12.11.07

Public Relations Association Awards Highest Honor to Rafael Bermúdez
First Circle Award goes to local public relations firm owner

Rafael Bermúdez, owner of public relations firm Rafael Bermúdez & Associates, was awarded the First Circle Award for 2007 by the Public Relations Association of Louisiana’s Baton Rouge Chapter at the organization’s holiday social Dec. 4.

Rafael Bermúdez (center) is pictured with PRAL member Bob Johannessen and PRAL immediate past president Scott Miller at the Public Relations Association of Louisiana’s holiday social where he was honored with its 2007 First Circle Award.

In awarding Bermúdez the First Circle Award, PRAL recognized his long-standing career in communications, including journalism, political communications and public relations.

After graduating from Loyola University of New Orleans in 1969, Bermúdez went to work for United Press International as its bureau manager in Baton Rouge and Bogota, Colombia. He later became the capitol bureau chief of the Baton Rouge Advocate and State-Times newspapers. In 1979, he was appointed press secretary and later executive assistant to U.S. Sen. Russell B. Long in Washington.

In 1984 he formed Rafael Bermúdez & Associates Public Relations whose clients include industries, associations, governmental agencies, and utilities. Bermúdez has served as press secretary or communications director for the campaigns of a present U.S. senator, a former governor, judges and other office holders.

“Rafael has a stellar reputation among public relations professionals, most notably for his actively seeking out and hiring young talent and giving them real-world experience in the art of public relations,” said PRAL President Pierre Washington. “Many PR professionals in our area got a career jump-start thanks to Rafael.”

In addition to his work with students and young professionals, Bermúdez has served as vice president of the Baton Rouge Press Club, vice president of the U.S. Senate Press Secretaries Association, and as a former member of the board of directors and Executive Committee of the Academic Distinction Fund.

Bermúdez is also a past-president of the Public Relations Society of America-Baton Rouge Chapter, former member of PRAL’s board of directors and was honored by PRAL as the organization’s 2001 Practitioner of the Year.

12.06.07

2007 Practitioner and Communicator of the Year Nominations Sought

Nominations for the 2007 Practitioner of the Year and Communicator of the Year awards are now open. These annual awards recognize those in the public relations industry and community who excel in the field. The deadline for nominations is Thursday, December 20. Nominations with robust supporting documentation always make a bigger impression on the judges than those with minimal information.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the links below or from the "Awards & Scholarships" page of the PRAL Web site.

2007 Practitioner of the Year nomination form
2007 Communicator of the Year nomination form

For more information, contact:

Scott J. Miller, APR
Manager, Corporate Communications
Baton Rouge General Medical Center
8490 Picardy Avenue, Suite 300 B
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Phone: 225-237-1609
Fax: 225-763-4290

10.01.07

Corporate Communications Interns Sought

The Corporate Communications Department of the Baton Rouge General is offering non-paid, credit-only internships for the fall and spring semesters.

Internal communication responsibilities include researching and writing material for internal employee newsletter; participating in discussions of story strategies and monthly content; and assisting with writing and implementation of other employee communication vehicles including broadcast e-mails, screen saver programs, posters, special events, etc.

Media and public relations responsiblities include assisting with the development, implementation, dissemination, and evaluation of press releases including personnel announcements, awards and recognition, announcements, business updates, technology advancements, etc.; compiling and analyzing media clips and reporting on results; and assisting with handling of broadcast activities on location including live broadcasts from a facility or recorded interviews with physicians, staff, patients or families.

Marketing communication responsiblities include assisting with the development, implementation and evaluation of material/programs to support Baton Rouge General’s product lines and services, writing copy, working with creative design staff to develop collateral, and assisting with photography and video as appropriate; assisting with revisions, implementation and review of web content and the proactive evaluation of internal web opportunities; assisting with the research, planning, and execution of special events; and assisting with other general duties of the corporate communications department, as appropriate, to further the goals and objectives of Baton Rouge General.

One internship is available for the fall 2007 semester and two for the spring 2008 semester. Job requires 15 hours per week with flexible scheduling.

Please contact Scott J. Miller, APR, the Baton Rouge General's manager of corporate communications at 225-237-1609 or Scott.miller@brgeneral.org.

10.01.07

Pro-Bono Committee Helping Raise Funds for Youth Oasis

PRAL's Pro-Bono Committee is working with Youth Oasis this year to help raise awareness of the organization and promote their first-ever fundraising event: a celebrity waiter gala to be held on Thursday, October 4 at Boudreaux's from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. Dress is "oasis casual" (Hawaiian shirts, khakis, etc.).

