, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Padilla Speer Beardsley, one of Minnesota’s oldest and largest public relations firms.

DETAILS:
Time: 8 a.m. continental breakfast; 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. program

Location: Padilla Speer Beardsley, 1101 West River Parkway, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55415 (Down the street from the Guthrie Theater)

Cost: $30. Includes continental breakfast and a copy of Jim’s new book, which he will sign. Please note that this is a special members-only event for Minnesota PRSA and Council of Agency Executives members.

Register online!

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!

MINNESOTA PRSA EXPLORES SOCIAL MEDIA’S IMPACT ON CUSTOMER INTERACTION AT CORE TRAINING SEMINAR

WHAT: How is social media transforming the way you interact with your customers? Join Minnesota Public Relations Society of America for its latest Core Training session featuring David Krejci, vice president of Weber Shandwick’s Interactive, Social and Emerging Media Group. During the session, Krejci will offer a fresh perspective and practical tips on how to translate the theory of social computing communications into real-life public relations strategies and tactics. Come learn how the social computing phenomenon has revolutionized the way PR practitioners think about their profession from top to bottom.

WHEN: Registration and breakfast: 7:30 a.m.; Program 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Thursday, January 17, 2008

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

REGISTRATION:
Registration costs for attending the Core Training session are $30 for PRSA members, $45 for non-members and $15 for students. The cost of admission includes breakfast.

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

Deadline for Classics Quickly Approaching

Classics Awards Entries Due Dec. 14

Entries are now being accepted for the 30th Annual Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards, which will be held March 27, 2008, at the Graves 601 Hotel, 601 First Avenue North, in downtown Minneapolis.

All Minnesota communications professionals are eligible to enter; you do not need to be a PRSA member. The deadline for receipt of entries is noon, Dec. 14. Each entry must be submitted according to the "How to Submit Your PRSA Classics Entry" instructions located at www.mnprsa.com or it will be disqualified without a refund. There will be no deadline extensions.

The majority of an entry's work must be completed between Oct. 1, 2006 and Nov. 30, 2007. Programs tend to have a better chance of winning when they're near completion and they can be better evaluated against their initial objectives.

For more information and to register, go to www.mnprsa.com or call the Minnesota PRSA office at 651-917-6244.

Fall Prep Classes for Accredited in Public Relations (APR)

Tentatively scheduled for Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sept. 26 - Nov. 14, 2007

Location: University of St. Thomas St. Paul campus
Contact: Leah Otto, APR at leah.otto@bestbuy.com if interested.
Final details regarding dates, times and locations will be released mid-September.
Free to MN PRSA Members. (See test fee info below.)

Where your career in public relations takes you is based on individual drive, determination and diligence. One next step all seasoned practitioners should consider is earning the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation. Earning the APR certification proves you have successfully demonstrated competency in the knowledge, skills and abilities required to practice public relations effectively in today’s business arena.

Find out more about accreditation here.

PRSA - Professional Practices Conference

The annual Minnesota PRSA Professional Practices Conference features prominent local and national speakers on current topics of interest to new and seasoned communications professionals. This day-long event takes place in September every year and offers a variety of sessions focusing on skills development, best practices and discussions of issues pertinent to all practitioners.

The Professional Practices Conference, which is open to both Minnesota PRSA members and nonmembers, also provides an opportunity for professionals to network with each other, share ideas, and advance their understanding of public relations, communications and marketing.

2007 Professional Practice Conference
Extreme Makeover: PR Edition!

Thursday, September 20, 2007
Crowne Plaza - Minneapolis North

Whether your skills need an extreme makeover or just a quick tune-up, join Minnesota PRSA for the 2007 Professional Practices Conference. PRSA President William Murray will open the conference with his views on the public relations industry and how the transformation in the global economy has changed communications. Then, refresh your competencies with breakout sessions catered to today's practitioner.

Download the invitation! (PDF, 1 Mb)

Time:

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Registration, Breakfast and Networking
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Conference

Location:

Crowne Plaza - Minneapolis North
2200 Freeway Blvd.
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Directions

Registration:

Register Online

For more information, contact the Minnesota PRSA office at office@mnprsa.com or 651-917-6244.

Job - PRSA's Job Mart - Your Ticket to the Top

PRSA's Job Mart - Your Ticket to the Top

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.

Sept. 20, 2007 - Save the Date: 2007 Minnesota PRSA Professional Practices Conference

Do you feel like your public relations skills need rejuvenation? Do you need to broaden your knowledge about new technologies and tools? Are you ready to augment your knowledge about the rapidly-changing communications industry?

Join us at the Crowne Plaza in Brooklyn Park for the 2007 Minnesota PRSA Professional Practices Conference on Sept. 20, for an “Extreme Makeover: PR Edition!”

Stay tuned for more details.

Carmichael Lynch Spong Wins Four Silver Anvils

Carmichael Lynch Spong continues to remain one of the nation’s most decorated public relations firms by earning four Silver Anvil and two Bronze Anvil awards last night at the industry’s most coveted competition ― the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Silver Anvil Celebration. The firm tied for the third highest number of awards and was the most award-winning public relations firm outside of New York City . The event was held in New York City at the Equitable Center .

The PRSA Silver Anvil recognizes excellence in overall public relations campaigns, while the Bronze Anvil celebrates the best public relations tactics.

"The numerous awards we received are a testament to our firm’s commitment to produce exceptional award-winning work for our clients," says Douglas K. Spong, APR, president of Carmichael Lynch Spong.

