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Merry Christmas
& Happy New Year! |
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
 | | Jarrod Ravencraft |
It's hard to believe my year as SPRF President will soon end, and I'll move on to a new journey. It has been an honor to serve you, and I take this time to truly be thankful and to celebrate this wonderful organization and the public relations profession.
SPRF is offering more benefits to state organizations and local chapters than ever before, and following our "umbrella" model of focusing efforts on responsibility for mutual state organization/local chapter needs, we are committed to saving state organizations/local chapters money, improve SPRF value to you and making membership in your organization more desirable.
SPRF represents you as a participating member of the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB). Thank you to John Forde and Missy Laborde for their service as SPRF's UAB representatives this year. We continued our efforts to grow the number of APRs within the organization, and the UAB added a new credential for military, contractor and Department of Defense public communication professionals. I want to extend special congratulations to John Forde who has been named Co-Chair of the UAB for 2011. This is an incredible accomplishment for John and SPRF. Good luck, John!
There was a tremendous amount of work done in membership and communication this year as we expanded benefits but also had some program complications with the online directory. In the end, membership grew to 1,352, and communication efforts achieved local, state and regional media placement as our web site continued to be a source of PR news and resources for students and professionals. Thank you, Susan Broussard and Pam Swain, for leading our efforts in membership and communication.
This year, we reviewed the guidelines and processes for SPRF's regional awards programs. I want to thank Lori Miller for taking on this daunting task as it included the Lantern Awards, Professional Achievement Award, Educator of the Year and Senior Practitioner. For photos and more information on the 2010 program and winners, click here.
One of the most exciting accomplishments this year was the establishment of a program to provide students with benefits as active members of SPRF, and the development of the Legends Program for student achievements. Joy Carter served as the first Vice President Student Services, and I thank her for her role in creating these new programs for students. In our first year, we have 180 student members. For more information on the Legends Program, click here.
The annual conference in Baton Rouge, La., had its highest attendance since 2007 and second highest attendance in history. Whether you were looking for creative inspiration or hard-hitting instruction, "Evolution 2010" had it all to help attendees acquire the tools to build successful campaigns and projects, connect with other professionals in the region and reenergize their careers. Click here to check out photos from the conference. I want to thank Shelly Dupree, conference chair, Amy Nolan, PRAL Baton Rouge president, and the Conference Committee for this success!
For the second year, we held the Chapter of Distinction (COD) program, and honored local chapters in eight categories and awarded the Jamie Palmer Chapter of Distinction and President of the Year. Thank you to Sabrina McLaughlin, COD chair, and her committee for an incredible program that continued growth in 2010. Click here to check out the program and winners.
Our organization is rich in history and knowledge and has been developed over the years by strong leadership, but it takes work and effort to run this organization, and I want to say thank you to Stephen Loy, treasurer; and Kim Collins, association manager, for their support and guidance in making 2010 a banner year for SPRF. I also have to thank Ardelle Bush for stepping in and taking over the Secretary position when it was vacated.
Any great leader has respect for those who he has followed, and I had a lot to live up to this year following Adam Kelley. I respect Adam not only as a PR professional, but also as an amazing family man and friend. Thank you, Adam, for giving me a great foundation to build on and for your incredible work in developing our Senior Leadership Council and the inaugural class of the Southern Pubic Relations Hall of Fame. Click here and learn about the founding members, past presidents, board members and other sundry "Grovers" who have made a significant contribution to the field of PR and find out who was inducted as part of the inaugural class of the Hall of Fame.
