PRSA-LVVC Vegas PR News

Curious About the Chapter’s Leadership Structure?

Amy Brooks — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:27:29 +0000

If you’re one of the few chapter members who hasn’t served on a committee or a former volunteer who hasn’t been involved in a while, you may be curious about how the chapter is structured.

Overview
Our chapter is one of 110 operating under the PRSA umbrella. Chapters range in size from 10 members to thousands of members. Our chapter is classified as a medium sized chapter at 127 members.

All chapters are lead by a volunteer board of directors. A few chapters have paid staff who help with administrative and routine functions. A goal for our chapter is to hire a chapter administrator once membership has grown to a level in which we can justify the expenditure (my guess is around the 200 member mark).

Nominating Committee
Each year around August, the nominating committee invites possible volunteers for various board and committee positions. They look for people that (1) might be interested in serving, (2) have the time to serve, and (3) have the skills/ability necessary to be successful in a leadership role. Experience in previous chapter committee and leadership posts are also considered. Since our chapter is run entirely by volunteers, an actively engaged board and extensive committee structure is a must.

Elections
Once the nominating committee has found willing volunteers to complete the 2010 board ballot, the ballot is presented to membership for a vote. According to the bylaws, board members must be elected no later than November 15 of each year and will take their positions on January 1.

Interested in Serving?
We know everyone is busy and have contributed so much in the past, when you’re ready to step up again, let us know. Likewise, if you’ve never been involved but would like to serve, we welcome you! Nonmembers are welcome to volunteer for committees. This is a great way to find out if PRSA is the right fit for you.

If you’d like to be considered for a committee or board position for 2010, please let me or another nominating committee member know (see list below). We’d love to hear from you!

For more information, visit:

Nominating Committee for 2010 leadership positions:

Chair - Amy Brooks, President-elect
Diane Lancaster Gibes, President
Lori Bachand, APR, Past President
Nancy Syzdek, APR, Past-Past President
Open, President-elect 2010

July Monthly Seminar Announced

Amy Brooks — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:53:50 +0000

Title: Keeping Out of Hot Water: Legal Considerations in Communications
Date: Friday, July 24, 2009
Time: 7 a.m. networking, 7:30 a.m. breakfast and presentation, 8:30 a.m. presentation concludes

Whether you lead a corporate communications department, write press releases for clients or edit web copy, an important concern for PR professionals involves legal issues. Questions a typical PR person may have include: Can my client take me to court for sending out incorrect or misleading information they approved? What is the difference between libel and slander? How long should I keep records?

Dennis Kennedy, a partner with Bailey Kennedy, Attorneys at Law, will discuss contracts, agency liability, copyright law, what government agency employees should be aware of, how long to keep records (and who is responsible for keeping them), etc. This is a program that every communicator should attend to learn more about their rights as well as legal responsibilities in their careers.

More information

To Disclose or Not To Disclose?

ShelliR — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:56:56 +0000

Assume that you are the president of PR Results, Inc., a Las Vegas-based public relations firm representing the National Cement and Asphalt Contractor’s Association (NCACA). NCACA has been closely monitoring high-growth communities across the country, like Las Vegas, that are preparing to vote soon on regional transportation and road improvement plans. NCACA has hired your firm to organize and manage a citizen’s group in Las Vegas called Las Vegas Citizens for Active Road Expansion (LVCARE). The group’s sole purpose is to persuade voters to pass Las Vegas’ aggressive road expansion plans (and bring more business to local and national cement and asphalt companies). A reporter from the Las Vegas Herald-Tribune learns about LVCARE and contacts you for information regarding the individuals or organization(s) funding/backing the group. Your client asks you to keep their involvement confidential. Your “gut” tells you to disclose the information; however, you are concerned about losing the business if you go against your client’s wishes.

What do you do?

Click on http://www.prsa.org/aboutUs/ethics/documents/CS3A.pdf to see if your answer is right, according to the PRSA Member Code of Ethics.

Career Support Group for UNLV Grads

Amy Brooks — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:05:51 +0000

In this tough economy, a growing number of PRSA members and other communications professionals are in the market for a job. If you’re an alumnus/a of UNLV, you’re eligable to participate in career “support group” hosted by UNLV Career Services and the UNLV Alumni Association. As we learn of more resources, we’ll post them to the blog.

