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Welcome 2010

Welcome 2010 (and for many of you, I’m sure, good riddance to 2009)! Despite the very challenging economy, your Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Gulf Coast Chapter remains active and engaged. It is my goal as your President to make sure that PRSA remains relevant for our profession.
I am truly honored to serve with such a talented and supportive group of officers and directors representing Collier AND Lee counties. I hope that you will join us on Tuesday, January 26th to personally welcome your new 2010 Board of Directors.
Speaking of our January program, we will host a timely and informative panel discussion on “The New News & Citizen Journalism” featuring top editors of the Naples Daily News and Fort Myers News-Press. Further details are listed below.
Again, best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Sincerely,
Clay W. Cone
Clay W. Cone
President, PRSA Gulf Coast Chapter

Welcome 2010 (and for many of you, I’m sure, good riddance to 2009)!

Despite the very challenging economy, your Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Gulf Coast Chapter remains active and engaged. It is my goal as your President to make sure that PRSA remains relevant for our profession.

I am truly honored to serve with such a talented and supportive group of officers and directors representing Collier AND Lee counties. I hope that you will join us on Tuesday, January 26th to personally welcome your new 2010 Board of Directors.

Speaking of our January program, we will host a timely and informative panel discussion on “The New News & Citizen Journalism” featuring top editors of the Naples Daily News and Fort Myers News-Press. Further details are listed below.

Again, best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,

Clay W. Cone
President, PRSA Gulf Coast Chapter

January 26th – “The New News & Citizen Journalism”
Please plan to join us for a timely and information program on “The New News & Citizen Journalism.” The program will feature a panel discussion with Phil Lewis, Editor of the Naples Daily News, and Cindy McCurry-Ross, Senior Managing Editor for the Fort Myers News-Press. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. with social and networking, with lunch to follow at noon. The cost is $24 per person for PRSA members, $29 for non-members and $15 for students. This program is being generously sponsored by our friends at Business Wire, a global leader in news distribution.

Day: Tuesday, January 26
Time: 11:30-1:30 p.m.
Location: Hilton Naples, 5111 Tamiami Trail N. Naples, FL 34103
RSVP: ksaenz@ingagenetworks.com
Deadline for RSVP is January 22nd

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Strategic PR in a Lightspeed Environment

Dear PRSA Members & Friends:

As we all gear up for a season of holiday parties and charity events… It is never too late to brush up on your PR strategy to maximize the impact of your message on your audience.

While we discuss PR strategy, I also want to encourage you to think about your personal strategy… and how a PRSA membership can help you achieve your goals.

The Gulf Coast Chapter is offering a half-price membership special. This is a rare opportunity to join a PR association with national affiliation that is making a local impact. Details to the special are below.

Hope to see you at the next luncheon!

Sincerely,

Cyndee Woolley, APR
President, PRSA Gulf Coast Chapter

October 27th — PR Strategy: Best Practices for Strategic Planning in Today’s Lightspeed Environment
Client expectations for successful PR strategy are higher than ever.  In this struggling environment, business owners and corporate CEOs are investing precious dollars into their marketing plans and counting on accurate PR strategy to carry their message to the right audience  – and make an impact.  Please join us as Dr. Terri Bailey, Assistant Professor – Department of Communication and Philosophy at Florida Gulf Coast University, revisits the strategic plan, giving us her expert advice on how to integrate a solid plan into each client’s communications goals, develop a unified campaign theme, and stay on track.

RSVP: ksaenz@neighborhoodamerica.com

Member News

New Member Special!

If you have been on the fence about joining PRSA, now is the time to jump into an organization that will set YOU on the right PR path professionally.

With the funds raised from our September program at Naples Daily News, the Gulf Coast Chapter is offering a half-price new member special in October. The first 10 people to bring a PRSA application and a check for $145, will receive a matching scholarship from the Chapter.

Naples Daily News Survey

The Naples Daily News was very generous to host our meeting in September. In the program, they referenced a survey about their products and upcoming planning.

Please support our local media by giving your feedback through Naples Daily News’ survey.

