2007 eNews Vol. I

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What's in this issue?
    1)     Future Luncheon Meetings
    2)     New Member Orientation
    3)   Membership Special – Join in February or March
    4)     Committee Needs
    5)     Meet Our New Members
    6)     Welcome Back Our Renewals
    7)     Meet Your New Board & Latest Appointment
    8)     Bronze Quill Awards

1) Future Luncheon Meetings

The Board has approved a plan to continue our monthly lunches at Ces & Judy’s in Frontenac the rest of 2007. Meetings are all set on the third Wednesday of the month, except November and December. Add the dates to your calendar: March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug.15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12.

2) New Member Orientation

New member orientations are returning. The first of 2007 will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 18, prior to the monthly luncheon at Ces & Judy’s. To be included or for more information, contact Jeff Waldman jeffwaldman@sbcglobal.net of the Membership Committee.

3) Membership Special

Not a member of PRSA? Click on the logo on the left and check out the copy in blue on our Membership page for a special reduced rate if you join by the end of March. Past experiences indicate you won't find a better deal for your pocketbook or your employer's.

Don't Forget to check out our Job Listings for new positions opening in Public Relations in our area. And check out the new listing of Volunteer Opportunities which has just been initiated by our new Community Service Committee.

4) Committee Needs

PRSA-St. Louis has set up a variety of committees to make your Chapter, programs and services even better in 2007. Maybe you can help. See “2007 Committee Chairs” for a complete list of the Committees and their leadership. The Committees below are looking for specific assistance.

Diversity
The diversity committee is looking for new members. Our goals for 2007 are: (1) Increase minority participation within our organization; (2) Form collaborative partnerships with student chapter, and (3) Develop new diversity focused programming and social activities. Your help is vital to ensure we accomplish our goals. Using your finely-tuned PR skills, help us develop partnerships with various affinity groups, secure dynamic guest speakers for chapter luncheons, and recruit prospective members. Join the diversity committee today. Contact: Val Joyner at val.joyner@ppslr.org.
Ethics
Did you know your St. Louis chapter of PRSA offers its members access to confidential professional ethics advice and support? Ethics chair, Denise Bentele, APR, and other experienced volunteers, are able to assist members in sorting through ethical dilemmas based on the PRSA Code of Ethics. If you bump into a challenge at work that you feel compromises your professional ethics, we may be able to help you identify the core issues and assist in your decision making. Contact: Denise Bentele 636-530-1235, ext. 224 or dbentele@commongroundpr.com
Meetings and Arrangements
Help handle on-site registration and payment at monthly Chapter meetings. Time commitment - help with four luncheons per your (months of your choice). Would need to arrive at luncheon at 11:15 a.m. and will be seated at Noon. Contact: Christine Winter Christine.Winter@cancer.org
Mentoring

Mentors Needed! We are starting up the mentoring program for this spring, and we've had an unprecedented number of students sign up. The program is conducted entirely through e-mail and give students an opportunity to ask you questions about the profession. If you are interested in participating, please contact Michelle Mason at 314-569-7100 or mmason@millenniumcom.com.

Nominations
The Nominating Committee is looking for additional members, since it's currently a committee of one. It will entail a few meetings and maybe a few phone calls this summer. The benefit is helping shape the leadership of the chapter and getting a taste of what the Board is all about with a relatively little time commitment…not a year-long commitment, just a few months as we put the slate together. Folks with no previous experience in chapter leadership are welcome, as well as those with experience…a good mix between the two would be nice. Interested folks can call or email me. Contact: Chuck Reitter careitter@earthlink.net

5) Say Hello to These New Members

Katharine Ryan Banniser, Account Executive, Salsman Lundgren Public Relations, Inc.
Angela Marie Dulle, Director of Public Relations, Cushman/Amberg Communications, Inc.
Patricia Fernandez, Director PR & Publications, St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Steven J. Givens, Associate Vice Chancellor & Executive Director, Washington University in St. Louis
Jennifer Marie Harris, Account Executive, Salsman Lundgren Public Relations, Inc.
David M. Isserman, Isserman Consulting+
Dawn Frances Ouchi, Manager, Public and Media Relations, Graybar++
Susan Rode-Perkins, Information Developer, Edward Jones
^{+ Pending payment of Chapter dues
+ Being processed by National}

6) And Welcome Back These Loyal Renewals

James E. Braibish, APR, Braibish Communications
Sue M. Cannon, Solutia, Inc.
Debra A. Carpenter, Webster University
Allison Hawk Collinger, Saint Louis Rams
Christy Conrad, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Michael L. Drohlich, Drohlich Associates, Inc.
Catherine S. Dunkin, APR, The Standing Partnership, Inc.
Kyle Gaines, Ameristar Casino St. Charles
Linda Lee Gladden, American Association of Orthodontists
John D. Graham, APR, Fellow PRSA, Fleishman-Hillard, Inc.
Sue Hanley, Saint Louis District Dairy Council
Arthur Hoffman, Hoffman Creative,Inc.
Gayla J. Hoffman, APR, Gayla Hoffman Associates
Dan Jenkins, APR, Solutia, Inc.
Les Landes, APR, Landes & Associates
Peggy Lents, Lents & Associates
Jessica Martin, Washington University
Brenda Murphy-Niederkorn, Murphy Communications
Maria Palumbo, MasterCard Worldwide
Barb Pierce, Millennium Communications, Inc.
Elzey M. Roberts Jr., Bright Central Public Relations
Julia Steininger, The Standing Partnership
Judy Taylor, Taylor’d Communications
Karen Thomson, APR, Indepdendent
Donna Vandiver, The Vandiver Group
Loren Wassell, Independent
Christine Carole Wells Eason, Webster University
Christine Winter, American Cancer Society

7) New Appointment & New Board

Jeff Waldman has been named by the St. Louis Chapter Board to complete the Delegate position to the annual International PRSA Conference held by Suzanne Holroyd, PhD, APR, who has taken a new position in Washington, D.C. The term ends 12/31/07. To get to know your 2007 Leadership better check out their photos and bios at 2007 Officers and 2007 Committee Chairs.

8) Bronze Quill Awards (What others are doing in our area)

Bronze Quill Awards - The call for entries for the IABC/St. Louis 2007 Bronze Quill Awards will be announced this month. The Awards celebrate local communicators who have demonstrated the ability to respond to today’s change-driven environment with speed, focus and flexibility, developing well-conceived strategies and creative execution that deliver measurable results. Entries are for work produced and measured in 2006. Entries will be evaluated by judges from IABC chapters across the nation, giving you the opportunity to receive professional feedback. Winners will be notified in April and honored at the IABC/St. Louis Bronze Quill Awards ceremony Thursday, May 17. For more information, go here.