Energize Your Career in a Tough Economy for UNLV Alumni
July 10 and August 7

8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
UNLV Career Services Center, Student Services Complex A, Room 301
- Join fellow UNLV alumni, alumni mentors, and Career Services professionals in a support group designed to assist you in maximizing your job search and career goals
Clarify your career and job search direction
Identify key job market resources and increase your marketability
Better understand your transferrable skills and how to apply them
Develop a clear action plan to reach your employment goals
- Co-sponsored by UNLV Career Services and the UNLV Alumni Association
- Click HERE to register
- For more information or assistance with registration, contact UNLV Career Services at 702-895-3495

PRSA Mixer Hosted by Studio J

Amy Brooks — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:18:38 +0000

Date: Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Time: 6-9 p.m.

Join PRSA Las Vegas Valley Chapter to network with the best communicators in Las Vegas and have a fun portrait taken! If you are a rookie professional, polished pro or just got the pink slip, this is the place to be.

Appetizers and drinks provided including beer and wine. Fun portrait opportunities available during the event and every guest will receive 50% off a corporate portrait, to be used at another time. Open to all communicators in Southern Nevada.

Admission is free thanks to our host Eric Jamison, owner of Studio J. Visit their website: www.studiojinc.com.

Space is limited. RSVP required.

Location: Studio J, 4081 Silvestri Lane Loft 102 (A-2), Las Vegas, NV 89120

RSVP: View the event invitation.

Can You Deceive the Enemy and Tell the Truth?

ShelliR — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:46:34 +0000

There are great dilemmas in wartime communication. Accurate public reporting of military activities is a crucial tool for military communicators to gain and maintain support from civilian leadership for military operations. To reduce the confusion inherent in wartime communication, there must be a firewall separation between Public Affairs (PA) and Military Information Operations (IO) and a mechanism based on disclosure, exposure and public discussion to reestablish a basis of truth and trust when situations of honesty, clarity and truthfulness have been breached. Coordination between PA and IO is essential to maintain the firewall.

Want to learn more? Wartime Communications at http://www.prsa.org/aboutUs/ethics/psaPS5.html

Source: PRSA Board of Ethics and Professional Standards (BEPS) and PRSA Military & Public Safety Section

Featured Job: PR Coordinator/Assistant PR Specialist

Amy Brooks — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Award-winning public relations company based in Las Vegas, NV has an immediate opening for a full-time PR professional with 1 to 3 years related experience. Candidates must have strong writing, media relations and social media skills, highly organized, ability to multi-task, be a self-starter and have an interest in news and what’s going on in the world. PR agency experience, college degree and sense of humor required. Established media contacts a plus. We prefer candidates already residing in Southern Nevada.

Just log on to our chapter’s job bank http://prsalasvegas.com/jobs/ (free to PRSA Las Vegas chapter members and $20 for a six-month subscription for non-members) for full details regarding this position and how to apply — as well as other posted jobs.

Update Your Member Profile and You Could Be a Winner

Amy Brooks — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:12:46 +0000

Take a few minutes to help PRSA serve you better. Tell us your job title, organizational setting, industry and area(s) of specialization. Each month, May through August, we will randomly select five members who update their demographics information to receive gifts, including a $100 Amazon gift card and items from the PRSA Store. You could be a winner! Update your demographics information on MemberNet today. If you are renewing your membership by mail or fax, you also can update your demographics on the back of the dues invoice.

June 26 Monthly “Beat the Heat” Breakfast Seminar: PR Successes & Challenges for Water Resources in the State with Pat Mulroy

Amy Brooks — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:23:46 +0000

Our next “luncheon” will be a breakfast. Hang on – you heard that right…for the summer we’re going to “Beat-the-Heat” by moving our regularly scheduled luncheons to breakfasts. Because we’ve moved up to a breakfast, we will be passing along the cost savings to you. We know the economy has everyone in a crunch – not only is it impacting your pocketbook - it’s hitting your calendar and you may not have as much time available to spend outside the office. By moving up to a breakfast, we hope to help address both the cost and time issues.