Ready to Present? PRSA GA 2010 Conference need you on May 6th 2010

You’ve spent years honing your skills as a PR professional. Now share your expertise with over 150 PR professionals from around the Southeast! The PRSA|GA Annual Conference Committee is now accepting presentation submissions for the 2010 PRSA|GA Annual Conference, scheduled for Thursday, May 6, at the Loudermilk Center in Atlanta. Click here for details

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How to Write a Social Media Release

We have a group of 3-4 members who want to attend Ann Wylie’s PRSA Teleseminar on September 10th 3-4 PM.

Email Kathy Saenz, ksaenz@neighborhoodamerica.com, if you are interested in splitting the cost and sharing the knowledge. The more the merrier, and the cheaper per person!

PRSA Teleseminar

Write Releases that Get Posted on Portals, Help Google Find Your Site, Reach Readers Online and More

How to Write a Social Media Release
Thursday, September 10
3–4 p.m. EDT

These days, releases can do more than just get your story reported in news outlets. Online releases can get posted on news portals and other Web sites; be seen directly by customers, clients and other stakeholders; and even boost your search engine rankings. Ann Wylie demonstrates how to write a release that takes advantage of online distribution to accomplish all of your public relations and communications goals. 

You’ll learn:

  • Why jargon, buzzwords and other “gobbledygook” hurts communication worse online than in print.
  • How to write better headlines, decks and leads for your online release.
  • How long your online release should be
  • How to craft links that help Google find your Web site and that work for most news portals.
  • Where to add links, and what to link to, to make the most of your SEO opportunities.
  • How to optimize your releases for search engines as well as for readers.

You will hear from:

Ann Wylie, president, Wylie Communications, Inc., works with communicators who want to reach more readers and with organizations that want to get the word out. Ann travels from Hollywood to Helsinki, helping communicators at such organizations as NASA, AT&T and H&R Block reach more readers. In addition to writing and editing, Ann helps organizations launch or revitalize their Web sites and publications, and helps communicators polish their skills and find new inspiration for their work.

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NDN Launches Cutting-Edge Media Strategy

Dear PRSA Members and Friends:

We had an exciting focus group at our last luncheon. Moving forward, our priorities will be:

1) Developing more advanced level public relations programs

2) Alternating some locations to be more inclusive to our membership base

3) Start raising scholarships for membership for deserving members and up-and-coming PR professionals

I appreciate the honest and open discussion that our guests provided. This is valuable to keep our organization strong!

Naples_Daily_News_Logo_smallOur next program is September 22nd and is hosted by the Naples Daily News. This program will discuss the NDN marketing strategy as well as offer tips on collaboration opportunities.

Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Cyndee Woolley, APR
President, PRSA Gulf Coast Chapter

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A Community You Can Count On

Dear Chapter Leaders:

I am excited to provide you details for our upcoming Membership Campaign – “A Community You Can Count On” which offers new members a free Chapter membership when they join PRSA.

As you know Membership involves you. Once a month, I will send you  updates providing you with details to assist your Chapter.   Based off your feedback, I will be reviewing the content of these emails and update them to provide you with tips, tools and tactics to best lead your Chapter.  This month we will only discuss our Chapter promotion, but stay tuned as a new and improved forum is created to provide you with the tools you need. If there is additional information you think we should be providing – please let me know. In the meantime, enjoy the information about the promotion!

Overview

This offer will be the same as the previous free Chapter campaign we ran earlier this year. When a new member joins PRSA national they receive, a free one-year membership to the PRSA Chapter of their choice. PRSA National covers the cost of the first year Chapter dues!

Website

In order to assist you we created a website that provides tips and tools to get the most from this promotion. For this promotion we created additional resources to expand our reach. The resources include:

Mailing

In the next few days you will be receiving a packet from us that includes:

  • Offer overview and tips.
  • Promotional fliers.
  • Our generic membership application with a space for the promotion code in the payment section. We do encourage prospects to join online.

Additional Information

This offer is open to new members and reinstating members who have been inactive for at least one year and rejoin as regular members. (Associate members are not eligible).

Reimbursements are made with the monthly payments that National sends to Chapters for dues collected.

At the end of this promotion, we will award the Chapters who have:

  • Greatest overall growth during the promotion.
  • Most new members specifically from this offer.

Awards are reimbursements towards Chapter professional development expenses; the total number of new members from the promotion determines the award amounts.

What is National Doing?