I am honored to have lead this organization on behalf of you, and I have great confidence 2011 will be another remarkable year under the leadership of Glen Duncan. I wish you all the best, Glen! The board welcomes your questions and feedback, and we look forward to working for you next year. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to the public relations profession, and please contact me if I may ever be of assistance to you. Sincerely,
Jarrod Ravencraft
President
Southern Public Relations Federation |
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SPRF honors its own with Professional Achievement Award and Educator of the Year
 | | Pictured left to right is Lori Miller, SPRF VP Professional Development; Susan Broussard, APR, SPRF Professional Achievement Award Winner; and Jarrod Ravencraft, CPM, SPRF President. |
The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) recently presented its highest honor - the Professional Achievement Award (PAA) - to Susan Broussard, APR. The award, as well as Educator of the Year and the second-annual Chapter of Distinction Awards, was presented during the Federation's annual conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
An outstanding member from each SPRF state is nominated by his or her peers and must prepare an entry detailing their career achievements for judging. Broussard was nominated by the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL). The selection is based on professional activities, community service, career achievement and examples of the nominee's work. D. Randy Bobbitt, of the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO); Ron Barnes, APR, of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM); and Darryl Gates, APR, of the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA), were also nominated for the honor.
 | | Pictured left to right is Lori Miller, SPRF VP Professional Development; Lisa Darnell, APR, SPRF Educator of the Year; and Ravencraft. |
Lisa Darnell, APR, an Assistant Professor at the University of North Alabama, was named "PR Educator of the Year" by the Federation. Darnell was nominated for the award by PRCA. Other nominees included Leyla Goodsell, of PRAM, and Linda Evanchyk, of ECPRO.
PAA honoree Broussard has spent 16 years exploring all facets of public relations through the energy industry and, by necessity, has developed extensive experience in issues and crisis management. Broussard is currently the Manager of Corporate and Strategic Communications at Cleco Corporation. Her team regularly manages advertising, websites and communication with media, investors, employees and customers. She's earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) "Senior Practitioner" designation. Broussard is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana, Central La. Chapter (Alexandria).
Educator honoree Darnell is a current Board member of the North Alabama Chapter of the Public Relations Council of Alabama, serving as Student Chapter Liaison. Since stepping up to take over the UNA public relations program, Darnell has grown the program to more than 80 students to become one of the single largest degree options in the College of Arts and Sciences. UNA also boasts one of the state's strongest Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) student chapters. She's earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) "Senior Practitioner" designation. She's also a previous North Alabama PRCA "Practitioner of the Year."
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SPRF Announces 2010 Lantern Winners
 The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) recognized outstanding work in the field of public relations during the Lantern Awards ceremony held Tuesday evening September 28 at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Awards, including Certificates of Merit, Awards of Excellence and Lantern Awards, were given in 25 categories. From those, the judges also selected the Best of Show Award, and two Judges' Awards.
The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce received the William A. Taylor Best of Show Award for their 2010 Annual Meeting, also a winner in the Special Events, over $20,000 category.
Judges' Awards were given to Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau for their internal video entry, "Tupelo's Amazing Race." The second Judges' Award also went to the Windsor Court Hotel for their Special Events, Under $20,000 entry, "New Orleans Characters."
Click here for a complete list of the award categories and winning entries.
 | | Best of Show |
 | | Judge's Choice Tupelo |
 | | Judge's Choice Windsor |
 | | Lantern Winners 2010 |
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SPRF Honors 10 Senior Practitioners
The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) recently honored 10 of its veteran members with the distinguished designation of Senior Practitioner, presented during the Federation's annual conference on September 27, at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Each year, SPRF member organizations - Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO), Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM), and Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA) - and their respective chapters are invited to nominate up to two professionals per chapter for the SPRF Senior Practitioner designation.
The senior practitioner designation was established to honor members of SPRF who are recognized by their peers as veteran public relations professionals with high ethical standing. Members may only receive the designation one time in their career. Nomination and selection is made by each local chapter based on criteria set by the SPRF. To receive the designation "Senior Practitioner," a recipient must meet three of the following four criteria:
· 15 years of full-time public relations experience
· Accreditation by the NAPRC member organization
· Officer or board member at chapter, state or SPRF level
· Recognition of professionalism as evidenced by such awards as Practitioner of the Year, Lantern Award or similar honor.
