President's Message
 As communication professionals, we should constantly focus on preserving and enhancing our organization's or company's reputation. Building off this standpoint is Jeff Tucker, our featured speaker for this month's meeting. This is a must-see meeting for Orlando's public relations professionals.
Reputation is equally important to our chapter. Over the past month, many of you participated in the chapter's membership survey. We thank you for participating and value the feedback we received. As a result, the board is analyzing the results and formulating a plan of action to meet our members' expectations. As the board reviews your comments and suggestions, we're preparing an action plan reflective of what you expect. I look forward to sharing these updates with you in next month's newsletter and on our Web site.
That's it for this month. See you at the meeting.
—Andrea Finger, APR
PRSA Monthly Meeting: April 20
Corporate reputation management: the good, the bad and the ugly
Reputation influences a company's ability to achieve business goals and weather crises — it's every company's most important asset. PRSA Orlando's April luncheon focuses on managing corporate reputation.
The meeting features Jeff Tucker, co-founder and chief executive officer of Tucker/Hall public relations and public affairs firm. An accredited crisis communications specialist by the National Institute of Crisis Management, Tucker serves clients in areas of business planning, corporate image management and media relations.
Prior to establishing Tucker/Hall public relations and public affairs firm in 1990, Tucker spent nine years with the magazine division of Times Publishing Co., publishers of the St. Petersburg Times newspaper, Florida Trend and Georgia Trend business magazines and Congressional Quarterly, a Washington-based weekly magazine covering the U.S. Congress.
You won't want to miss Tucker's presentation. He'll provide an informative and entertaining look at the good, the bad and the ugly of corporate reputation management.
Date: Thursday, April 20
Time: Networking begins at 11:30 a.m., Lunch begins at noon
Place: The Citrus Club, 255 S. Orange Ave., 18th Floor, Orlando
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 roasted Canadian salmon, with Citrus Club classic key lime pie for dessert. When you RSVP, please mention if you would like a vegetarian meal.
Cancellations received after April 13 and no-shows will be billed.
March recap
Hurricane prep for the PR pro
March's meeting struck a chord for Floridians with memories of Charley, Frances and Jeanne. Featuring panelists from the American Red Cross, Orange County Government, Progress Energy and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, the luncheon provided tips on handling and preparing for hurricane season.
From establishing a crisis plan prior to hurricane season to limiting the number of company spokespersons, the panel shared ins and outs of how to weather the storm — personally, for your organization or business and for your clients.
If you missed this meeting, listen to an audio podcast of the entire presentation.
PRSA Military and Public Safety Section 2006 Conference
"ZERO TO 90" - The Role of Public Affairs and Emergency Response in a Post-Katrina World
Date: April 30 - May 2, 2006
Place: Wyndham Baltimore Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Md.
This conference takes a hands-on approach to equipping today's government public affairs practitioners with the requisite skills to accomplish their mission during times of natural disasters and domestic terrorist events. For the culminating session of this conference, participants will operate a joint information center (JIC) to simulate executing collaborative public affairs planning during an emergency response.
Featured panelists include those who provide information during a catastrophe, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, and those who report the news during a catastrophe.
During the second half of the conference, members of the Military and Public Safety Section will conduct an emergency exercise, Zero to 90. The exercise will emphasize collaboration during a crisis, giving on-camera interviews, and conducting media briefings and news conferences.
Special guest speakers include:
- Marty Bahamonde, Public Affairs, Federal Emergency
- Catherine Bolton, PRSA Executive Director and COO
- Commander Ronald LaBrec, Commanding Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard National Search and Rescue (SAR) School
A networking dinner will be held on April 30 at McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant in the Inner Harbor. The cost is $50 per person. Pre- registration by April 22 is required.
Registration Fees By April 10
- PRSA Military and Public Safety Section members, $199
- PRSA members, $259
- Nonmembers, $350
After April 10
- PRSA Military and Public Safety Section members, $249
- PRSA members, $299
- Nonmembers, $400
Questions about this event? Contact Tina Honer at tina.honer@prsa.org or 212-460-1438.
2006 Conference Sponsors: URS Coleman, AudienceCentral, Bacon's and Nortel Government Solutions.
Click here to register
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Ten Minutes/Ten Questions
Name: Sabrina Heise
Occupation: Public Relations Manager, The Leavitt Companies
PRSA Involvement: I'm a new PRSA member, but I have been attending meetings and events for many years.
Person who has most influenced your life: My parents, who could not have been more supportive, and my husband, who gives me the most amazing confidence and belief in myself!
Quote to live by: Rest not! Life is sweeping by; go and dare before you die. Something mighty and sublime, leave behind to conquer time. —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
What made you choose PR as a profession: Somehow, I always knew I wanted to work in PR. I love to write and have always been a storyteller, which I believe is a wonderful way to consider PR — the telling of great stories.
Best PR advice you ever received: Think like a reporter! If you wouldn't be interested in the story, then you need to go back and repackage it. Always consider how to approach the story from multiple angles and, by doing this, you flesh out a more complete look at what you really have to offer reporters. Don't forget to consider visuals that will help reporters "see" the story.
Greatest accomplishment: I'm proud of many accomplishments, but I'm most proud of being the first person in my family to attend college. I'm also proud that while I was attending Stetson University, I served as president of our Habitat for Humanity chapter. Although we had a chapter on campus for many years, that year we were able to sponsor the first-ever Stetson University Habitat House. I'll never forget personally handing over the keys to the deserving family.
Favorite thing to do on the weekend: I love curling up with a good book while one of my dogs sleeps at my feet. My husband and I also both love to play golf and tennis as much as possible on the weekends.
Something nobody really knows about you: I grew up on a farm with horses, chickens, pigs, cows and goats. For my thirteenth birthday, my parents gave my twin calves — I named them Mooey and Chewy and had to feed them with an oversized bottle every day before school.
Member News
Congratulations to Laura Richeson, APR, Vice President of Bennett & Company, on her recent achievement of becoming accredited in public relations.
PRSA Orlando welcomes Meghan O'Brien, account manager for TravMedia USA, LLC, to the chapter. Meghan became a member in February.
Congratulations to Dawn Vaughan, APR, PRSA Orlando VP of Accreditation, on her new position at Florida's Blood Centers as Manager of Communications and Strategic Alliances. Dawn was recently involved in the taping of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition in Riviera Beach. The show organized a large construction-site blood drive with Florida’s Blood Centers for the cast, crew and community.
Dawn's new contact info: dvaughan@floridasbloodcenters.org; office: 407-226-3856; fax: 407-226-3865.
Check out the Job Bank
Keep checking PRSA Orlando's up-to-date job bank for the latest openings in Central Florida.
Or, if you're looking for the best talent in the area, post your company's open positions on the site.
Click below to check it out!
Check your info
Remember to update your contact information with the national chapter of PRSA, and check your status with the Orlando chapter.
Even if you haven't made any career moves, make sure you're in proper standing 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!
Submissions
To submit stories or ideas for the PRSA newsletter, please contact Communications VP Michelle Lynch.
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