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Greetings!
 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Do you still read cartoons, or as my grandfather calls them, "the funnies?"
I do, usually on my computer first thing in the morning at work. A favorite of mine is Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy is an Auburn guy who now lives on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. One I have posted in my office depicts Arlo and Janis, the 40-something husband and wife who are the main characters, sitting on their living room couch.
In the first panel Arlo is looking at his wife with googly eyes while she reads a magazine. In the second panel, Janis looks up and says, "You, know, I used to worry you'd get tired of me." In the third panel Arlo responds, quire seriously, "Yeah me, too." In the final panel he smiles and blurts out, much to his wife's displeasure, "But I've been pleasantly surprised." As those of us in the PR field all know, that one hits close to home. Sometimes, despite our noble intentions, we say just a bit more than we should, or miss our communication target ever so slightly. As my journalism 101 instructor used to say, "It's the difference in lightning and a lightning bug." I hope this newsletter finds you registered for this year's SPRF Conference to be held Oct. 4-6 in Tunica, Miss. There has been a lot of work happening behind the scenes. The schedule is jam-packed as always and the speakers will be amazing ( click here a for speakers list). If you haven't yet registered, what's stopping you? The value will be outstanding - $69 rooms, how can you beat that? This will be the premiere networking and professional development event for public relations practitioners in the southeastern U.S., this year, and as we all know building and maintaining a personal network is one of the best ways you can protect your career, expand your viewpoints and generally enjoy your vocation. Planning a conference is hard work, and I want to thank this year's Conference Planning Committee for the work they have done, are doing and will do. They are:
- Caron Blanton, APR
- Kim Collins, APR
- Claire Pittman
- Jarrod Ravencraft
- Kelly Scrivner
- Pete Smith
And lastly, I want to congratulate Missy LaBorde, APR, of our PRAL-Alexandria chapter for her recent appointment as our new representative to the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB). Missy will accept the APR baton from Michael Tullier, APR, who rolls off the board in January and serve alongside Dr. John Forde, APR, as an advocate for each of us. She will serve us well.
See y'all in Tunica in about 45 days,
Adam Kelley, APR |
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Deadline September 15th for Great $69 Room Rate!
Southern Public Relations Federation
35th Annual Conference
October 4-6, 2009
Gold Strike Resort & Casino
Tunica, Mississippi
  Live large at the plush Gold Strike Resort & Casino for the unbelievable rate of only $69 per night! Gold Strike Tunica's newly renovated rooms and suites are adorned with a dazzling array of luxurious furnishings including flat screen TVs, marble bathrooms and other plush amenities so you can unwind in the height of stylish comfort. Their accommodations are designed to make your stay just as pleasant and inviting as possible. The hotel code to get the discounted group rate is SPR1004. You must make your reservations by Tuesday, September 15 to get the incredible $69 per night rate. Call today. To make reservations by phone, call 1-888-245-7529. Don't forget the Lanterns Award Dinner is Tuesday night, so you'll want to check in on Sunday, October 4 and check out on Wednesday, October 7. | |
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PUBLIC RELATIONS PROFESSIONALS
TO HOLD 35TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE
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SPRF Conference to be held October 4-6 in Tunica, Miss.
Public relations practitioners from across the Southeast will gather October 4-6 in Tunica, Miss., for the 35th Annual Conference of the Southern Public Relations Federation. With the theme, "PR at the Crossroads," the conference will examine the role of communicators in today's organizations and how communicators can harness the power of technology and use strategy and opportunity to advance the goals of their organizations.
The Red Door Reception on Sunday, October 4, opens the door to a conference full of great speakers and networking opportunities. The first general session kicks off the Monday agenda, with a presentation by C.C. Chapman of Campfire on "Managing the Gray: How to Make Your Brand Stand Above the Rest."
Other Monday sessions include "Hair-on-Fire Presentation Skills" by Mandi Stanley, CSP; "Creating Mont Blanc Events on a Bic Budget" by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Memphis Chapter; "When the Campaign Ends and the Entry Begins: How to Create a Winning Entry" by Aileen Katcher, APR, Fellow PRSA, Katcher, Vaughn & Bailey; "Proof It! How to be a Better Proofreader" by Mandi Stanley, CSP; "Powerful PR for Non-Profits" by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Memphis Chapter; and "Fostering a Culture of Innovation through Internal Communications" by Aileen Katcher, APR, Fellow PRSA.
