Vegas PR News

To Disclose or Not To Disclose?

Assume that you are the president of PR Results, Inc., a Las Vegas-based public relations firm representing the National Cement and Asphalt Contractor’s Association (NCACA). NCACA has been closely monitoring high-growth communities across the country, like Las Vegas, that are preparing to vote soon on regional transportation and road improvement plans. NCACA has hired your firm to organize and manage a citizen’s group in Las Vegas called Las Vegas Citizens for Active Road Expansion (LVCARE). The group’s sole purpose is to persuade voters to pass Las Vegas’ aggressive road expansion plans (and bring more business to local and national cement and asphalt companies). A reporter from the Las Vegas Herald-Tribune learns about LVCARE and contacts you for information regarding the individuals or organization(s) funding/backing the group. Your client asks you to keep their involvement confidential. Your “gut” tells you to disclose the information; however, you are concerned about losing the business if you go against your client’s wishes.

What do you do?

Click on http://www.prsa.org/aboutUs/ethics/documents/CS3A.pdf to see if your answer is right, according to the PRSA Member Code of Ethics.

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Career Support Group for UNLV Grads

In this tough economy, a growing number of PRSA members and other communications professionals are in the market for a job. If you’re an alumnus/a of UNLV, you’re eligable to participate in career “support group” hosted by UNLV Career Services and the UNLV Alumni Association. As we learn of more resources, we’ll post them to the blog.

Energize Your Career in a Tough Economy for UNLV Alumni
July 10 and August 7

• 8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
• UNLV Career Services Center, Student Services Complex A, Room 301
  • Join fellow UNLV alumni, alumni mentors, and Career Services professionals in a support group designed to assist you in maximizing your job search and career goals
• Clarify your career and job search direction
• Identify key job market resources and increase your marketability
• Better understand your transferrable skills and how to apply them
• Develop a clear action plan to reach your employment goals
  • Co-sponsored by UNLV Career Services and the UNLV Alumni Association
  • Click HERE to register
  • For more information or assistance with registration, contact UNLV Career Services at 702-895-3495

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PRSA Mixer Hosted by Studio J

Date: Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Time: 6-9 p.m.

Join PRSA Las Vegas Valley Chapter to network with the best communicators in Las Vegas and have a fun portrait taken! If you are a rookie professional, polished pro or just got the pink slip, this is the place to be.

Appetizers and drinks provided including beer and wine. Fun portrait opportunities available during the event and every guest will receive 50% off a corporate portrait, to be used at another time. Open to all communicators in Southern Nevada.

Admission is free thanks to our host Eric Jamison, owner of Studio J. Visit their website: www.studiojinc.com.

Space is limited. RSVP required.

Location: Studio J, 4081 Silvestri Lane Loft 102 (A-2), Las Vegas, NV 89120

RSVP: View the event invitation.

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Can You Deceive the Enemy and Tell the Truth?

There are great dilemmas in wartime communication. Accurate public reporting of military activities is a crucial tool for military communicators to gain and maintain support from civilian leadership for military operations. To reduce the confusion inherent in wartime communication, there must be a firewall separation between Public Affairs (PA) and Military Information Operations (IO) and a mechanism based on disclosure, exposure and public discussion to reestablish a basis of truth and trust when situations of honesty, clarity and truthfulness have been breached. Coordination between PA and IO is essential to maintain the firewall.

Want to learn more? Wartime Communications at http://www.prsa.org/aboutUs/ethics/psaPS5.html

Source: PRSA Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS) and PRSA Military & Public Safety Section

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Featured Job: PR Coordinator/Assistant PR Specialist

Award-winning public relations company based in Las Vegas, NV has an immediate opening for a full-time PR professional with 1 to 3 years related experience. Candidates must have strong writing, media relations and social media skills, highly organized, ability to multi-task, be a self-starter and have an interest in news and what’s going on in the world. PR agency experience, college degree and sense of humor required. Established media contacts a plus. We prefer candidates already residing in Southern Nevada.

Just log on to our chapter’s job bank http://prsalasvegas.com/jobs/ (free to PRSA Las Vegas chapter members and $20 for a six-month subscription for non-members) for full details regarding this position and how to apply — as well as other posted jobs.

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Update Your Member Profile and You Could Be a Winner

Take a few minutes to help PRSA serve you better. Tell us your job title, organizational setting, industry and area(s) of specialization. Each month, May through August, we will randomly select five members who update their demographics information to receive gifts, including a $100 Amazon gift card and items from the PRSA Store. You could be a winner! Update your demographics information on MemberNet today. If you are renewing your membership by mail or fax, you also can update your demographics on the back of the dues invoice.

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June 26 Monthly “Beat the Heat” Breakfast Seminar: PR Successes & Challenges for Water Resources in the State with Pat Mulroy

Our next “luncheon” will be a breakfast. Hang on – you heard that right…for the summer we’re going to “Beat-the-Heat” by moving our regularly scheduled luncheons to breakfasts. Because we’ve moved up to a breakfast, we will be passing along the cost savings to you. We know the economy has everyone in a crunch – not only is it impacting your pocketbook - it’s hitting your calendar and you may not have as much time available to spend outside the office. By moving up to a breakfast, we hope to help address both the cost and time issues.

Friday, June 26, 2009
7 a.m. networking,  7:30 a.m. breakfast and presentation, 8:30 a.m. presentation concludes

Scientists at the Scripps Institute estimate that Lake Mead, which is the source of 90 percent of Southern Nevada’s water, could run dry by 2021. This presents a critical situation for our region. The Southern Nevada Water Authority has applied to the state for permits to draw upon renewable underground stores in rural Nevada. The pipeline, along with other programs such as “conservation pricing” for people who use more water, are among the many solutions the water authority is implementing to help meet the water needs in Southern Nevada.

