FPRA - Florida Public Relations Association Blog

The first full day of the FPRA Annual Conference has wrapped up. We hope this blog has provided visitors with a window into our informative and fun conference... and the convergence of art and science. We provided summaries of some of today's presentations. We uploaded hundreds of conference photos. And we racked up some impressive site traffic statistics for the first day:

Total unique visitors for Monday: 471
Total page views: 1,212
The average visitor on Monday stayed on this blog for 4 minutes, 14 seconds.

Thanks to those of you who visited us today. We'll have even more stuff for you tomorrow... including a complete list of our 2007 Golden Image Awards winners. Be among the first to hear who will be taking home the state's top PR awards for 2007.

See you tomorrow.

Add a Comment

Tonight was the annual scholarship fundraiser to benefit the Florida Public Relations Education Foundation. The event was held at nearby Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a respected center for research and education as well as a famous orchid showplace.

Conference attendees were treated to an open-air trolley ride to and from the gardens.

The auction featured dozens of items, including weekend getaways, sports tickets and collectibles, artwork and much more. The fundraising total is currently being tabulated and will be announced in the morning.

Many thanks to the Orlando Area and Central West Coast chapters for sponsoring this fun and worthwhile event!

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Add a Comment

Hello fellow FPRA members! This is my first time at the FPRA Annual Conference and my first time as a blogger, and I am super excited. Thanks to a scholarship from the Gainesville Chapter, I was able to attend the conference this year. (Yes, I am a proud Gator!)

The first day of conference is nearly finished, and I really just wanted to let you know what it was like as a first-time conference attendee. First, everyone is super friendly and the Ritz is so nice. Also as a conference blogger carrying around a computer (Yes, I'm also a Mac Addict!), I get a lot of attention. Everyone is so excited about FPRABlog.com and the conference bloggers. For someone who was a little nervous coming in today (Yes, that’s me!), that’s really exciting too. Some other highlights so far—the Dillin dessert (very chocolaty!), a lot of award recognitions and the new State Association President Suzanne Sparling, APR did the Gator chomp on stage. I've had a great first day! For all those attending conference for the first time (like me), congrats and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. And for all those who may not have been able to attend this year, I definitely recommend. It’s great!!

How about you? Are a first-time attendee of the FPRA Annual Conference? What is your favorite part? Do you blog (for professional or personal)?

Add a Comment

Lori Martini, FPRA VP for Chapter Services on the state executive committee, led a great workshop for incoming chapter leaders, despite some minor, (OK major  ) technical difficulties. This workshop is valuable not only for incoming chapter presidents and president elects, but for ANY of your chapter board members.

Some tips:

DO:
-open the CD toolkit and peruse ASAP once you are back in the office
-do make copies for ALL chapter board members and expect them to refer to their areas of accountability on the CD
-refer to the CD often – put it in your calendar. Make the time. (it really will help you and make your job easier)
-send a copy of all the “great” stuff your chapter is creating to the VP of Chapter Services
-share your ideas with your co-chapter leaders from around the state

DON’T:
-put the CD on a shelf or file and forget about it once you are back in your office.
-keep the wealth of information to yourself
-be afraid to ask questions regarding items found on the CD – Your first point of contact is VP of Chapter Services, who for the 2007-08 year is Wendy Crites-Wacker, APR, wcrites@rtix.com, or (386) 418-8888.
-forget to refer to the CD often (Lori says 85 percent of the calls and e-mails she received this year was something outlined on the CD)

Add a Comment

As students we are primarily focused on getting PR experience, building our portfolios and making great grades. The President’s Luncheon made me realize it’s never too soon to think about the future. Being surrounded by PR greats and hearing their long lists of accomplishments is motivating in a way that’s larger then life. You just have to be in the room to feel the power.

The steps we take now will lead us to accomplishing the HUGE dreams we may have in the coming years. Start preparing now by becoming involved in a FPRA executive committee or any volunteer event. Get to know the people around you, make contacts, but most of all make friends. Combined the knowledge we have can produce amazing results and strategies to accomplish anything. PR has a very bright future and you can be a part of it.

Add a Comment

The dictionary describes convergence as “Coming together from different directions.” In public relations today, we must artfully bring people together for consensus, understanding and, eventually, execution of strategy. David Voss discusses how to learn to listen effectively and facilitate engagement forums of diverse communities to build consensus.

This session has approximately 40 attendees.

