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Greetings!
The Public Relations Student Society of America, PRSSA, is focusing on the safety belt behavior of middle school students.
Each year, PRSSA sponsors a national Case Study competition called the Bateman Competition to allow members of the Public Relations Society of America an opportunity to exercise the analytical skills and mature judgment required for public relations problem-solving. The specific project for 2008 will be to create a new initiative for the Safe Kids Buckle Up (SKBU) program. Since children who are ages 11-14 are beginning to make their own decisions and are becoming responsible for their actions, this project is intended to make them aware of the importance of the choice to buckle up. Children in this age group are also becoming more independent and may be traveling in vehicles where there is no adult to tell them how to be safe, so it's important for them to be educated.
There are 2 teams from UNO competing in this event this year. The two teams sponsored by the UNO School of Communication are:
Plan it Solutions: Jen Derouchey, project manager; Ashley Blue, media relations director; Kate O'Dea, event coordinator; and Heather Knudson, creative director. Seatbelt Enforcement Action Team: Cassy Loseke, project manager;Heather Mead Garrett, media relations director, Katie Glover, event coordinator; and Bre Gehrken, creative director.
Good luck to each of these teams!
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| The Seatbelt Enforcement Action Team is recognized by Governor Heineman |
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The Seatbelt Enforcement Action Team received recognition at last month's proclamation ceremony from Governor Heineman, who proclaimed February 2008 as Children's Seat Belt Awareness Month.
This team will also be sponsoring some other efforts. Throughout the month of February, PRSSA members will surprise 6 OPS middle schools and check to make sure all passengers are buckled up before they leave their school's parking lot. Rewards will be handed out!
Feb. 8 and 9: PRSSA will have an information booth at the UNO Mav's hockey games. All kids and their families who visit the booth to receive seat belt safety information will get the chance to enjoy a treat.
Feb. 22: PRSSA will have another information booth at the Omaha Lancers hockey game. All kids and their families who visit the booth to pick up information will be entered into a raffle to receive a hockey stick signed by the captain of the Omaha Lancers team.
Feb. 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Families! Come Slide into Seat Belt Safety at Coco Keys In-door Water Resort located at the Holiday Inn Convention Center at 72nd St. and I-80. Stop by and take a quick survey about seat belt safety. Kids 16 and under get in for $10.
Feb. 29, 4-9 p.m.: Families! Leap into Safety at the Christ Child Society located at 10th and William Streets. Join us for a night of free food, swimming, Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution, Nintendo Wii, and of course, seat belt safety. Mid-America Motorplex and the Nebraska State Patrol will be joining us. This is an event not to be missed!
The Seatbelt Action Enforcement Team is striving to make a difference in the buckling behavior of Nebraska "tweens"! |
| The Plan It Solutions Team Sponsors the Seatbelt Fairy! |
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The "Plan It Solutions" team is trying a different approach to the problem.
Project Manager Jen Derouchey testified Tuesday at the hearing for LB 812, a proposed primary safety belt law for Nebraska in the Unicameral. They are also providing information at Kirn Jr. High School conferences, and have sponsored appearances by the Seatbelt Fairy, both on public streets and at the Omaha Children's Museum. Originally the Seat Belt Fairy and her friend "Crash Car Dummy" stood out on the corner of 72nd & Dodge Streets in Omaha, holding up signs like "Honk if you're wearing your Seat Belt" and "The Seat Belt Fairy Loves you, Buckle Up." The Plan It Solutions team says, "It was cold, but it was fun." They also have a Myspace account for the Seat Belt Fairy. They say it "is proving to be a much bigger success than we originally planned, {sic} it's like the Seat Belt Fairy is a local celebrity."
Check out the Omaha Children's Museum on 2/16 and on 2/23 to have your picture taken with the Seat Belt Fairy!
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The "Click It Chronicle," our Click It Campaign e-letter, published whenever there is news, is available to all those interested in increasing safety belt usage. Please share this information freely. Take the information, copy to friends, businesses and organizations with the same concerns. Using the information provided will help reduce the needless fatalities and injuries on our highways and the associated costs. To subscribe to this e-letter or join the coalition, contact the Click It Team at cidri@safenebraska.org. |
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