Message from the president
Dear Members –
We’ve had some exceptional opportunities for professional development lately – Ann Wylie in October and, albeit a little further from home, the international PRSA conference in San Diego this month. Our chapter’s November program, “Fifty Years of PR in Alaska” will help to reinforce the importance of these opportunities in today’s fast-paced, quickly evolving public relations landscape.
Join us in November as we look back at the history of our chapter and the practice of public relations in Alaska. Then fast forward to current trends and where those trends are likely to lead us in the future.
Public relations has certainly evolved over time, historically adapting primarily to cultural shifts. Television and radio added dimension but newspapers, periodicals, brochures, flyers – all things “print” – could be relied upon as key communications tools. Evolution of the Web has changed our world completely – and will continue to bring change at a pace that we could scarcely have imagined even five years ago.
You won’t want to miss our November program. It’s guaranteed to be thought provoking – and great ammunition for increasing your training budget. In today’s world it’s imperative to stay abreast of the latest trends. Tomorrow, you might just find yourself obsolete.
It’s a brave new world.
Happy training,
Amy
50 years of PR in Alaska: A look at how far we've come and where we are headed
With vision and vigor, the PRSA Alaska Chapter will review the past 50 years of public relations in Alaska as well as contemplate what it will look like in the next 50 years.
Bruce Pozzi (APR, Fellow PRSA), the chapter's founding father, will examine the chapter’s historical highlights. Long-time board member Mary Deming Barber (APR, Fellow PRSA), will provided her vision of the future of communications.
Join us for this special look at the progression of public relations on Alaska’s 50th anniversary of statehood.
Sponsored by the Rasmuson Foundation
WHEN
Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 12-1p.m. (doors open at 11:30a.m.)
WHERE
Hilton Hotel
500 West Third Avenue
COST
Early registration – by 9 a.m., Monday
$25 for members / $30 for non-members / $10 student
*Advance rate is only good through the early registration deadline.
*Check in at the front desk by 11:45 a.m. for guaranteed seating.
*If payment is taken at the door, late registration fees apply.
*Late registrants/walk-ins will be seated after 11:50 a.m. and are on a first-come, first-served basis.
*Refunds are not available.
Registration has closed – Prices at the door:
$29 for members / $35 for non-members / $15 students
*Late registrants/walk-ins will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 11:50 a.m.
*Seating is not guaranteed.
Fairbanks PRSA attendees to speak at Nov. luncheon
The November meeting of the PRSA Alaska Chapter (Fairbanks contingency) will be held Monday, November 23, 2009, at Zach's Restaurant, at 12p.m. Our guest speakers will consist of Fairbaksans who attended the PRSA International Conference in San Diego. They will talk about the different workshops they attended and pass on valuable advice to the rest of us who didn't get the opportunity to travel south for this dynamic conference.
RSVP by Friday, November 20, with Sharon Burke at slburke@alaska.edu or calling 474-7587.
Get involved in the annual Aurora Awards
The PRSA Alaska Chapter’s annual Aurora Awards and Awards of Excellence will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 20. This annual event recognizes public relations professionals from across the state for their achievements. There are numerous opportunities for member involvement!
Participating in the Aurora Awards event planning is an excellent chance to support the PRSA Alaska Chapter while networking with fellow communicators. Volunteers are needed for everything from providing creative ideas to décor and set up. Contact Liz Lynch at BP by e-mailing Elizabeth.Lynch@bp.com for more information.
Silent Auction Items Needed- Part of the Aurora Awards is the silent auction to benefit the PRSA Alaska Chapter’s Len McLean scholarship fund. If you or your company has an item or service to donate for the silent auction, contact Emily Ford at the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce by calling 677-7105 or e-mail emily@anchoragechamber.org.
Minutes from the October 2009 board meeting
The board’s focus on professional development continued this month. The October 20th Ann Wylie half-day seminar and luncheon not only drew many professionals from Anchorage and around the state, but it was also a financial success for the chapter. That’s good news, because 100 percent of the seminar and luncheon participants surveyed said they wanted Ann Wylie to return. Much credit for the successful attendance was given to the PRSA’s publicity committee, who planned and executed an extensive communication plan, reaching out to many audiences in many ways. The board learned that Ann Wylie herself was impressed by the effort and told board member Mary Barber that she would like to share our chapter’s publicity efforts as a best practice for other sponsoring groups.
It’s still not too late to celebrate Alaska’s fifty years of statehood; it will help serve as a theme at the November monthly luncheon meeting. The board will conduct a brief Annual Meeting then to complete voting on the slate of board officers for 2010. A C-Vent notice with a link to the ballot went out to all members on Tuesday, October 20. Paper ballots will also be available for voting at the November 18 luncheon meeting.
There is also a new date for the Holiday Party for all members at the Bruce Pozzi home. The new date is Thursday, December 17th. Make a note of it and plan to attend.
Planning continues for the upcoming January Aurora Awards banquet. More information will be out soon to members on upcoming meetings, events, parties, and other opportunities.
I will soon be submitting my last set of minutes and this brief report on the chapter board meetings. I have served two years as the chapter’s secretary and I’ve enjoyed every moment. Our chapter is a powerhouse of talent, innovation, perseverance and professionalism. If you think you could benefit from getting to know some of Alaska’s best professionals (and really fun people), please consider joining a committee and working on a project. You’ll have a chance to expand your skills while contributing to a successful organization. Just come to our next board meeting and see for yourself.
The next board meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 25 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Please note: The usual meeting date of the last Thursday of each month has been changed due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The board meeting will be held in the Rasmuson Foundation Board Room, at the Wells Fargo Building, located at the corner of Northern Lights & C Street, 4th floor. All members are invited to attend.
- Submitted by Julie G. Pollock, APR, Secretary, PRSA Alaska Chapter Board