Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Faster than a speeding bullet...

The deadline for “Super-Powered PR” - the 2009 Image Awards Program of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association is just around the corner.

Public relations professionals and students are encouraged to reveal their “secret identities” by submitting their entries to Image: Super-Powered PR, Lee County Electric Cooperative, 4980 Bayline Drive, N. Fort Myers, FL 33917 no later than MARCH 20 at 5 p.m. For Call for Entries rules and fees please visit www.fpraswfl.org.

The Image Awards competition is conducted annually by the FPRA to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Florida and to both encourage and promote the development of public relations professionalism in our state.

The Image Awards have become a standard of public relations excellence in the state of Florida. Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design in the public relations field. The awards competition includes four divisions of categories: Public Relations Programs, Printed Tools of Public Relations, Audio/Visual Tools of Public Relations and Student Projects in Public Relations.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Calling all Super Heros!

Tick-tock goes the Image Clock!

Get ready to leap tall buildings in a single bound! It’s the final countdown for “Super-Powered PR” –The 2009 Image Awards.

Put your Super Powers to the test by submitting samples of your PR Best. Deadline to submit entries is Friday, March 20 at 5 p.m.-- on the button!

Check out http://fpraswfl.org/events/upcoming-events/2009-image-awards.html for more information.

Join Us!!!

When: Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 6 p.m.
Where: North Star Yacht Club
3420 Hancock Bridge Parkway
Fort Myers, Florida 33903
Tickets: $35 (includes hors d’oeuvres and soft bar)
Register online at www.fpraswfl .org.

Happenings around the state…

Image Award Deadlines

Capital Chapter: Image Trek: PR’s Final Frontier entries are due by MARCH 20 at 5:00 p.m. ( http://www.fpra-capital.org/activ_imageAwards.asp)

Treasure Coast: Entries are due Friday, March 24, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. (http://www.fpratreasurecoast.com/index.php?main=3&nav=17)

Tampa Bay: PR through the Ages— 2009 Image Awards Deadline for entries is Monday, March 16, 2009 (http://www.alliancecommunications.net/fpra/fpra_imageawards.html)

Space Coast: Deadline is Tuesday March 24, 2009 (http://blog.spacecoastfpra.com/?s=Image )

Orlando Chapter PR Connects –2009 Image Award— entries are due Tuesday, March 24 at 5:30 p.m. (http://www.fpra-orlando.org/)

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Get on Board...the Board!

Nominations for the 2009-2010 Board of Directors will officially open on April 7, 2009. Serving your Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA is an excellent way to build your leadership skills, develop your personal network and advance the profession. If you are interested in accepting the leadership challenge as an officer or director of this organization, or if you'd like to serve on a committee, please let Nominating Chair Barbara-Anne Urrutia know at bsurrutia@flylcpa.com.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Next year's PRU needs PR Y-O-U!

PR – Who?
PR – YOU!

In order to provide the maximum planning flexibility, the Southwest Florida Chapter is beginning its Leadership Team recruiting early; particularly for the role of PR University Chairperson.

OK – so let’s do a quick "mental picture" exercise just to get an idea of how fantastic this opportunity is – We can definitely say that PRU is a great program…but let’s see how many we have here that have experienced it! Please stand (in your mind) as long as your answer to the questions is “yes.”

1. How many of you attended PRU this year?
(Great! That's most of you! Keep standing…)
2. Now, how many of you have been to PRU in past years?
(Wow! Still most of you.)
3. How many of you have taken back something professionally valuable to your jobs?
(Ok, that's basically a given - that's the point of PRU after all, right?)
4. Did you have a lot of fun, too?
(Of course you did!)

Thanks! You can all sit down now…I won’t ask you all to answer right away who will be the PRU 2010 Chairperson --- but we are defintely looking for a person of your experience and FPRA enthusiasm to lead next year's PRU committee. I definitely hope that you will consider what a great program it is and how professional opportunities as a committee member and as a leader with our Chapter benefit you in your career development and enhances your FPRA experience. We would love to have you on board – please comment here or email me (kathleen.taylor@lcec.net)if you are interested in being a part of one of our Chapter’s most highly esteemed events in 2010!

Thank you!

March to Success

Three, Two,One…Blast off!

Ginny launched the meeting with introductions of the Leadership Team, and then it was down to business.

