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From the President
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To my colleagues in SPRF,
Wow! What a beautiful location and great turn out for our annual conference. This is absolutely the one great benefit of membership in SPRF that your board of directors wants to present to you year after year. Many of you attended and offered your comments. Thank you. We learned, of course, there are some things we can improve, but we also learned we hit the mark with excellent learning sessions. I know I learned a great deal from our speakers - I still have the notes and am already working that knowledge into some presentations I am making.
Our awards programs were extremely meaningful as well. As another of our premier benefits, you get to offer your work, your chapter and your career up for review and recognition. Please read in this issue those among us who rose to the challenge and met the test - Hall of Fame inductees, Professional Achievement Award, Educator of the Year, President of the Year, Chapter of the Year, Senior Practitioners, new holders of the APR and Lantern Award entrants. You as members can reach these heights and forever hold them up to family employers and colleagues alike as proof you have the knowledge and skill of an expert - attested to and granted by your colleagues.
As this board winds down its year at the helm, let me say how honored I am to have led in some small way. We've seen growth in our membership, new chapters born, and a new state association re-emerge in Louisiana. We've struggled with the notion that we serve you, our members, and must continue to provide benefit of that membership. Yet, we cannot do that without your help. As always, my mantra is step up to serve if you want to really learn and grow. We always need great leaders, and we have our eye on you! Get involved locally, let your chapter and state leadership know you want to "move up" and into SPRF leadership, and we'll see you at the top soon!
Sincerely,
Glen Duncan, APR
President
Southern Public Relations Federation
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PR Legends Inducted into Southern Public Relations Hall of Fame
The Southern Public Relations Hall of Fame added three new members Oct. 4, honoring them for their career accomplishments and contributions to the profession.
The Class of 2011 inducted into the Hall of Fame includes Sherry Harlow, APR, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; William E. "Bud" Kirkpatrick of Hattiesburg, Miss.; and Yvonne McGehee Sorge, APR, of Jackson, Miss. Nominations for each of three members of the Class of 2011 highlighted their roles as mentors, trailblazers, industry leaders and community volunteers.
Harlow has served as the marketing director of Eglin Federal Credit Union for 33 years, helping the organization become one of the top 100 of the 11,000 credit unions in the nation. In 1992, she was a founding member of the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization (ECPRO) and has continued to serve in an official capacity for 20 years.
Kirkpatrick has been hailed as a pioneer of public relations in the Pine Belt region of Mississippi, having mentored or influenced the career of many of the area's most successful practitioners during a career that spanned four decades. His retirement in 2002 marked the end of an era at The University of Southern Mississippi. In 1972, he became USM's first director of public relations, building a department that produced programs which resulted in significant academic and athletic advancement for the school's two campuses, as well as programs benefitting the entire community.
Sorge began her professional career at an advertising agency in Memphis, moving to Jackson when she became the advertising manager and fashion coordinator with Kennington's Department Store. After several years, Yvonne went on to work at Jackson advertising agency Gordon Marks & Company, as account executive and senior vice president for advertising and public relations. In 1990, she opened her own firm, Yvonne Sorge Advertising and Public Relations, retiring in 2009.
The Class of 2011 honorees join those inducted into the Hall last year -- Rex Kelly, William "Bill" Michelet, APR, Fellow PRSA, and the late Philip R. Forrest Jr.
SPRF co-sponsors the Hall with the Mississippi State University Department of Communications. A plaque with the names of Hall members is permanently installed outside the John Grisham Room inside the Mitchell Memorial Library on the MSU campus in Starkville. The criteria for selection as a Hall of Fame inductee includes 25 years or more of professional experience by candidates who:- have brought honor to the profession of public relations and recognized for strong contributions to their company, organization, city, state or region;
- have shown leadership at the local, state and regional levels of SPRF member organizations and chapters and/or other professional public relations organizations; and
- have demonstrated professional practice and behavior that are characteristic and consistent with the SPRF Code of Ethics.
