Wednesday, May 19, 2010

RSVP: E-mail Tina Lange

LOCATION: Holiday Inn Viera

TIME: 7:30am Registration, 8:00am Program

COST: $20 FPRA Members, $25 Community

Grant Heston, Assistant Vice President for News & Information
University of Central Florida

Grant Heston is the University of Central Florida’ assistant vice president for News and Information, appointed in 2007.

With more than a decade of experience in corporate communications and print and online writing and editing, Heston managed communications to media, more than 200,000 customers and 1,000 employees during his work for the Orlando Utilities Commission. He previously worked as a senior online news producer and reporter at the Orlando Sentinel and as an editor at CBS Sports.com.

Heston received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida. He serves on the boards of directors for the Friends of the Orange County Library System and the Lake Formosa Neighborhood Association, and he is a graduate of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Orlando program.

News and Information is UCF’s primary communications office. The department is responsible for disseminating news about the university’s academic programs, research, administration and other activities to the media and the public. For more information, visit www.news.ucf.edu.

RSVP: E-mail Tina Lange

You can follow @FPRASpaceCoast

All paid attendees will receive a certificate for 1 CECU

So, you want to be accredited??

Accreditation and Certification Chair, Andrea Farmer, has lived it.  Just receiving her CPRC, Andrea knows what it takes and can help YOU reach your APR and certification goals. We congratulate Andrea and hope the following helps you take the first steps toward your journey to Accreditation!

If you’re thinking about sitting for the APR exam, you might be wondering if you’re ready…

The answer is YES … if you can say yes to the following questions:

• Do I have a thorough understanding of PR principles and how to apply them?
• Do I have the skills to research, plan, implement and evaluate comprehensive PR programs?
• Do I have the skills to make a 30-minute presentation on how I planned or participated in the planning of a specific public relations program for my organization or a client?
• Do I have real world experience in the practice of public relations? (A specific number of years experience is not required to sit for the exam, but a minimum of five years is recommended.)

What is involved in becoming Accredited?

There are two steps to becoming accredited, the Readiness Review and a multiple choice computer exam. The Readiness Review includes written response to a questionnaire and a portfolio review. These are used to assess the candidate’s readiness to take the exam. This step is supported by local Accredited members who coach each candidate through the process. The computer exam is administered at a Prometric Testing Center.

What is the first step in becoming Accredited in Public Relations?

Check out the preparation and exam resources available at www.praccreditation.org, contact your chapter Accreditation & Certification Chair for information on study sessions and other materials available and submit your application to the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB).

What are the fees associated with Accreditation?

The fees for Accreditation in Public Relations are $385 if paid in full at the time of application or  $410 ($205 and $205) if paid in two installments. FPRA offers candidates trying to attain their Accreditation in Public Relations a $100 rebate provided the candidate sits for the exam within 30 days of completing the Readiness Review or the chapter’s APR study sessions.

Still have questions?

Visit www.praccreditation.org, www.fpra.org or contact local Accreditation & Certification Chair Andrea Farmer, APR, CPRC at afarmer@dncinc.com or 321-449-4318, FPRA VP of Accreditation & Certification Jeff Nall APR, CPRC at jnall@coawfla.org or 850-342-1475 ext 130 or the State Office at state@fpra.org or 941-3665-2135.

Tools

Twitter tool:  www.oneforty.com

This site offers a description of thousands of applications that have been developed around the Twitter platforms.  If there is something that you want to do on Twitter: research, monitoring, analytics, geographic location, etc…there’s an application for that.  This site has short descriptions of each application and the platforms that they are to be used with.

What does Corporate America Think of Web 2.0

Social networking and social media are transforming the way  we as PR professionals communicate amongst ourselves and our audiences.  We consider it a revolution, but corporate America is not as quick to adapt and, as we communicate with our clients we have to ensure that we talk to them about these new strategies, tools and techniques in a language that they understand. We have to help them see the maturing of social networking into a business discipline as opposed to viewing it as a colossal waste of time.  We need to put ourselves in their shoes and speak to their concerns, if we get our of our heads and get into theirs it will enable us to answer their questions before they ask them.