Convergence is another tool to help you reach your public relations goals

Levels of PR
1. Press relations
2. Public information
3. Persuasion
4. Engagement – listening to audiences, involving public, reaching consensus, sharing responsibility

Continue reading "FPRA Annual Conference: Breakout 2C, The Art of Convergence, David Voss, President, Voss & Associates, Inc." »

Add a Comment

Speaker Dr. Dale Brill, Chief Marketing Officer of VISIT FLORIDA, gave his presentation entitled, “Evolve or Die!” to an excited group this afternoon. The official title was “Giving Structure to the Chaos of Content.” Per Dr. Brill’s request take off your shoes and relax as you listen to this lesson in content for Web sites, aka “All the things Dr. Rayburn refuses to learn we will be talking about,” said Dr. Brill.

He begins with an excerpt from his FPRA conference presentation given 10 years ago. He pulled out what he thought was the most important points of his presentation.

THAT WAS THEN: 1997 first presentation at conference
- Content is King
- Usability is paramount
- The consumer has control

Then he continued with what he felt was key now regarding Web sites and attracting visitors.

THIS IS NOW: 2007
- Content is King
- Usability is paramount
- The consumer has control

Continue reading "FPRA Annual Conference: Breakout 2B, Giving Structure to the Chaos of Content - Dale Brill" »

Add a Comment

My first breakout session of the afternoon is Diversity “Speak” … Messages of Inclusion led by Ken Kinzie, MSW, LCSW, President & CEO, Kinzie Counseling & Consultation and Beverly Alter, President & CEO, Alter & Associates, LLC and The Alter Group. This interactive session explored the subtlety and importance of language—written, electronic, visual and spoken communication. Diversity is an issue everywhere, and as pr professionals we should be aware and on the forefront of change. Here are my notes from this session.

• Inclusion (a better word instead of diversity)—We should be discussing how we are the same rather than how we are different.
• Everyone has diversity bias!
• Relearning and combining traditional media (newspapers, etc.) with new media (blogging, Web site, etc.) to communicate your message and consider the message based on all your publics.

Continue reading "FPRA Annual Conference: Breakout 2A, Diversity Speak… Messages of Inclusion – Ken Kinzie and Beverly Alter" »

Add a Comment

In honor of FPRA's 69th Annual Conference, Florida Governor Charlie Crist sent this welcome letter which is included in this year's conference notebook. Thanks, Governor!

Add a Comment

FPRA Immediate Past President Adrienne Moore, APR, CPRC took the stage and announced that Bob Gernert, Jr., APR, CPRC is the recipient of this year's Past Presidents Award.

Bob is the Executive Director of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce and former Executive Director of FPRA.

Send Bob a congratulatory email at bobg@winterhavenfl.com.

Add a Comment

This year's Outstanding Chapter of the Year award goes to the Southwest Florida Chapter! Congratulations to Chapter President Olivia Orth and her board. Olivia is Creative Director at Priority Marketing in Ft. Myers.

Send Olivia a congratulatory email at olivia@prioritymarketing.com.

Add a Comment

The Chapter President of the Year is Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC of the Pensacola Chapter! Jeff is the Vice President of Marketing Communications for the Council on Aging of West Florida, Inc.

Send Jeff a congratulatory email at jnall@coawfla.org.

Add a Comment

The winner of the Most Improved Chapter award is the Nature Coast Chapter! Congratulations to Chapter President Jessica Lambert and her board. Jessica is the Communications Resources Director for the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners in Lecanto.

Send Jessica a congratulatory email at jessica.lambert@bocc.citrus.fl.us.

Add a Comment

One of the highlights of the President's Luncheon is the Dillin Dessert. Named in honor of the founder of FPRA, Lt. Col. John W. Dillin. The dessert is sponsored by the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter.

This year's dessert is a Warm Guayaquil Cake served with raspberry compote and Rice Crispy Treats Ice Cream. The cake has a warm chocolate center. Enjoy!

Add a Comment

The awards portion of the annual Presidents' Luncheon has just wrapped up in the main ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.

FPRA State President Jessica Rye, APR took to the stage and recognized the outgoing president of each of FPRA's 15 chapters. They are as follows:

Vivian Myrtetus - Capital Chapter
Ton Nunan, APR - Central West Coast Chapter
Susan Clayton Black - Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter
Nickie Doria, APR - Gainesville Chapter
Reese Riggle - Jacksonville Chapter
Jessica Lambert - Nature Coast Chapter
Tracy Louthain, APR - Northwest Florida Coast Chapter
Emma Eldred - Ocala Chapter
Susan Ennis, APR - Orlando Area Chapter
Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC - Pensacola Chapter
Olivia Orth - Southwest Florida Chapter
Shanti Brasington - Space Coast Chapter
Dan McLean, APR - Tampa Bay Chapter
Karen Brown, APR - Treasure Coast Chapter
Joe Radcliffe, APR - Volusia County Chapter