2010 Recipients of this designation are:
Robert Burns, PRCA Montgomery
Colleen Cummins, PRAM River City
Sonya T. Gordon, APR, PRAL-Baton Rouge
Leigh Perry-Herndon, PRCA Mobile
Venessa Lewis, APR, PRAL-Baton Rouge
Carol Mann, PRAM Central
Cathie Mayne, PRCA North Alabama
Lori Quiller, PRCA Montgomery
Jody Glaeser Seal, APR, PRCA Birmingham
Debra Valine, PRCA North Alabama
 | | pictured left to right is Ravencraft, Carol Mann, and Glenn Duncan, SPRF President Elect. |
 | | Sonya T. Gordan, APR (left) and Vanessa Lewis, APR |
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SPRF Awards Chapters of Distinction
For the second year running, the Mobile Chapter of PRCA was awarded the Jamie Palmer Chapter of Distinction Award. Lindsay Hutchisson, former president of the Mobile Chapter, received the honor on behalf of the chapter. Then, Hutchisson herself walked away with the second annual President of the Year award.
Winners of individual categories of the Chapter of Distinction Awards got the recognition they deserved as well. Those Chapters honored were:
Accreditation - PRAM Central Chapter
Management - PRCA North Alabama
Communications - PRCA North Alabama
Membership - PRCA Mobile
Programs - PRCA Mobile
Projects - PRCA North Alabama
Public Relations Education - PRCA North Alabama
Public Service - PRCA Mobile
 | | Pictured left to right is Sabrina McLaughlin, Chapter of Distinction Awards Chair; Lindsay Hutchisson, Chapter and President of the Year Honoree; and Ravencraft. |
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SPRF pleased to announce that our very own John Forde, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, from Mississippi State University has been named Co-chair of the 2011 Universal Accreditation Board for Accredited Public Relations (APR). John will co-chair with his friend Jay Rayburn, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, from Florida State University.
This is an incredible accomplishment for John and SPRF. Congratulations, John! We are very proud to call you our friend, colleague and fellow SPRF Board member. |
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News from the Universal Accreditation Board
APR Coach's Guide Updated
 The UAB is pleased to announce that the 2nd Edition of the APR Coach's Guide is now available to download for free on the APR Chairs section of the website. In addition to this updated resource that complements the 2nd Edition of the Study Guide, coaches and candidates have access to numerous helpful items throughout the website.
Soon we will be requesting local chapters to send useful APR-related documents that they would like to share with other members for an enhanced centralized repository of APR information on the site.
As always, we welcome any suggestions or comments.
Your Universal Accreditation Board
____________________________________ UAB Accreditation Tips & Tools
2011 is almost here. It's a great time to market APR as a New Year's goal!
Take advantage of the New Year and encourage candidates to make 2011 their year for professional advancement by signing up for Accreditation. If your Chapter has a newsletter, consider writing a short piece on professional goals. January also provides an opportunity for APR chairs to schedule Jump Start programs and related APR study events so candidates can mark their calendars. Reality check: How is your Chapter fairing on candidates?
The Central Ohio Chapter boasts 42 active candidates in various stages of the Accreditation process. APR Chair Kara Allison, APR, recently revealed her strategy: from the moment she hears people are remotely interested in Accreditation, she engages them in conversation and adds them to a list of prospective candidates. She sends them reminders of upcoming APR training events and encourages them to connect with other candidates. The frequent communications keep the candidates engaged and moving forward. Line up an APR "football season."
Offer free "Kick-Off" APR classes to generate awareness of and interest in Accreditation. Set aside 90 minutes and order pizza. Invite new APRs to provide testimonials. Bring copies of the various APR materials (study guide, reference books, etc.). Since many candidates simply don't know where to start, provide an overview of the process, costs and upcoming study opportunities. The modest time investment often turns into a commitment to take the APR. Think technology!
Keep candidates engaged and leverage technology with one hour Webex sessions designed to tackle different KSA areas of the computer-based Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations. All that's required are phones and computers. By limiting the Webex training to one hour, people are more likely to phone in, log in and learn. The technology appeals to different learning styles without the requirement of travel. Does your Chapter have APR mentors?