The organization will celebrate its 35th Annual Conference with the Anniversary Celebration Luncheon. Monday's events will wrap up with the Keynote Dinner, sponsored by Cision.
On Tuesday, the day begins with a general session presentation on "Moving in the Right Direction: Ways to Improve Your Company's Web Site" by Keith Essary of Strategic Computer Solutions, Inc.
The Professional Achievement Award recipient and Educator of the Year will be named during the Awards of Professional Excellence Luncheon. The Professional Achievement Award is the organization's highest individual award and recognizes someone who has continually demonstrated the highest ideals of the profession as well as commitment to the professional development of public relations. The Educator of the Year Award recognizes the hard work and accomplishments of those training the next generation of public relations practitioners. The SPRF Senior Practitioners will also be recognized at the luncheon, along with outstanding work of SPRF chapters through the Chapters of Distinction Awards.
Some of Tuesday's other sessions include "Marketing on a Shoestring Budget" by Caron Sjöberg of Ideawörks; and "PR 2.0: How to Cross New Media with Old School Public Relations" by Caron Sjöberg of Ideawörks.
The Lantern Awards Dinner will crown the Conference by honoring the best of the best in the field of public relations and recognize those who have employed the communications strategies and tactics necessary to achieve demonstrated results that exceed the goals set for their projects. In addition to awards given in each category, a Judges' Choice and William A. Taylor Best in Show Award recipients will be announced.
For a low full conference rate of $275 for SPRF members and $350 for non-SPRF members, registrants will participate in all events mentioned above. These events will all be held at the Gold Strike Resort and Casino in Tunica.
A pre-conference workshop on "Becoming Accredited in Public Relations" will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 4. The registration fee for the workshop is $45.
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| Excitement Builds for the First SPRF Chapter of Distinction Awards
Chapter award entries have been submitted and judges are in the process of picking this year's best of the best, the SPRF Chapter of Distinction Awards. Awards include The Jamie Palmer Chapter of Distinction Award and President of the Year Award. This is the first year SPRF has presented these prestigious awards.
The honors will be bestowed, along with other top recognitions, at the inaugural Awards of Professional Excellence Luncheon, Tuesday, Oct. 6, during the SPRF conference in Tunica, Miss. This special luncheon promises to be a highlight of the conference, filled with excitement and celebration. Tickets are included in your conference registration.
If you haven't already, register now to attend. You're sure to want a front row seat to the awards luncheon as well as other great functions planned for this year's conference. See you there! 
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Accreditation News
Submitted by Dr. John E. Forde, APR
SPRF Vice President of Accreditation
Fellow SPRF Members, We're very excited to provide numerous APR-related opportunities at our upcoming SPRF Conference in Tunica on October 4-6. The conference committee has worked very hard to plan a great conference, and we encourage all members and others with interest in public relations to attend. On Sunday, October 4, we will present an APR workshop from 1-3 p.m. in the Magnolia Room. Click here to register. More details will be released soon, but this will be a panel discussion and interactive session designed to provide information to anyone interested in the APR credential. Panelists will discuss writing effective applications, developing appropriate portfolios, preparing for Readiness Reviews, and planning for overall success. We have coordinated similar successful efforts in recent years prior to state meetings in Alabama and Mississippi, and this will be patterned after those. The cost is only $45 and is a fund-raising effort for SPRF. In addition, for members ready to sit for the Readiness Review we will have times available on Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. or Monday after 3 p.m. Several years ago we started offering these opportunities during open hours of conferences, and this process has worked very well because there are already numerous APRs in attendance who can serve on the panels. Candidates interested in scheduling Readiness Reviews should have their APR chairs contact me as soon as possible to coordinate with the conference planning committee. As with all APR steps, the Readiness Review sessions are confidential if candidates so choose. A reception for all APRs will be held Sunday from 5-6 p.m. All new APRs will also be recognized at the luncheon on Monday, October 5. These are great opportunities to celebrate with long-time friends and make new professional acquaintances. Please contact me at any time with questions or suggestions. Take me away to Tunica! ____________________________________
Interested in becoming Accredited in Public Relations?