Nominations for the Class of 2012 are due May 30, and honorees will be announced at the SPRF conference Oct. 7-9, 2012, in Destin, Fla.
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PRCA's Jenkins Receives Professional Achievement Award
Jennifer Jenkins, APR, received SPRF's highest individual honor -- the Professional Achievement Award -- at an awards luncheon Oct. 3 in Point Clear, Ala. during the annual SPRF conference.
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Professional Achievement Award recipients from Alabama celebrate during the SPRF conference. From left, Jamie Palmer, APR (1995),
Carol Mann, APR (2004) Jennifer Jenkins, APR (2011), and Suzanne Fornaro, APR (2006)
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Each member organization of SPRF is invited to nominate one outstanding public relations professional for the Professional Achievement Award. The selection is based on professional activities, community service, career achievement and examples of the nominee's work.
The Public Relations Council of Alabama nominated Jenkins for the award. Susan Christensen, APR, of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM) and Holly Houk Cullen, APR, of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana were also nominated for the honor.
A panel of experienced PR professionals from outside the four-state SPRF region select the award recipient each year. One of this year's judges noted that Jenkins is a "great representation of career mobility and a healthy, productive and successful approach to balancing work and personal life."
Jenkins is the president of JJPR LLC, an independent, boutique public relations and marketing firm in Daphne, Ala. She earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 2007. She has more than 15 years of experience in public relations and advertising, and her work has been recognized in AdWeek, Advertising Age, PRWeek, Healthcare Marketing Advisor, Restaurant Business and Nation's Restaurant News.
Jenkins' extensive client list has included Children's Hospital of Alabama, Gulf Coast Cancer Centers, Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, The University of Alabama and ThyssenKrupp USA.
A native of Fayette, Ala., Jenkins is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in public relations. In 2009, Mobile Bay magazine recognized Jenkins as one of the area's Top 40 under 40.
Jenkins has consistently earned recognition and leadership roles in her field and the community. She is the past president of PRCA and serves on the board of directors for the Southern Public Relations Federation. Jenkins has also been a member of the American Advertising Federation Mobile Bay chapter where she has served on the board of directors.
She currently serves as president of the Junior League of Mobile (JLM), the 13th largest Junior League in the world. As part of her involvement with JLM, she serves on the board of directors for the Gulf Coast Exploreum and Science Center and the United Way of Southwest Alabama. In addition, she serves on the leadership team for the Baldwin County Education Coalition.
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PRAL's LaBorde Honored as Educator of the Year
Melissa "Missy" LaBorde, APR, from Louisiana State University-Alexandria, was named SPRF's Educator of the Year for 2011, becoming the first individual to receive both the Professional Achievement Award (2003) and the Educator of the Year honor.
Each member organization of SPRF is invited to nominate one outstanding full-time public relations educator for the Educator of the Year Award. The award recognizes an educator who has taught public relations or a closely-related discipline and who has demonstrated a commitment to advance the profession of public relations.
LaBorde was nominated by the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), where she is a charter member and past president of PRAL's Central chapter in Alexandria.
Other nominees included John Forde, PhD, APR, Fellow PRSA, of PRAM, Teri Henley, MBA, APR, of PRCA, and Randall Bobbitt, PhD, APR, of ECPRO.
A panel of experienced PR professionals from outside the four-state SPRF region select the award recipient each year. One of this year's judges noted that LaBorde is a "great asset to the campus and an outstanding ambassador for the university. She sets the bar high for others."
LaBorde is an assistant professor of communication studies and has been an administrator and faculty member at LSU Alexandria for 19 years.
"She has taught her students so much in the communication studies field," said Shelia Hudson, LSUA recruiter and former student. "She has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in her field and is widely known across the region for her work as an educator and supporter of public relations. When the opportunity came to nominate someone for this award, I couldn't think of anyone more deserving," Hudson said.
