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November
E-Newsletter

November XX , 2009
In This E-Newsletter
Dec. 4: Save the Date for the 2009 Cleveland Rocks Awards Luncheon
Cleveland Rocks Silent Auction Items Needed
To Manage it, Measure it
Batyko Elected Fellow
New Cleveland APRs
Save Money on Section Memberships
Free PR resources just a click away
Tough Year, Strong Finish
Rick Batyko headshot
 
November, for all practical purposes, marks the end of your board's year as December is dedicated to strategic planning and the transition to the incoming board.  
 
It's been a challenging year, as evidenced by a decrease in our membership ranks due to a difficult economy.  On the positive side, our program attendance has been strong, our sponsorship income has been higher than projected and nearly every objective in our strategic plan has been accomplished.  We've added a Vice President of Communications (for 2010) to help ease the demands of the overburdened Secretary's position.  Our new communications tools have been skillfully employed and are connecting us to hundreds of professionals throughout the region.  Most notably, our volunteer base has been as dedicated as ever even when most experienced increased workloads in the office.  Thank you to everyone who contributed time and effort. 

Our only negative is the reduction in membership to 270 from over 290 at the beginning of the year.  While we've taken less of a hit than many other chapters and our prospect list is promising, we hope every member who was displaced in this turbulent economy is employed here in Greater Cleveland soon.

The current board is proud to leave the Chapter in sound shape, financially strong and well-positioned for the new board.  Thank you to all who have helped make this possible. 
 
Rick Batyko, APR, Fellow
President
PRSA Greater Cleveland Chapter
 
 Rocks 2009 Logo
 
The 7th Annual PRSA Cleveland Rocks Awards 
 
Get to the Heart of Rock and Roll and Find out the Best of Northeast Ohio Public Relations
 

You're invited to get to the heart of the best of Northeast Ohio's public relations practices.
Join peers and friends for the 7th Annual PRSA Cleveland Rocks Awards luncheon on Friday, December 4, 2009 at Windows on the River, 2000 Sycamore Street, Cleveland.
 
RSVP by Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Early bird special: Register by Wednesday, November 18, 2009 and receive reduced costs to luncheon.
 
Program:
11:30 a.m. - Arrive, network and check out silent auction items
12:00p.m. - Lunch
12:30 p.m. - Awards program
2:00 p.m. - Closing remarks
 
Costs: 
$60 member (PRSA or NOCA members)
$75 nonmember
 
Early Bird Special:
Purchase tickets by Wednesday, November 18 and take $10 off price of each ticket. Purchase a table by November 18 for only $350, regardless of member/nonmember status. After November 18, tables will cost $480
 
For more information or to register please click HERE
Cleveland Rocks Silent Auction Items Needed
 
Please donate items/services/gift certificates to our chapter's Cleveland Rocks silent auction. Proceeds fund two college scholarships.

Established to raise funds to support the chapter's annual scholarships*, the silent auction takes place at the chapter's most well-attended event, the annual Cleveland Rocks Awards Ceremony. In 2008, The Cleveland Rocks Awards ceremony drew more than 170 public relations professionals from Northeast Ohio's top agencies, institutions and corporations. If you would like to donate to the silent auction, please contact Heather Kessen 216.912.2856 or [email protected] BY NOVEMBER 20.

Donated items can include, but are not limited to: sporting and concert tickets, merchandise, gift cards (restaurant, spa/salon, activity, shopping), services (printing, transportation) and themed gift baskets - be creative!

Thank you for your continued support of PRSA and its annual scholarship program. Your contributions will help to enhance the careers of future public relations professionals.

*The scholarship competition is open to junior and senior students currently enrolled at a Northeast Ohio college or university and majoring in public relations, communications, or a related field. Students who are permanent residents of Northeast Ohio, attending a college or university and majoring in public relations, communications or a related field are also eligible.

 
To Manage It, Measure It
Friday, December 11,  2009
 
1
0:30 a.m. Registration
11:00 a.m. Program/Lunch
1:00 p.m.   Adjourn
 
Greater Cleveland Partnership
The Higbee Building
100 Public Square, 2nd floor
Cleveland, OH  44113

Now more than ever, communications needs to be accurately measured for effectiveness.  In fact, a recent article in The Firm Voice, measurement is a top priority for many firms in the coming year.  Your Web site, media relations, employee communications and social media all need solid, thoughtful evaluation.  Learn the current state of measurement in these four areas, with practical, direct take-aways to help you tackle the communication challenge of the new century.