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LaBorde Named as SPRF UAB Representative
 The Southern Pubic Relations Federation (SPRF) announced Missy LaBorde, APR, as the organization's second representative on the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), the leading certification body for the public relations profession, serving from 2010-2012. LaBorde is a member of the Alexandria chapter of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana and has been involved in SPRF as a leader for many years, including serving as president two times, in 2001 and in 2003. She was also named as the organization's Professional Achievement Award winner in 2003. She earned SPRF's Sr. Practitioner designation in 2000 and earned her APR in 1997.
Laborde was director of institutional advancement and executive director of the LSUA Foundation for 14 years before joining the faculty three years ago assistant professor of communication studies at LSU Alexandria. She teaches journalism and public relations.
She replaces Michael J. Tullier, APR, on the board. Tullier, a former UAB President, and Director of External Relations for Auburn University's College of Education, rotates off later this year. She will serve with Dr. John E. Forde, APR, Associate Professor and Head Department of Communication at Mississippi State University on behalf of SPRF's 1300-plus members.
"I can't think of anyone more deserving of this appointment than Missy LaBorde," said Adam Kelley, APR, SPRF President. "She will represent our Board of Directors and members well as we work to continue improving the APR designation and to build recognition of the APR designation outside of the public relations profession."
LaBorde and her husband, Robbie, and have three children: Matthew, 15, Sarah Catherine, 11, and Emma Grace, 3. They live in Alexandria and are very active with their children's activities and with their church.
The UAB administers the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations and coordinates all activities related to the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation. The UAB was established in 1998 by a coalition of public relations professional organizations including the Agricultural Relations Council, Asociación de Relacionistas Profesionales de Puerto Rico, Florida Public Relations Association, Maine Public Relations Council, National School Public Relations Association, Public Relations Society of America, Religion Communicators Council, Southern Public Relations Federation and Texas Public Relations Association. Each organization contributes resources and senior-level volunteer members representing all segments of the public relations profession. For a complete list of UAB members and other information about the APR designation, visit www.praccreditation.org. |
| 2009 Board of Directors
Meeting Dates
Oct. 4, 2009 - Tunica, Miss. (at SPRF Conference)
Dec. 11, 2009 - Meridian, Miss. (Board Retreat and Transition meeting) |
SPRF Now on Facebook
Do you love keeping up with all your friends and colleagues on Facebook? Well if you're a Facebook member, you'll definitely want to join the SPRF group and check out the "Take Me Away to Tunica" event page for information on which of your Facebook friends plan to be in Tunica this October for SPRF's Annual Conference! Click here for the link | |
Conference Vendor Fair, Great Networking Opportunity
Gaining new clients, being informed on current trends in our industry and enjoying leisure time to yourself at a four-star hotel for $69 per night sound too good to be true? Guess again! On Oct. 4-6, 2009, the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) will host its annual conference, "PR at the Crossroads" at the Gold Strike Casino and Resort in Tunica, Miss. Over 1,500 public relations, marketing, publishing and advertising professionals are invited to attend from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The SPRF Vendor Fair will be set up in a high traffic hallway between the meeting rooms at the Gold Strike. We are offering three different vendor packages to guarantee maximum exposure of your company's services. With only 14 vendor booths available, don't miss this opportunity to build relationships with new clients. Three vendor packages being offered include: Package A $500: Vendor Booth and Full Conference Registration Package B $350: Vendor booth Only Package C $150: Displays Company Resources Only (Option C is great if you or staff members can't attend!) Electrical Options are available. For conference registration, conference details and vendor registration click here.
Deadline to receive the SPRF rate of $69 per night is Tuesday, September 15. When making hotel reservations at the Gold Strike, use the code SPR1004. A business networking game will be hosted throughout the conference to generate interaction between vendors and conference attendees to help bring you new business! Be sure to bring business cards to exchange with potential new clients during the networking game. Door prizes and a grand prize will be awarded. Donation of door prizes to be used during the game and throughout the conference can be sent to Claire Pittman of the Tunica Convention and Visitors Bureau at the following address: P.O. Box 2739, Tunica, MS38676. Conference seminars on current trends in public relations, marketing and advertising include: "What Direction Is PR Headed?," "Get Results: Take the Right Path With Your Budget," "PR and Your Company Brand: 101 Ways to Promote Your Website," "PR and Advertising: How to Keep Media On Track" and "Technology and PR: Crossing Wires to Reach Media Directly." During free time at the conference, we recommend touring the Gold Strike Casino, its three on-site golf courses or traveling 30 miles South to explore the historic downtown Memphis, Tenn. Must-see tourist attractions in Memphis, Tenn. include: Graceland, home of Elvis Presley, the B.B. King Blues Club and World Famous Barbeque at the Rendezvous. For more information on conference registration or becoming a vendor at the 2009 SPRF Vendor Fair, contact Kim Collins, APR, at 662-321-1043 or kim@collinspr.com. |
SPRF Member Survey Results Announced
SPRF members are invited to visit the Web site, http://sprf.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/profile-overview.pdf , to review the 2009 SPRF Member Survey results. The pdf is available for download. Special thanks to Pam Swain, VP Communication, for her work on this project.
