|
Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter |
|
 |
|
President's Message
Dear Members,
This is my final message to you as President of the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association. It has been an honor to serve you during the 2010-2011 year.
We have accomplished many things together this year, but the thing which pleases me most is the commitment of this chapter to its community. As you may have heard already, the DPPC Chapter was recognized at the 73rd Annual State Conference with the "President's Award for Community Service." I cannot be more proud.
If you recall, last September, I told each of you this year wasn't my year, but yours, and you absolutely made it just that. Your participation in several community service projects ensured our recognition at conference.
This chapter has a long and rich history of community service. For many years we have reached out to our residents providing the time and talents from some of the most gifted professionals in our county. And this year was no different. The planning, implementing and participation in several projects allowed our chapter members to use their PR skills in ways that were not only opportunities for professional development for them, but benefited our community.
We embraced our county's school children working to ensure those designated as homeless were provided a gift at Christmas; we ensured that the best Polk County PR professionals and PR students were the first faces international media interacted with during one of our county's largest events; and we followed through with long term plans to provide residents and visitors with great opportunities to enjoy Polk County and all it has to offer. In short, DPPC Rocks!
I look forward to Danny Kushmer's leadership as he takes the helm of this amazing chapter of professionals, and am eager to see you surpass your accomplishments from this year.
I thank each and every one of you for this enriching experience. If I can be of service to any of you, please don't hesitate to contact me. (And no, I won't be able to fix a ticket for you!)
Sincerely,
Donna C. Wood |
|
|
Member News
- Barbara Nixon, a public relations professor at Southeastern University, recently was appointed interim chair of the Department of Communication.
- Taylor Flumerfelt, the incoming president of Southeastern University's student FPRA chapter, honed her PR skills this summer working on an as-needed basis for GenX Media Group, LLC and Lorrie Walker Communications, Inc.
- Southeastern University journalism/public relations graduate October Neuman interned at Lorrie Walker Communications, Inc. over the summer.
|
|
Your 2011-2012 DPPC Board and Committee Chairs
PRESIDENT - Danny Kushmer (Southwest Florida Water Management District)
PRESIDENT ELECT - Angie Birdwell (Webster University)
VICE PRESIDENT - Rachel Bulman (SPCA)
TREASURER - Jenny Baker (Watson Clinic)
SECRETARY - Kristin Guira (Polk County Board of County Commissioners)
DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP - Jessica Lawson (SPCA)
DIRECTOR, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - Daniel Jimenez (United Way of Central Florida)
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT - Donna Wood (Polk County Sheriff's Office)
ACCREDITATION CO-CHAIRS - Jim Frankowiak, APR(Coastal Public Relations Group) and Rebeca Mueller, APR (Voce Communications)
PUBLICITY & SOCIAL MEDIA CHAIR - Katy Martin (Lakeland Regional Medical Center)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT CO-CHAIRS- Shirley Whitney (Read Polk) and Cassie Jacoby (Bok Tower Gardens)
LOCAL IMAGE CHAIR - Cindy Rodriguez (A·C·T Environmental & Infrastructure)
NEWSLETTER CHAIR - Katie Gernert (Clark/Nikdel/Powell Advertising)
PROGRAMS CHAIR - Jim DeGennaro (Central Florida Development Council)
STUDENT CHAPTER CO-CHAIRS: Southeastern University - Sheree Saulter (Webster University) Florida Southern College - Carole McKenzie (Polk County Farm Bureau)
WEBSITE CHAIR - Ashley Hall (Alliance for Independence) |
|
Conference Scholarship Roundup: 3 Grateful Members Learned A Lot
Rachel Bulman and Jessica Lawson of the SPCA, and Jenny Baker of Watson Clinic attended Annual Conference earlier this month after winning the three chapter scholarships.
All three members said they got a great deal from conference. Here's how it went, in their words:
Rachel Bulman
Q: How many times have you attended the FPRA conference in the past?
A: Three
Q: What does it mean to you professionally for you to attend conference/what does it do for you in your current position?
A: Completely re-energizes you to be a great PR pro - we are all walking sound-bytes and "sales" people but it's always great to go and learn how our industry is evolving so quickly.
Q: What was the most valuable piece of information you gathered from this year's conference?
A: We are all here to help each other!
Q: What was your favorite part of conference?
A: The last speaker was fantastic. His talk was perfect for preparing us to return to work and wow our colleagues. The best piece of info from him was to practice honesty, humility, humor and excellence. Plus, he had Danny Kushmer and Kris Keprios do some improv which was also priceless!
Jessica Lawson
Q: How many times have you attended the FPRA conference in the past?
A: This was my first time
Q: What does it mean to you professionally for you to attend conference/what does it do for you in your current position?
A: While my undergraduate education and initial career experience were focused on PR, I spent quite a few years on the marketing side of the field, so this conference allowed me to brush up on my PR skills, learn news ones and network with some incredibly successful and inspiring PR professionals.
Q: What was the most valuable piece of information you gathered from this year's conference?