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SPRF Honors 12 as Senior PractitionersTwelve SPRF members were honored as Senior Practitioners during the 2011 conference. - Mary Anne Caldwell, APR, PRAM Mississippi Beach
- Diane Christy, PRCA Montgomery
- Nancy King Dennis, PRCA Montgomery
- Ruwena Healy, PRCA Birmingham
- Tracy Heggins, PRAM Mississippi Beach
- Kristina Hendrix, APR, PRCA Northern Alabama
- Lori Miller, PRCA Northern Alabama
- Toni Richardson, ECPRO
- Keisa Sha Sharpe, PRCA Birmingham
- Pete Smith, PRAM Central
- Leigh Ann Underwood, PRAM Pine Belt
- Lydia Walters, PRAM Pine Belt
The senior practitioner designation was established to honor SPRF members who are recognized by their peers as veteran public relations professionals with high ethical standing. Nomination and selection is made by a member's local chapter based on criteria set by the Federation. To receive the designation "senior practitioner," a recipient must qualify in three of the following four criteria:
- 15 years of full-time public relations experience
- Accreditation by a UAB 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
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Lantern Awards Recognize Outstanding Work
Ole Miss "Diversity Rocks" campaign wins Best of Show Award
The Southern Public Relations Federation recognized outstanding work in the field of public relations during the Lantern Awards banquet Oct. 3. 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.
Robin Street, APR, an instructor at the University of Mississippi Meek School of Journalism, and a committee of 14 public relations students received the William A. Taylor Best of Show Award for Diversity Rocks, a week-long celebration of minorities, whether through race, ethnic origin, disability or sexual orientation, with a special emphasis on anti-bullying held at the university in April 2011.
Judges' Choice awards were presented to the University of Alabama Capstone Agency for the Century Council for its Less Than Uthink Campaign and to the CP&D-Hattiesburg Clinic and Joanne M. Tran for the NRC Branding Campaign 2010.
In addition to its Judges' Choice recognition, the University of Alabama team took a total of four Lanterns back to campus. Deveney Communications from New Orleans received Lanterns for work performed on behalf of three different clients. Three to Five Communications and South Mississippi Electric Power Association each took home two Lantern Awards. Other Lantern Award winners are: BCBSLA, BREC Communications, Cunningham Group, Hattiesburg Clinic, LA Lottery, LA Public Health Institute, Mann Agency, Mississippi DOT, Mississippi State Personnel Board, Mississippi State University, Mobile Chamber of Commerce, The KARD Group PR/Marketing, University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi and Williams Creative Group. Click here for the SPRF news release listing all the winners from the 2011 Lantern Award program.
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2011 Chapter of Distinction = PRCA Mobile
For the third consecutive year the PRCA Mobile Chapter was awarded the Jamie Palmer Award recognizing the region's top chapter. Winners of individual categories of the Chapter of Distinction Awards were honored as well. Those honored were:
- Accreditation - PRCA North Alabama
- Chapter Management - PRCA North Alabama and PRCA Mobile (tie)
- Communications - PRCA Mobile
- Membership - PRCA North Alabama
- Programs - PRAM Central
- Projects - PRCA Mobile
- Public Relations Education - PRCA Mobile
- Public Service - PRCA Mobile
The 2011 Mobile chapter president Leslie Schraeder was also honored as the SPRF President of the Year.
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Social Media Extends Conference Experience
The 2011 SPRF conference featured a bevy of live-tweeting and sharing through social media channels. On Twitter alone, more than 60 people posted using the hashtag #SPRF, generating more than 530 tweets during the three days of sessions, meetings and awards.
We've compiled a list of 25 conference-related tweets into a printable two-page PDF. Click here to download a copy.
Photos from the conference can be found on Facebook. Check them out and tag yourself and your friends.
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Connect With Members and Stay Up to Date Through SPRF's Social Media Pages
Connect with SPRF and your fellow members through your favorite social media channels. SPRF maintains an active presence on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, posting job openings, event notices and much more.
 
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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.
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