Polk County FPRA News

Dick Pope/Polk County FPRA Chapter Seeks Communitys Help in Project Fill-A-Bucket

Wed, 3 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST

11/3/2010 12:00:00 AM EDT

POLK COUNTY, FL (October 28, 2010) The number of homeless children and youth in the Polk County School System is growing year after year, said Dee Dee Wright, Polk County School Board Project Hearth Specialist. Homeless children and youth are students who lack a fixed regular and adequate nighttime residence. Ms. Wrights office works to address the needs of Polks homeless students year round. One effective program to address the needs of the children who meet the federal criteria of lacking an adequate nighttime residence is Project Fill-A-Bucket.
The Dick Pope Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association will partner with Wrights office again this year as they collect basic living necessities to help fill five gallon buckets used in the annual Fill-A-Bucket project. The drive is being directed by the DP/PC Chapter Community Involvement Committee Chair Shirley Whitney and donations are being accepted immediately. Publix Supermarkets has donated the buckets for the 16 years the project has been in existence and will be assisting again this year as well.
Each bucket will be decorated, filled with items such as shampoo, conditioner, bath soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, brushes, combs, towels, wash cloths, stuffed animals or bears and childrens books (for middle and high school students), then delivered prior to the Christmas holidays. For many students these buckets not only contain basic living necessities, but may be the only items the students receive during the holiday season.
Each bucket is also stuffed with a jacket appropriately sized for each child. Monetary donations will be accepted to make those purchases and also for the purchase of the items for teenage children. Please make checks payable to the Polk Education Foundation with Fill-A-Bucket noted on the memo line. Please give by calling or emailing Shirley about how you can give to this worthy cause.
In order meet this years goal, it is imperative to have the full support of all communities in Polk County and organizations, clubs, individuals and businesses. Please give and give generously.
Drop off points are all the TD Banks (formerly Riverside) in Lakeland, Bartow and Winter Haven; all Polk County Fire Stations (www.polk-county.net/fire and click the "Information" tab). TD Bank branches (former Riverside Bank); Carlas Hair Studio, 6645 S Florida Avenue, Ste. 7 and North Lakeland Kiwanis.
Clubs/organizations/businesses are encouraged to have collection boxes (contact Shirley Whitney if you would like to be a collection location (863) 644-4145 or email: Rwhitney1@tampabay.rr.com).
Items Needed:
Shampoo Conditioner
Bath Soap Deodorant
Toothbrush Toothpaste
Brushes Combs
Towel Wash Cloths
Stuffed Animals or Bears Books (for middle and high school students)
Named in honor of Cypress Gardens founder Dick Pope, Sr., the 70-plus-member Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter and its affiliated Southeastern University and Florida Southern College chapters are among 15 professional and 13 student chapters of FPRA, the professional organization for public relations practitioners in Florida.
The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter meets on the third Wednesday of every month at Lakeland Yacht Club with all meetings open to the public. For more information visit the chapters website at www.fprapolk.org/home.
Based in Sarasota and boasting 1,500 members, FPRA is the nations oldest PR professional organization dedicated to providing professional development, networking and recognition opportunities for Florida public relations professionals. FPRA was established in 1938 by the late Lt. Col. John Dillin, APR, CPRC of Lake Wales.

DP/PC Chapter Announces 2010-11 Board of Directors

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

9/20/2010 12:00:00 AM EDT

Lakeland, FL (September 20, 2010) -- The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) welcomed its 2010-2011 Board of Directors at the September Chapter meeting on Wednesday September 15 at the Lakeland Yacht and Country Club. Each member was inducted by FPRA State President, Jennifer Moss, APR, CPRC.

Officers are as follows:
President Donna Wood (Polk County Sheriffs Office)
President-elect Danny Kushmer (Southwest Florida Water Management District)
Immediate Past President Cindy Rodriguez (Polk County Board of County Commissioners)
Vice President Angie Birdwell (Webster University)
Secretary Ashley Bell Barnett (Polk County School Board)
Treasurer Dee Crumbley (Lakeland Regional Medical Center)

Directors were also named and include Rachel Bulman (SPCA, Inc.), Jim Frankowiak, APR (Coastal Public Relations), Rebeca Mueller, APR (Polk County Tourism and Marketing), Amy Wiggins (Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce), and Shirley Whitney (Retired).

Committee chairs include Lorrie Walker (Lorrie Walker Communications, Inc.), Ashley Hall (Alliance for Independence), Sheree Salter (Webster University) and Jamie Brown (CNP Clark/Nikdel/Powell).