In addition to providing Chapters with resources we will be doing the following as part of this campaign:

  • Direct email to prospects – people who have attended a PRSA PD Event.
  • Posting details on all of our social media channels.
  • Encouraging key leaders to blog about the value of membership!
  • Providing a prominent position on our website.

Feedback

Your feedback is really important to us.  Please take one minute and click here to answer four questions about future promotions, it would be really appreciated.

For those of you who I am just starting to work with. I am really looking forward to growing our community together. Please contact me if you need anything or would like to share ideas, suggestions etc.

Respectfully,

Mary Ann T. Green
Membership Chair, PRSA Gulf Coast Chapter

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Share Your Thoughts on the Chapter

Dear PRSA Members & Friends:

“It isn’t what they say about you, it’s what they whisper,” said Errol Flynn.

Well, we would like to hear what you are whispering about the Gulf Coast Chapter of PRSA… so we are going to bribe you with free food. You were planning on eating lunch on Tuesday August 25th, right? Well come have lunch with us at the Hilton at 11:30 am.

Email your RSVP to ksaenz@neighborhoodamerica.com. Hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Cyndee Woolley, APR
President, PRSA Gulf Coast Chapter

August 25th – Free Lunch at the Hilton
Join your friends at PRSA for a free luncheon. We want to say thank you for your support and learn more about your expectations for the future. This is a casual conversation, so don’t be afraid to speak up.
This is open to both members and non-members.
AND there will be a nice door prize, courtesy of the Chapter. We have a newly updated media directory. We will do a drawing for 3 lucky winners to get a directory of local media contacts.

September (TBA) – Special luncheon at the Naples Daily News

Stay tuned for details!


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Does Traditional Media Still Matter?

Define the Role Traditional Media Plays in Your Communications Plan

Does Traditional Media Still Matter?
FREE Webinar, Thursday, August 13
3–4 p.m. EDT

With social media seemingly taking over the world, many public relations professionals are wondering if traditional media still matters to their PR strategy. Join the discussion to determine what role traditional media should play and whether it is still an effective way to build awareness and reach your target audience. Join Donald K. Wright, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, professor of public relations at Boston University, and Annie Jennings, CEO of Annie Jennings PR, as they discuss the value of traditional media.

  • Where traditional media fits in your overall strategy.
  • Techniques to maximize your campaign’s coverage using traditional media.
  • Tactics to build awareness using traditional media.

INSTRUCTOR

Donald Wright, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, is one of the world’s most published public relations scholars, with a solid footprint on the academic and practitioner sides of the public relations profession. Past recipient of the PRSA Outstanding Educator Award, Dr. Wright is a member of the board of trustees for the Arthur W. Page Society and the Institute for Public Relations.

Annie Jennings, CEO, Annie Jennings PR, is a national publicist specializing in promoting authors and experts to the media. She recently presented to The Harvard Club about top level strategies for communicating via the media, and was an invited guest lecturer for NYU’s Publishing Program and for the American Society Of Journalists & Authors. She has organized numerous radio campaigns for leading publishing houses nationwide, and has booked radio interviews in major markets.

FREE WEBINAR, Thursday, August 13, 3–4 p.m. EDT
PRSA Members FREE/Nonmembers FREE

Register for “Does Traditional Media Still Matter” today!

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Join HARO-Help A Reporter Out

haro_logo_bk

Peter Shankman’s HARO, Help A Reporter Out, is a wonderful resource for any communications professional. If you haven’t joined already, it’s free and easy to do.

You sign up and receive three or so emails a day from Peter, all with reporters looking for sources.

I joined and my company has landed interviews as a result. No gimmicks. No spam.

Click here to learn how it works.

Best,
Kathy Saenz
Treasurer, PRSA Gulf Coast Chapter

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How Do You Rate As A Writer?

snappysoundbites

A big thanks to those that joined us last week at our Gulf Coast Chapter PRSA meeting at Northern Trust, featuring a teleseminar by Communications Guru Ann Wylie, “Creating Snappy Sound Bites.”

Creating snappy sound bites is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to writing dynamic news releases or testimonials, but are you approaching it the right way?

Click here to download the PDF handout from the presentation, which includes a writing self-assessment quiz.

Do you agree with what Ann has to say about sound bites, or do you prefer a different approach? Tell us what you think!