Welcome the 2010 Board of Directors and Committee Chairs

November 19, 2009 | by Amy Bouchard Brooks

The ballots are in for the 2010 elections!  Chosen by a majority of chapter members, the new board for PRSA-Las Vegas Valley Chapter is comprised of:

  • President: Amy Bouchard Brooks
  • President-Elect: Sarah Thornton
  • Past President/Assembly Delegate: Diane Lancaster Gibes
  • Assembly Delegate: Colleen Curran, APR
  • Vice President, Communication: Kevin Malone
  • Vice President, Finance: Michelle Mouton
  • Vice President, Membership: Jennifer Schuricht
  • Vice President, Programs: KerriAnne Mukhopadhyay

 The new Board will assume its duties in January. In addition, new committee chairs have been chosen. They include:

  • Cvent Committee: Hassan Sheikh
  • Nominating Committee: Sarah Thornton
  • Professional Organization Liaison Committee: Diane Lancaster Gibes
  • Internet/Job Bank Committee: Amy Maier
  • Blog/Newsletter Committee: Monica Caruso
  • Ethics & Advocacy Committee: Shelli Ryan, APR, Fellow PRSA
  • Publicity Chair: Charlene Carl
  • Assistant Treasurer: Kimber Lee Haley
  • Finance Committee: Michelle Mouton
  • Sponsorship Committee: Lauren Henss
  • Scholarship Committee: Nicole Wolf, APR
  • Universal Accreditation: Cheryl Persinger, APR and Dawn Merritt, APR
  • Luncheon Committee: Sarah Thornton
  • Professional Development Committee: Gael Hancock, APR
  • Pinnacle Awards Event Committee: Kimber Lee Haley
  • Pinnacle Awards Judging Committee: Jennifer McDonnell
  • Western District Conference Committee: Nancy Syzdek, APR
  • PRSSA Liaisons: John Naccarato and Shane Collins

Posted in General Info | No Comments »

Monthly Luncheon Seminar - Facespacetweetblogfollowfriend: Is Your Company There?

November 17, 2009 | by Amy Bouchard Brooks
Date: Friday, December 04, 2009
Time: 11:30 a.m. networking
12 p.m. lunch and presentation
1 p.m. presentation concludes
Description: Facebook. Twitter. The Blogosphere.  Social Media. Tagging.  Text Messaging.  Citizen Journalism.  This new digital landscape has dramatically altered the way we communicate in our personal lives — with our families, our friends and our colleagues.  But what about the corporate world and our corporate and industry clients?  Are they embracing these tools as part of their daily lives?  How did they decide “To Tweet or Not to Tweet?” Are corporate executives embracing social media techniques as a way to engage customers and build loyalty?  Are these efforts positively impacting the bottom line?  If so, how?  

To answer these questions and more, Monica Sullivan, Corporate V.P. of Advertising for Harrah’s Entertainment, will be our featured speaker. She will also share Harrah’s road in discovering its social media culture, tell about how this top gaming company is putting its social media strategy into action, and forecast what’s next on the cyber-horizon. Monica leads online marketing, online distribution, email and mobile marketing, and the social media efforts for the Harrah’s family of brands including Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, Paris, Rio, Bally’s, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, Horseshoe and Showboat. She also heads up its design and production studio and the company’s traditional media planning and buying. 

Monica has a strong track record of success in marketing and media optimization, working with brands such as AT&T, American Express, Merck Medco, Bank One, First USA/WingspanBank, J. Crew and 800Flowers. Her background includes 11 years with a top direct/digital marketing agency, Digitas, where she led the Live Channels (telemarketing, care, training) practice area for the New York City office. Prior to joining Harrah’s, Monica owned marketing optimization and cross-channel marketing investment plans for regional bank clients at student lending firm First Marblehead in Boston, MA. Monica’s career also included client services leadership at media portal Excite @ home, and business development at WPP’s Big Idea Group, a niche shop specializing in online consumer panel insights for product innovation. 
 
Monica is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and earned her M.B.A from Boston University. She is a member of WOMMA (Word of Mouth Marketing Association) and is an active participant of Brand 50, where she and cross-industry peers discuss trends in digital and social media. 
 Location: Cili’s at Bali Hai Golf Club
5160 Las Vegas Blvd. South
 Cost: $28 for PRSA-LVVC/PRSSA members who register before Wednesday, December 2;
$35 for non-members before the December 2 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.
 Menu: Butternut Squash Soup with Allspice Creme Fraiche and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Roasted Free-Range Chicken with Sourdough Stuffing, Broccoli, Herb Jus and Fried Onions, Spiced Apple Cobbler with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
 RSVP: Online registration for this event.