For more information about the DP/PC FPRA, visit fprapolk.org or email info@fprapolk.org.

Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association Wins Big at State Conference

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

8/11/2010 12:00:00 AM EDT

LAKELAND, FL (August 11, 2010) The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relation Association (FPRA) was recognized during the 2010 State Conference in Naples, Florida.
In the COMMUNITY RELATIONS category the Award of Distinction was presented to the chapter for Style Your Sole a community outreach program designed to bring a new pair of shoes for needy children in Polk County. In the PRESENTATION category the Golden Image Award went to the Polk County Board of County Commission and the Communication Division/PGTV for their Polk County e-Town Hall.
And, the GRAND GOLDEN IMAGE AWARD for AUDIO/VISUAL TOOLS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS went to the Polk County Board of County Commission and the Communication Division/PGTV for their Polk County e-Town Hall.
The final individual award given for service to the Florida Public Relations Association has been established as the highest, most prestigious award of the Association. The award honors the spirit and dedication of FPRAs first president and founder, Lt. Col. John W. Dillin, and his lifetime of service to and support of the Association. The purpose of the annual award is to recognize an FPRA member for his/her outstanding contribution to the Association and the field of public relations.
The winner of the 2010 John W. Dillin award is: Leah Lauderdale, APR, CPRC of Polk County Schools. As Senior Director of Communications for Polk County Schools Ms. Lauderdale has served the DP/PC Chapter of FPRA since 1998 and has served as Chapter President as well as State Association President.
Named in honor of Cypress Gardens founder Dick Pope, Sr., the 70-plus-member Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter and its affiliated Southeastern University and Florida Southern College chapters are among 15 professional and 13 student chapters of FPRA, the professional organization for public relations practitioners in Florida.
The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter meets on the third Wednesday of every month at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lakeland with all meetings open to the public. For more information visit the chapters website at www.fprapolk.org/home.
Based in Sarasota and boasting 1,500 members, FPRA is the nations oldest PR professional organization dedicated to providing professional development, networking and recognition opportunities for Florida public relations professionals. FPRA was established in 1938 by the late Lt. Col. John Dillin, APR, CPRC of Lake Wales.

Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of Florida Public Relations Association Welcomes Sheri McInvale as its newest member

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 EST

5/19/2010 12:00:00 AM EDT

LAKELAND, FL (May 19, 2010) - The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) welcomed Sheri McInvale as its chapter's newest professional member. Ms. McInvale serves as Acting Public Affairs Director for Polk County Transit Authority.

Sheri comes to this position with an extensive background in public relations, communications, media relations and public service. Sheri has been the Director of Regional Advocacy for Central Florida for both the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida and is a former two-term Sheri comes to this position with an extensive background in public relations, communications, media relations and public service. Sheri has been the Director of Regional Advocacy for Central Florida for both the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida and is a former two-term member of the Florida House of Representatives.

A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Communications Sheri is also a proud mother of three adult children and is very involved with many community activities. "Welcoming new talent into the community and our organization is the best way I know to build and sustain the energy level needed to make positive things happen. If you are a public relations professional in Polk County, you owe it to yourself, your professional development, and your organization to join FPRA. By doing so, you can draw on the incredible skills of our membership, while enjoying the many benefits of professional networking and the personal reward of community involvement." In keeping with our 2010 theme, we're "making it count" every day -- developing and encouraging leaders right here at home, said Cindy Rodriguez, Chapter President and Director of Communications for the Polk County Board of County Commissioners'

Following the new member pinning, Chapter members then heard from Colleen Burton of Polk Vision. Ms. Burton explained the mission of Polk Vision and provided insight to how social media and public relations are critical and vital in growing your organization.

Named in honor of Cypress Gardens founder Dick Pope, Sr., the 70-plus-member

Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter and its affiliated Southeastern University and Florida Southern College chapters are among 15 professional and 13 student chapters of FPRA, the professional organization for public relations practitioners in Florida.

The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of FPRA continues to offer professional growth through leadership opportunities, seminars, accreditation and certification, networking, local and state annual PR competitions and the annual FPRA State Conference.

The Chapter meets on the third Wednesday of every month at the Lakeland Yacht & Country Club with all meetings open to the public. For more information on meetings and membership, visit www.fprapolk.org/home.

Professional Development Workshops with Lakeland Local's Chuck Welch

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EST

4/19/2010 12:00:00 AM EDT

Social media consultant and hyperlocal writer Chuck Welch ( Lakeland Local and Metro i4 News) has graciously offered to conduct two professional development sessions in May. Both will be held at the new campus of Webster University and will take place from 8 a.m. 10 a.m.