Youth Oasis is a local non-profit agency--a community safety net for kids in our area who leave home with nowhere else to turn, including many who come from abusive situations. Youth Oasis offers a safe haven to keep these at-risk kids from being homeless or turning to crime to support themselves, and provides support and services to help them finish school and become successful and productive citizens.

Please RSVP to Amy Delaney at 225- 236-5538 or Amy.Delaney@ardenthealth.com with the number of tickets you wish to purchase.

09.12.07

Annual First Circle Award Nominations Sought
Nomination deadline is October 12

Each year, PRAL recognizes a public relations professional who has demonstrated the highest standards of the profession with the First Circle Award.

PRAL is now seeking nominations for our 22nd Annual First Circle Award recipient. Nominate someone you know for the most prestigious honor PRAL bestows upon one of its members!

Please complete the attached nomination form and submit it to PRAL’s Past President Scott Miller, APR, by Friday, October 12.

Criteria for nomination and selection are as follows:
* minimum of 5 years as PRAL or PRSA member;
* minimum of 15 years in public relations or related field;
* service to PRAL and/or SPRF, including activity as a member of a committee, as a committee chair or as a member of the board of directors;
* recognized for high standards of professional and personal integrity; and
* must show service to the profession through public service, volunteer work, and/or work with students, interns and young professionals

Download the First Circle nomination form here.

Questions? Contact:
Scott Miller, APR
Phone: 225-237-1609
Fax: 225-763-4290
E-mail: scott.miller@brgeneral.org

08.15.07

Four Baton Rouge Professionals Earn Public Relations Accreditation
The Public Relations Association of Louisiana Congratulates These Members

Michelle Clement, director of communications and public relations for the Louisiana Hospital Association; Les Landon, director of public relations for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers; Venessa Lewis, assistant director of communications for BREC; and Kristi Barnett Williams, BREC communications director, recently added three more letters to their names: APR (Accredited in Public Relations).

In her current position at the LHA, Clement’s job responsibilities include media relations, public relations, publications and website management. In November 2002, Clement was invited to become a member of the Louisiana Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force. She has also served as the chairperson for the Baton Rouge Coalition for Mental Health Awareness since November 2001. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications.

In his current position at the LFT, Landon oversees all aspects of internal and external communications. Prior to his 21-year tenure in this position, he worked in journalism as a reporter, editor and publisher. Landon graduated with distinction from Rhodes College in Memphis with a degree in anthropology. He currently serves as treasurer of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana.

After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications with a concentration in advertising from LSU, Lewis worked as public relations specialist for the East Baton Rouge Parish Public School System before joining BREC. While at BREC, the public relations department received the “Best Communications Program” nationwide for parks and recreation services by the National Parks and Recreation Association for three years.

In her position, Williams directs all of the marketing, advertising, and public relations operations for BREC. She is an LSU graduate and currently serves as president of the Baton Rouge Chapter of Public Relations Society of America. Prior to leading the BREC communications team, she worked for the Olympic Regional Development Authority and interned for Nabisco's promotions company. Williams also volunteers with City at Peace, the Louisiana Recreation and Parks Association and the Junior League of Baton Rouge.

APR is a mark of distinction for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and its ethical practice. APR candidates must demonstrate broad knowledge, experience and professional judgment in the field. Accreditation is a two-step process involving a presentation to a readiness review panel of local APRs and a computer-based final exam.

07.30.07

Collins Named SPRF Association Assistant

Tupelo, Miss. (July 30, 2007) - The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) recently announced that Kim Foster Collins, APR, will serve as the organization's first association assistant.

As association assistant for the 1,200-plus member organization, Collins will help manage SPRF's day-to-day activities such as support of the Federation's board and membership, event planning and budgeting, record keeping and also helping maintain the group's website (www.sprf.org).

Collins, director of public relations for Bobby King Associates, Inc. in Tupelo, Miss., earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation in June. She is also an officer of the Northeast chapter of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM). Bobby King Associates, Inc. is a 30 year-plus advertising, public relations and marketing firm specializing in tourism promotion and development and multi-member partnerships and associations.

"We are excited to have Kim serving in this new capacity as our first association assistant," and SPRF President Tracy Heggins. "She brings a solid overall background and understanting of the profession and the SPRF organization that will help manage its growth and the services provided to its members."

Collins graduated magna cum laude from Mississippi State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in communication – public relations. She also completed four public relations internships. She is a Brandon native and a 1996 graduate of Brandon High School. She is the daughter of Roger and Jan Foster. She now resides in Tupelo with her husband, Jarrad, and their child.

