 Detroit Chapter Public Relations Society of America | November 2011 |
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Tuesday, November 15
Nov. 15 Tweet-Up is for new professionals The New Professionals Committee of PRSA Detroit invites all young PR practitioners to a Tweet-Up from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Royal Oak Brewery, 215 E. Fourth St., in Royal Oak. This free event (participants responsible for their own food and drinks) is being held in conjunction with New Professionals Week. Detroit-area new professionals will be able to meet and network with their peers, exchange tips, share stories, get advice from fellow new pros, and have fun in a friendly atmosphere. New Professionals Week was created to celebrate current young professional members, attract new members to our Chapter and share resources and ideas with new pros across the country. Attendees can promote the nationwide New Professionals Week, as well as our local event, by using the Twitter handles @PRSADetroit and @PRSANewPros, and the hashtag: #NPweek. E-mail New Professionals Co-chair Josh Preister at josh.preister@gmail.com, or call him at 586-216-2216, by Monday, Nov. 14 to register, or with questions. Board Perspective is a column written by the PRSA Detroit Chapter president or a member of the chapter’s board of directors. By Susan Ferraro, APR
It has been an honor and privilege to work with so many of the chapter’s members and I thank each of you for your gift of time, ideas and strategic thinking. All of the work we did this year was done in teams, with individuals bonding and executing plans that incorporated true team thinking that, in turn, will benefit each member of the Detroit chapter. During my president’s remarks at last year’s annual dinner I put forth a call-to-action that we all do whatever is needed to be sure we educate every audience possible about exactly what it is that we do as public relations professionals – its relevance – and in particular, making the business case for public relations. I had to take my own advice last week after a visit to a new dentist. He asked me [of course, while he was drilling in my mouth!] what I did for a living. When I could finally articulate a sentence after the anesthetic wore off, I said I was a public relations professional. His response: “I’m not surprised. You’re very pretty and very personable – so of course you would work in public relations.” Now, as much as I appreciated the compliments, his response told me we still have a long way to go to legitimize our profession beyond one of its stereotypes – a bunch of attractive people who are refined in social graces or can hold a meaningful conversation. Yes, these skills are important to have – but the world [especially the business world] needs to know that we are the brains behind the messaging that shapes reputations and influences behaviors. I will continue to serve an additional year on the board as past president and vow to help Jennifer in any way I can. And when I passed the gavel to Jennifer at the PRSA annual dinner – I did so with gratitude in my heart for a very enlightening year. Member Profile: Renée Ahee, APR
Name: Position/Employer: How did you get the job? Ahee Communications came about when I lost my job at Bank One (formerly NBD), and my kids were young at the time. I did that for 10 years. Ahee Communications still exists even as I head NAAMA. Why did you go into PR/marketing/communications/advertising? What’s your dream job in our field? If you weren’t in the pr/marketing/communications/advertising field, what would you be doing? What was your biggest success this year? What do you wish you could do over from 2011? If you could accomplish one professional goal in 2012, what would it be? What/who has the biggest influence on your work ethic? What one piece of advice would you give to someone just starting out in our field? If you could have coffee or drinks with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why? If Obama’s not available, Khalil Gibran (a Lebanese-American poet, writer and artist who died in 1931). How about the three of us together? There are so many fascinating people in our chapter that we’re sure others would love to get to know better. You’re probably one of them. We’re soliciting business cards at our events from those interested in being profiled. If you’re interested, make sure you pass along your business card to Nancy Skidmore or a member of the Programs Committee at the next event you attend. Or, contact Bulletin co-chairs Ilene Wolff and Jared Bryan.
Membership dues/benefits to increase: The Leadership Assembly, a group of about 300 delegates appointed to represent the interests of all PRSA members, voted to increase the cost of PRSA dues in the regular membership category by $30. It is the first time in 10 years that PRSA has increased the cost of membership, and the increase comes with additional benefits. The dues increase will go into effect for individuals who renew or initiate PRSA membership on or after Jan. 1, 2012. Members who renew (regardless of their renewal date) or initiate PRSA membership by Dec. 31, 2011, will still receive one additional year of membership at the 2011 base membership rate of $225. This rate may not be used to pre-pay multiple-year memberships, however. With the added incremental revenue available from the dues increase, several new member benefits will be possible; most prominent among them are:
These are just some of the potential new member benefits we’re planning. The additional revenue realized through a dues increase also will be used to reinvest in Society, by exploring new product and service offerings, such as new programming for senior professionals; creating enhanced delivery systems, such as digital publications, a mobile version of PRSA’s website and e-Learning platforms; and modernizing key infrastructure. Please also keep in mind that a portion of the dues increase revenue is necessary just to offset the financial shortfall that is currently projected for 2012. Up for Renewal in 2011? Members with November and December 2011 renewal dates may pay their 2011 through 2012 dues at $225. They are then eligible to renew their 2012 through 2013 dues at $225 again, provided they do so by Dec. 31, 2011. After Dec. 31, 2011, their 2012 through 2013 renewal dues will be $255.