WEBER SHANDWICK WINS PRSA ANVIL AWARDS

The Twin Cities office of Weber Shandwick won a Bronze Anvil award, one Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation and two Silver Anvil Awards of Commendation from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) at the annual awards event on June 14 in New York.

"We truly value this recognition from peers throughout our industry," Sara Gavin, president of Weber Shandwick’s Twin Cities office. "These honors are a testament to our clients’ imagination and forward thinking and our shared commitment to creativity and professionalism."

Weber Shandwick received a Bronze Anvil Award in the “More Than 17 Pages” category and a Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation in the “External Video Programs” category for “Forward: Living Life After Transplant” on behalf of the National Marrow Donor Program’s® (NMDP) Office of Patient Advocacy. The NMDP challenged Weber Shandwick to develop a compelling way to educate patients ages 14 to 23 about what to expect – medically, emotionally and socially – from a blood cell or bone marrow transplant. The brochure, paired with a video, featured transplant survivors’ personal stories as well as comments from family, friends and medical experts who explained the complex medical issues the patients faced.

Weber Shandwick received two Silver Anvil Awards of Excellence in the categories of Public Service and Integrated Communications for its work with The Allstate Foundation and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Weber Shandwick's program, Keep the Drive, for The Allstate Foundation involved educating and empowering teens and their peers to make smart driving decisions. The grassroots, teen-led movement challenges teens to become advocates for safe driving and reverse the rising number of automotive fatalities that are their number one killer.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Weber Shandwick developed an integrated “surround-sound” approach – mobilizing national and local financial institutions, community-based organizations, police departments, elected officials and religious organizations as “trusted voices” on the Treasury’s behalf – to create a national campaign designed to convert Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients from dependence on paper checks to direct deposit. The high-profile, branded Go Direct campaign unites grassroots outreach with media relations, Web relations and direct mail to change the behavior of hard-to-reach, hard-to-convert check recipients.

The Alphabet Bash returns!!!

Please join...

IABC: International Association of Business Communicators
PRSA: Public Relations Society of America
AMA: American Marketing Association
Ad Fed: Advertising Federation of Minnesota

...as they host the 2nd Annual Alphabet Bash on Thursday, August 16 from 6 pm -9 pm at Trocaderos Night Club, 107 Third Ave N. in the Minneapolis Warehouse District.

The Alphabet Bash is a "can't miss" networking event celebrating Minnesota marketing and communications professionals! Make business connections, develop long-lasting relationships, explore other business development opportunities - or just come for a good time. Last year we had over 450 marketing and communications professionals in attendance — we hope to make this year even bigger and better!

Cost:
$30.00 for members of the above organizations
$40.00 for non-members
$20.00 for students
(cost will go up $10.00 if registering after August 2, 2007)

**Price includes drinks, heavy appetizers and a chance to win fabulous door prizes, including a pair of Sun Country Airline tickets to anywhere in the continental U.S. that Sun Country flies.

NEW THIS YEAR “Pre-Networking Workshop”
Beat the rush and check in early for the 2007 Alphabet Bash. Join us from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. to learn the art of network from Joan Moser of Spoken Impact. Refresh your elevator pitch and get tips that you can put to work immediately – plus get an extra drink ticket to use at the event. Registration is an additional $10 and space is limited.

To register or for additional information please visit www.alphabetbash.com

GdB wins Silver Anvil Award

Gabriel deGrood Bendt (GdB) is the recipient of a prestigious Silver Anvil Award, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The Silver Anvils, which recognize outstanding achievement in strategic public relations planning and implementation, were awarded at the Silver Anvil Awards Evening on June 14 in New York City .

GdB received a 2007 Silver Anvil Award for its "Takin' Names and Raisin' Help" campaign for Gold'n Plump Poultry which brought awareness to rural hunger, an often overlooked problem plaguing small communities in the Midwest . Featuring a traveling petition in the form of an old pickup truck, Gold'n Plump received thousands of pledges to “buy locally grown food” to support local farmers, raising awareness and funding for rural food shelters.

Get the complete list of Silver Anvil winners here.

Carmichael Lynch Spong Wins at NY PRSA awards

Carmichael Lynch Spong won top honors at the 20th Annual Big Apple Awards, held at the Rainbow Room in New York City. The awards are sponsored by the New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

Carmichael Lynch Spong received the first-ever “Best Use of Research, Measurement and Evaluation Award” on behalf of client TRANE. The award was presented by the Institute for Public Relations, an independent foundation dedicated to the Science Beneath the Art of Public Relationsä. Carmichael Lynch Spong also brought home two additional honors: a Big Apple Award for TRANE and an honorable mention for Martek Biosciences.

Carmichael Lynch Spong earned the following honors:

Best Use of Research, Measurement and Evaluation Award

“Selling the Invisible: The TRANE CleanEffects Story” - Carmichael Lynch Spong with TRANE

Big Apple Award

Marketing Consumer Products: Non-Packaged Goods "Selling the Invisible: The TRANE CleanEffects Story" - Carmichael Lynch Spong with TRANE

Honorable Mention

Marketing Consumer Products, Food & Beverage “The ‘Big 3 For Baby And Me’ Boosts DHA Omega-3 Into The Limelight” - Carmichael Lynch Spong with Martek Biosciences

"It's an honor for our firm to be recognized as a leader in research, measurement and evaluation, as this is one of the most challenging and rapidly evolving areas of our industry," says Douglas K. Spong, APR, president of Carmichael Lynch Spong. "Our team of achievement addicts is proud to produce award-winning work for our clients."