President's Message
 If you read all the way to the end of this newsletter — and I hope you will — you'll understand why PR professionals believe communication is an art, and why others think we work magic.
Many things are happening in March, all designed to engage members and encourage participation at whatever level is comfortable.
PARTICIPATE — The local chapter is looking for member feedback on programs, accreditation and communication. I encourage you to spend a few moments participating in this effort.
PREPARE — I'm also looking forward to hearing from our local experts on preparing our communication plans for this year's hurricane season. This month's member luncheon includes a panel of communication professionals from Progress Energy, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Orange County Government and the American Red Cross.
ENGAGE — Orlando's PR community comes together to conduct an accreditation preparation study course — one of the most successful programs in the state. Taught by accredited professionals, the course combines business experience with textbook knowledge to help APR candidates prepare for the examination. If you've ever considered becoming an APR, the chapter is hosting an orientation session later this month. For me, becoming an APR was one of the best things I could have done to invest in my career and my professional development.
SERVE — We've just created and filled an assistant treasurer's position, and there are still a few more openings on the local board of directors. We're currently looking for people willing to serve as Diversity Chair or Professional Development Chair. If you're interested, please e-mail me at andrea.m.finger@disney.com. All the people serving on this board of directors are incredibly talented, hard-working and fun people to know. I feel very lucky to be surrounded by their skills and enthusiasm.
That's it for me this month. As always, I hope to see you at the March 16 luncheon. Have a great month.
—Andrea Finger, APR
PRSA Monthly Meeting: March 16
Hurricane prep for the PR pro
Charley. Frances. Jeanne. If those names mean anything to you, then you definitely want to attend the March 16 PRSA luncheon to learn best practices from communication pros who served on the front lines as these hurricanes ripped through Central Florida in 2004. Panelists include:
- C.J. Drake, media spokesperson, Progress Energy
- Stephen Wilson, Senior Corporate Communications Consultant, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida
- Steve Triggs, manager of communications, Orange County Government
- Maria Yabrudy, communications manager, American Red Cross of Central Florida
June 1 will be here soon. Make sure your organization or business is ready for the 2006 hurricane season.
Date: Thursday, March 16
Time: Networking begins at 11:30 a.m., Lunch begins at noon
Place: The Citrus Club, 255 S. Orange Ave., 18th Floor, Orlando
(directions | map)
Cost: $20 for members, $30 for guests, $15 for students
Click here to RSVP. You can pay online using PayPal or pay at the event using cash or check only.
Please include your name, company, title, phone number and e-mail address. The entree will be a spinach- and goat cheese-stuffed chicken breast, with Grand Marnier chocolate mousse for dessert. When you RSVP, please mention if you would like a vegetarian meal.
Cancellations received after March 9 and no-shows will be billed.
February recap
VNRs, satellite media tours and B-roll
February's meeting featured three seasoned video pros giving the ins and outs of video PR. From multiple ways b-roll can be used to disbursement
of VNRs, these panelists touched on nearly all aspects of this side of public relations.
A large part of the session focused on the ethics of video PR. With recent debates surrounding the ethics of VNRs, this subject attracted a lot of interest. VNRs should have the same type of a response as a news release — it should be sent to the stations with full contact information, and
reporters need to investigate the story and the source to ensure accuracy before it gets any airtime, panelists said.
Many times, VNRs submitted without contact information won't even get a second look.
Ethics plays a key role in our profession, and it's critical to our reputation to maintain ethical standards in all practices, including video PR.
Ten Minutes/Ten Questions
Name: Hue Lien Duxbury, APR
Occupation: Senior Account Manager at Consensus Communications
PRSA Involvement: I reached a milestone this year with 10 years of active membership, three of which were in a board capacity: Community
Service Director in 2000 and 2001 and VP of Administration in 2006.
Person who has most influenced your life: My dad was the most influential person in my life. He taught me humility and to treat everyone, from the CEO down, with the same care and respect.
