May Meeting – Real Marketing ROI in Today's Landscape: Map and Measure Your Role in the Consumer's Journey

Date:                Thursday, May 21

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

Location:         AllPlay

615 3^rd St.

Des Moines, Iowa

Join us for a discussion of the ins and outs of research, measurement and ROI.  Learn valuable tips from a measurement expert on how to achieve and prove the results your organization or clients are looking for.

Speaker Details:

Maury Giles, Founding Partner, PURSUIT, Austin, TX
Maury brings 15 years of marketing research, analytics, and communication strategy expertise within the consumer brand, not-for-profit, association, and political categories.  He is a three time David Ogilvy Award winner, one of the highest national accolades recognizing research excellence.  He is an entrepreneurially-minded executive with a passion for helping marketers succeed with truly customer-centric solutions.  

Please register online at www.prsaciowa.org by Thursday, May 14.  If you have questions about the online registration process, please contact the chapter's treasurer-elect, Jarad Bernstein.

A Recap of the Year

It has been my pleasure serving as the Central Iowa PRSA Chapter president this past year.  Here are some of my highlights.

Our chapter celebrates the addition of 24 new members since August 2008.  This brings our total chapter membership to 168.

The economy did have some impact on our chapter this year.  Sponsorship revenues were lower than expected, and several members did not renew their memberships – many due to employers cutting back employee professional development dollars.

However, the chapter was able to make proper adjustments by closely monitoring expenses.  As a result, I anticipate we will be close to break even this year and should not need to tap into reserves to pay expenses. 

I was not able to attend our annual Institute due to a family illness, but I’ve heard from many of you that it was a tremendous event.  To all those who played a role in organizing Institute, I want to again say thank you.

Also, I need to say a very big thank you to all of this year’s chapter leaders and their employers.  Our chapter was strengthened by each of you.  Your employers also need to be commended for allowing you to give so much time to the chapter and its members.

And finally, what a pleasure it has been working with Lindsey Maas, our chapter’s intern.  She has been a valuable and dependable resource the entire year and will be missed greatly.

If anyone is interested in being on the 2009/2010 board or help lead or serve on a committee, please let me or Rhonda Clark-Leyda know.  There are more than 20 chapter leadership positions that need to be filled.

The rest of the year will wrap up with chapter elections, a bylaw vote, and our chapter’s annual business meeting on Thursday, June 18.  More details will be coming soon.

Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe summer!

Darin Leach, APR

President, Central Iowa PRSA Chapter

Darin.Leach@ia.usda.gov

Ph: 284-4747

PRSA Announces PRIME Award Winners

The PRSA Central Iowa Chapter held its annual PRIME Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 30 at AllPlay in Des Moines.

The awards recognize excellence in public relations projects from throughout central Iowa.  The following is a list of the award winners:

Internal Communications

Award of Merit – Principal Financial Group, “Game On”

PRIME Award – Integer Midwest, “What does Integer do?”

Annual Reports

Award of Merit – Allied Insurance, “Allied Corporate Summary”

PRIME Award – Wellmark Foundation “2007 Annual Report”

Newsletters

Award of Merit – Integer Midwest, “The Integerian”

PRIME Award – ARAG North America, “LawExpresso”

Magazines

Award of Merit – Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, “Blue Review”

PRIME Award – GuideOne Insurance, “Momentum Magazine”

Other Collateral

Award of Merit – John Deere Credit/ZLRIGNITION, “Beautifully Brutal Golf Holes”

PRIME Award – GuideOne Insurance, “Missing Ministry Book”

News Writing

Award of Merit – Hanser & Associates, “Megabus.com East Cost Media Kit”

PRIME Award – Iowa Department of Human Services/ZLRIGNITION, “Let’s Cover the Kids”

Feature Writing

Award of Merit – Iowa Heart Center/Trilix, “Eating Healthy at the Iowa State Fair”

PRIME Award – Dairy Management Inc./Integer Midwest, “Eastern Dairy Guest Column”

Promotional Writing

Award of Merit – Dairy Management Inc./Integer Midwest, “Chairman’s Annual Meeting Speech”

PRIME Award – GuideOne Insurance, “The Missing Ministry”

Media Relations Program

Award of Merit – Delta Dental Plans/Meyocks Group, “The 10,000 Smiles Project”

PRIME Award – Pella Corporation/Integer Midwest, “Pella Corporation Media Relations”

