2010 PRSA-LA
Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Eric Moses
Occidental Petroleum Corp.
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Brian O'Connor
Cunard Line
VICE PRESIDENT/ TREASURER
Alfredo E. Padilla
Laureate Higher Education Group
VICE PRESIDENT/ SECRETARY
Josefina Mora Playhouse District Association VICE PRESIDENT
Erik Deutsch
ExcelPR Group
Victoria Lelash, APR
PainePR
Dennis Kaiser
ValleyCrest Landscape Companies
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Rita Tateel The Celebrity Source
DIRECTORS
Stephen Chavez Ketchum
Kathleen Flood MWW Group
Holly Ferris
Ferris Communications
Michael J. Furtney, APR,
Fellow PRSA
Killeen Furtney Group
John Musella, APR
Newhall Land
Negin Kamali
GolinHarris
Kerry Sinclair Chandler Chicco Agency
Tod Tamberg Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Karen White, APR Amgen
Denis Wolcott, APR The Wolcott Company
Robert J. Wolff Bank of the West ASSEMBLY DELEGATES Peter Hidalgo, APR Time Warner Cable
Bravo Productions
Sallie Olmsted, APR Rogers & Cowan
Stefan Pollack
Pollack PR Marketing Group
Daryl R. McCullough
PainePR
Phyllis Tucker Hill & Knowlton
Dawn Wilcox, APR
Allison & Partners
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The Los Angeles Area Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is comprised of more than 500 public relations professionals representing many L.A.-area corporations, public relations agencies, independent practitioners, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.
Our diverse membership benefits from PRSA-LA's educational and networking opportunities, as well as services such as job listings, referral programs, internship opportunities, chapter meetings and other resources.
Milestones
1948
PRSA-LA incorporated as one of PRSA's first five founding chapters. Bob Roberts elected first chapter president.
1955
PRSA-LA hosts the national PRSA Annual Conference. More than 1,100 PR pros attend at the Ambassador Hotel.
1964
PRSA-LA holds the first annual PRism Awards competition and banquet.
1965
PRSA-LA elects its first woman president, Pat Penney.
1970
PRSA-LA Executive Director Barbara Shore is hired to run the chapter's day-to-day operations - a position she still holds 40 years later.
1985
PRSA-LA awards the first Joseph Roos Award to recognize PR professionals who have demonstrated extraordinary community service.
1988 PRSA-LA members Eric Stoltz and Tom Trevett form PRSA's first Young Professionals (YP) section.
1989
PRSA-LA awards the first Don Perkins Grant to fund PR services for worthy nonprofit organizations.
1990
PRSA-LA and the Annenberg School for Communication hold the first Kenneth Owler Smith (KOS) Symposium named after the beloved USC professor.
2003
PRSA-LA holds its first IPG (Independent Practitioners Group) Meeting.
2004
PRSA-LA Board Member Dawn Wilcox, APR stages the first Quality Time with PR Minds event and creates a model program for assisting nonprofits that is emulated by other PRSA chapters.
2008
PRSA-LA Celebrates its 60th Anniversary with the largest gathering of past presidents in the chapter's history. More than 20 past presidents chronicle their recollections about the history of the chapter.
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L.A. Connect
is published by
PRSA-LA
11271 Ventura Blvd. #514
Studio City, CA 91604
Phone: 818-761-5575
prsala@aol.com
www.prsala.org
Philip Sokoloski, Editor
213-977-8630
(c) 2010 PRSA-LA
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Greetings!
 | | Eric Moses |
On October 25, our chapter released the first-ever report showing the impact of public relations agencies on Los Angeles County's economy. The report, conducted by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., found that public relations consultancies contribute nearly a half-billion dollars to the county's economy. You can read the news release and the full report on our website.
This report is another way that our chapter is showing leadership on a national level.
"The statistics from the PRSA-LA study are indicative of growth trends we have seen over the past year throughout the public relations profession, domestically and globally," said Gary McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA, chair and CEO of PRSA. "From other studies and anecdotal information, we have found that the strategic value of public relations continues to outpace that of other professional service industries, and that within the Los Angeles area, the public relations profession is offering an economic boost, clearly benefiting the local economy."
You can also read about the report in the October 25 issue of the Los Angeles Business Journal. We hope you will find the data useful in the work that you do.
Sincerely,
Eric Moses, PRSA-LA President
Director, Communications & Public Affairs
Occidental Petroleum Corp.
ericmosesprsa@yahoo.com
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PRism Awards Show ApproachesTickets on Sale Now for November Awards Show Honoring the Best in Los Angeles PR
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Purchase Tickets & RSVP Online  The 46th Annual PRism Awards Show approaches, giving PRSA-LA an occasion to celebrate the achievements of public relations professionals throughout Greater Los Angeles.