An ex-journalist, Chuck retired to Florida to concentrate on being a father, husband and writer. His online presence is primarily through as the editor, writer and occasional photographer for the news sites, Lakeland Local, a sampling of the news, concerns and events for Lakeland and Metro i4 News, which covers the Interstate 4 corridor. Both sites feature Chucks work and that of other contributors. Chuck is an early adopter of social media tools to discover their faults and best uses. He works to find tools best suited to connect citizens and small businesses to their community.

The first session will be Wednesday, May 12, for those with little to no social media experience. It will be an introduction to the concepts of social media as a viable tool for Public Relations professionals to use for their clients and/or employers. During class, participants will create a personal or hobby social media presence.

The second session will take place Thursday, May 20, for those with some social media experience and include an introduction to the five tools and one cardinal rule when using social media for clients/employers.

Webster University is located at 1479 Town Center Drive, Suite 202, at Lakeside Village. Thats the second floor of the building that houses New York and Company and Fish City Grille, around the fountain area. Parking is located at the rear of the building and the Hampton Inn.

Cost is $10 for FPRA members, $5 for students and $15 for non-members. Coffee, OJ and light snacks will be served. Reservations are on a first come, first served basis. Seating is limited for both sessions.

For reservations, email Jim Frankowiak, jim@cprg-web.com.

Our special thanks to Chuck and Webster University for this opportunity.

Are You Invaluable?

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

1/14/2010 12:00:00 AM EDT

Public relations professionals illustrate their value by seeing The Big Picture. How do you measure up?

Attend the 72nd FPRA Annual Conference to see The Big Picture: Bringing Public Relations Strategy and Leadership into Focus. We will have speakers and topics to hone your strategic thinking, develop your business acumen and enhance your leadership skills, such as:

Jim Lukaszewski, The Lukaszewski Group Developing a Strategic Mindset: How To Become a Trusted, Strategic Advisor
Lisa Malone, NASA PR strategy around sunsetting of the Space Shuttle program
Deirdre Breckenridge, PFS Marketwyse Putting The Public Back In Public Relations
Peter Hollister, Hollister, Trubow and Associates Building a Strategic Plan
Thomas Smith, Disney Case Study: Launch of the Disney parks blog
Douglas Cherry How PR Pros Avoid Legal Woes
Debbie Mason, Strategists Inc. What Your Boss REALLY Wants But Hasnt Told You
Molly Kellogg Polishing Your Professional Reputation
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: August 8 11, 2010 at the beautiful Naples Grande in Naples, Fla.

RESERVE YOUR HOTEL ROOM NOW: Reservation link is up at www.fpra.org

REGISTER NOW: Registration forms are ready! Not sure if youll have the budget for AC next year? Have some $$ left over in your 2009 budget? Take care of it now and relax!

2010 FPRA Student Scholarship

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

1/14/2010 12:00:00 AM EDT

Through the FPRE Foundation, scholarships are available to students currently enrolled in a Florida college or university seeking a degree in Public Relations. This year's application deadline is February 26, 2010. Membership in FPRA or an FPRA Student chapter is required.

Students who wish to apply and are not FPRA members, may apply for membership when submitting their applications. For more information on eligibility and the application process, click here.

To download a scholarship application, log in to the members' only section and download under M2M Communication.

Dick Pope/Polk County FPRA Chapter will provide TOMS shoes to preschool and grade school children

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

12/29/2009 12:00:00 AM EDT

The DP/PC FPRA chapter and Florida Southern College are partnering with Lighthouse Ministries, Inc., Salvation Army Lakeland and Lake Wales Center to provide white, canvas TOMS shoes to preschool and grade school children.

Founded by Blake Mycoskie, TOMS Shoes, Inc. has one simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. By the end of 2009, TOMS will have given over 500,000 pairs of new shoes to children in need all around the world, including the U.S.

Blake has been profiled in People, Oprah Magazine, Readers Digest, TIME, Vogue, US In Style, Lucky and many other media outlets. To learn more visit www.tomsshoes.com.

The DP/PC FPRA Chapter anticipates to provide TOMS shoes to children in the three Polk County shelters listed above and TOMS will provide an additional pair to children in the U.S. or internationally. Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot and their primary mode of transportation is walking.

Blake will be speaking to the Florida Southern College students on February 17, 2010 on the One for One business model and will be encouraging young business entrepreneurs on How to do Good and Make Money at the Same Time. After speaking to the FSC students, he will visit our local shelters as children paint and decorate their new TOMS canvas shoes.