To renew at the current rate, log in to MyPRSA by Dec. 31. You may also renew by phone by e-mailing PRSA Member Services or calling 212-460-1400, also by Dec. 31. Use e-mail if you require an invoice. Contact PRSA Member Services or call 212-460-1400 with questions. Chapter members give up their Saturday for random acts of kindness By Tom O’Connell
On Saturday, Oct. 1, PRSA Detroit members met up at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit with one common goal: Kindness! The first annual PRSA Detroit Commits Random Acts of Kindness Event brought us out on a cold, wet autumn morning – and the event could not have been more of a success. After breakfast and some instructions, we watched videos of similar events to gain inspiration. Then about 30 attendees separated into seven teams to commit our acts of kindness! It was a proud day for our chapter! We delivered toys to hospitalized children, slipped coins into expired parking meters, bought groceries for someone in need of assistance, delivered autumn-inspired treats as a thank you to four Detroit Police precincts, and delivered subs to the Detroit Fire Department. Workers at the Michigan Humane Society in Detroit were happily surprised when we delivered pet food. There were very touching moments for the team who gave flowers to patients at Henry Ford and for those who provided coats for children in need. There were also plenty of surprised people when we were there to pay for their lunch, or their cab, or as Wayne State PRSSA President Greg Melvin delivered what he called a “RAK attack” and wished a pedestrian a wonderful day! We left all recipients with a card explaining what we were doing, who we were, and asked that they find a way to do their own random act of kindness for someone else in the future. A big thank you goes out to all participants who donated their time and money to help with this effort, especially Jennifer Flowers, APR, and Henry Ford Health System. Flowers presented this idea to the chapter and helped lead it to reality – and Henry Ford allowed us to use its facilities as home base. Special thanks also go out to the students from Wayne State PRSSA for participating, and Melvin for his role in planning the event. If you were not able to participate this time, don’t worry. For those who did, it was unanimous that PRSA Detroit must commit Random Acts of Kindness again soon! Stay tuned!
Ethics workshop attendees ponder case studies, learn key strategy By Ilene Wolff About 40 public relations professionals brushed up on the ethical do’s and don’ts of their trade at a recent ethics workshop sponsored by PRSA Detroit. Dr. Patricia T. Whalen, APR, a member of the PRSA Board of Ethics and Professional Standards, led the workshop. She urged PR pros to provide ethics counseling related to an organization’s advertising, employees, stockholders, community, customers and news media. However, many PR practitioners think their role is that of advocate, not ethicist, Whalen said. Ethics counseling is the job of lawyers, many think. But the majority view of a small survey of PRSA members (500 responses) in 2009 was that ethics is the province of PR. Whalen suggested a strategy for PR pros to use with clients: Focus on strategic advocacy based on enlightened self-interest. In other words, “You do the right thing because it pays you back. You get a reward in the end.” Enlightened self-interest, Whalen said, is a win-win for your client and for society. In addition, it will get PR pros that highly desired seat at the table when leaders are ready to act. “It’s sad to say that PR people don’t always have a seat at the table when decisions are made,” she said. Workshop participant Sara Bloomberg said: “Participating in the ethics program helped me to have a better understanding of what an enlightened self-interest strategy means. It’s important for the client to know PR professionals have his best interest in mind, and using this strategy can help to show a client that.” The program concluded with an overview of the PRSA Detroit Ethics Honor Code. Almost 150 members earned ethics certification in 2010, and another 80 have registered for 2011. The ethics workshop was on Sept. 21, and hosted by the Holocaust Memorial Center Zekelman Family Campus in Farmington Hills, during PRSA’s Ethics Awareness Month. If you missed the workshop, there are other ethics-related resources to help you. PRSA Detroit has an Ethics Committee co-chaired by Hope Brown, APR, and Dr. Linda Hagan, APR, who can assist you with ethics questions. Visit the Ethics Resources page on PRSA’s website to read recaps of many of the awareness month activities, take a 10-question ethics quiz, read case studies that Whalen contributed to, and more. Also, Hagan published an article on the ethics of using interns in the April Bulletin. The workshop was presented with generous support from Moreover Technologies. PRSA Detroit Board Member Carolyn Artman, APR, recently became senior public relations manager at Quicken Loans in Detroit. Artman was formerly community relations administrator at HealthPlus of Michigan in Troy.
Kathleen Bilitzke Karen Couf Cohen Ian Demsky Shantell Kirkendoll Mary Masson Katie Merx Nov. 15 –, New Professionals Tweet-Up (see related story this issue). Nov. 16 – The American Marketing Association is offering its membership rate of $35 to PRSA Detroit members to hear Christi Rankin, CEO of Martopia, talk about reputation management and how marketers can contribute to it. Registration includes free parking, hors d’ouevres, networking opportunities and door prizes. Click for details and registration. Help out your Chapter – give it some space! PRSA Detroit has a need for free or very low-cost venues for its programs. If you have space at your business that would accommodate up to 60 people, or if you have a suggestion for one, please let Programs Committee co-chairs Jennifer Marsik Friess and Elizabeth Robbins know. If you can make available a meeting room or auditorium where you work, we offer the value-added option of your brief presentation about your business at the start of the event and a mention in the Bulletin. Watch your email inbox for the December Bulletin’s feature story with pictures from the Nov. 3 Annual Dinner. |
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It is hard to believe that it’s my turn to “pass the President’s gavel.” The year certainly passed quickly and I feel like I just figured out – just a little bit – how to do the job! But, with the 2012 PRSA Detroit presidency in the very capable hands of Jennifer Flowers, APR, I know the good work that we accomplished this year will carry forward.
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