November/December 2003 eNews

Our latest PRSA-St. Louis eNews is sponsored by Bacon's Information, Inc.

What's in this issue?
1.  Dec. 19 Member Appreciation Luncheon (free) and annual meeting.
2.  Meet and see your (proposed) slate of 2004 Officers
3.  Tom Hoog (Nov. luncheon) recap and challenge
4.  Meet our Newest members; renewals
5.  Donate a computer, volunteer for New Year's Eve fun
6.  What others are doing - upcoming items of interest

1. KMOX personality Charles Brennan at Dec. 19 luncheon
Charles Brennan of KMOX Radio's "The Morning Meeting" will share experiences and some lighter moments from the business at our year-end luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Friday, Dec. 19 at the Junior League. This is a Members Only "thank you" and FREE to current chapter members.  You still need to sign up, however, if you have not already done so. http://www.prsastlouis.org/stories/storyReader$253

2.  Members to vote on 2004 Slate at luncheon
Want to see whom your Nominations Committee has nominated to lead PRSA-St. Louis in 2004.  Go here to find out more about these people and catch a glimpse of who they are.  You've seen them at luncheons. Now you can put a name, face and background together. http://www.prsastlouis.org/home/2004boar/index

3.   Tom Hoog, November roundtable, panelists leave tips for communicators in difficult times.
The full-day was reduced to an extended luncheon but only a lack of parking kept the crowd down at the Nov. 19 luncheon with Tom  Hoog (at left with Melissa Lackey) at the Sheraton Center Hotel & Suites.  Roundtable discussions such as these with Chris Horner (middle) and Kathy Bernard (right) were followed up with a three-person panel moderated by Les Landes.  Hoog says a lot of various groups have lost face with the public.  He has some suggestions on regaining confidence.  For a recap:  http://www.prsastlouis.org/programs/speakers/hoognote

4.  Membership growing in leaps and bounds.
PRSA's Member Get a Member campaign, which ran in September and October, will be shared with chapters this week. Members who referred the 125 (to date) new members through November 10 have already been sent their PRSA vouchers, with National's thanks.  If you missed the special offer, Section Appreciation 2003 runs through 12/31.  If you are not a member and pay the full fare (national and local dues) national will let you have a free membership in a special interest group all of 2004. http://www.prsastlouis.org/membersh/index

Meet Our Newest Members
Jennifer Arvin, Manager, Public Relations, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Gina Chiri-Osmond, Publications Manager, Lutheran Church Extension Fund
Gary Ford, Assistant Professor, Webster University
Melanie Fahrner, Numerof & Associates, Inc.
Carman Garcia, Specialist Communications, Nonprofit Services Consortium
Diane Guerra, National Communications Director, Marianist Province of the U.S.
Debbie Johnson, Director of Public Relations, YMCA of Greater St. Louis
Joe Muehlenkamp, Director of HSC Media Relations, Saint Louis University
Nekisa Williams, Recent Graduate, Freelancer
Michelle Yates, Director of Information Services, Follman Properties-ONCOR Int.

And thank these Renewals
Debra Carpenter, Webster University
Marie Casey, Casey Communications
Kimberly Groneck, St.Louis Children's Hospital
Dan Jenkins, APR, Solutia
Patty Johnson, BJC HealthCare
Kimberly Kendle, Brown-Kortkamp Realty Company
Maria Palumbo, MasterCard International
Ted Siegel, St. John's Mercy Health Care
Elizabeth Thimling, St. Louis Association of Realtors

       
Thanks to Burrelles/Luce/VMS and Fleishman Hillard for helping to co-sponsor our November luncheon, after lunch roundtables and closing panel.

5.  Help needed. Used computers sought for donations. '04 New Year's Eve volunteers.
Give an old Computer during the holidays
WITS (Web Innovations and Technology Services), a non-profit organization is looking for those good but useable old computers you have in your basement but no longer use.  It's part of their first-ever "Computers for Christmas" donation drive. The computers will be given to up to 300 low-income families or individuals.  Families receiving a computer will also receive training in computer usage and high level skills such as database management, Web design and hardware/software support. To adopt a family or drop off a computer, visit the WITS office at 4660 W. Florissant between 9 and 4, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday.  WITS is also accepting new equipment and donations for replacement hardware and other related items.  Microsoft has donated the software.  For more information visit http://www.witsinc.org or call 314-382-1650.  WITS' motto is: "Building communities by bridging the Digital Divide."

Volunteers needed for New's Year 2004 Celebration
St. Louis 2004 needs volunteers to assist media at '04 Eve -- the New Year's Eve party in Forest Park and Celebrate 2004's kick off event.  '04 Eve will be the biggest New Year's Eve party St. Louis has ever seen featuring a giant Ferris Wheel, a live performance by LUMA: Theater of Light, live bands including The Samples, fireworks and special activities and performances at Forest Park's cultural attractions including free ice skating at Steinberg Rink.   Volunteers are need to assist media in covering the event.  Volunteers can work either the early or late shift.  Shifts are 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Visit  http://getpremier.com/volunteer/ to sign up.  Or call Michelle Cohen at St. Louis 2004 at  314-206-3223 for more information.  You can sign up now through December 15, 2004. For more information on '04 Eve or Celebrate 2004, visit www.celebrate2004.org.

Job Fairs - "It's Your Future" seeks your advise
Live in the Rockwood School District or just interested in sharing more about a career in public relations and how to get there? Here's an opportunity to visit and relay your trip tips with 8-12th grade students, especially those in the county VTS (Voluntary Interdistrict Transfer) program.  The event is 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004 on the SLU campus.  If interested, contact Barbara Sams for information and an application at 636-458-7217 or LSCN7@rockwood.k12.mo.us.

6. What others are doing:
CSPRC's professional development conference coming April 13
For those of you who work with nonprofits, save the date of Tuesday, April 13, 2004, for a daylong event sponsored by the Community Service Public Relations Council (CSPRC). "Spectrum Symphony 2004: Conducting Your Nonprofit's Performance" is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the newly renovated Clayton Radisson Hotel. A blend of presentations, workshops and networking will offer a "concert" of professional development opportunities for nonprofit professionals in PR, development, media relations and volunteer management. More details to come at www.csprc.org.

Be sure to visit our sponsors. And thank them for their support.