Forward thinking executives and decision makers understand that customer service and communication techniques have shifted. The challenge that they are all facing is not one of understanding, it is one of how to implement. The job of leading an organization through this shift is a long slow process.   By understanding the decision makers mindset up front and being prepared to identify their thought processes, it will make us their top choice to help them through the transition.

Below is the 2009 McKinsey & Company Global Survey “How companies are benefitting from web 2.0 for additional insights into this subject.  This class was taught at SXSW by Andrew McAfee, you can follow his blog here http://andrewmcafee.org/ or read his book Enterprise 2.0 New Collaborative Tools for your organizations toughest challenges.

FPRA Space Coast member, Julie Arnold, is the Social Media Manager for Griffin Integrated Marketing and leads our chapter’s Tweet Team giving live updates from our professional development programs.  You can follow @SpaceCoastFPRA on Twitter.

Enter your outstanding PR Campaigns at the state-level 2010 Golden Image Awards!

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. To qualify for judging, an entry must incorporate sound public relations research and planning. Entries also must meet the highest standard of production, execution and evaluation of results and budget.  Some part of the entry must have taken place between the previous 15 months. Entry and fees must arrive at the State Office no later than 5:00 pm, Friday May 21, 2010. Download the 2010 Golden Image Call for Entries.

Wednesday, May 19
“Public Relations At Work“
Guest speaker: Grant Heston, Asst. VP of University of Central Florida

Grant will be speaking on the topic of “Balancing Act: Communications and Police in Crisis” at the Holiday Inn Viera.  7:30 Registration and networking. 8:00 Program and breakfast.  $20 for FPRA Members and $25 for Non-Members. RSVP to tlange@cfl.rr.com.

Wednesday, June 16
Media Roundtable

Prominent Central Florida media contacts from Associated Press, Reuters, and Florida Today will give insight on how to gain the attention of media and submit items for publication.  Attendees will receive a current and complete media listing in digital format at the Holiday Inn Viera.  This interactive event includes breakfast.  8:00-8:30 Registration and networking.  8:30-10:00 Roundtable event and breakfast.  $30 for FPRA Members.  $35 for Ad Fed and Non-Profit.  $40 for Community.  RSVP to tlange@cfl.rr.com.

** Did you know that the Space Coast Chapter Professional Development events count towards APR Maintenance and Continuing Education requirements.  All program attendees will receive a certificate for 1 CECU. **

The awards competition includes four divisions of categories:

• Public Relations Programs
• Printed Tools of Public Relations
• Audio/Visual Tools of Public Relations
• Student Projects in Public Relations

Our Awards winners are:

Division A5: Crisis Communication
Award of Distinction – Joan Van Scyoc/Brevard Workforce & Amelia Woodbridge/McBride Woodbridge Marketing
Aerospace Workforce Transition Program Crisis Plan

Division A9: Special Events
Award of Distinction – Dana Kelley Ashley/ Health First and Amelia Woodbridge/McBride Woodbridge Marketing
Palm Bay Hospital Grand Re-Opening

Division A9: Special Events
Image Award – Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
40^th Anniversary Celebration of Apollo

Division A10: Other
Image Award – Suzanne Sparling, APR
United Way of Brevard Investor Relationship Management Plan

Division B5: Newsletter
Award of Distinction – Joan Van Scyoc/Brevard Workforce & McBride Woodbridge Marketing
Launch Tomorrow’s Career Today – Aerospace Workforce Transition Program Newsletter program

Division C9: Web Site
Image Award – Joan Van Scyoc/Brevard Workforce & Amelia Woodbridge/McBride Woodbridge Marketing
Launch New Careers.com
Aerospace Workforce Transition Program WebSite

GRAND AWARDS
Grand Image for Division B&C
Joan Van Scyoc/Brevard Workforce & Amelia Woodbridge/McBride Woodbridge Marketing
Launch New Careers.com – Aerospace Workforce Transition Program WebSite

Grand All Image Award
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
40^th Anniversary Celebration of Apollo

Carey Beam                      Denny Meneghelli

The five members of the outbound Group Study Exchange team, from Rotary District 6930 are embarking on a month-long vocational and cultural exchange with Rotarians in District 3690 that encompasses outlying areas of Seoul in northern Gyeonggi Province.  The team from Florida is developing a multimedia presentation to describe the best industrial and cultural features of the East Central and South Florida region.   The team returns home on April 19.

