Oct/Nov 2005 eNews

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What's in this issue?
1) Dec. 15 - Vickie Newton, annual meeting, 2006 opportunities
2) Proposed officers for 2006
3) Chapter Renewals, Comings and Goings
4) Chapter opportunities - For professional growth, recognition

Reflections from Presidents Past (special)
_{In September 2005 PRSA-St. Louis honored chapter presidents from the past 25 years. Here is a comment from one on how the profession has evolved.}

"PRSA needs to do more to improve the status of PR professionals in the eyes of the public and business/organization leaders. The accreditation program was a start, but, in my opinion, APR still does not have the recognition or status that it should. Too many CEOs still don't feel the need to include PR people in the business planning process." - Herm Liebovich, PRSA-St. Louis President - 1983

1) Vickie Newton and More - Dec. 15
KMOV evening news co-anchor Vickie Newton headlines our year-end programming, Dec. 15 at Ces & Judy's. In addition, the meeting will be the chapter's annual meeting at which time members will be asked to approve the slate of voting members for the 2006 Board. And a special Committee Fest (with prizes) is planned prior to and after the luncheon. See details on this below. For more information on the speaker and her presentation and future programs go to Programs. For recaps of past presentations, including our Nov. 16 program, go to Speakers. And scroll down to the bottom of this page to check out the Committee Fest and a special honor given to the St. Louis chapter.

2) Proposed 2006 Board of Directors
The Nominations Committee submits the following board of directors for 2006. The membership will vote on these at the Dec. 15 (annual meeting) luncheon.

Chuck Reitter President

Rita Holmes-Bobo, APR President Elect

Maria Bingaman Treasurer

Regina DeLuca-Imral Secretary

Jeff Wadman Immediate Past President

Also the following: Trudy Barthels, Denise Bentele Heintz, APR; Dawn DeBlaze, and Rob Staggenborg, APR, Directors. Jim Braibish, APR; Suzanne Holroyd, APR, and Paul Tandy, APR, Delegates.

(Note: Pat Feeney, APR has volunteered and been named an At Large/Delegate member until Tandy returns from active duty in Iraq.)

3) Chapter Membership Update, Renewals and On the Move

Say "Hello" to These New PRSA Members:
Dana M. Benedicktus, coordinator, Washington University
Jennifer Bonham, manager, public relations and communications, UniGroup, Inc.
Laura Theresa Bryant, manager, public relations, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company
Lorraine Kee, corporate publications manager, SSM Health Care
Timothy J. Fox, supervisor, corporate communications, Ameren Corporation
Damon Green, event coordinator, Missouri Foundation for Health
Gabrielle E. Gugliocciello, Weber Shandwick
Courtney Zulena Jordan, director, communications and marketing, Harris-Stowe State College
Matthew Gene Pollett, marketing assistant, Shannon & Wilson, Inc.
Rhonda Lea Sciarra, senior internal communicators writer, employee communications, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company
Adriana Nadia Weber, Freelancer

And Welcome These Renewals:
Jennifer L. Arvin, Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Debra A. Carpenter, Webster University
Melissa L. Barreca, APR, Ameristar Casinos, Inc.
Holly M.B. Berthold, Missouri Department of Conservation
Edward Louis Bryant, Jr., Pfizer St. Louis
Lisa A. Hays, Pfizer, Inc.
Daniel J. McGrath, Adamson Advertising
Christina M. Carroll, Magellan Health Services
Kathleen M. Cook, The Boeing Company
Kim R. Cranston, Rockwood School District
Christiana M. Dixon, The Standing Partnership
Ron W. Duchek, Thompson Coburn LLP
Joseph Henry Ebeling, Patrick Davis Communications
Diane E. Guerra, Marianist Province of the U.S.
Crystal Howard, APR, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
Sabrina L. Kalleberg, SSM DePaul Health Center
James Edward Keller, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems

Brenda Anne Kimberlin, freelance writer/media trainer
Elizabeth LeBrun, St. Louis Association of REALTORS
Stephen Edward Littlejohn, Express Scripts, Inc.
Stephen Daniel Mamanella, Ascension Health
Judith K. Meyer, Meyer Communications
Jennifer Noonan, LaBarge, Inc.
Michele Lee Parrish, Patrick Davis Communications
Melinda Peirce, Patrick Davis Communications
Bethany Logan Pope, St. JohnÕs Mercy Medical Center
Laura Myers Reeb, St. Louis County Economic Council
Marquinez A. Savala, City of Ferguson
Christie N. Schneider-Dorman, BJC Healthcare/Barnes-Jewish College
Rob J. Staggenborg, APR, Christian Brothers College High School
Tammy A. Stankey, The Standing Partnership, Inc.
Rick Stoff, Stoff Communications
Melissa Wilson, Lutheran Hour Ministries

On the Move
Kendra Gramlich from Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. to St. Louis Art Museum
Rita Holmes-Bobo, APR to Express Scripts, Inc. from OSI Support Service
Dan Kimack from Save-A-Lot, Ltd. To Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
Patty Klein to Freelancer from SSM DePaul Health Center
Karen Loiterstein from Towers Perrin to Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
Burt St. John APR from UPS to Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Vir.)
Andrew Shea to The Solae Company from Missouri PRO
Karen Thomson, APR from Youth in Need to PR Consultant
Carrie Therale, from Boeing (St. Louis) to Boeing (Seattle)
Melissa Wilson to Lutheran Hour Ministries

Changing Names - Not Places
Liz Lustgarten is now Liz Lustgarten-Pipman
Christie Schneider is now Christie Scneider-Dorman
Rob Staggenborg. APR is now married but keeping same name

4) Other Opportunities for Professional Growth and Service

Committee Fest set for Dec. 15 Luncheon
Please join PRSA St. Louis for a Committee Fest before and after the December luncheon. It's your chance to learn about opportunities to serve on a committee and get more involved with the chapter. We'll have the 2006 board members on hand to network and answer your questions about committee membership. As an incentive, all those that sign up for more information or to serve on a 2006 committee will be entered into our raffle for some special prizes, including a romantic dinner for two. For more information on the Committee Fest, contact Melissa Barreca at 636-825-9802 or melissa.barreca@ameristar.com. We hope to see you there.

Learn More About Blogs From Webster University PR Institute Session
Why did Mayor Slay start a blog? Does a CEO blog add to a company's image? Can a physician benefit from his blog? Answers to these questions and more were "blogged" during the Webster University PR Institute symposium on blogs Oct. 17 and are available for your review at: http://prinstitute.blogspot.com. B. L. Ochman, nationally recognized expert on blogs, conducted the seminar "In A Fog About Blogs. The Webster University PR Institute is an annual professional education program presenting experts on public relations issues.

Wired News Revisted
Here's a downloadable PDF of the four-page article "Increasing Your Online Presence with Digital PR" written by one of September panelists, Sarah Skerik. See Small Business Technology.

Honors for St. Louis Chapter
The St. Louis Chapter was one of four singled out by the Public Relations Society of America for demonstrating key values in diversity as outlined in PRSA's National Diversity Committee's mission. The Orange County chapter took top honors, being recognized as recipient of the second Annual Chapter Diversity Awards. The St. Louis Chapter was one of three others recognized for excellence with the (Washington, D.C.) National Capital Chapter, and the Greater Cleveland Chapter. Hats off to Rita Holmes-Bobo and the St. Louis Diversity Committee for 2005.