Next, Jessica recognized the outgoing members of the outgoing 2006-07 Executive Committee:

Suzanne Sparling, APR - President-Elect
Adrienne Moore, APR, CPRC - Immediate Past President
Melanie Mowry-Etters, APR, CPRC - VP of Accreditation/Certification
Erin McLeod - VP of Annual Conference
Lori Martini - VP of Chapter Services
Tina Haisman, APR - VP of Communications
Jay Wilson, APR - VP of Finance
April Herrle, APR, CPRC - VP of Golden Image
Rachel Smith, APR, CPRC - VP of Planning/Research
Paul Ramey, APR - VP of Professional Development
Jamie Melendez - VP of Public Relations
John McShaffrey, APR - Counselors' Network Chairman
Carol Savage, APR, CPRC - FPRE Foundation Chair

Melanie Mowry-Etters, APR, CPRC, Vice President of Accreditation/Certification was next on stage to recognize those individuals who received their APR (Accredited in Public Relations) and CPRC (Certified Public Relations Counselor) certification this past year. Congratulations to

APR
Tina Banner, APR
Betsy Couch, APR
Nickie Doria, APR
John E. Fleming, APR
Kenneth Ryan Gerds, APR
Darlene Goodwin, APR
Kathleen M. Hahn, APR
Tracy Louthain, APR
Stefanie Macfarlane, APR
Christine Martinez, APR
Heidi R. Otway, APR
Gordon A. Paulus, APR
Julie Ann Platt, APR
Clare Ulik, APR

CPRC
Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC

Florida Public Relations Education (FPRE) Foundation Chair Carole Savage, APR, CPRC took the stage and announced the creation of the Bob Davis Foundation Scholarship Award in honor of long-time FPRA member Dr. Bob Davis, APR, CPRC. Bob serves as a professor at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

The first-ever recipient of this award was Caitlin Murphy, a recent graduate of the University of Florida. Dr. Davis and Caitlin are pictured above.

Next, Jessica presented her much-anticipated President's Awards of Excellence for 2007. The following Chapters were recognized:

President's Award for Accreditation/Certification - Capital Chapter
President's Award for Chapter Administration - Ocala Chapter
President's Award for Communications - Gainesville Chapter
President's Award for Financial Management - Jacksonville Chapter
President's Award for Fundraising - Orlando Area Chapter
President's Award for Image Awards - Treasure Coast Chapter
President's Award for Leadership Development - Orlando Area Chapter
President's Award for Membership - Pensacola Chapter
President's Award for Professional Development - Central West Coast Chapter
President's Award for Senior Member Development - Gainesville Chapter
President's Award for Spirit of FPRA - Space Coast Chapter
President's Award of Student Development - (tie) Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter, Southwest Florida Chapter

Vice President of Communications Tina Haisman, APR came forward next to announce the winners of Best Chapter Newsletter and Best Chapter Web site.

Best Chapter Newsletter - Pensacola Chapter; Runner-up - Ocala Chapter

Best Chapter Web Site - Central West Coast Chapter; Runner-up - Orlando Area Chapter

And now.... the Dillin Dessert!

Add a Comment

Members of the Counselor's Network enjoy unique opportunities throughout the year. One of those perks is one-on-one conversations with keynote speakers during conference. This morning, CN members spent some quality time with opening speaker Kirk Stewart.

Add a Comment

Coming up next is the Presidents' Luncheon. This is a very special event which honors the work of outstanding individuals and chapters in the past year, including the coveted Chapter of the Year and Chapter President of the Year awards.

PR professionals who recently earned their accreditation or certification in public relations will also be honored.

The food highlight of the luncheon is the famous Dillin Dessert, sponsored by the Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter. More on that in just a bit.

Add a Comment

Grassroots Communication Tips:

Phone calls:
- be brief
- be clear, use layman's terms
- be polite
- don't hestitate to communicate with staff
- thank him/her for their time

Written communications:
Consider the impact of your comm. on the elected official before you generate a grassroots letter-writing campaign.

Continue reading "FPRA Annual Conference: Breakout 1B, Schizophrenic Sharks: The Role of the Lobbyist - Colleen Thayer, APR" »

Add a Comment

The first breakout session of the morning is Engaging Your Audience: A Scientific Look at What Attract Attention led by Sara Quinn, Visual Journalism Faculty, The Poynter Institute. This session discussed design elements and what holds the readers attention.