Notable Nuggets:
As we look around the room today, there are guests-a-plenty! Thanks to those new friendly faces for coming to the meeting.

Fridays at the Forum are turning out to be a great success. FPRA welcomed nearly ten new members.


Join the A Team!
Give me an "A" for active!

Now that we all have that team spirit going...

FPRA is getting a jump start on PRU 2010 and is seeking a PRU Chair (and committee members). The program can open up professional opportunities - as a committee member and as a Leadership Team member your career will benefit from the professional development and experience. We would love to have you on board – please get in touch with Kathleen Taylor (656-2380).

No Fooling Around, Mark your Calendars!
PR Pro Bono Day is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Lakes Park Library Community Room.

The event opens with a PR 101 session at 1:00 p.m. with an informative panel discussion about public relations and a Q&A session. Our target audience is the non profit community and our goal is to share one-on-one time with attendees demonstrating the value of professional PR services and offer mini-counseling sessions. This is a unique opportunity for PR professionals to make a difference in the community by sharing tips and best practices in today’s challenging marketplace.

For more information contact Cindy Burgess (335-0470).

Flying in...
Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! Err...well maybe not, but our local public relations professionals truly ARE super heroes for the organizations and clients that they serve.

The 2009 Image Awards - "Super-Powered PR"- is just around the corner!

FPRA is asking local PR professionals to reveal their "secret identities" and submit an Image Award entry to receive kudos for a job well done! Let's show the state what Southwest Florida is made of. :)

Not a PR professional, but still want to be part of the action? Never fear because where there is a will, there is a way! Sponsorship opportunities are available for those individuals and organizations in the gift amount of $500 or $250. For more information, contact Ginny Cooper (297-3638) or Kathleen Taylor (656-2380).

Dates to Remember: Deadline for entries: March 20
Image Awards Gala: April 16

Special Note: It was announced that all FPRA members and student members who submit an Image entry will receive one free entry to the Image Awards Gala event. If you submit one entry, that's one ticket. If you submit five entries, that's five tickets. What a deal!

Speaking of the Image Awards...

They are great practice for the Readiness Review! If any members would like information on sitting for your APR or CPRC, contact Mary Briggs (278-3900). Study sessions are coming soon!

The Presentation:
Did you know....
That the Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award has been given for 52 years and only two of those awards have been issued to Southwest Florida! Susan's award was the second win for Southwest Florida and first for a non-profit organization from this area.


Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC, winner of the 2008 Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award showed members and guests just what it takes to create a “super” entry.

Susan walked us through her campaign for the Southwest Florida Addiction Services (SWFAS). She stressed the importance of clear objectives and a strong implementation plan. Some highlights and helpful how-to suggestions from the presentation:

SWFAS Campaign Objectives


Build a case - find community leaders to support efforts
Develop partnerships in the media
Remove stigma of addiction
Raise half of the capital needed by 2008

SWFAS Implementation:

Workshops to impact stakeholders
Letter of Support
Printed materials: Fundraising brochures, direct mail pieces
Cohesive message and brand: updated newsletters, put relevant information about the campaign, etc.
Develop and reiterate strong key messages

Image Award Hints

Pay attention to the rules (there are changes this year!)
Have someone check your entry, and ask for feedback
Judges aren't local, familiarize them with the area. Be careful not to include
unnecessary details.
Take the feedback you receive on the local level for a revamp of the entry and
send it forward to Golden Image.

What's the value of receiving an Image Award?
Not only does an image award cement your relationship with a client and your agency, it is truly a notable accomplishment that will do wonders for your resume and heart.

FPRA Offers Unique Opportunity to Local Businesses

The 2009 Image Awards - "Super Powered PR" -- is quickly approaching!

As public relations professional get ready to reveal their "secret identities" by submitting their winning entires, FPRA is looking for another kind of super hero.

We are offering local businesses the opportunity to sponsor the “Super-Powered PR” Gala on April 16.

Sponsorship offers businesses the opportunity to network with Southwest Florida’s top public relations professionals, present products and services and get a first-hand look at the area’s best public relations programs as members gather at the North Star Yacht Club for a super-hero themed Awards Gala. Sponsor levels of $250 and $500 are available, with the latter also including one luncheon sponsorship (a $250 value added benefit). For more information, please contact a member of the leadership team!