Denny is Past-President of the Titusville Sunrise Rotary Club and is GSE Team Leader.  Carey Beam is the communications specialist with Craig Technologies in Cape Canaveral, and is the VP of Communications for the FPRA Space Coast Chapter board.  The other team members are Krista McGowan, owner of Orcom Labs in Indian Harbor Beach, Ryan McGill, an engineer with Harris Corp. in Melbourne, and Ana Petkovic, a pharmacist manager with CVS in Boynton Beach.

Since being brought together in October of last year, the team has spent many hours researching Korean culture and principals of Rotary International, met for a series of preparatory meetings, received coaching from native Korean speakers, attended Rotary club meetings and service projects, planned for international travel, practiced conversational Korean phrases, and shared authentic Korean meals with their families at locations throughout the District.  The Group Study Exchange program is made possible by funding from the Rotary Foundation.

The team from Florida will be making updates to their trip journal on-line at http://district6930tokorea.wordpress.com/.  Community members are encouraged to follow the team as photos, videos and written accounts about the GSE exchange are added periodically.   To learn more about Rotary International and the Group Study Exchange Program, visit the website, http://www.Rotary.org.  To learn more about Rotary District 6930, visit http://www.rotary6930.org/index.php.

The Canaveral Port Authority has announced the promotion of Rosalind Harvey to senior director of communications and community affairs.  “Rosalind’s leadership, determination, and professionalism have been instrumental in helping our organization to progress to the next level in the community and in the maritime industry,” says J. Stanley “Stan” Payne, chief executive officer of Port Canaveral. “She brings innovation and passion in all her efforts to enhance and advance Port Canaveral.”
Harvey joined the Canaveral Port Authority 10 years ago as an assistant director of public relations. In 2004, she was promoted to director of communications. In her new expanded position, she becomes a part of the senior committee.  Harvey is a former print and broadcast journalist with a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from North Carolina A&T State University. She serves on the Public Relations Committee of the American Association of Port Authorities and is a past president of the Space Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.

Is your website social media optimized?

Have you started your blog? Are your keywords working? Have you bookmarked any of your pages or releases?

There are many free tools available to help you answer these, and many more, questions. One of my favorites is the Website Grader by Hubspot http://www.websitegrader.com

This free resource provides information about On-page and Off-page SEO, Blogosphere, Social Mediasphere, Converting Visitors to Leads, Competitor Analysis, etc.

It also provides a grade for your site and offers you tips on how to improve your ranking and site structure.  I use this tool whenever I am completing a site analysis or developing a digital PR strategy for a client.  Hubspot (www.hubspot.com) regularly hosts webinars and online classes on many aspects of social media and web site optimization.

FPRA Space Coast member, Julie Arnold, is the Social Media Manager for Griffin Integrated Marketing and leads our chapter’s Tweet Team giving live updates from our professional development programs.  You can follow @SpaceCoastFPRA on Twitter.

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell  (2000, 288 pages)

If this isn’t on your bookshelf, it should be.  This is a study in classic diffusion theory using modern day anecdotes.  Especially applicable to today’s social media networks, The Tipping Point emphasizes affecting change though word-of-mouth information exchange.

Malcolm Gladwell compiled the material for the book from his time spent as a staff writer with The New Yorker.  Gladwell says, “As human beings, we always expect everyday change to happen slowly and steadily, and for there to be some relationship between cause and effect. And when there isn’t — when crime drops dramatically in New York for no apparent reason, or when a movie made on a shoestring budget ends up making hundreds of millions of dollars — we’re surprised. I’m saying, don’t be surprised. This is the way social epidemics work.”

According to www.gladwell.com, “It’s a book about change. In particular, it’s a book that presents a new way of understanding why change so often happens as quickly and as unexpectedly as it does.”  Understanding diffusion and the tipping point is absolutely critical to successful public relations programming.  Check out more reviews and prices on new and used copies of The Tipping Point at Amazon.