We need your support, please join us by purchasing one pair, five pair, 20 pair or even 50 pair of TOMS Shoes. Each pair you purchase for a child in Polk County will ensure another child in need will also receive a pair.

For more information, to volunteer and/or purchase shoes contact Shirley Whitney at (863) 644-4145 or Rwhitney1@tampabay.rr.com or Teresa OBrien at (863) 534-0698 or Teresa.obrien@polk-fl.net.

Named in honor of Cypress Gardens founder Dick Pope, Sr., the 100-member Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter and its affiliated Southeastern University and Florida Southern College chapters are among 15 professional and 13 student chapters of FPRA, the professional organization for public relations practitioners in Florida.

The award-winning Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter meets on the third Wednesday of every month, with all meetings open to the public. For more information on the local chapter visit www.fprapolk.org/home on the web.

Based in Sarasota, FPRA is the nations oldest PR professional organization, providing professional development, networking and recognition opportunities for more than 1,500 public relations professionals across the state of Florida. FPRA was established in 1938 by the late Lt. Col. John Dillin, APR, CPRC of Lake Wales. Additional information can be found on the FPRA website at www.fpra.org.

A Cry for Help for Style Your Soles

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

12/17/2009 12:00:00 AM EDT

The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter and Florida Southern College are partnering with Lighthouse Ministries, Inc., Salvation Army-Lakeland and Lake Wales Center to provide white, canvas TOMS Shoes to preschool and grade school children.

TOMS Shoes, Inc. was founded by Blake Mycoskie on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. By the end of 2009, TOMS will have given over 500,000 pairs of new shoes to children in need all around the world, including at home in the U.S.

Blake has been profiled in People, The Oprah Magazine, Readers Digest, TIME, Vogue, US, In Style, Lucky and many other media outlets. To learn more visit www.tomsshoes.com.

The DP/PC Chapters anticipated goal is to provide TOMS shoes to children in the three Polk County shelters listed above and TOMS will provide an additional pair to children in the U.S. or internationally. Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot and their primary mode of transportation is walking thus, as is proven, more illnesses and infections are picked up by bare feet!

We are asking local businesses to Give A Gift That Gives; donate $ to purchase X amount of TOMS shoes that will then be donated to a local shelter (i.e. Lighthouse Ministries, Salvation Army- Lakeland and Lake Wales Center) so children can design their brand new shoes. This way local businesses are not only purchasing shoes for someone locally in Polk County, but also internationally!

I have attached DP/PC FPRAs letter and sponsorship levels for more information.

Please share this information with your organization and others!

We look forward to your support of this joint community project which will help meet the needs of children locally and internationally.

For more information, please contact Shirley Whitney at rwhitney1@tampabay.rr.com.

- Teresa O'Brien, Vice President

Help the Homeless School Children in Polk County by Contributing to Project Fill-A-Bucket NOW

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM EDT

POLK COUNTY, FL (November 19, 2009) -- The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) and Project Hearth needs your help. Project Fill-A-Bucket is your opportunity to bring much needed personal items to these children. Every day we take for granted that when we wake up in the morning shampoo, conditioner, bath soap, deodorant, a toothbrush, toothpaste, brushes, combs, towels and a wash cloth will be available but many of these children DO NOT have these basic essentials.
How can I help? The next time you are at your local grocery store pick up an extra bar of soap or toothpaste and then log onto: www.polk-county.net/fire to find a county fire station close to you. All county fire stations are collecting these much needed supplies until December 10, 2009.
The drive is being spearheaded by the chapters Community Involvement Committee headed by Shirley Whitney. Please contact Shirley at (863) 644-4145 or email: Rwhitney1@tampabay.rr.com. Please drop your donations off at a location near you, or contact Shirley for more information about how you can contribute to this worthy cause.
Named in honor of Cypress Gardens founder Dick Pope, Sr., the 70-plus-member Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter and its affiliated Southeastern University and Florida Southern College chapters are among 15 professional and 13 student chapters of FPRA, the professional organization for public relations practitioners in Florida.
The Dick Pope/Polk County Chapter meets on the third Wednesday of every month at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lakeland with all meetings open to the public. For more information visit the chapters website at www.fprapolk.org/home.
Based in Sarasota and boasting 1,500 members, FPRA is the nations oldest PR professional organization dedicated to providing professional development, networking and recognition opportunities for Florida public relations professionals. FPRA was established in 1938 by the late Lt. Col. John Dillin, APR, CPRC of Lake Wales.