Las Vegas Valley Water District and Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager Pat Mulroy will explain PR successes and challenges for water resources in the State. As part of the discussion, she will address how the water authority has dealt with intense criticism associated with the proposed in-state groundwater project and challenges to water conservation efforts.

Register for this Event

Read the rest of this entry »

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Member Survey – You Spoke, We Listened

Thank you to all the members who participated in the annual membership survey. Your thoughts are important to us as we develop programming and services. Each completed entry was put in for a drawing of a Cili’s gift certificate and the winner was Amy Maier.

Are you curious about the results? Here are few gems we gleaned:

• Fewer employers are picking up the cost of membership and seminar registration fees
• Networking continues to hold the top spot for most important reason to maintain membership followed by professional development opportunities
• 83% of members said they would consider attending Western District conference if it were held in Las Vegas in 2011. Update: the PRSA-LVVC Board has agreed to host the conference in 2011.
• Members are interested in morning seminars. In response, the chapter has moved monthly luncheons to “beat the heat” breakfasts for June, July, and August months. More details to come.
• The top rated chapter programs were APR Readiness Prep and Young Professionals. The lowest rated program was the chapter Job Bank. With so few jobs available, it’s understandable that this program received low marks even though more members are visiting it more frequently.
• 44% of members did not know the chapter has a blog. Here’s the link: www.prsalasvegas.com/blog
• Some members report that they do not receive chapter emails. Cvent tells us that it might be a problem with your settings. Learn more.
• 18 members volunteered to help with the 2011 Western District Conference planning

As always, we enjoy hearing from our members. If you missed submitting your feedback but would like to offer your comments, please post your thoughts on the blog or contact Amy Brooks at pres-elect@prsalasvegas.com.

PRSA-LVVC has more than 900 email addresses of nonmember professionals who have opted into the database. We are working on a survey to be launched in June providing the board with feedback from nonmembers.

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PRSA is rewriting its bylaws: Join in the conversation and help shape our Society’s future!

PRSA is in the process of rewriting its bylaws with the objective of developing a document that enables a modern, flexible and efficient system of governance.  This effort is moving forward per the recommendation of the Bylaws Task Force and the PRSA Board of Directors. 

Interested PRSA members are invited to participate in any of the scheduled conference calls listed below.  If you are unavailable for the Western District’s allocated call time, please join one of the other calls. If you cannot join any of the live calls, a recorded version will be available.  I plan to participate on the Friday, May 15 call.

Tri State/Northeast - Wednesday, May 13, 3 p.m. EDT

Mid-Atlantic/East Central - Thursday, May 14, 3 p.m. EDT

North Pacific/Western - Friday, May 15, 4 p.m. EDT

Midwest/Southwest - Wednesday, May 20, 4 p.m. EDT

In an e-mail from David C. Rickey, APR, Chair, Bylaws Rewrite Task Force, he says the recommendations from the Bylaws Task Force and the board are based on extensive primary and secondary research. PRSA is working with legal counsel to draft the legal document, which delegates will discuss and deliberate on at the 2009 National PRSA Assembly in San Diego. In the meantime, they are reaching out to members and leaders of PRSA to engage in a rich discussion about this important undertaking.

These calls are for PRSA members only, so please e-mail me at dgibes@kkbrf.com  for the dial-in number and a copy of the presentation that will be used on the conference calls, and I will send them to you.    

Other resources regarding the recommended bylaws changes also are available at http://www.prsa.org/aboutUs/Bylaws/index.html. In addition, a Governance e-Group has been established in the MemberNet section of the PRSA Web site. Also, questions may be sent to governance@prsa.org.

This is one of the most important organizational initiatives that the Society is undertaking in 2009!  We look forward to your participation! 

Please let me know if you have any questions!  Diane

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May 29 Monthly Luncheon Seminar: Second Annual Meet the Media Experience: Make Your Opening Pitch Count!

It’s a perfect time for some spring PR training exercises that will hone your skills and give you the opportunity make a “pitch of your own” to Nevada’s top print, television, and radio news editors and managers during an interactive luncheon seminar. 

Bring your pitch packet, your best pitching techniques and your interesting story ideas for one-on-one “pitch sessions” with our distinguished panel of media representatives. Mid-way through the event, participants will rotate to a second panelist’s table for another chance to pitch. 

PRSA is pleased to introduce the media panel:

• Joyce Kotnik-Klevins, Assignment Planning Editor - KVBC Channel 3 - NBC Affiliate Las Vegas
• Rob Langrell, Editor of Special Publications - In Business Las Vegas / The Home News Community Newspapers of Nevada, Greenspun Media Group
• Robert Martinez, Assignment Manager - KLAS TV Channel 8
• Ian Mylchreest, Producer - KNPR’s State of Nevada
• Geoff Schumacher, Director of Community Publications - Stephens Media LLC

After the “speed pitching” sessions, our media panel will give us their overall impressions and feedback and discuss what our PR pros did well and what areas we could improve upon. They will also share some best practices for e-mail and phone pitches. And, of course, it’s our hope that our pitches will result in a story idea or two! 

EVENT DETAILS
We are pleased to have our media panel join us at our May 29 luncheon, which will be held at Cili’s at Bali Hai Golf Club, 5160 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. with lunch served at noon. The pitching will begin shortly thereafter and conclude at 1 p.m.

The cost for the luncheon seminar is $28 for PRSA-LVVC/PRSSA members who register before Wednesday, May 27; $35 for non-members before the May 27 deadline; $35 for members and $40 for non-members after the deadline; and at the door. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted at the door.

Online registration for this event.

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