Community Champion Award

Award of Merit – ARAG North America, “ARAG Cares”

PRIME Award – Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity/Innova Ideas & Services, “Hammers and Heels” campaign

Special Event

Award of Merit – Pella Corporation/Integer Midwest, “Builders Show Support”

PRIME Award – Principal Financial Group, “Advisor Recruit Visit”

Crisis Communications

Award of Merit – Clow Valve Co./Hanser & Associates, “PR is water on fire”

PRIME Award – Pella Corporation/Integer Midwest, “Crisis Communication Manual”

Integrated Communications Campaign

Award of Merit – Iowa Department of Public Health Division of Tobacco Use Prevention & Control/ZLRIGNITION, “JEL – What town is next?”

PRIME Award – GuideOne Insurance, “Introducing SafeChurch”

Audiovisual

Award of Merit – Dairy Management Inc./Integer Midwest & Baxter Communications, “DMI Audio Feeds”

PRIME Award – Hanser & Associates/megabus.com, “East Coast VNR”

Electronic Communications

Award of Merit – Stine Seed Company/Trilix, “Stine Seed newsletter”

PRIME Award – Principal Financial Group, “RetireWire”

Computer-Based Document

Award of Merit – Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, “Whole Health Dimensions DVD”

PRIME Award – GuideOne Insurance, “15-Passenger Van Driver Safety Training”

Web Site

Award of Merit – John Deere Credit/ZLRIGNITION, “John Deere Credit Beautifully Brutal Golf Course”

PRIME Award – Pella Corporation/Integer Midwest, “Pella Corporation Pressroom”

Nonprofit Only

PRIME Award – Iowa Credit Union League, “Advocacy Campaign: Helping the Little Guy”

Social Media

Award of Merit – Iowa Lottery/Integer Midwest, “Iowa Lottery Social Media Program”

PRIME Award – Iowa Department of Economic Development/Integer Midwest, “Generation Iowa Social Media Program”

Best of Show – Pella Corporation/Integer Midwest, “Pella Corporation Media Relations Campaign”

Outstanding Chapter Member – Darin Leach, APR

Outstanding New Member – Dawn Buzynski

Outstanding Public Relations Professional – Claire Celsi

Outstanding Iowa Advocate – Shawn Johnson

Public Relations Discussion Group

Want to discuss the latest public relations gaffe or success you’ve seen lately?  There is a lot to learn from watching others practice amazing (or horrendous) public relations.  Join the new PR Discussion Group at Mars Café at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6.  If we get enough interest, this might just become a regular group.  Contact Alexson Kane at 453-2117 for more information, or to RSVP.

PRSA Waives Initiation Fee with Paid National Membership

Spring savings available in May and June

Join the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) during May and June and we’ll waive the initiation fee of $65 – bringing the cost to $225.  You’ll also want to join the Central Iowa Chapter for $50.

This offer applies to anyone joining PRSA in May and June 2009.  Those eligible for the waived initiation fee include PR professionals new to PRSA and former members who have been inactive for at least one year. T his offer is not valid for Associate memberships and may not be combined with other offers.

To join online, visit http://www.prsa.org/membership/staysmart.  Use the promotion code "SPRING2009" to secure your savings and be sure to enter "025" to join the Central Iowa Chapter.

If you have any questions, please contact Emily Oliver at 515-221-3015 or emilyo@iowacreditunions.com.

Meet Alexson Kane

In this month’s member spotlight podcast, PRSA members are encouraged to learn more about Alexson Kane from Strategic America, who is also the co-chair of the Central Iowa PRSA Chapter’s Social Committee.  Listen to Kane describe her role as a Public Relations Assistant Account Manager, as well as what some of her personal interests are.  

Happy Anniversary!

In each issue of this newsletter, we will recognize Central Iowa PRSA Chapter members who are celebrating milestone PRSA anniversaries that month.  This month, a special congratulations goes to the following individuals:

• Daryl Andrews, of Nationwide Agribusiness – 15 years
• Terry Birdwell, of ARAG – 10 years
• Ferne Bonomi, of Bonomi & Company – 40 years
• Ann Foster, of MidAmerican Energy – 10 years
• Tina Marchetti, of Principal Financial Group – 5 years

A Warm Welcome to PRSA’s Newest Member

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 Amy Zeigler from Group Benefits, Ltd. to our chapter.

Current members are encouraged to introduce themselves to Amy at future luncheons or events and make her feel welcome.