Posted in Events | No Comments »

Featured Job: Editor

November 15, 2009 | by Diane Lancaster Gibes

Nevada Public Radio’s Desert Companion

Plans, assigns edits and generally coordinates the editorial content of Nevada Public Radio’s Desert
Companion from concept through to print completion. Reports to the Director of Programming.  The deadline to apply for this job is November 20, 2009.

For full details regarding this position and how to apply, log into our chapter’s job bank http://prsalasvegas.com/jobs/. This service is free to PRSA Las Vegas Valley Chapter members and $20 for a six-month subscription for non-members.

Posted in General Info, Job Bank | No Comments »

PRSA Assembly Overwhelmingly Adopts New Bylaws

November 9, 2009 | by Amy Bouchard Brooks

From Michael G. Cherenson, APR, 2009 PRSA Chair & CEO:

Delegates to PRSA’s Assembly came together on Nov. 7 and overwhelmingly approved a new set of bylaws that strengthen the Society. New provisions were adopted that give the Nominating Committee greater flexibility in proposing candidates for Board service, establish a “Leadership Assembly” to focus on issues of concern to the profession, and move the organization closer to the direct election of Directors and Officers for the National Board.

Read the rest of the story at PRSAY.

Posted in Bylaws, PRSA National Info | No Comments »

PRSA’s New Advocacy Campaign: The Business Case for Public Relations

October 28, 2009 | by Amy Bouchard Brooks

PRSA is excited to announce the introduction of “The Business Case for Public RelationsTM,” a PRSA-led advocacy campaign for the public relations industry. The Business Case is intended to foster more accurate and better-informed perceptions surrounding the value and roles of public relations.

The goal of the Business Case is to drive industry recognition and growth by helping professionals in the field educate key stakeholders about public relations’ functions and outcomes, demonstrate its strategic value and enhance its reputation. It was created with the help of public relations industry leaders, including representatives of APCO Worldwide, Boston University College of Communication, Cooper-Katz, Edelman, GolinHarris, Hill & Knowlton, Ketchum, MWW Group and Wachovia.

A wide array of PRSA resources is now available under The Business Case for Public RelationsTM banner, including:

  • Suggested message points to help you change entrenched attitudes and perceptions of public relations.
  • Articles on communicating with clients or senior management about the value and benefits of public relations.
  • A database of measurement resources, categorized by industry and practice area, that offers practical guidance for demonstrating the value of communications programs.
  • Professional development opportunities align with topics and resources correlated to The Business Case.
  • Silver Anvil Award case histories organized by industry and business outcome, so that you can find profiles of best-in-class public relations programs that have achieved measurable results similar to those that your clients or organizations may be pursuing.

We hope these tools and resources motivate and empower you to serve as a catalyst for reshaping internal and external perceptions of our profession. Use them to demonstrate public relations’ value to your fellow practitioners, clients, management and other key constituencies. You may also use this information to:

  • Dispel the measurability myth.
  • Advocate for ethical conduct.
  • Discourage the use of pejoratives.
  • Organize editorial board meeting with your local media.
  • Pitch new business or campaign for larger budgets.
  • Educate your clients or key influencers within your organization about the critical business outcomes that public relations is capable of driving.
  • Prepare blog posts, op-ed pieces and white papers.
  • Organize lunch and learn sessions.
  • Reach out to local government representatives.
  • Garner recognition for outstanding programs.
  • Demonstrate the greater public good served by the profession, especially on pressing social issues such as cancer awareness and prevention, drunk driving, obesity and smoking.

Please log on today to learn more about “The Business Case for Public Relations.” Your comments, thoughts or suggestions are welcome at businesscase@prsa.org.

Sincerely,

Michael Cherenson, APR
PRSA Chair & CEO

Posted in PRSA National Info | No Comments »

Reputation Management: The Gaming Industry and Social Media

October 26, 2009 | by Amy Bouchard Brooks

Via the Las Vegas Sun:

“Social media Web sites such as Facebook and Twitter are changing the face of customer relations at major Las Vegas hotels.

Resorts are setting up their own fan pages where executives can monitor customer suggestions on how to improve business, bask in guests’ kudos, offer immediate assistance to customers in distress — and cringe when unhappy patrons post critical remarks that ding their companies.”

Read more >>

Posted in Commentary | No Comments »

2010 Chapter Elections

October 20, 2009 | by Amy Bouchard Brooks

It has been my pleasure to serve as president-elect in 2009. I’ve been astounded by the many hours and personal donations given by our volunteers to develop events and programs that benefit our membership and the profession as a whole. It’s a privilege to be involved with such a wonderful group of folks who care so much about their fellow members and improving the practice of PR in the valley. This would not be possible without the leadership of our board of directors. 

