Registration now available for Public Relations University Oct. 8th

The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) is hosting its annual one-day professional development seminar, PR University (PRU) on Friday, October 8. This year “PRU: Putting the Relations Back in PR” focuses on the importance of building relationships through successful communication.

The event boasts national and local speakers on topics such as the importance of personal relationships; social media monitoring, measurement and branding; the importance of building relationships with sponsors; and tips from area graphic designers. Representatives from VOCE Communications and the Poynter Institute are among the list of speakers.

Founded in 1975, the Poynter Institute is dedicated to teaching and inspiring journalists and media leaders. A recognized leader in industry best-practices, Poynter promotes excellence and integrity in journalism and in the practical leadership of successful businesses.

One of the seminar’s keynote speakers, Josh Hallett, serves as Director, Voce Connect at Voce Communications, providing social media consulting and development work with brands such as Disney Parks, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Yahoo, eBay and a number of B2B/B2C firms.

For more than fifteen years, Hallett and Voce Communications have been working with emerging internet communication technologies and works closely with public relations practitioners and corporate communicators to integrate these tools into an organization's public and media relations strategies.

For a complete line-up of this year’s PRU speakers, visit http://www.fpraswfl.org/.

The seminar will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, October 8th in the new Holiday Inn Airport at Town Center off Alico Road in south Fort Myers.

Full-day registration is $90 for non-members, $75 for members, and student registration is $35. Register at http://www.fpraswfl.org/ by Friday, Oct.1.

Our thanks to PRU sponsors Briggs and Rogers Marketing and Public Relations; Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations; LCEC; Nulman PR & Marketing and the News-Press Media Group.

Non-profit scholarships offered for PRU

For the second year, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation is offering ten half-scholarships to attend PRU available for representatives of non-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations interested in applying should send a 50-word summary to Carolyn@briggsrogers.com. Only one member per organization can apply. Scholarships are on a first-come first-served basis.