Quote to live by: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." —Martin Luther King Jr., letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963
What made you choose PR as a profession: When I learned the definition of public relations in PR 101, I liked the concept of influencing behavior. To have the ability to move people in a positive direction or educate them on important issues has real value.
Best PR advice you ever received: Where there's empty space, people naturally want to fill it. It's the smart professional that knows when to be
quiet.
Greatest accomplishment: Recently, it's becoming accredited in public relations.
Favorite thing to do on the weekend: A great weekend typically consists of a long bike ride in Lake County with my husband, experimenting with new recipes on friends and time on the couch with the New York Times.
Something nobody really knows about you: I have two Labrador retrievers, and I'm one of those crazy dog owners who train dogs for competition — not quite on the level of "Best in Show," but I'm getting there!
Ready to become an APR?
Come to the orientation meeting
If you've been thinking about obtaining your APR but just haven't taken the leap, now is the time! Don't let the process slow you down. If you have the experience, desire and commitment, our orientation will help you achieve your goal by:
- Familiarizing you with the process
- Determining if you're ready
- Familiarizing you with the time commitment
- Answering other questions during a general Q & A session
What: APR Orientation Meeting
When: Wednesday, March 8 at 8 a.m.
Where: Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, 301 E. Pine Street, Suite 900, Downtown Orlando
Why: Obtain your APR certification
We'll answer all your questions about the process, the study sessions and what has helped other candidates achieve their goals.
The next round of study sessions are scheduled to begin the week of March 20 (specific day of the week and time to be determined by candidates). To register for the orientation, contact Dawn Vaughan, APR, at dvaughan@floridasbloodcenters.org or at 407-226-3856.
Check out the Job Bank
Be sure to keep checking PRSA Orlando's up-to-date job bank for the latest openings in Central Florida.
Or, if you're looking for some of the best talent in the area, post your company's open positions on the site.
Click below to check it out!
News for our members
NIRI invites PRSA members to attend March event: Corporate Disclosure and Investor Relations Trends with NIRI National Executives
This special program will be led by two of the most authoritative voices in the field of investor communications: Lou Thompson, president and CEO of NIRI, and Mary Dunbar, chairman of NIRI and senior vice president, investor relations at Dix & Eaton.
Investor relations professionals get a unique opportunity to gain expert guidance on the latest in executing a superior investor relations program amid the dynamics of today's SEC and Wall Street environment.
Local investor relations professionals will have an exclusive opportunity to network with members of
NIRI's National Board, representing some of the largest publicly traded companies in the country.
When: March 9
Place: Tampa Club, 101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, (813) 229-6028
Time: 11:30 a.m., Registration and Networking; Noon, Lunch and Program; 1:15 p.m. Q & A Session
Cost: $25 for NIRI-CF Members; $35 for Guests
RSVP by March 6 to Mindy Vondersaar, Aerosonic Corporation, 1212 N. Hercules Ave., Clearwater, FL 33765. Phone: (727) 461-3000 x142; Fax: (727) 447-5926; E-mail: mindy@aerosonic.com
Please include your name, company, telephone number and e-mail address when you respond. Make checks payable to NIRI Central Florida Chapter.
You may pay at the door, or you may send your check to Mindy at the above address.
This event is sponsored by PR Newswire.
Time to update your info
It's time to update your contact information with the national chapter of PRSA, and also check your status with your local Orlando chapter.
Even if you haven't switched occupations, titles, phone numbers or locations, it's still a good idea to make sure you're in proper standing with correct contact information with both chapters.
When updating your information, remember to check your affiliation with PRSA Orlando to make sure you're part of your local chapter!
PRSA Orlando welcomes assistant treasurer
Peter Scott joins the PRSA Orlando Board as the assistant treasurer, bringing his background in finance and experience in investor relations to the team. Peter is the communications director at Incharge Institute, a financial education and counseling company.
Quote of the Month
"The greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished."
—George Bernard Shaw
Submissions
To submit stories or ideas for the PRSA newsletter, please contact Communications VP Michelle Lynch.
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