Review the list of recently Accredited Chapter members and ask them if they would be willing to mentor candidates through the Accreditation process. Assign one candidate per mentor and make sure they both physically meet at least once. Leverage groups of candidates in larger agencies.
If you live in a metropolitan area, consider reaching out to larger public relations agencies and gathering numerous candidates from one organization. When coworkers "dive in together," they are more likely to continue the personal commitment to earn their APR. As an added bonus, groups from the same company can schedule convenient study hours over lunch or after work. When the candidates are ready to test, they often all do it at once. Set up a three-month study schedule.
Take one hour to discuss the next three months with potential candidates. One Accreditation chair finds a one-hour "coffee chat" has helped in securing APR candidates. When potential candidates call her, this chair sets aside one hour over coffee to encourage candidates and begin to schedule a three-month timeframe the candidate can dedicate to Accreditation. "I find Accreditation is really quite achievable if candidates are willing to dedicate three months to the process," she said. "For many people, three months of dedicated study is easier than stretching it across an entire year." Calling all military communicators.
If your Chapter has military communicators/public affairs professionals, keep in mind the new APR+M credential that can set these professionals apart in their military communities. See here for more details. |
| 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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List YOUR Events on the SPRF Master Calendar
Are your chapter's meetings listed in the SPRF Master Calendar at www.sprf.org? If not, don't get left out - send your meeting dates (i.e., PRCA-Birmingham typically meets the first Thursday of each month) to Pam Swain so you can get your meetings promoted across the region. So far PRCA-Birmingham, PRCA-Montgomery, PRAM-Central, PRAM-Mississippi Beach, PRAM-Oxford/Ole Miss, ECPRO, PRAL-Baton Rouge and PRAL-Alexandria are the only chapters listed. Don't get left behind! |
Stay connected through SPRFs Facebook and Linkedin Pages
 Do you love keeping up with all your friends and colleagues on Facebook and Linkedin? If so, you'll definitely want to join the SPRF Facebook and Linkedin groups and check out the latest PR discussions and postings of information about upcoming SPRF events!
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SPRF Announces First-Ever Inductees into Southern Public Relations Hall of Fame
This year the organization inducted the inaugural class of the Southern Public Relations Hall of Fame. Honored this year was the late Philip R. Forrest Jr. of Alabama along with Rex Kelly of Mississippi and William "Bill" Michelet of Louisiana. The Hall is co-sponsored by SPRF and the Mississippi State University Department of Communications and will be located outside the John Grisham Room inside the Mitchell Memorial Library at Mississippi State. Chairing the formation of the HOF was Adam Kelley, APR, who was also honored for serving as SPRF's President last year.
 | | Pictured left to right is Adam Kelley, APR, HOF Chair; Rex Kelly; William "Bill" Michelet; the Philip R. Forrest Jr.'s grandson Phil Forrest IV and his wife Mary Wynne Forrest; and Ravencraft. |
The Southern Public Relations Federation announced the creation of the Southern Public Relations Hall of Fame earlier this year. The purpose is to recognize the distinguished accomplishments, commitment and leadership of professional public relations practitioners and educators from the southeastern U.S., for the benefit of promoting the PR profession. Inductees will be former southern public relations practitioners or educators who have brought honor to the PR field.