The prestigious PRism Awards represent the largest gathering of public relations professionals in L.A. This year, 102 award finalists will compete for PRism Awards and Awards of Excellence in 66 total categories and sub-categories.
Special PRism Awards will also be given for the PR Team of the Year and Corporate Citizen of the Year. Don Spetner, Executive Vice President at Korn/Ferry International, will also be honored as PRSA-LA's PR Professional of the Year for 2010. Michael Seel, producing director for the Hollywood Awards, is serving as this year's award show producer/director. Don't miss this chance to join colleagues, friends and fellow chapter members as we honor the year's best PR programs, strategy and tactics.
Reserve your tickets today!
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2010 PRSA-LA Perkins Grant Winner: The Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter The Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter will receive the 2010 Don Perkins Grant at the annual PRism Awards Show on November 10. Since 1994, this non-profit animal service agency has been devoted to providing medical, social, behavioral and financial care for animals at risk. The shelter is determined to eliminate animal homelessness in the Burbank community. Their volunteers are committed to educating the community about the benefits of spay/neuter, proper pet care and pet adoption. The volunteers have also set up a successful medial program, senior pet therapy program and kitten foster program. The Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter's grant proposal was selected among all the applicants based on its merits, which included a clear public relations strategy with measurable goals and purpose, a time plan sufficient for achieving its objectives and a cost-effective budget. For more details on the grant to prepare for 2011, please find the information on our website.
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PRSA-LA Members Spend a Little Quality Time
Chapter Volunteers Provide Free Counsel to Area Nonprofits and Community-Based Organizations at 2010 Quality Time Event
 On Saturday, October 2, 58 public relations practitioners arrived at the RAND Corporation to dispense advice, brainstorm and consult one-on-one with 20 nonprofit organizations from across Southern California as part of the 7th Annual Quality Time with PR Minds event.
The nonprofit organizations represented a wide range of issues and causes and included groups such as Alzheimer's Association, City Year LA, Andre Sobel River of Life Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters and this year's Don Perkins Grant recipient, the Volunteers of Burbank Animal Shelter.
The nonprofits were incredibly grateful for the free advice they received and couldn't wait to get back to their organizations and begin implementing the ideas they received.
This event was generously sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, RAND Corporation, Allison & Partners and PainePR.
Thank you to everyone who came out and volunteered!
To learn more about Quality Time from a volunteer's perspective, please see the following write-up courtesy of participant and B2B strategic outreach consultant David Gordon Schmidt.
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Young Professionals Urged to Apply for 2010 Trevett Award
 | | Tom Trevett, APR |
If you're a talented PRSA-LA member and young professional with five years or less of full-time PR experience, you are eligible to apply for the Trevett Award.
What is the Trevett Award? The award was established to honor the memory of Tom Trevett, APR, co-founder of the Los Angeles Chapter's Young Professionals Section. Each year, the Trevett is awarded to an outstanding young PR professional who has demonstrated excellence in their work, advocacy for the profession and a commitment towards community service.
In addition to coveted recognition from colleagues, the winner receives a trophy and monetary prize ($1,000) awarded at the PRSA-LA PRism Awards Show. Second place winners receive $500. Each recipient is strongly encouraged to use at least some of the winnings for professional development.
All young professionals in the greater Los Angeles area who are employed full-time in public relations, have five years or less of full-time experience and are members in good standing with PRSA-LA are eligible to apply.
The deadline for entries is Wednesday, October 27, 2010. Further details on how to apply are available online.
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MEMBER MILESTONES
Congratulations to Tracy Garcia, APR
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 | | Tracy Garcia, APR |
PRSA-LA is proud to recognize chapter member Tracy Garcia for recently earning her accreditation in public relations (APR). Tracy, Senior Associate with WCG, strategizes and executes social media and web marketing programs for the agency's medical device and diagnostics clients.
Tracy believes there is a growing importance for practitioners to embrace and pursue the APR designation. "While public relations isn't a science, there definitely is a particular skill set and knowledge required to be successful," Garcia said. "Public relations does periodically come under fire for 'shady' or unethical practices, and the public-at-large is becoming more skeptical. It is important that the public relations profession remain credible, and the APR designation helps achieve this."
