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| Thursday, September 9, 2010 |
| - In This Issue - |
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From the Ground Up: Hubbell Homes’ & “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
It’s not everyday that Hollywood calls an Iowa-based custom home builder to share the news of its selection to build a dream for an Iowa family in need. But that’s exactly what happened to Hubbell Homes when ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” called. They accepted the challenge and in just one week Hubbell Homes, in association with its trade partners, subcontractors and numerous volunteers, built an Iowa family the home of their dreams.
Join us for the March luncheon to hear Rick Tollakson, Hubbell Homes president and chief executive officer, share what happened behind the scenes for this amazing challenge, and how Hubbell Homes continues to leverage the experience one year later. Come learn how public relations played a role in building Iowa’s first extreme home. From rallying hundreds of volunteers and workers to creating special events and managing media coverage, the Hubbell team constructed a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The luncheon will be held Thursday, March 20 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Des Moines Botanical Center, 909 Robert D. Ray Drive. Cost for members is $20; nonmembers $25 and students $15.
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Sarah Buckley: 40 Under 40!
 Congratulations to PRSA Central Iowa member Sarah Buckley for being selected for the Des Moines Business Record’s 40 Under 40 class. Buckley, 35, is the assistant vice president of corporate communications at GuideOne Insurance.
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Institute’s Early-Bird Discount Ends March 21
Your chance to get in on the $15 early-bird discount for this year’s PRSA Institute will end March 21. After that, members will need to pay $125 to attend the conference.
Also new this year, first-time attendees and employees or nonprofit organizations receive a $10 discount. Also, the group-rate discount has been lowered so that groups of at least five from the same company now receive $10 off per person. Note that only one discount can be applied per person.
Be sure to register online at www.prsaciowa.org. It’s easy! Or click on the “Institute” tab for more details on the event.
If you have any questions about Institute, please contact Darin Leach, APR, at 284-4747 or Darin.Leach@ia.usda.gov.
Hope to see you all on Tuesday, April 8! |
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PRSA Central Iowa Seeks Board Nominations
As the calendar turns toward spring it is time again to start developing our chapter’s leadership team for the upcoming year. The 2008/2009 year begins on June 1, 2008.
Each year it takes more than 20 members to fill board and committee chair positions within our chapter. Please contact chapter president-elect Darin Leach, APR, at (515) 284-4747 or Darin.Leach@ia.usda.gov if you are interested in serving as a 2008-2009 board member or committee chair or would like to know more about the positions. Nominations are due Friday, March 28.
The success of our chapter comes from the dedication and effort of our members. |
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Meet Andrea James
 Name: Andrea James Position: Public Relations Specialist
Company: Love Scott & Associates
Alma Mater: University of Iowa – Majors: English & Journalism with emphasis in public relations
Family: Husband, Chris; Daughter, Ella (3 yrs.); Son, Cade (10 months)
How long have you been a member of PRSA? I’ve been a member for about a year and a half.
Your agency – Love Scott & Associates – looks like a fun place to work. How long have you worked there and what do you enjoy most about what you do?
We’re a small marketing communications agency consisting of six employees, so we have to have fun in order not to get sick of each other! It’s actually owned by my father, Bill Love. He’s asked me for years to come work for him and head up the PR department, but I felt I needed to do my own thing for awhile. About a year and a half ago, I finally felt I was at a place in my life where I could move back (from St. Louis), and my husband was able to transfer within his company to West Des Moines. I most enjoy working with, and learning about, a variety of different clients/businesses. I grew up watching my dad love his job and was always searching for one I could be just as passionate about – I think I’ve found it!
What is your background and how has it prepped you for your job today?
This is the first I’ve worked in an agency, so working with multiple clients has been a learning experience. Before this, I worked mostly for non-profits and government agencies. One of those positions was as Public Information Officer for an Arizona county bioterrorism program. I received intense crisis communication training, and that certainly helps me now with media relations, interviewing techniques and communication planning.
Which is more important to you and why: Good grammar or good hygiene?
Definitely good grammar. A person could be the most well-groomed individual in the world, but if they can’t speak or write coherently, it’s hard to take them seriously! |
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Discount for New National PRSA Members Through March 31
If you work with or know someone who works in public relations but has not yet become a member of the Public Relations Society of America or the Central Iowa PRSA Chapter, tell them they can join through the end of the month and the $65 initiation fee will be waived.
As the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals, PRSA gives you ready access to everything you need to stay informed and enhance your career.