Induction into the Hall is intended to identify past leaders in our industry whose memory should be honored and promote the profession about the extraordinary achievements, accomplishments and contributions of the inductees as well as SPRF and its members and member organizations. |
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SPRF APR Winter Update
Submitted by Dr. John E. Forde, APR, Fellow PRSA
SPRF Vice President of Accreditation
 | | Dr. John E. Forde, APR, Fellow PRSA |
SPRF Friends and Colleagues,
I can't believe it's December already! Here's hoping that you all have a chance to slow down and relax with family and friends as we remember Christmas and holiday traditions and start new ones! This is always such a special time of the year. . . Congratulations to our two new SPRF APRs from 2010: Kristina Lynne Hendrix, APR, from Huntsville and Virginia W. Guttner, APR, from Baton Rouge. We are proud of them and know they will be leaders in SPRF for years to come. The good news from 2010 was that 100% of our SPRF candidates who took the computer-based Examination passed. However, we only had our two members above take it! One of our SPRF goals for 2011 is to have more colleagues become APRs. We do have many considering APR and others already "in the pipeline," so 2011 looks very promising for many more to join the ranks. The past year has been a busy one for the Universal Accreditation Board and your two representatives: Missy LaBorde, APR, and me. Our UAB chair, Anne M. Dubois, APR, CPRC, Fellow PRSA, provided great leadership in all areas, and none of these specific accomplishments would have been possible without her guidance. We have updated numerous projects, and many new initiatives are progressing toward completion. One of the overall goals of the UAB is to promote the big picture of the value of APR and why more practitioners should pursue the credential. The Coach's Guide (2nd Edition) that complements the Study Guide (2nd Edition) has now been updated and posted on the UAB website. The Coach's Guide is available along with many other resources at online. You can also download the Study Guide. Both are free and excellent resources for anyone studying for APR, helping others prepare, entering the field, or needing to brush up on knowledge, skills, and abilities related to APR. The APR Online Study Course is also still available for candidates. This allows professionals to learn through various creative formats and to build relationships with other candidates throughout the country. The new APR+M program that was initiated and led throughout by former UAB Chair Felicia Blow, APR, is now fully established for our practitioners in the military and related fields. Numerous practitioners throughout the country have now earned this honor. Missy and I have been working with Janet Swiecichowski, APR, and many others on the UAB Examination and Preparation Work Group updating the practice analysis and computer-based Exam. We are also working with Bey-Ling Sha, Ph.D., APR, and others on numerous studies under her leadership of the Research Work Group. Jay Rayburn, Ph.D., APR, CPRC, Fellow PRSA, continues to lead the effort for the Principles of APR entry-level credential that will allow graduating public relations students to begin their accreditation process through an exam. Later they will be able to complete the full Readiness Review and computer-based Exam to become APRs. The beta group of colleges should begin this process in 2011. For SPRF members, we are planning to have Readiness Review opportunities at upcoming state and regional conferences. Please encourage anyone to use these dates as deadlines to prepare for this important APR step. We are working on tentative plans for an APR boot camp through the state PRAM State Board next summer. Details will follow sometime in early 2011. Please provide Missy or me with any suggestions on how to better represent you on the UAB. We value working with our colleagues of the eight other member organizations from throughout the country and Puerto Rico. Our next UAB meeting will be January 23-24 in New York. As I often tell people, "Almost anything you need to know about accreditation is available at www.praccreditation.org." Thank you again for the opportunity to serve as your Vice President of Accreditation for the past three years. Missy will continue serving with me on the UAB and takes over in 2011 as the SPRF Vice President of Accreditation. She will do a great job for all of us. The SPRF Board and PRAM State Board have appointed me to another three-year term on the UAB starting in 2011, and I'm excited to continue representing you. I also was asked very recently by the Public Relations Society of America leadership team to co-chair the UAB for 2011 with my friend Jay Rayburn (mentioned above) from Florida State University. This is a great honor, and I look for ward to continuing our progress to benefit the profession. I am encouraged about the many new projects in SPRF. We have excellent leaders who are ready to guide us into the future. Have a prosperous and joyful 2011!