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SPRF Surveys Members on Social Media and Web Trends
Is Print Dead?
That was one of the questions to answer with the SPRF Social Media and Web Technology Survey. Thanks to more than 300 respondents, the survey provides a 90% confidence rating and a true feel for how PR professionals in the South are using social media, search engines and the Web in general.
Nationally, eight of the country's 50 largest newspapers could be going out of business in the next 18 months, according to Time magazine. Associated Construction Publications, which offered 13 regional, monthly publications, closed its doors in April after more than 100 years. With all this turmoil in the media industry, public relations professionals must stay abreast of all the changes to remain effective. SPRF will continue this discussion at its upcoming annual conference, "PR at the Crossroads," in Tunica, Miss., Oct. 4-6.
With static, informational Web sites of the 1990s being replaced with robust online communities and real-time conversations that are raising issues, making sales, educating the public and so much more, the world is changing fast. This survey was developed to provide members more information about this new media landscape and the details necessary to help them make strong, strategic decisions for their organizations.
To answer the question "Is print dead?," look at the following survey results:
According to the survey, practitioners still read trade magazines and newspapers. Only 8% or less reported that they rarely or never do so. However, 31% reported that they rarely or never consult a printed phone book-a startling figure for that industry.
20% plan to drop or decrease newspaper and magazine display advertising, while 54% plan to increase their use of e-mail marketing and blogs within the next two years.
96% feel communicating online with customers during the workday is important and 62% feel it important to communicate online during off hours. Phones were used by 78% and e-mail by 63% as method used to communicate with customers. These statistics show that a majority placed a high priority on the instant communications of phone, e-mail, and the Web. But with 62% reporting they rarely use a fax, according to this survey, facsimile machines may be soon become an obsolete piece of office equipment.
How Social networking sites ranked was also of interest. The social networking site Facebook was popular among survey respondents, with 55 percent logging in at least once a day. Other sites, such as MySpace and LinkedIn, were used infrequently, if at all. The trendy site, Twitter, has not caught on with many respondents. Twenty percent answered that they were not interested in the site.
Despite the usage response, when asked how useful these sites were, PR professionals found the following sites useful or extremely useful: Facebook (59%), YouTube (42%), Linked In (39%) and Twitter (34%).
As a member, you can log into SPRF.org to see the entire listing of survey results. The following are just a few of the interesting comments provided anonymously by members that provide additional food for thought:
--We have made a number of good business connections all over the world on Linked In and use Facebook and Myspace for clients whose target demographics fit with the social media sites. Discussions with other professionals in the marketing, advertising and public relations field have helped us with strategies for our clients and also helped us measure what is happening with the economy.
--My fear is that we as communicators will allow-or enable-social media to wipe out traditional communications tools, such as newspapers, periodical publications, and books.
--Social Media is just a new a method of distributing information. Therefore, clients should be told they must get their message in order first, then they can decide on the distribution method. Get that right, then you can decide if social media is an appropriate tool to use. But if the decision is made to use social media, clients need to agree to not just broadcast their information, they must also get in on the conversation.
--A realty company owner says his beach rental division started a Facebook page against his better judgment. Much to his surprise, every time he posts a special on the page he gets numerous responses and rents rooms because of it. He never expected it to work, but it does.
--Facebook has been a great way to reach a younger demographic for charitable support of our non-profit organization.
--Our nonprofit organization's Facebook page has been in existence about 6 months and we have about 100 members. This is with virtually no effort (I sent an email to a small mailing list to tell them about it). This membership has grown through word of mouth (or email). They are largely a different group than we reach through other media.
--I love social media/social marketing. It is the best new trend. It is a great way to talk about your business and reach different people than before. It is a great tool for journalists!