Friday, June 26, 2009
7 a.m. networking, 7:30 a.m. breakfast and presentation, 8:30 a.m. presentation concludes

Scientists at the Scripps Institute estimate that Lake Mead, which is the source of 90 percent of Southern Nevada’s water, could run dry by 2021. This presents a critical situation for our region. The Southern Nevada Water Authority has applied to the state for permits to draw upon renewable underground stores in rural Nevada. The pipeline, along with other programs such as “conservation pricing” for people who use more water, are among the many solutions the water authority is implementing to help meet the water needs in Southern Nevada.

Las Vegas Valley Water District and Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager Pat Mulroy will explain PR successes and challenges for water resources in the State. As part of the discussion, she will address how the water authority has dealt with intense criticism associated with the proposed in-state groundwater project and challenges to water conservation efforts.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
Pat Mulroy serves as General Manager of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, which serves more than 340,000 customers, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which is responsible for acquiring, treating and delivering water to local agencies that collectively serve 2 million residents and 40 million annual visitors. Mulroy joined the district more than 20 years ago and began serving as its general manager in 1989. She was a principal architect of the authority, which has served as a model for other Western water agencies since its creation in 1991.

As general manager of one of the country’s most progressive water agencies, Mulroy is exceptionally active in regional and national water issues. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies and the National Water Resources Association, and on the board of trustees of the Water Research Foundation.

Location: Cili’s at Bali Hai Golf Club, 5160 Las Vegas Blvd. South

Cost: $23.50 for PRSA-LVVC/PRSSA members who register before Wednesday, June 24; $30.50 for non-members before the June 24 deadline; $30.50 for members and $35.50 for non-members after the deadline, and at the door. Cash, checks, and credit cards are accepted at the door.

Entrée:Fresh Herb Scrambled Eggs, Bacon and Breakfast Sausage, Sautéed Breakfast Potatoes, Fresh Fruit in Season, Assorted Muffins and Breakfast Pastries, Assorted Breakfast Juices, Blend of Coffees and Teas

This seminar is sponsored by:
Faiss Foley Warren is one of Nevada’ leading public relations and government affairs firms, representing such clients as the Southern Nevada Water Authority, Cox Communications, Summerlin, General Growth Properties, Symphony Park and Pardee Homes. A hallmark of the firm is its commitment to providing the best service possible to each and every client. This level of dedication is evident in the results achieved for clients and in the long-term retention of clients. The firm was founded in 1998 by partners Linda Faiss, Helen Foley and Melissa Warren. For more information, visit www.ffwpr.com.

Member Survey – You Spoke, We Listened

Amy Brooks — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:31:46 +0000

Thank you to all the members who participated in the annual membership survey. Your thoughts are important to us as we develop programming and services. Each completed entry was put in for a drawing of a Cili’s gift certificate and the winner was Amy Maier.

Are you curious about the results? Here are few gems we gleaned:

Fewer employers are picking up the cost of membership and seminar registration fees
Networking continues to hold the top spot for most important reason to maintain membership followed by professional development opportunities
83% of members said they would consider attending Western District conference if it were held in Las Vegas in 2011. Update: the PRSA-LVVC Board has agreed to host the conference in 2011.
Members are interested in morning seminars. In response, the chapter has moved monthly luncheons to “beat the heat” breakfasts for June, July, and August months. More details to come.
The top rated chapter programs were APR Readiness Prep and Young Professionals. The lowest rated program was the chapter Job Bank. With so few jobs available, it’s understandable that this program received low marks even though more members are visiting it more frequently.
44% of members did not know the chapter has a blog. Here’s the link: www.prsalasvegas.com/blog
Some members report that they do not receive chapter emails. Cvent tells us that it might be a problem with your settings. Learn more.
18 members volunteered to help with the 2011 Western District Conference planning

As always, we enjoy hearing from our members. If you missed submitting your feedback but would like to offer your comments, please post your thoughts on the blog or contact Amy Brooks at pres-elect@prsalasvegas.com.

PRSA-LVVC has more than 900 email addresses of nonmember professionals who have opted into the database. We are working on a survey to be launched in June providing the board with feedback from nonmembers.