John
Dr. John E. Forde, APR, Fellow PRSA SPRF Vice President of Accreditation Associate Professor and Head Department of Communication P.O. Box PF Mississippi State, MS 39762 662-325-8033-office 662-312-5031-mobile 662-324-0168-home 662-325-3210-fax jforde@comm.msstate.edu
____________________________________ Interested in becoming Accredited in Public Relations? Take a look at www.praccreditation.org and see what new resources are available. Your colleagues in SPRF want to help you earn this credential. Go to www.sprf.org and find contact colleagues and other information. There is also an online study course now available. Take a sneak peak by clicking here. Also see who is accredited in SPRF what other organizations work together on APR by clicking here. Want more information? Contact Dr. John E. Forde, APR - 662-325-8033 or jforde@comm.msstate.edu |
SPRF Now Offering Constant Contact and Survey Monkey to Members
SPRF is pleased to offer its Constant Contact and SurveyMonkey accounts to its membership for all SPRF-related business. To inquire and make arrangements, please contact Jarrod Ravencraft, Pam Swain or Kim Collins, APR to get started... | |
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ECPRO News
 | | Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO) members (l-r) Ken Hair; Linda Evanchyk; Randy Bobbett, APR; Ardelle Bush; Joe Purka and Jean Dutton attended the SPRF conference held in Baton Rouge. Evanchyk was ECPRO's nominee for Educator of the Year. ECPRO's nominee for the PAA award was Dr. Randy Bobbitt, APR. |
 | | Children in Crisis Executive Director Ken Hair recently received three awards, on behalf of CIC, at the SPRF annual conference. |
| Congratulations to Jean Dutton, who is shown with an Achievement Award she recently received from the Florida Commission on the Status of Women. She was one of eight Florida women receiving an Achievement Award, which recognizes women for their work in improving the lives of women and families in their communities. The awards were presented in a ceremony held in Tampa. |
PRAL News
Baton Rouge Chapter News
WIN AWARDED AG COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR
Sam Irwin, press secretary for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), was named the Regnal Wallace Ag Communicator of the Year by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, according to LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain.
Irwin received the award in New Orleans as part of the 88th annual Farm Bureau Federation's meeting in June. This is the 13th year the award has been presented to a farm journalist or ag public relations professional for work in reporting on farm issues.
"I'm very proud of Sam and all the hard work he does," Strain said. "He handles all of the department's press work, maintains our Web page and also is the editor of the Market Bulletin. The recognition is well-deserved."
The award is named after former Farm Bureau PR Director Regnal Wallace, who retired in 1997. For 28 years, Wallace told the story of agriculture by creating the Louisiana Farm Bureau Radio Network and Farm Bureau's weekly television program "This Week in Louisiana Agriculture."
2009 PRAL-BR Salary Survey Report Published
The Public Relations Association of Louisiana Baton Rouge Chapter has released the results of its inaugural salary survey, providing an in-depth analysis on salary and benefits of public relations professionals who are employed in the Greater Baton Rouge area.
The median base salary for all respondents was $52,001 to $54,000. Government agencies (local, state and federal) were the top employer type (28.6 percent); followed by nonprofit organizations (21.4 percent); for-profit companies (15.1 percent); and education-related entities (11.9 percent). PRAL members can now log in to the PRAL Web site to view the entire benchmarking salary report, including:
Median base salaries for area PR practitioners, including comparisons by years of experience, years in current position and gender Salary comparisons of APR practitioners vs non-APR practitioners Salary comparisons by type of employer (for-profit vs. nonprofit) Benefits offered by position level
This report is based on an online web survey conducted by PRAL from June through August 2009. A total of 249 potential respondents were e-mailed the link, and 137 survey responses were received for a response rate of 55 percent.
The 2009 PRAL Salary Survey Report is available by logging in to www.pralbr.org. The survey is located in the "Other Documents" section of the Members-Only portion of the website. Members are required to log in to the site using their e-mail address and password to access the report.
The 2009 Salary Survey was written, distributed and analyzed by PRAL Members Michelle Clement and Sadie Wilks on behalf of the association. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Sadie Wilks, APR, at sadie@lsms.org or Michelle Clement, APR, at mclement@lhaonline.org.