A: It's so hard to pick just one! The overall theme that I took from almost every session was building and investing in relationships. Whether with the media, internal clients or other agencies, strong relationships are the key to success in this field.
Q: What was your favorite part of conference?
A: While I learned a lot from the break out sessions, I would have to say the general session speakers were my favorite. They were leaders in their niche markets and industry gurus; some might even be classified as legends (Myra Janco Daniels immediately comes to mind). Listening and interacting with all the professionals present at the conference-even those from our own chapter-has inspired me and rejuvenated me. I am eager to apply my newly polished skills and draw on the many professional connections for future guidance and collaboration.
Jenny Baker
Q: How many times have you attended the FPRA conference in the past?
A: Four.
Q:What does it mean to you professionally for you to attend conference/what does it do for you in your current position?
A: It's great going and meeting other PR professional and listening to seminars on what others have done in different situations related to crisis, social media, branding and much more. This information is great to bring back and use in my everyday work environment.
Q: What was the most valuable piece of information you gathered from this year's conference?
A: "Always look at the big picture!"
Q: What was your favorite part of conference?
A: The different breakout sessions you can choose to attend.
|
|
Student Scholarship Project Launched
 The 2010-2011 DPPC Board began a new project to create a locally endowed student scholarship-a living legacy for chapter namesake, Dick Pope, Sr.
The project will be a long-term mission much like the Peach River Canoe Launch, however, the board has agreed to set aside $2,000 now in anticipation of this project moving forward in the coming months.
The scholarship was announced at the July meeting with several members expressing positive comments and excitement about the possibilities, as well as their commitment to participate both physically and financially.
If you would like to learn more about this very valuable project, please contact Donna Wood, 2010-2011 DPPC President. |
|
The Dillin Dessert
 For many years, the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter has hosted this especially luscious component of the Florida Public Relations Association's annual conference. And every year we offer a bit of history on the significance of it's namesake. This year was no different.
As you all know, in 1938 John Dillin, then-director of public relations for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, called for a statewide meeting to "light a fire" if you will, under the feet of his associates seeking improvements in publicity and tourism in Florida. More than 50 practitioners attended and voted to form the Florida Association of Publicity Directors and John was elected to serve as president. Ultimately, the organization became what we know today.
From the beginning, John never missed a state convention - except during the war. In World War II, John served in Italy with the 57th Bomb Wing and 12th Air Force. After the war, he was Public Relations Officer of the Florida Air National Guard and served as an Air Force Academy Liaison Officer in central Florida for 33 years.
John was a member of the Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association and gave his oral history in March 1990. During that interview, John was asked what he felt made a "good Public Relations person." His answer? Pretty simple-"Believe in what you're going to do, and do it."
John Dillin, a Polk County resident for years, believed in the formula for solid professional applications. You might say he developed the recipe and was indeed the master chef of what we all know today as FPRA.
Thus, it is in his honor the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter proudly presented the Dillin Dessert at the 73rd Annual FPRA State Conference President's Luncheon.
The name of this ambrosia of flavor is Bittersweet Chocolate Carmel Torte. And while the name suggested it may have been something less than sugary, the bittersweet element was the taste buds of attendees savoring the last morsel while craving more.
Always made of chocolate, the Dillin Dessert arrived at attendee's plates balanced delicately on its side. You see this caramel chocolate flavor vessel floated gracefully in a pool of raspberry coulis as it sailed eagerly to attendee's palates. A buoy of grilled pineapple topped with a chocolate-filled raspberry and christened with Hawaiian pink salt all set in a surf of chocolate drizzle marked the way in this tasty cruise.
 Bittersweet you ask? Only in that Colonel Dillin wasn't there to savor the dessert with us.
Thank you sir, for all you did for our profession. |
| 2011 President's Community Service Award
2010-2011 FPRA State President Jennifer Moss, APR, CPRC, presents Community Service Award to Donna Wood, DPPC President.
WELL DONE DPPC!
|
|
|
Introducing PAYPAL!
 That's right! The DPPC Chapter has created a PayPal account.
Members and visitors will be able to pay for lunches and special events online - and they don't have to have a PayPal account to use it.
Members will find the account link posted on the FPRA DPPC website and Facebook pages in the coming weeks.
Please check back for the PayPal "button" and join us for lunch in September!
|
|
|
|
State Conference
FPRA's 73rd ANNUAL CONFERENCE
PR 2011: The Evolution of Public Relations
13 DPPC members attended state conference!
More conference photos can be seen on the DPPC Facebook page.
Thank You FPRA State Conference Committee-You EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS! |
|
|
|
Do you like our newsletter? We sure do. The newsletter is brought to you as part of the Constant Contact Partner Program and we recommend you check it out!
Just click here, or on the Constant Contact logo, to learn how your company can participate in the Partner Program!
|
| |
|
|
Florida Public Relations Association DC/PC Chapter
The DP/PC Chapter of FPRA is made up of more than 60 public relations professionals representing nearly every industry in the area; including government, tourism, non-profit, education, healthcare, financial, retail, agencies and big & small business. |
|
|
