President's Message
 Dear Colleagues,
Happy April everyone! I have some wonderful news to share with you about the state of the Orlando Regional Chapter membership.
First, I congratulate our past membership co-chairs, Sabrina Heise and Mason Moore, for their leadership and dedication. Recently, I received word from PRSA National that the Orlando Regional Chapter received first place recognition among large chapters (200 or more members) for membership growth in 2006. Overall, our membership increased by 13.8% totaling 214 members. Way to go!
For 2007, I want to highlight our steady growth in the first quarter. Based on a recent report from National, we have already welcomed 12 new members to our chapter. I thank our new membership co-chairs, Jessi Blakely and Scott Toncray, who are truly off to a great start. Awesome job!
Furthermore, I acknowledge you, our members. Your choice to join and to renew each year is the very reason we can collectively celebrate such exciting times together. Our success is completely yours.
As the profession transforms and changes are ever present, there has never been a more important time to be a part of a community who can provide you with support, guidance and wisdom to help you with your next deadline, project, client or campaign.
To our non-member friends, I want to encourage you to consider joining us for the many benefits and resources that a PRSA chapter membership brings to the table. Take a moment to catch up with a colleague who may be a member and find out why they decided to become one. If you need more information about joining our chapter, feel free to contact our membership co-chairs or any of the board of directors.
Again, congratulations and thank you! I look forward to seeing you on the third Thursday of this month for another fantastic program!
—Lorelie Johnson, APR
The Ins and Outs of Community Relations
Ever wondered what a position in community relations really entails? Are you curious about the skills and experience that are essential to success in a fast paced and high profile community relations office?
Learn all this and more as PRSA Orlando welcomes Judi Lebredo, Representative, Community & Diversity Relations for Universal Orlando Resort for our April 19 luncheon program!
This is your chance to learn the ins and outs of community relations from one of Central Florida's top tourism destinations and community partners. Join us as Judi shares her tips, stories and experiences of nine years in Community Relations at Universal Orlando Resort.
Entrée: Stuffed Chicken
Dessert: Chocolate Cake
Where: The Citrus Club, 255 S. Orange Avenue, 18th Floor, Orlando
When: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Networking/registration begins at 11:30 a.m.; lunch begins at noon
Cost:
$20 for members
$30 for non-members
$15 for students
Click here to RSVP
Ten Minutes/Ten Questions
Name: Michele Plant
Occupation: Director, Marketing & Communications for Heart of Florida United Way
PRSA Involvement: Member since 1997; past professional development chair and past programs chair.
Person who has most influenced your life: Actually, there's more than one person. I would have to say my parents and my younger sister. My family has always been very close knit and my parents worked very hard to build a solid foundation for us.
Quote to live by: "Strive to live your life to the fullest and don't let one day go by without trying to live it the best way you can." —author unknown. I look at everyday life this way.
What made you choose PR as a profession? Well, it's funny. I entered college as an accounting major, since I excelled in math throughout high school. After my freshman year, my mom asked, "Why do you want to be in a room surrounded by numbers for the rest of your life when you're so great at communicating with people?" I looked at her and said, "Good point!" Then I reviewed every major under Communications and changed to Ad/PR. I have to say, I'm very happy my mother asked me that question. I couldn't imagine being in another profession.
Best PR advice you ever received: Honesty is the best policy.
Greatest accomplishment: After weighing a few options, I would honestly have to say it's what I'm currently doing at United Way. I go home feeling great at the end of every day, knowing that the work I do in marketing and communications impacts more than 352,000 Central Floridians in need.
Favorite thing to do on the weekend: Hang with my two dogs, Cleo and Stoli, and my friends; exercise.
Something nobody really knows about you: I am a rock chic. I LOVE rock music and concerts! Aerosmith is my all-time favorite. A few years ago, they stopped through Orlando and filmed the concert for their You Gotta Move DVD — my girlfriends and I appeared on the DVD — twice.
Sunshine District Conference Save The Date
 Get Ready to Upgrade to HDPR: Creating the Clear Picture
What: High Definition Public Relations
When: July 26-28, 2007
Where: Disney's Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Florida
Stay tuned. More information to follow soon.
PRSA Membership Promotion - Extended to April 14
Join PRSA before April 14 and save $65.
To sign up, go to PRSA's national site link: www.prsa.org/membership/promotionApril07.html and indicate promotion code TASTE2007.
You may also fax or mail your application, and PRSA staff will adjust for the $65 savings before your credit card is charged.
Note: Clicking the "membership button" on PRSA National takes you on a different path that will not handle this promotion.
For more information, please contact scott_toncray@wycliffefoundation.org
Mentor a Future Industry Leader Today!
Do you remember when you were a young college student, trying to find your way? Did you have a mentor who gave you advice that lasted a lifetime?
Now is the time to give someone that opportunity.
Help cultivate tomorrow's industry leaders. After all, they are your legacy.
To request a registration form, contact Ryan Sheehy, Ad/PR instructor, at rsheehy@mail.ucf.edu or (407) 823-2199.
Universal Accreditation Board Announces Quarterly Results
On March 6, the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), the leading certification body for public relations professionals, released Oct-Dec 2006 quarterly statistics for the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations.
This report covers the second quarter of the Accreditation program's fourth year, reflecting the inception of the computer-based Examination with Readiness Review on July 1, 2003.
"These quarter-over-quarter results are positive, showing an upward trend over the last few years, and we feel great about the program's momentum this year," said 2007 UAB Chair Marisa Vallbona, APR. "In December alone, 37 candidates sat for the computer-based Examination, which is the highest monthly total, by a wide margin, since the Examination's inception."
Click here for the full version: www.praccreditation.org/News
If you are interested in learning more about the APR programs offered by PRSA Orlando, please contact:
Cluny McCaffrey, APR at (407) 682-3664 x130 or cluny_mccaffrey@tnc.org
Laura E. Richeson, APR at (407) 478-4040 or lricheson@bennettandco.com
Annual Statewide Marketing Award Competition
VISIT FLORIDA®, the state's official tourism marketing organization, is now accepting entries for the annual statewide tourism marketing awards program, The Flagler Awards.
Presented by VISIT FLORIDA®, the Flagler Awards program is designed to recognize the outstanding tourism marketing efforts of Florida's travel businesses, destinations and attractions.
The awards are open to any Florida-based company, association, non-profit organization, government agency or individual that markets a product, service or experience to tourists in Florida.
The deadline for submissions is May 11, 2007. The entry fee is $30 per entry for VISIT FLORIDA® Partners and $45 per entry for all others.
All entries must promote tourism to or within Florida, and must have appeared, aired, been published or otherwise implemented for the first time between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2006.
The awards will be presented during the 2007 Florida Governor's Conference on Tourism, Aug. 26-28, at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
The Flagler Awards Call for Entry form and guidelines are available at www.VISITFLORIDA.org.
For more information, call Hayworth Creative at (386) 677-7000 or e-mail flaglerawards@visitflorida.org.
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!
Submissions
To submit stories or ideas for the PRSA newsletter, please contact Communications VP Michelle Lynch.
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