PRAM News
PRAM State Organization News PRAM Names 2011 Board of DirectorsThe Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM) has named its 2011 Board of Directors.  | | Aylett |
Serving as president of the association is Kristie Aylett, APR, principal with the public relations consulting firm, The KARD Group. Other officers are Meagan Coughlin, vice president of Programs; Shannon Coker, APR, vice president of Awards; Melissa Bryant, vice president of Communications; Chantel Lott, vice president of Student Services; Leyla Goodsell, secretary; Ken Flanagan, treasurer; and Caron Blanton, APR, immediate past president. Kurt Brautigam, APR, will serve as the statewide accreditation coordinator, and Ron Barnes, APR, will serve as a member-at-large on the board, coordinating PRAM's responsibilities with the 2011 Lantern Awards for SPRF. John Forde, PhD, APR, Jarrod Ravencraft and Celeste Cade will join Blanton and Aylett to represent Mississippi on the board of the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF).
Go Beyond Luck at 2011 PRAM Conference March 17-18You just got lucky! The 2011 PRAM State Conference will be March 17 and 18 at the beautiful and fun Beau Rivage Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi. We will take you beyond luck with this year's theme - Beyond Luck: Taking the Chance out of PR. Hotel rooms are a steal at $89 a night, and speakers will be announced soon. So, when can you register and how much is it? Early registration will be $125, and online registration will be available in mid-January, once the redesigned PRAM website is launched. Sponsorships and exhibit opportunities are also available. For conference questions, please email VP/Programs Meagan Coughlin at mcoughlin@cpi-group.com. PRAM PRism Entries Due Jan. 21It's time for PRAM members to prepare their entries for the 2011 PRism Awards, which honor and recognize outstanding work in the field of public relations by students and professionals within the state of Mississippi. The PRisms are divided into 25 categories and two sections: (Categories 1-11) Public Relations Programs/Reputation Management and (Categories 12-25) Public Relations Projects/Tactical Elements. The highest award honor goes to the PRism winners, followed by Awards of Excellence and Certificates of Achievement. Additionally, judges may select two award-winning entries as "Judges' Choice" and name one overall "Best of Show." To enter, visit www.pramprisms.org and follow the seven easy steps in the online entry system. Entries must be submitted via the PRism online system, which allows you to enter your programs and projects, manage your entries, pay for your submissions and order duplicate awards after the ceremony. The deadline for entries is 5 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 21, 2011. Remember, the online award submission only puts your entry into the database, but your entry is not complete until you mail your official award submission and binder to the address on the website. Entry binders MUST be physically received by the January 21 deadline. You must follow the rules and regulations precisely to be considered for an award. All entries must reflect work (published, printed, presented, etc.) between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. Winners will be announced at a banquet Thursday, March 17, 2011, during the PRAM conference at Beau Rivage Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi. Please contact VP/Awards Shannon Coker at pramprisms@gmail.com or 601-368-3250 with any questions. Tips from JudgesPRism Award Online Tutorial Gulf Coast Chapter News
 WLOX reporter Patrice Clark, center, was awarded the 2010 Excellence in Media Award from the Gulf Coast Chapter of Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM) in Pascagoula Nov. 18, 2010. Pictured with Patrice are left, Debbie Anglin, Director of Communications for the Pascagoula School District who nominated Patrice for the award; and right, Amanda Parker, president of Gulf Coast PRAM. The award is given annually to the person voted to have performed outstanding work in media relations during the past year. Based on nominations from the PRAM membership, the PRAM Board of Directors makes the final decision on the recipient.