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| Keep Your Member Profile Up to Date
It is critical that you keep your profile updated so you receive the benefits you expect and pay for from SPRF, ECPRO, PRAL, PRAM, PRCA and your local chapter.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR UPDATING MEMBER PROFILES IN THE SPRF ONLINE DIRECTORY
On the right side of the page, locate the Member login and password section to the private section of the website.
Use your email address on file with our chapter. If your e-mail is invalid, send an e-mail request to Susan Broussard, SPRF vice president of membership, susan.broussard@cleco.com, and it will be corrected.
All passwords have been changed to lowercase sprf unless you have previously logged in and changed your password. Then, it will be the password you have chosen.
This will open the private membership page that has the Membership Directory.
To update your personal membership record, click on Edit My Directory Profile.
Update your info and click on update.
Helpful Hints for Accurate Records
For password, change it to something personal, but remember, your default will always be lowercase sprf.
For e-mail, be sure you have a valid e-mail address. Most of the communication at the regional, state and local level is sent to members via e-mail from this directory.
Be sure you include the area code on all your phone numbers.
Please include home phone numbers and URLs.
If a member's name is "Mary Jones-Smith," then the hyphenated "Jones-Smith" goes in the last name column. If a member's name is "Mary Jones Smith," then only the Smith goes in the last name column.
If a corporate membership is paid, but the company has not selected an employee to fill the membership, then put "TBA" in the first name and last name columns.
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Opinion-Editorial:
APRs take PR to heroic proportions
 It doesn't take a superhero to fend off reporters and save the CEO in distress, but in today's fast-paced world of public relations, there is a group of professionals with the demonstrated "powers" needed to be successful. Some mild-mannered, some daring - but all equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities demanded of the public relations profession - these professionals certainly don't keep their Accredited in Public Relations identity a secret. Professionals don't earn their APR through exposure to the yellow sun or the bite of a radioactive spider. Each builds on book smarts and practical experience and approaches the process with different expectations. But since "deliverables" in our profession are critical, pursuing Accreditation results in power-packed benefits for professionals, employers and the profession as a whole. Combining introspection and education. Accredited professionals have reported through surveys that the APR process is reflective, introspective and knowledge-expanding. And while we celebrate those employers who require the APR as a requisite for employment or financially reward those who achieve this milestone, a vast majority of APRs find contentment in the personal rewards Accreditation offers. Through a process that 96 percent of APRs surveyed find valuable, 96 percent would recommend to a colleague, and 93 percent feel assessed the skills needed to succeed in the profession, APRs acknowledge the credential for building confidence and credibility while expanding their knowledge content. Gaining marketplace credibility. Accreditation is not a new concept to corporate America. Manufacturers, educational institutions, medical facilities and the like seek the integrity that comes with their industry's or discipline's accrediting endorsement. Should it not make sense that companies would seek the same in their hiring practices? Consider that the human resource industry itself has, not one, but two distinct accrediting levels for human resource professionals. Accredited public relations professionals demonstrate their commitment to mastering - and continuing to develop - the knowledge, skills and abilities, or KSAs, desired by today's employers. The APR credential also helps employers clearly and effectively evaluate one's qualifications when compared to applicants from other professions who see public relations as a chance to "try something new" or to take their career "in a new direction." Defining the profession. The Accreditation process benefits our profession by bringing structure and definition to it. As part of the Universal Accreditation Board's 2003 effort to redesign the APR process, APR leaders sought a better understanding of what our profession entails and what it takes to be successful in today's PR environment. And guess what? It didn't reveal necessary characteristics like "being a people person." It created clear delineations between the tactical and strategic practice levels, emphasized the professional's counselor role, and clarified that public relations doesn't "just happen" - it is a deliberate, ethically based executive function with measurable results. Accreditation in Public Relations has prepared - and continues to prepare - professionals to lead by example in our industry and in our associations. Within the nine participating organizations of the Universal Accreditation Board, you'll find within these associations' top volunteer and paid leadership levels Accredited professionals equipped to advance the opportunities for their fellow professionals and our profession. As a result, those who have demonstrated an intricate understanding of our profession and their own professional practice are imminently qualified to see our industry into the coming decades. I'm not suggesting that "APR" comes emblazoned on its own red-and-blue spandex outfit, part of a gadget-ridden utility belt or with powers sufficient to gain you a title role on NBC's Heroes. What it does, however, is empower professionals in a manner each finds befitting their personal, professional and volunteer expectations. For professionals eager to distinguish themselves in today's marketplace, Accreditation in Public Relations offers a means of garnering positive attention and that "second glance" in a way that wearing a cape to work never will. Power up today at www.praccreditation.org. Michael Tullier, APR, is director of external relations for the Auburn University College of Education in Auburn, Ala. Accredited in 2003, Tullier served as chair of the Universal Accreditation Board in 2008 and is its current immediate past chair. During his UAB tenure, which began in 2005, he has represented both the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF). |
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SPRF CHAPTER AND MEMBER NEWS
PRAM-Mississippi Beach Chapter to Host Social Media Workshop
PRAM-Mississippi Beach will hold an afternoon seminar Thursday, Oct. 29, in Biloxi, Miss., to help you "De-Spookify Social Media." Workshop leader Kellye Crane, APR, will discuss why marketing efforts should incorporate social media and how to apply this information into everyday business models. She will also share ideas on how to boost business with various social media tools. More information and a registration form will soon be posted to www.prambeach.org. You can also contact chapter president Melissa Bryant at 228-363-7257 or melissabryant@coastepa.com.