With PRSA you can:
- Enhance your knowledge and skills with targeted professional development opportunities: seminars, teleseminars, conferences, E-learning on demand, and local Chapter events.
- Create your own high-powered network with local Chapter and Professional Interest Section involvement, e-groups, the online membership directory.
- Stay current on the latest industry news with our daily e-news monitoring service PR Issues and Trends.
- Find answers to your most challenging public relations questions 24 hours a day with the Professional Resource Center and PRC Search.
- Read about the latest PR strategies, technologies and trends in our award-winning publications PR Tactics and The Strategist.
- Accelerate your career with PRSA’s JobCenter, mentoring service, CareerToolsTM service and more.
Visit www.prsa.org to join. You MUST indicate promotion code TASTE2008 on your application to get your savings, and remember: this offer is valid through the end of March only!
Local chapter dues are currently $50 (billed at the start of the new program year in September). In order to be a local member, you must be a national member. For information and an application form, contact Rhonda Clark-Leyda, Clark-Leyda.Rhonda@principal.com, membership chair.
You qualify for PRSA membership if you spend a substantial portion of your time in any combination of the following areas: Community relations... consumer affairs/public affairs...employee relations...financial communications/investor relations...government relations...institutional/corporate advertising...marketing communications...media relations...public relations counseling...public relations management/ administration...public relations teaching...research...special events. |
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Know the Code (of Ethics)
Each month, PRSA Central Iowa features one of the provisions of the PRSA Code of Ethics in its newsletter. These articles help remind you of the importance of ethics in public relations and of your ethical obligations as a PRSA member. For further information or guidance on ethics-related matters, please contact ethics chairperson Dave Remund, APR, Innova Ideas & Services, at (515) 875-4960, or dave.remund@sigler.com.
Provision: Conflicts of Interest
Principle: Avoiding real, potential or perceived conflicts of interest builds the trust of clients, employers, and the public(s).
Intent: To earn trust and mutual respect with clients or employers. To build trust with the public by avoiding or ending situations that put one’s personal or professional interests in conflict with society’s interests.
Guidelines: As a PRSA member, you shall:
- Act in the best interests of the client or employer, even subordinating your personal interests.
- Avoid actions and circumstances that may appear to compromise good business judgment or create a conflict between personal and professional interests.
- Disclose promptly any existing or potential conflict of interest to affected clients or organizations.
- Encourage clients and customers to determine if a conflict exists after notifying all affected parties.
Examples of Improper Conduct:
- A member fails to disclose that he or she has a strong financial interest in a client's chief competitor.
- A member represents a “competitor company” or a “conflicting interest” without informing a prospective client.
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“Movies at the Museum” Explores PR & Political Campaigns
Central Iowa PRSA members are invited to the State Historical Building in April to view a documentary focusing on public relations strategies as part of a political campaign.
“Our Brand is Crisis” will be shown Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m. and Saturday April 5 at 2 p.m. at the Historical Building. Admission is $5 at www.iowatix.com or at the door. Bring a nonperishable food donation for the Food Bank of Iowa and receive $1 off the ticket price.
 This documentary takes an astounding look at one group’s campaign to elect the President of Bolivia and its earth-shattering aftermath. For decades, U.S. strategists-for-hire have been quietly molding the opinions of voters and the messages of candidates in elections from the Middle East to the South American jungle. With flabbergasting access to think sessions, media training and the making of smear campaigns, watch how the consultants’ marketing strategies shape the relationship between a leader and his people.
The complete “Movies at the Museum” schedule and ticket information can be found at www.iowatix.com. For additional information, call (515) 281-4011. |
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Bookmark: PRSA Recommends “Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing Out of Sync?”
Seth Godin’s latest business handbook (after Small Is the New Big and The Dip) revisits some of his most popular marketing advice, while emphasizing that it can’t just be applied willy-nilly.
In past decades, he says, companies were able to get rich by making average products for average people, but those markets have long since been sewn up; mass is no longer achievable [or] desirable. Rather than simply rely on mass media to raise product visibility, New Marketing treats every aspect of interacting with customers—including customer service and the product itself—as an opportunity to grow the organization.
In order to be successful with such marketing techniques, a company must change its practices across the board. Otherwise, you’re just putting whipped cream on a meatball. Godin has a perspective on everything from blogs (don’t bother unless you really have something to say) to the long tail (if it’s as valuable to your company as the top sellers are, why aren’t you paying more attention?). His arresting conversational style is sure to once again set the business world talking. –Publisher’s Weekly |
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