The PRofessional

January 5, 2010

New Year's PR Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions To Enhance Your PR Career 

1. Bring Your A-Game – Get accredited.
2. Get Recognized – Enter at least (1) Image Award in 2010.
3. Give back - Take a look at the newly-launched CWC FPRA Project Bank. Share your skills while contributing to a cause you care about for an organization that needs help with a project.
4. Learn something new - Take a course or simply make time to talk with a colleague in a different area of public relations.
5. Become more involved - Come a few minutes earlier and network at professional development meetings. Join a committee. Meet a colleague for coffee.

Connecting For-profits & Non-profits: It’s Not Always About Money

SPARCC Executive Director Olivia Thomas

Keynote Speaker Olivia Thomas is the former CFO for FCCI Insurance Group and the current Executive Director for Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC). Her experience in for-profit and non-profit industries brings ways to successfully collaborate with community partners in this difficult economy. Hear new ideas and a fresh perspective that will inspire any PR professional. Read more about our guest speaker.

Click here to register now for January 21st luncheon meeting at Flemings. ($25 members, $30 future members.)

CWC Launches Project Bank

The Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association has launched a pro bono project bank to help smaller non-profit organizations and grass roots campaigns of limited means and staff with their public relations efforts. The project bank is open to the public to request complimentary assistance from members of CWC FPRA who will donate their time and skills as they are able. 

We ask that all of our members take a moment to review the project bank and offer your assistance to groups that would benefit from your professional skills at no cost. Current projects available include:

Social Media Campaign – Citizens for Better Schools
Community Outreach – Springfest!
PSA DVD – ITN Sarasota

Also, if you know an organization that would benefit from pro bono public relations service, encourage them to submit a request for assistance at http://www.cwcfpra.com/projects/.

APR Study Groups forming now

Thinking about going for your APR designation? Please contact Maura Howl, APR this week. The Accreditation in Public Relations is a great way to achieve a competitive edge in today's tough job market; we have a CWC FPRA study group forming now. The tentative plan is to run study groups in February and March, hold Readiness Reviews in April and May, and have candidates taking the test in May and June. Contact Maura at howlmc@manateeschools.net or 751-7900, ext. 2095.

Stay Connected!

If you missed the informative professional development meeting during December, take a look at the CWC blog. Post includes detailed notes from our guest presentation by Shannon Patton, Publix Media & Community Relations Manager. With a background at Publix that encompasses 15 years, Patton gave a very insightful focus on the Publix Brand as well as Greenwise, their eco-brand which has sparked its own line of grocery stores.

You can stay connected with all CWC happenings via our blog, Facebook (The Central West Coast Chapter of the FPRA) and Twitter (FPRACWC).