Patrice was recognized for her dedication to reporting the news throughout Jackson and George Counties and for her diligence in assuring her stories are timely, factual and beneficial to those who watch WLOX News. Central Chapter News 2010 PRAM Central Community Service Projects September - October project: Dress for Success, Little Black Dress with a Tie Event  | | PRAM Central volunteers at LBD Event |
Dress for Success Metro Jackson's (DFS) mission is to promote economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire and career development tools to help women thrive in the workplace. With Mississippi's only DFS affiliate office located in Jackson and two PRAM Central members on the board of DFS, PRAM Central offered our members' time and professional services in planning and promoting their annual fundraising event, Little Black Dress with a Tie. This event included a live and silent auction of local celebrities black dresses and neckties along with items from local businesses. Our members were tasked with collecting items for the silent and live auction, booking the live auctioneer, and implementing event duties before, during and after the event. Over 120 items were sold in the live auction and $4,000.00 was raised during the live auction. The members of PRAM Central successfully assisted DFS and plans on offering our services with future DFS events. November project: The Salvation Army, Red Kettle Campaign   The Salvation Army of Metro Jackson announced their largest fundraising effort, the Red Kettle Campaign, would rely on 100% volunteers to man red kettles and ring the bell at over 40 kettle stands across the Metro area. The campaign kicked off mid-November with a Celebrity Challenge week where local businesses and organizations competed in raising money. PRAM Central was up for the challenge and recruited 13 members to man a kettle and ring the bell from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at a local Kroger. Our members took the liberty of asking for donations before our bell ringing date from employers, friends and family. The Mississippi Hospital Association creatively designated a workday as "jeans day" with a donation of $5 towards PRAM's kettle, employees were allowed to wear jeans. With a jump-start on donations, PRAM Central's efforts surpassed the competition by raising $715.00! Our members were proud to assist The Salvation Army in raising money to fund local year-round programs.
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Spread the Word: PRCA to host "In A Word"
 Writing for news media. Writing for the Web. Speechwriting. Visual communications. Telling your story. Telling your company's story. In public relations, it's all about the words. When PRCA hosts "In A Word" in Birmingham on April 3-5, you'll get practical tips and useful advice for a variety of writing styles we all encounter in our public relations work. Here's a sampling of what you'll find at "In A Word": · Learn about speechwriting from pop songs, Hollywood screenwriters and the science of physics with Washington-based speechwriter and Georgetown University professor Mike Long. · Actress and storyteller Dolores Hydock shows how stories bring ideas, facts and feelings to life. · Discover smarter ways to get PR results from Brigham Young University news director and independent media relations trainer and coach Michael Smart. · And Mack Collier will show attendees how to craft blog content that's engaging and encourages interaction from readers. Register online now through March 1 at http://bit.ly/PRCA_Registration. Reserve Your Room TodayThe brand new Embassy Suites Birmingham-Hoover is home to "In A Word." PRCA's conference rate of $129 is now available at http://bit.ly/PRCA_Hotel. This all-suite hotel is easily accessed from I-65 and features a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast and a complimentary nightly Manager's Reception in the lobby. Each suite has its own microwave, mini fridge, iron/ironing board, coffee and coffee maker, two 37-inch flat screen TVs, high-speed internet access, wet bar and two phones with voice mail. PRCA's room block is guaranteed through March 13. Sponsorship Opportunities Still AvailableDoes your company provide a service to PR professionals? As a sponsor of PRCA's annual conference, you will have the opportunity to interact with some of the state's leading PR professionals. PRCA members regularly work with vendors for a variety of public relations-related needs such as agency services, research, writing, photography, video, graphic design, printing, event planning and media tracking. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please visit http://bit.ly/PRCA_Sponsors. For More Conference Updates...Find us online at www.facebook.com/PRCAInAWord and www.twitter.com/PRCA_InAWord.  |
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About SPRF
Founded in 1972, SPRF is a regional network of nearly 1,500 public relations professionals from Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and north Florida who share a common interest in the public relations profession.SPRF exists to further the professional and networking interests of today's public relations and communication professionals in private, public and nonprofit businesses and organizations. Along with networking, SPRF serves to advocate on behalf of and assist its members through ongoing professional development and defining ethical behavior.
SPRF, along with eight other regional and national public relations organizations, is a participating member of the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), the national body which administers the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) mark. Members certified as APRs have successfully demonstrated competency in the knowledge, skills and abilities required to practice public relations effectively in today's business arena. |
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. Make sure to check out the latest SPRF news on our website at www.sprf.org
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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