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PRAM Northeast Member Honored by Mississippi Business Journal as Top 40 Under 40
Kim Collins, APR, President, Kim Collins Public Relations
 There are many things that make Kim Collins stand out in a crowd. Certainly one of those is her Accreditation in Public Relations designation. When Collins earned that honor in 2007, she was one of the first in the Tupelo area to do so, and there are only five other professionals who hold that designation in North Mississippi today.
However, that designation is just one example of the dedication of Collins, who has been an influential force in the field of public relations in Mississippi since she started her career. In an amazingly short period of time, she as gone from college intern (1999) to heading her own public relations firm (2008). She shows no signs of slowing down; indeed, Collins' career only seems to be gathering momentum.
Collins enjoyed a stellar collegiate career. Carrying an overall grade point average of 3.6, she made the Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, was a president's and dean's list scholar and was a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, Lambda Sigma and Gamma Beta Phi. Collins was a charter member of the Public Relations Student Society of America and, interestingly, was a member of the National Fraternity of Student Musicians.
Collins has also earned some lofty awards, honors and accolades since "going pro." These include being named 2007 Senior Practitioner by the Southern Public Relations Federation, one of the organization's highest honors, as well as earning multiple LANTERN awards from the organization. And, her mind and talents caught the eye of the Tupelo-based Community Development Foundation, which named her to 2007-2009 Jim Ingram Community Leadership Institute.
Collins has served in a plethora of leadership roles with the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, including president in 2004, and is past secretary of the Southern Public Relations Federation.
In her community, Collins is a former communication advisory council member of the Tupelo Public School District, publicity chair for Sanctuary Hospice House and board member of the Community Development Foundation. In addition, she has leant her time to the Tupelo Women's Club, Natchez Trace Association, Tupelo Main Street/Downtown Association. United States Tennis Association, Meals-On-Wheels, March of Dimes and Calvary Baptist Church, where she is a nine-year Children's Choir teacher. Collins also is a staunch supporter of Mississippi State University, and has served her alma mater in numerous volunteer positions, including advisory board member of the Mississippi State University Department of Communications.
Dr. John Forde, head of the Department of Communication and one of Collins' professors, said, "I know I can rely on Kim to provide us with excellent insights based on her extensive experience."
Rochelle Hicks, deputy director of the Ridgeland Tourism Commission, said, "In addition to her impeccable business skills, Kim is an active member of her community through her church and social organizations. Kim is all about details, and it reflects in her work."
"Her humble spirit and quiet dedication to the profession she loves so dearly separates her from so many of her peers," said Kay Bishop, public information officer with the Tupelo Public School District.
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 Congratulations to SPRF's newest APR! Sadie Dawn Wilks, APR
Director of Public Affairs
Louisiana State Medical Society
PRAL - Baton Rouge |
SPRF wants your chapter news!
No matter how big or small, please make it a habit to send your chapter news to SPRF for posting region-wide.
Send us your job postings, new positions, chapter or member news.
You can do this by contacting Pam Swain at (662) 234-4651 or pam@oxfordms.com.
Pam Swain
VP Communications
Southern Public Relations Federation
THANK YOU!
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