"Public relations professionals should be held to high standards, and the APR is evidence that accredited professionals meet these standards. The process is extensive and rigorous, and definitely challenged me to re-evaluate the level of work I was doing on a daily basis," explained Garcia. "I can honestly say I am a more thoughtful, strategic practitioner as a result."
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MEMBER/AGENCY NEWS
Do you or a colleague have professional news to share? Did you get promoted or receive an honor or award? Did your agency win new business? If so, let us know so we can share the good news with your fellow PRSA-LA members. Please e-mail info to L.A. Connect Editor Philip Sokoloski at psokoloski@filmla.com.
Launch of New Cunard Liner A Royal Affair
 Three PRSA-LA members, Brian O'Connor and Jackie Chase of Cunard Line and Negin Kamali of GolinHarris (AOR to Cunard) managed the North America publicity and media relations efforts in Southampton, England to launch Cunard's newest ocean liner Queen Elizabeth during a Royal Naming Ceremony with Her Majesty The Queen on October 11. More than 50 media outlets from around the world covered the Royal Affair which celebrated the launch of Cunard's third new ship in six years. Cunard Line is a 170-year old British cruise vacation brand now sailing the youngest luxury fleet at sea which includes flagship Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria.
Tateel Tracking Celebs for Semicentennial
 | | Rita Tateel |
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has hired PRSA-LA member Rita Tateel, and her company The Celebrity Source, to conduct outreach to 600+ celebrities who have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (HWoF). The effort is for the 50th Birthday Celebration of the HWoF, which is taking place on Nov. 3rd. After a special star ceremony at 6 pm at Hollywood & Highland, there will be a reception which will include taking an historic photo with all of the attending Walk of Fame stars. If you represent someone with a star on the HWoF, email Rita to make sure they get their invitation.
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Volunteers Needed: Share Your Wisdom with PRSSA Students
 Do you have wisdom that would benefit future public relations professionals? Have you presented to students before and want a reason to share that same information again with a new audience?
PRSA-LA sponsors six Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapters - Biola University, CSU Dominguez Hill, CSU Long Beach, CSU Northridge, Pepperdine University and the University of Southern California. All chapters host meetings that feature guest speakers, and they're always looking for professionals willing to visit their campuses.
If you're interested in serving as a guest speaker, please email your name, title, company and topic, and we'll share your interest with the LA-area PRSSA chapters.
For more information on how to support PRSA-LA's student chapters, please contact Holly Ferris at holly@ferriscomm.com or (562)429-6456.
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 Wed., November 3
Young Professionals Mixer
Details on PRSA-LA YP Blog
Wed., November 3
At Breakfast With...
Travel & Lifestyle
JW Marriott, Downtown LA
Wed., November 10
PRism Awards Show
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
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Looking for Project Suppliers?
Find Them with PRSA-LA's Online Resource Directory
Did you know PRSA-LA publishes an online Resource Directory of suppliers that cater to local PR professionals?
The Directory lists and provides links to qualified suppliers in a range of categories. Best of all, you can browse the entire directory right from the chapter's Web site.
If you're a supplier interested in reaching local PR professionals, click here to access the directory registration form. PRSA-LA members are also encouraged to help get the word out by telling service providers about this valuable marketing opportunity.
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Welcome New Members
William H. Boyer
County of Santa Barbara
| Tiffany L. Carter
TLC Enterprises, LLC
| Buffy Fermino
PR Newswire
| James J. Gordon
Time Warner Cable
| Charles O. Green
Greater L.A. Healthcare System
| Katie Keilman
| Natalie Kojen
| Todd Lindgren
FilmL.A., Inc.
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Angelique J. McDonald
| Lisa Munoz
UCLA Extension
| Seth W. Odell
UCLA School of Public Affairs
| Allyson Rener
Murphy O'Brien Public Relations
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Dr. Astrid Sheil
Sheil & Associates
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Rekia Michelle Spencer
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Margaret Vercillo
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A. Danielle Way
Woodbury University
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Hilary White
Los Angeles Small Schools Center
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Free Media Monitoring/Clipping for Nonprofits
 CyberAlert, Inc. has announced that it will provide free media monitoring and clipping services to nonprofit organizations as part of its eighth annual "public relations grant" program.
According to the company's news release, a minimum of 15 nonprofits will be selected to receive one full year of services ranging in value from $3,000 to $4,500.
Applications will be accepted until December 31 via the company's online application form.
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Attention Employers!
PRSA-LA Job Listings
The job listings section of PRSA-LA's Web site is a great resource for reaching qualified PR professionals seeking employment. Listings are free to post, and remain on the site for 30 days (renewable upon request). Click here to post a job.
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