The speaker discussed a study by the Poynter Institute examined reader habits. The study tracks what attracts and holds the reader’s attention—400 readers in 4 cities—by measuring eye stops. The study was very scientific—highly defined, specific, setting analyzed, etc. The study had a number of exciting findings including:

Continue reading "FPRA Annual Conference: Breakout 1A, Engaging Your Audience – Sara Quinn" »

Add a Comment

I had a chance to check in with this year's conference guru, Erin McLeod. Erin began planning this year's event at the conclusion of last year's event and talks about the planning of the 2007 Annual Conference. Click here to listen to the interview: ErinMcLeod.MP3

Add a Comment

The first speaker, Kirk Stewart, Executive VP and Corporate Communications Leader of PACO Worldwide, gave an amazing PowerPoint on “Responsibilities of 21st Century Organizations” this morning. He previously served as VP of Corporate Communications at NIKE and used this experience to influence his presentation.

While I listened to this lesson of 14 guidelines companies should follow, I thought to myself, these are important rules that we as students should follow when sharpening our PR tools and growing into professionals.

These are his exact bullets with my adaptation of how it applies to us. (I only used the ones I thought were relevant.)

Responsibilities of the 21st Century Student
1. Know Who You Are: Do you know what makes your different? What is your personal mission statement? Define your goals and interests.

2. Live Your Values: Are you using your values to drive your actions? In everything you do, are you putting on a display of your morals and standards? Define the principles you believe in.

3. Take Responsibility: Do you take responsibility for your actions? Have you taken it upon yourself to be committed to absorbing all the PR information and skills you can? Make a list of goals for your career development and take responsibility to fulfill them.

4. Substance First: What consists of your personality and experience? Is it something that would impress those around you and your potential managers? Describe the attributes that you consist of; work on the ones that are weak and hone the ones that are strong.

5. Be Accountable: Do your personal tactics lie upon a foundation of trustworthiness and dependableness? The PR major can be cunningly competitive; use your creativity and talent to become a step above the rest, in an ethical manor.

6. Engage and Collaborate: Are you involved in the community you are searching for a job in? Paid experience can be great, but volunteering for to do PR for a community event can be challenging, extremely rewarding and impressive to a future employee. Show some initiative; volunteer to lead a PR effort for a community organization.

7. Be Transparent: Are you honest and open? What is your credibility rating? Make sure that in interviews for potential jobs you always tell the truth. Even if your resume isn’t up to your standards, use details and creativity to describe what you have done; don’t make promises you can’t deliver by lying.

8. Define, Don’t Defend: Have you put your foot down to keep from swaying with popular opinion? Have you established your role in your workplace as a leader? Define yourself or others will do it for you.
9. Be Consistent: Your dependable, responsible, caring; would your friends describe you the same way? In everything you do, do you strive to advertise your confidence and valuable qualities? Letting go with your friends is one thing, but your core values should always stay consistent.

10. Monitor and Anticipate: Are you studying the industry and trends by reading books or networking with the PR greats? Are you ready for the real world and what it has to offer you? Make a list of topics you want to learn more about.

11. Take Nothing for Granted: Are you utilizing every opportunity out there that could make you a better PR practitioner? Are you grateful to those who have influenced you and taught you valuable PR strategies? Write thank you notes to professors, co-workers, managers, family and friends that have supported you and taught you all you know.

Add a Comment

Please note that session 1B has changed slightly from the original conference brochure. The topic is still lobbying, but the speaker has changed. We are very grateful, and fortunate, that FPRA member Colleen Thayer, APR, legislative affairs representative for the Southwest Florida Water Management District, was able to step in at the last minute when the scheduled speaker had a client emergency. Thanks much, Colleen.

Add a Comment

Jeni Hatter of the Orlando Area Chapter emailed us this cell phone camera shot she snapped during this morning's general session. The photo features two of our conference bloggers -- Chris Gent and Josh Hallett -- hard at work.

Thanks for the contribution, Jeni!

Add a Comment

The first general session of the 2007 FPRA Annual Conference featured Kirk Stewart, Executive VP & Corporate Communications Leader for APCO Worldwide. Kirk talked about the responsibilities that corporations have to the public and to their stakeholders.

Kirk kicked of his talk with some research around trust, specifically the declining levels of trust of organizations. Currently NGOs are the most trusted organizations globally. There are also increasing expectations that consumers have of companies. One of the top expectations deals with the environment. Another issue is the growing gap between the CSR expectations and performance.

Consumers are increasingly punishing corporations that are seen as socially irresponsible. Combine this with an evolving media landscape. News is happening 24/7/365. Employees and stakeholders are networked. Finally, there is no more local. Everything is news everywhere.

