Date:               Thursday, Oct. 16

Time:               11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location:         inPlay

615 3rd Street

Des Moines

When the Floods of 2008 this past summer were affecting Des Moines, a team of local communications professionals were instrumental, as they informed the media and community at large about the flood situation.  Not only were they responsible for the external messages, but they also addressed the internal city of Des Moines audiences.

Join us for a panel presentation of the ins and outs of communicating during a time of crisis that affected every one of us or someone we know.  Panel participants will include the following:

• Amelia Hamilton, Chief Communications Officer, Public Information Office, City of Des Moines;
• Marylee Woods, Management Analyst, City Manager's Office, City of Des Moines; and
• Kandi Reindl, Assistant to the City Manager, City Manager's Office, City of Des Moines.

Please register online at www.prsaciowa.org by Thursday, Oct. 9. 

If you have questions about the online registration process, please contact the chapter's treasurer-elect, Jarad Bernstein, at 280-2040, or jarad.bernstein@hubbellrealty.com.

Join the PRSA Central Iowa Chapter on Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, from 6 to 8 p.m. for a free wine tasting at Jasper Winery.  We’ll be tasting local wines and enjoying a variety of cheeses from Gateway Market.

Bring a prospective member and both of you will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Centro.  To RSVP, send an e-mail to Alexson Kane at alexson.kane@nmss.org, or Dawn Buzynski at dawnb@2rm.com.

October will be an extremely busy month for the Central Iowa PRSA Chapter.

I hope to see many of you at our chapter’s first social event of the year on Monday, Oct. 13, at Jasper Winery in Des Moines.  Also, later that week on Thursday, Oct. 16, we are having our regular luncheon meeting.  More information about both of these events is included in this newsletter and on our chapter Web site.

The month wraps up with PRSA’s International Conference Oct. 25 to 28 in Detroit.  The theme of this year’s conference is “The Point of Connection” and will feature addresses from Craig Newmark, founder and chairman of Craigslist, along with other outstanding keynote speakers.  For more information, please visit www.prsa.org/conf2008.

There is still time to get involved with planning and assisting with chapter events and activities this year.  Committee members are always needed to help with our annual Institute event in April, our chapter’s PRIME Awards evening in the spring, as well as with social and professional development events all throughout the year.  If you are interested in volunteering on a committee, please visit the “Board of Directors” tab on our chapter Web site at www.prsaciowa.org and contact a chapter leader.  Or, you can always feel free to send me a note or give me a call.

Enjoy the fall season, which is such a beautiful, and busy, time of the year!

Darin Leach, APR

President, Central Iowa PRSA Chapter

Darin.Leach@ia.usda.gov

Ph: 284-4747

Fall Savings Available in October

PRSA is offering new members a free one-year Chapter membership when you join PRSA National at the regular price in October.  Those who are new to PRSA, as well as former members who have been inactive for at least one year are eligible for this offer.  

By joining PRSA, you’ll become part of an elite member network of more than 22,000 public relations professionals.  As a member of PRSA you’ll receive the following benefits:

• Access to MemberNet – Use this tool to locate PRSA professionals using the member directory, participate in e-groups, and search PRSA’s editorial database.
• Public Relations Strategist and Public Relations Tactics – Receive these quarterly and monthly publications to learn about new developments in our industry.
• Search and Post Jobs – As a member, you have access to a national public relations job bank, as well as the Central Iowa’s job bank to search for new jobs and post jobs that are available within your organization.
• Professional Development Opportunities – You can choose from a variety of tele-seminars, on-site seminars and conferences, as well as on-demand programming to enhance your public relations skills throughout the year.

To join online, visit www.prsa.org/membership/freechapteroffer.html.  Be sure to use the promotion code CONNECT2008 to secure your savings, and select Central Iowa Chapter 025.  You can also download an application online or submit a request to Emily Oliver, Membership Chair, at emilyo@iowacreditunions.com.  For questions, please contact Emily, at 515-221-3015.

PRSA of Central Iowa kicked off its 2008/2009 program schedule on Thursday, Sept. 18.  Mitch Matthews, of The Matthews Group, Inc., presented an energetic and thought-provoking “Google your Brain” to the Central Iowa PRSA chapter members.  Mitch is from West Des Moines and spends time speaking with groups across the country about pursing their sweet spot in life, achieving life balance and breaking through major challenges.  During the September meeting, Mitch used fun personal stories, business examples and experiences to help the audience recognize the types of questions they are asking themselves and how to ask new questions that will produce search results that will encourage, motivate and inspire.  He encouraged the members to come up with a question to Google their brains with that day.

In an effort to recognize accomplishments of PRSA members, we will share this information on a regular basis.  Accomplishments can include anything from receiving a promotion, changing jobs, obtaining a degree or designation, as well as announcing weddings, births, etc.  To share your accomplishments, please contact Melany Stonewall at mstonewall@guideone.com.  This month, a special congratulations goes to Annette Hacker, Joseph Smith, Jennifer Perry and Amy Varcoe. 

Annette Hacker earned her Master of Public Administration (MPA) Degree from Iowa State University (ISU) in May.  She also was recently elected as a member of ISU's Greenlee School of Journalism advisory council.  Annette is Director of News Service at Iowa State.

Joseph E. Smith II has been named Business Development Strategist for Iowa Health – Des Moines.  He was formerly Director of Corporate Communications for Iowa Health.

Jennifer Perry, APR has been named Director of Public Relations for Iowa Health – Des Moines, which includes Iowa Methodist, Iowa Lutheran and Blank Children’s Hospital.  She was formerly Director of Media Relations of Iowa Health.  

Amy Varcoe has been named Media Relations Specialist for Iowa Health – Des Moines, which includes Iowa Methodist, Iowa Lutheran and Blank Children’s Hospital.  She was formerly a Communications Coordinator for Iowa Health.

A Warm Welcome to PRSA’s Newest Members

In an effort to welcome new members to PRSA, each month, we will highlight individuals who have recently joined the Central Iowa PRSA Chapter.  This month, we are pleased to welcome Alexys Simon, of the McFarland Clinic in Ames.  Members are encouraged to introduce themselves to Alexys at future luncheons or events and make her feel welcome.    

Happy Anniversary!

In each issue of this newsletter, we will recognize Central Iowa PRSA Chapter members who are celebrating milestone anniversaries that month.  This month, a special congratulations goes to Lucinda Stephenson, of the Iowa Medical Society, for celebrating a 20 years of being a member of PRSA.