Founded in 1972, SPRF is a network of public relations professionals from Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and north Florida who share a common interest in the public relations profession. SPRF exists to further the professional and networking interests of today's public relations and communication professionals in private, public and nonprofit businesses and organizations.

SPRF is the regional umbrella organization for the Public Relations Council of Alabama, PRAM, the Public Relations Association of Louisiana and the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization.

06.22.07

PRSA Announces Summer Seminar and Social

The Public Relations Society of America's Baton Rouge Chapter invites you to its summer seminar and social on Thursday, June 28, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. at the D. Jensen Holliday Forum, LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, Field House Drive, Baton Rouge, La.

The seminar will feature a video presentation and discussion on the topic "Surviving 'Gotcha' Journalism." Learn what it takes to survive and thrive in today's changing media marketplace of attack-style reporting and how to stand your ground and remain in control while answering loaded questions during confrontational interviews.

The seminar will be followed by a networking social. Hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer and soft drinks will be served.

The cost for the program is $20 for PRSA members and $35 for non-members. Please RSVP to Robin Mayhall.

Free parking is available in the paid parking lot next to the Maravich Assembly Center on N. Stadium Dr. You will receive a ticket as you enter the lot. Bring your ticket and we will stamp it so you will not have to pay as you leave the parking lot.

For information about joining PRSA, visit http://www.prsa.org/membership/joinlandingpage.html or contact chapter membership chair Robin Mayhall at robin@hieran.com or 298-1992. Chapter dues are waived for anyone who joins by June 30.

06.21.07

2007 Joint SPRF/PRCA Conference Slated

What's so powerful about P.R.?

P.R. can be an organizational powerhouse, or it can be relegated to preparing newsletters and news releases, not that newsletters and news releases are bad things. But lets face it! We always wanted to be the person sitting at the table with the “Big Dogs.”

At the 2007 Joint SPRF/PRCA Conference, September 17th & 18th, in Mobile, Alabama, you will get the powerful scoop on how to “fly” into the organizational orbit for which you've been aiming. This conference is for the novice, those in mid-management, and the people who are reaching higher career elevations. We have speakers that will appeal to all practitioners from the new to the seasoned.

And we have an added bonus for those of you who want to be powerful leaders inside and outside of your organization! Judith Phair, APR, Fellow PRSA, will present a special session on Sunday, September 16th, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. At her session on Powerful Leadership, Ms. Phair will share stories and insights to teach seasoned practitioners easy tips to remain at the top of their game. New paradigms for leadership mean that we must be open to new and different things, sometimes things we never imagined would ever be part of our profession. Today being a leader doesn't measure how much you know, but how we adapt and remain open to opportunity.

Check all our speakers here.

To register for Power PR in Mobile, AL, click here!

And while you are thinking about the conference, don't forget that there are two professional awards programs and the PRCA student awards program at this year's conference.

• The SPRF Lantern Awards are for all SPRF members (ECPRO, PRAL, PRAM, and PRCA).
• The Medallion Awards are for all PRCA members.

Great news! Entries for both professional awards programs are now being accepted online. Because this is the first time to use this format, we are providing a link to a tutorial to help guide you through the new process. A link to the tutorial is available on the Web site under "How to Enter."

Entries for both awards programs are being accepted through July 15, 2007. Eligibility dates for work produced are May 1, 2006, to April 30, 2007.

Through the development of these new online entry sites, categories and judging criteria have been streamlined and updated. Entries are classified broadly into two divisions: PR Programs and PR Projects (tactical/materials). Other changes include a measurement category that has been introduced and online-based subcategories have been interspersed within the 25 broad entry categories. Winners will be announced at the respective awards banquets held during the SPRF/PRCA Conference, September 16-18, in Mobile, Alabama.

The Student Medallion Awards are for all students who are members of a PRCA college chapter.  Deadline for the student Medallions is July 27, 2007. Entries should be to be mailed to...

Genevieve Dardeau
Department of Communication
University of South Alabama
1000 University Commons
Mobile , AL 36688

So start leaping tall deadlines! Register and enter your stuff today!

02.19.07

PRAL Announces Officers, Board Members and Award Winners

The Baton Rouge chapter of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana installed officers and board members for 2007 at its annual awards ceremony held Jan. 30 at Juban's Restaurant in Baton Rouge.
 
The 2007 PRAL officers inducted were President Pierre Washington of the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority; Vice President Jené Burgess of the Louisiana Lottery Corporation; Secretary Jamie Craig; Treasurer Les Landon of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers; and Immediate Past President Scott J. Miller, APR of the Baton Rouge General.