Kirk highlighted 14 points for corporate responsibility:

1. Know Who You Are: This can go back to your mission statement. Sometimes this evolves.

2. Live Your Values: Make sure your operations are in line with your mission. This is also based upon history, i.e. what drives its behavior.

3. Take Responsibility: This can be a difficult thing for companies that haven't dealt with this in the past. Admit your shortcomings, be humble and don't be defensive. Breakdown in any of these areas will cause organizations problems.

4. Substance First: Have something to talk about first and make sure it's worthwhile. Often in crisis situations it's the CEO's role to lead.

5. Be Accountable: This works internally and externally. The external accountability is what many organizations have a problem with.

6. Rally Your Core: In times of crisis your most important stakeholder is your employees. Arm your employees with information. Let them serve as ambassadors for your organization.

7. Engage in Collaboration: Organizations need to be involved, with: community, stakeholders, etc. It involves building relationships. Put a human face on the company.

8. Be Transparent: Kirk feels this is the single most important thing that organizations can do. Increased transparency equals increased credibility. There is no alternative.

9. Define, Don't Defend: Define yourself or others will do it for you. You could say stay on the offensive and not on the defensive.

10. Stay Close to Your Consumers: Keep the brand fresh, keep the brand relevant. Often your most important stakeholder is the people that buy your products.

11. Be Consistent: Words=Actions. Focus on a core theme over time. Kirk referenced the recent scandal involved Whole Food's CEO, John Mackey.

12. Speak With One Voice: Integration is a must. Coordinate among all functions and channels, but most of all tell compelling stories.

13. Monitor and Anticipate: Develop an early warning system. Use tracking research and prepare for the unexpected. Ultimately though you must manage crisis effectively. How an organization responds in crisis really speaks about who they are.

14. Take Nothing for Granted: Never become complacent. Don't underestimate competitive response.

Add a Comment

The annual business meeting of the Florida Public Relations Association has just wrapped up.

The following slate of officers was approved by a vote of the membership. This group will make up the 2007-08 FPRA State Board of Directors.

President - Suzanne Sparling, APR (Space Coast Chapter)
President-Elect - Lanette Hart, APR (Jacksonville Chapter)
Immediate Past President - Jessica Rye, APR (Space Coast Chapter)
VP of Accreditation/Certification - Nancy McCarthy, APR (Southwest Chapter)
VP of Annual Conference - Melanie Mowry-Etters, APR, CPRC (Capital Chapter)
VP of Chapter Services - Wendy Crites-Wacker, APR (Gainesville Chapter)
VP of Communication - Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC (Pensacola Chapter)
VP of Finance - Sheridan Becht, APR (Orlando Area Chapter)
VP of Golden Image - Rachel Smith, APR, CPRC (Capital Chapter)
VP of Member Services - Jennifer Moss, APR (Central West Coast Chapter)
VP of Research/Planning - Dr. Bob Davis, APR, CPRC (Orlando Area Chapter)
VP of Professional Development - Trista Wallace, APR (Jacksonville Chapter)
VP of Technology - Paul Ramey, APR (Gainesville Chapter)
Counselor's Network Chairman - April Herrle, APR, CPRC (Capital Chapter)
FPRE Foundation Chair - Lynn Schneider, APR, CPRC (Southwest Chapter)

Add a Comment

Listed below is the schedule for Day 1 - Monday, August 6, 2007 of FPRA's 69th Annual Conference:

7:00 am - 5:00 pm: Registration Desk Open

7:30 am - 8:30 am: Breakfast with Exhibitors

7:45 am - 8:15 am: Past Presidents' Council Meeting

8:35 am - 8:50 am: Conference Welcome and FPRA Annual Meeting

8:50 am - 9:55 am: General Session A - Responsibilities of 21st Century Organizations

10:10 am - 11:10 am: Breakout 1A - Engaging Your Audience: A Scientific Look at What Attracts Attention

10:10 am - 11:10 am: Breakout 1B - Schizophrenic Sharks: The Role of the Lobbyist

10:10 am - 11:10 am: Counselors' Network Breakout 1

11:20 am - 1:40 pm: Presidents' Luncheon

1:50 pm - 2:50 pm: Breakout 2A - Diversity Speak... Messages of Inclusion

1:50 pm - 2:50 pm: Breakout 2B - Giving Structure to the Chaos of Content

1:50 pm - 2:50 pm: Breakout 2C - The Art of Convergence

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Leadership Training

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm: Afternoon Meltdown

4:05 pm - 5:00 pm: FPRA State Board Meeting

6:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Scholarship Fundraiser & Membership Mingle at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Add a Comment