News from State

By Carla Ulakovic
carla.ulakovic@gmail.com

Each Quarter Chapter Presidents and President-Elects attend a FPRA State Board meeting to discuss FPRA business, events, programs and future opportunities. The second quarterly meeting was held on February 10-11 in Destin. Here is a look at what was discussed and what’s ahead:

·         At 76 percent, the state organization was just shy of reaching its 80 percent renewal goal for the year.  However, four Chapters met their renewal goal and were recognized at the state board meeting – the Southwest Florida Chapter was one of them!

·         Statewide the organization has added seven new APR’s and seven more are cleared to take the test.  Three people have passed the CPRC and two more are scheduled to take it. FPRA’s pass rate is up to 78 percent whereas two years ago the organization had the lowest pass rate.

·         There is a new accreditation on the horizon designed for students or new graduates.

·         The southwest Florida chapter leadership was the first to answer a call for donations to kick off the FPRE Foundation “Every Member Campaign’’. State is asking that each member donate $25 to help raise $25,000 for the Foundation by May 1. You will be receiving more information from State regarding the campaign.

President’s Word: Appreciation, Value and You

By Carla Ulakovic
carla.ulakovic@gmail.com

February marks a time in each year where we can stop and show appreciation and value for those who are nearest and dearest to us. (And with this being Leap Year, who doesn’t appreciate the extra day to work on an Image entry?)

Every one of our activities – from meetings to special events to student chapter activities – provides value to our members and our members provide value to these programs.

We strive, both locally and at the state level, to provide value to our members through a broad range of tools and programs. Please, take a moment and examine the member section and the listed resources on both our local and state websites. Did you know that on the state web site you can view the two-page summaries of previous Image Award winners or that you can view the complete member directory and personalize your listing with a headshot?

One of the best ways to get good value out of your membership is to get involved! Our programs need people to help make them a success. Involvement is a wonderful way to get acquainted and with various levels of commitment, there is literally something to fit every schedule.

Next Lunch: Events, Publicity and Having A Plan

By Carla Ulakovic
carla.ulakovic@gmail.com

Our next luncheon will take place at Harborside Events Center in downtown Fort Myers on  Tuesday, March 6.  We will welcome Rose Rundle, General Manager of the Harborside Event Center, as she speaks on Events, Publicity and Creating A Plan. Rundle will share insights in executing flawless and successful events from event production, committee management and working with or against challenging community calendars and projects.  Rundle will be joined by Don Paight, Executive Director of the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency to touch on the upcoming canal project in downtown Fort Myers and how it relates to events in the area.

An optional walking tour of downtown Fort Myers will follow the luncheon and will showcase historical views and future plans for the River District.  For more details and to register, click here .

The 74th Annual State Conference Theme Announced!

By Carla Ulakovic
carla.ulakovic@gmail.com

Join fellow FPRA members in discovering a "Treasure Trove of PR Strategies and Tactics" in St. Augustine from Aug. 5-8, 2012, at the Renaissance Resort at World Village Golf.

A sampling of this year's treasured speakers:

General Session: David Griffin and Rhonda Barnat, Managing Directors at Abernathy McGregor in New York.
Breakout Speakers: Steve Momorella and April Schroeder of Marketing Mud

Please be sure to check the state web site (fpra.org) regularly for updated conference information.

TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More

Nominations Open for 2012-13 FPRA Leadership Team.

By Pamela Cox-Nulman, APR, CPRC

pamnulman@earthlink.net 

 

Looking for the right opportunity to share your knowledge, embrace new challenges and expand your leadership skills? Then you belong on the FPRA leadership team. 

For 26 years the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association has served public relations professionals and the local community through professional development programs, community outreach activities and developing the next generation of communication professionals.

Our board of directors and expanded leadership team provide the direction and leadership necessary to insure our organization remains strong and is able to meet the needs of a diverse industry and rapidly changing marketplace.

Throughout March we will be accepting nominations for next year’s leadership team. Leadership terms run for one fiscal year, from September 1, 2012 – August 31, 2013. Contact Pam Nulman, APR, CPRC, nomination committee chair, or Jessica Clark, APR, president-elect, for more information and to find out how you can provide the leadership power to drive FPRA’s continued success.

Board Positions:

President-Elect

Treasurer

Secretary

V.P. of Communications

V.P. of Member Relations

V.P. of Professional Development

V.P. of Community Relations

Expanded Leadership Team:

Credentialing Chair

PRU Chair

Education Chair

Social Media Chair

Media Relations Chair

Newsletter Chair

Website Chair

Hospitality Chair

Programs Chair

Image Chair