Moderator Sean Williams, owner of Communication AMMO, Inc.will join Chuck Hemann, manger of research and online reputation for Dix & Eaton, and Greg Weigle, Internet marketing consultant for ReachLocal, on December 11 for this timely program.

Cost to attend:
PRSA Members $30.
Non-members $45
Advance registration is required. Click
HEREto register online.
Batyko Elected Fellow 
 
Congratulations to our own Chapter President Rick Batyko for being elected into the national PRSA's prestigious College of Fellows. The 2009 Fellows candidates were inducted Nov. 7 during a ceremony at the International Conference in San Diego. 

Rick is the current president of the Greater Cleveland Chapter and is a past president of the Akron Chapter.  He has served as a PRSA Assembly Delegate, has co-chaired and participated in various national committees and has been a speaker at a numerous local, regional and national PRSA conferences.
 
Professionally, Rick has held communications and marketing leadership roles for Fortune 500 corporations and nonprofit organizations. He has served as a director of communications and brand management for AlliedSignal; as manager, e-Media and news management at Honeywell International; and vice president for marketing & communications at The Cleveland Foundation. Currently he is vice president for regional marketing at the Greater Cleveland Partnership. He is a graduate of Ohio University's E. W. Scripps School of Journalism.
 
This year's group of Fellows is comprised of senior practitioners and educators who have demonstrated strong dedication and have made significant contributions to the field of public relations. 

The College of Fellows was founded in 1990 as a way to recognize individuals who have demonstrated superior capabilities as public relations practitioners or educators. According to PRSA Bylaws, College of Fellows candidates must have 20 years experience or more in the public relations industry and exhibit exceptional personal and professional qualities while advancing the state of the profession.
New APRs 
Four public relations professionals were acknowledged for receiving the highest achievement in our field, Accreditation into the National Public Relations Society of America.  The four individuals honored were:
 
Kelly Jasko, manager, external communications at Eaton Corporation, Kim Pupillo, senior account executive at Marcus-Thomas, llc; Jan Wittry, public affairs specialist for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service; and Jennifer Ransom, manager of the Learning Center and Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

The Accreditation program aims to improve the practice of public relations by assessing competence in 60 areas of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the profession. The examination is designed for public relations professionals with at least five years of public relations experience. Candidates who successfully complete the rigorous process, including presenting a case study to a Readiness Review panel of three peers and sitting for a computer-based examination, are granted the APR.
 
Classes to prepare candidates for APR examination are offered in both the spring and the fall each year.  Spring dates will be announced in January.  Individuals may express their interest in participating in the APR process by contacting either of the program's co-chairs: Barbara Hatala ([email protected]) or Jan Gusich ([email protected]).
New and renewing PRSA members save big $$ on section memberships

New members joining with two or more years of public relations experience will receive a FREE one-year Section membership ($60 value) during November and December. Current members with two or more years of public relations experience will SAVE $20 ($40 value) on new Section memberships.

As a member of one or more of 19 available Professional Interest Sections, you have access to industry information that is critical in today's highly competitive workforce. Designed to focus on issues, trends and research in specialized practice areas and industries, Sections offer programs and face-to-face networking events that keep you connected with your peers and on top of the latest public relations best practices. Join a Section today!

Sections: 
 
Association / Nonprofit
Corporate Communications
Corporate Social Responsibility
Counselors Academy
Counselors to Higher Education
Educators Academy
Employee Communications
Entertainment & Sports
Environmental
Financial Communications
Food & Beverage
Health Academy
Independent Practitioners Alliance
International
Multicultural Communications
New Professionals
Public Affairs & Government
Technology
Travel & Tourism
PRSA has got free resources for you just a click away

Get your money's worth from your PRSA dues by taking advantage of their free-to-member resources. Among them is PRC Search that connects you with a fully accessible online reference library that houses a vast collection of full-text articles from PRSA's publications, PR Tactics and The Strategist, as well as hundreds of groundbreaking Silver and Bronze Anvil campaign profiles dating back to 1969. You will quickly and easily find the answers you need within this indispensible knowledge repository. PRSA members have unlimited FREE access to PRC Search as a member benefit! Go to www.prsa.org and click on the Resources option.