Board members for 2007 are Stephen Loy, APR, of the Louisiana Technology Park; Ellie Hebert of Peacock Communications LLC; Amy Nolan, APR, of LWCC; Alicia Davidson of Louisiana Economic Development; Pam Hutchinson of the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority; Holly Houk Cullen, APR, of the LSU Office of Public Affairs; and Glen Duncan, APR of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

At the awards ceremony, PRAL recognized outstanding public relations professionals for their accomplishments.

Linda Lightfoot, recently retired executive editor of The Advocate, was named PRAL's 2006 Communicator of the Year for her dedication to and accomplishments in communications in Baton Rouge for over 40 years.

Stephen Loy, APR, communications director of the Louisiana Technology Park, received PRAL's 2006 Practitioner of the Year Award for his success in developing technology assets across the state and collaborating with both external and internal audiences to manage the Tech Park's messages.

02.15.07

Lundy Earns Public Relations Accreditation

Lisa K. Lundy, Ph.D., assistant professor and public relations area head of the Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University, recently added three more letters to her name: APR (Accredited in Public Relations).

With a focus on research in science and environmental communications, Lundy helps students develop competency in communicating about complex policy issues related to global affairs, science and technology.

Dr. Lundy also advises the LSU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and coaches students in the PRSSA Bateman Competition. Prior to joining LSU, she was an alumni relations coordinator for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Florida.

A native of Gainsville, Fla., Lundy earned her doctorate in agricultural education and communication at the University of Florida in 2004.

APR is a mark of distinction for public relations professionals who demonstrate their commitment to the profession and it its ethical practice. APR candidates must demonstrate broad knowledge, experience and professional judgment in the field. Accreditation is a two-step process involving a presentation to a readiness review panel of local APRs and a computer-based final exam.

02.01.07

APR Readiness Review Dates Slated

Readiness reviews for PRAL members seeking accreditation in public relations have been scheduled for the following dates:

• April 28, 2007
• July 28, 2007
• October 27, 2007
• January 26, 2008

If you are interested in sitting for your readiness review, please contact Scott Miller, APR, at 225-237-1609 or scott.miller@brgeneral.org.

01.31.07

PRAL/SMEI Co-host Seminar and Luncheon

The Public Relations Association of Louisiana and the Baton Rouge chapter of Sales & Marketing Executives International are co-hosting a Feb. 22 seminar and luncheon featuring two communication experts detailing how the Internet provides a powerful forum for the public to share thoughts and opinions on a local, national and worldwide scale.

Richard Nacht, CEO and founder of Blogging Systems, the leader in the rapidly growing area of corporate blogging. He developed a real estate blog platform that produces a low-cost, high results tool for effective real estate Internet marketing, including communication and collaboration, competitive marketing, sales, and customer relations. He was a New Jersey Governor's Cup for Entrepreneurial Excellence finalist and was a member of the Inc. 500 list of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies in 2003. He also is co-author of Realty Blogging: Build Your Brand and Outsmart Your Competition, published by McGraw-Hill. He has a law degree from New York Law School, an MBA from New York University and is a current doctoral candidate at the International School for Management in Paris, France.

Paul Chaney, Blogging Systems' vice president for marketing, spoke to the Baton Rouge SMEI chapter last year and was so electrifying with his internet communications knowledge that chapter members requested his return. He has been a business blog consultant for the past three years and is widely known and respected in that field. He explains how blogs can be used as a tool for marketing communications and has worked with clients assisting them in deploying a blog marketing strategy. He is the other co-author of Realty Blogging: Build Your Brand and Outsmart Your Competition. He has written a monthly feature for Practical E-commerce magazine on the use of blogs and has led blog workshops and seminars, including the first ever such seminar in Asia, held in Singapore in September 2005. He writes a blog for Allbusiness.com called "Strategic Business Blogging," where he provides practical information on how to use blogs as a marketing tool. He has also blogged professionally for Weblogs Inc, the world's largest blog network.

Both will detail how blogs, the popular term for "web logs," along with other forms of social media such as "MySpace.com" and "Youtube.com," have empowered consumers to heavily impact the effect of branding and marketing messages.

The February 22 workshop is designed to help public relations and sales and marketing professionals (1) understand the impact social media is having, (2) adapt to change, and (3) learn the tools necessary to connect with target individuals. The workshop will define current trends, outline five forms of social media marketing, and provide practical strategies for engaging consumer publics.

Members of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber also will attend the seminar, which substitutes for the regular PRAL February monthly meeting. The cost, which includes lunch, is $40, and guests are welcome. The event will be held at the Marriott on Corporate from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Reservations can made on PRAL's Web site, www.pralbr.org. You can also contact Jené Burgess by e-mail at jene.burgess@louisianalottery.com or by phone at 225-297-2083.