Chapter Leadership Structure

The chapter is lead by a volunteer board of directors. Each director participates and/or leads various committees that do the heavy lifting on events and programs. The chapter does not have paid staff. Everything you experience is the product of our volunteers, some of whom are not members. Volunteers must be chapter members to chair a committee or be a board member. Read more about the chapter structure.

Future leaders are cultivated in committees and recruited for leadership based on their desire to serve, ability to commit their time, and past performance as a volunteer. The chapter has been very fortunate to have a long history of outstanding leadership and we hope to continue this tradition in 2010.

2010 Board Elections

According to our chapter bylaws, members elect the board of directors each calendar year. This vote must be completed no later than November 15.  On behalf of the Nominating Committee, I’m am pleased to present our nominations for 2010:

  • Sarah Thornton for president-elect
  • Diane Lancaster Gibes for past president/assembly dDelegate
  • Colleen Curran, APR for assembly delegate
  • Kevin Malone for VP of communications
  • Jennifer Schuricht for VP membership
  • Michelle Mouton for VP finance
  • KerriAnne Mukhopadhyay for VP programs
  • And finally, myself for president

If you are a PRSA-LVVC member and have not received your ballot, please contact me. Thank you for your support and involvement this year. We’ll be in touch soon to see how you want to be part of the 2010 plans!

Posted in Commentary | No Comments »

Free Social Media Insights

October 6, 2009 | by Kevin Malone

“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll change your business model.” 

This week, PRSA and 2009 International keynoter Bob Garfield kicked off “30 Days of Chaos,” a free month-long program based on Garfield’s new book, “The Chaos Scenario.”

This program is dedicated to preparing for the digital future of media and marketing, and will guide you through the disintegration of the mass media/mass marketing symbiosis, introduce you to new digital/social tools, and encourage you to work together to assemble those tools and not merely to survive the revolution, but to exploit it. As a participant in this program, you will:

  • Learn how completely the digital revolution has reordered media and marketing.
  • Discover “Listenomics,” the key to thriving in the post-advertising age.
  • Explore the power of word-of-mouth and how to leverage it in a social media age.
  • Discover dozens of new digital resources.
  • Become part of a community of thought leaders and early adopters blazing a path to advertising’s future.

Each participant will receive a video presentation from Garfield, daily e-mails featuring an introduction from Garfield, excerpts from “The Chaos Scenario,” access to expert commentary and a PowerPoint presentation to help them share what they learn from the program with others.

To read more and to watch a video about Garfield’s book, “The Chaos Scenario,” visit the PRSA ComPRhension blog. To take advantage of this free program, visit the sign-up page on the Chaos Scenario Web site. 

It is a book pitch but there is also a lot of good information (at the right price) on this site.

Posted in General Info, PRSA National Info, Social Media | No Comments »

Examples of Sticky Situations! Learn more from the Sept PRSA Luncheon Panel

September 9, 2009 | by ShelliR

Misrepresentation of editorial content and/or intentional failure to reveal the source of content is a sticky situation that has cropped up in the news in several iterations over the last few months.

Recent examples are:
• A high-tech public relations firm allegedly engaged its interns to write favorable reviews of computer games.
• A DC lobbying firm is said to have sent letters to political constituents engaging the unauthorized use of other organizations’ letterhead, giving the impression its messages were coming from those organizations.
• The Federal Trade Commission has issued proposed rules that would subject bloggers to personal liability for false advertising if they do not disclose the source of products and services they routinely receive for free to review
• A marketing firm set up a program by which clients could engage a stable of professional “twitterati” who allegedly would post favorable tweets about clients and their messages or products.
• In the current debate on national health care reform, special interests are setting up and/or funding organizations to promote their positions without disclosing who is behind those organizations.

Be sure to attend the Sept PRSA Luncheon where our panel of experts will address more sticky ethical situations.

Posted in Commentary | No Comments »

Overstating Charges Gets PR Pros in Hot Water

August 5, 2009 | by ShelliR

At a time when questionable business practices are being routinely revealed, honesty, fairness and ethical dealings are mandates for public relations professionals and the companies they represent. The practice of claiming compensation or credit for work that was never performed is unethical and weakens the public’s trust in the public relations profession and individual practitioners. Additionally, such practices may be in violation of contractual obligations and may be even found to be illegal.

Learn more about improper billing practices at http://www.prsa.org/aboutUs/ethics/documents/ps-2Aug2007Revision.doc.

Posted in Accreditation (APR), Commentary, PR News | No Comments »

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »