FPRA’s Annual Conference is one of the Association’s most anticipated professional development events of the year. For four days, FPRA members, as well as other PR professionals around the region, join together for one common goal — to enhance their career through professional development seminars led by nationally recognized speakers and networking opportunities. By offering experts on a variety of industry-related topics, FPRA’s goal for Annual Conference is to present tools, tactics and strategies that its members can immediately apply and implement in their jobs.

This year, FPRA’s Annual Conference theme is “The Big Picture” and will focus on bringing PR leadership and strategy into focus in your organization.

Watch the promo video…

FPRA’s Capital Chapter is the second chapter to unveil its entry in FPRA’s Moments of the 80s Video Competition Challenge with the popular Journey song “Don’t Stop Believin’.

The video features Capital Chapter President Heidi Otway as the VJ; Nate Long on guitar; Sandi Copes, Ivette Marques, Meg Shannon and Erica Villanueva as the groupees; and Rachel Smith as the uptight office manager.

Great work, Capital Chapter!

FPRA Capital Chapter 80′s Video from Salter>Mitchell / Marketing for on Vimeo.

FPRA’s Central West Coast Chapter is the first chapter to share its entry in FPRA’s Moments of the 80s Video Competition Challenge with the song “We Tell the World.” The song is a clever spoof of the song and charity single “We are the World” originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985.

Performers in this rendition include Lynn Hobek Bates, Julie Pratt, APR, Matt Orr, Ginya Carnahan, APR, CPRC, Frank Enright, Suzanne Dameron, Mischa Kirby, Peg Palmer, Tricia Lewis and Elise Lipoff.

Great work, Central West Coast Chapter!

Today is a sad day for public relations. The profession has lost an icon with the passing of Karen Plunkett, APR.

A 22-year veteran of the industry, Karen was a leader who cared deeply about the profession. She was a tireless advocate for public relations education, and previously chaired the Florida Public Relations Education Foundation.

Karen was a former Florida Public Relations Association State President (1991) and FPRA Orlando Area Chapter President (1987). She was named Central Florida PR Professional of the Year in 1989 and FPRA Member of the Year in 1994. In 2008, she received FPRA’s highest individual honor — the John W. Dillin Award.

In recent years, Karen taught public relations at Rollins College and served as faculty advisor to its FPRA student chapter, Communiqué. She loved her students and was available for them at any hour, for any reason.

Karen was an inspiring role model, mentor, teacher, friend, and colleague to many.

The professional and student members of FPRA mourn Karen’s passing and will forever remember her contributions to the Association and to the profession she loved.

Thanks for your good work and wisdom, Karen Plunkett. We miss you already.

UPDATE:
Karen Plunkett’s family has scheduled a memorial service for 11 a.m. this Saturday, July 24 at the Knowles Memorial Chapel on the Rollins College campus in Winter Park. It will be a non-traditional service with the contemporary and classical music she loved, and a few people who will speak about Karen. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:

The Kelberman Center for Autism
1020 Mary Street
Utica, New York 13501
www.kelbermancenter.org

or

American Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Northern & Central Florida Chapter
3319 Maguire Blvd.
Orlando, Florida 32803
(407) 898-0733

FPRA’s Ocala Chapter is hosting a professional development workshop with helpful and creative tips on how to develop an effective annual report for your organization.

Friday, July 16
11:30am-Noon – Networking
Noon-1pm – Meeting/Presentation

Hilton Ocala
3600 SW 36th Avenue
Ocala, FL

What exactly does it take to produce an eye-catching and effective annual report? It takes a well-conceived theme, a front cover that demands readership, an inviting design, action-filled writing, compelling images, clean fonts and quality paper selection.

Research has shown that the annual report is the single most important document your company or organization produces. A creative and well-written report not only provides a vehicle for financial reporting, but provides a platform to tell dynamic stories which help to communicate and share your company’s vision and reinforce its brand. The document also helps preserve the institutional memory of your organization.

Chris Gent of Kissimmee Utility Authority will offer practical and creative tips on how to effectively tell your organization’s story. He’ll also share his successes and challenges with producing both printed and electronic reports.

Click here to register online.

2010 Central Florida Media Roundtable & Luncheon

Thursday, July 15, 2010
Sonesta Hotel Orlando Downtown
60 S. Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando

Event Schedule
Registration/Light Breakfast – 8 – 8:30 a.m.
Media Roundtables – 8:30 – 11 a.m.
Break/Registration – 11 – 11:30 a.m.
Luncheon – 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Wouldn’t it be great to question the reporter for a change? Here’s your chance …

Please join the Orlando chapters of the Florida Public Relations Association and the Public Relations Society of America to meet top reporters, editors, producers and bloggers from local, regional and national media outlets. Attendees will be given the opportunity to meet in small, casual group settings with media to gain insight, advice and tips on reaching the right people for future story development.

Media Roundtable Guests*
CBS Radio • People Magazine • The Daily Buzz • Florida Trend • WKMG Local 6 • Central Florida News 13 • Orlando Sentinel • Orlando Business Journal • Winter Park Magazine • First Monday • Southwest Bulletin • West Orlando News Online• Growing Bolder TV Show • The Media Doctor • The Daily City • Central Florida Top 5 • Orange Appeal.

*Media Guests Subject to Change

Luncheon Speaker
Jason Sadler
Creator of http://www.iwearyourshirt.com/

Dubbed the “Entrepreneur of the Century” by Fox Business, Jason is literally a walking billboard. For the past year and a half he has sold ad space on his chest to everyone from Peter Shankman to Pizza Hut – making approximately $83,000 in 2009. Jason utilizes a variety of social media platforms to share advertisers’ messages with an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 fans, friends, and other online connections.

Jason Sadler hasn’t always been wearing T-shirts for a living, but he has always been creative, from drawing on walls with crayons to eventually graduating college with a degree in graphic design. Jason has worked with professional sports organizations, advertising agencies, online retailers and most recently co-owned his own Web design company. Jason lives in Florida, enjoys the challenge of putting on a T-shirt every morning and also does private social media consulting.

Advanced registration is required by visiting www.fpra-orlando.org. Registration deadline is Monday, July 12. Sorry, no cancellations will be accepted less than 48 hours prior to the event.

Want to know how to get the most out of FPRA’s Annual Conference on August 8-11, 2010? Download this flyer to find out!

Media Breakfast
Thursday, July 22
7:30 – 9 a.m.
Location: Joe’s Place, 5109 NW 39th Avenue, Gainesville

The Gainesville Chapter is hosting a media breakfast from 7:30 – 9 a.m. Thursday, July 22 at Joe’s Place in Gainesville. Enjoy a delicious breakfast with your fellow public relations colleagues and learn what it takes to get your message out through the ever-changing media environment. During this interactive breakfast panel, our local experts will discuss helpful hints and pitching tips, review their news outlets and answer questions from the audience.

If you’re looking for a great opportunity to learn more about getting plugged into your local media and you have ties to the Gainesville community, this is the event for you.

Media Panelists:
Anthony Clark, Business Editor, The Gainesville Sun
Scott Costello, Publisher, Home Magazine
Ryan Frankel, President/CEO, and Linda Michalisin, VP of Public Affairs, Frankel Media Group
Kevin Ireland, Editor and Publisher, North Central Florida Business Report
Chris Malone, Program Director/On-Air Host, 98.5 KTK
Bob Williams, Community Service Manager/News Anchor, WCJB TV20

Cost: $20 – FPRA Members or Non-Profits, $25 – FPRA Non-Members
$10 – FPRA Student Members, $15 – FPRA Student Non-Members

Register at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GCZYYCQ by July 19.

Do you want to kick your brand up a notch? 

Register now for the Gainesville Chapter’s annual professional development seminar, “PR Recipes for Success: How to Kick Your Brand Up a Notch,” on Friday, June 25 at the UF Graham Center.

Whether you represent an agency, corporation, governmental entity, non-profit or small business, learn and share innovative, cost-efficient methods to leverage your company brands. This full-day conference has several exciting speakers lined up to present on some tasty branding topics, including the Dalton Agency and a panel of branding experts facilitated by PRO iNK’s Terry Van Nortwick. APR-certified professionals can earn two credits for attending.

Visit the Gainesville Chapter website for more information.
 
There are several opportunities for exhibitor tables and ad sponsorships. If your company would like to join our chef’s circle, contact Laura Johnson, lfjohnson@rtix.com. See you June 25!

Here is the latest promotional video for the 72nd Annual Conference of the Florida Public Relations Association. This summer you cannot miss the professional development event of the millennium!