Southern Public Relations Federation

PRCA West Alabama hosts PR Toolbox Sept. 22 in Tuscaloosa

The West Alabama chapter of the Public Relations Council of Alabama holds its annual PR Toolbox for Nonprofits on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, in Tuscaloosa. This workshop caters to nonprofit organizations, specifically in the West Alabama counties.

The daylong event features speakers from successful nonprofits and PRCA West Alabama members in each session. The topics include:
- Getting your story covered in traditional media
- Social media options to build an organization
- Creating a successful public relations plan

The keynote lunch speaker will be Stephen Black, president and founder of Impact Alabama, a highly successful statewide nonprofit organization that works with university students and local communities to implement projects to realize systemic change throughout the State of Alabama.

The day will conclude with the opportunity for free one-to-one consulting for nonprofits with public relations professionals from PRCA. Participants will be able to consult with these professionals on topics such as communication planning, social media, pitching stories to traditional media and implementing PR campaigns.

Registration, which is $25 per person and includes lunch and materials, is available at prcawa.com. For more information contact Teri Henley, VP Projects, PRCA/WA at henley@apr.ua.edu.

PRCA-Birmingham chapter meetings

June 1, 2011
11:45 am	to	1:00 pm
July 6, 2011
12:00 pm	to	1:00 pm
August 3, 2011
12:00 pm	to	1:00 pm
September 7, 2011
11:00 am	to	1:00 pm
October 5, 2011
12:00 pm	to	1:00 pm
November 2, 2011
12:00 pm	to	1:00 pm
December 7, 2011
12:00 pm	to	1:00 pm

PRCA-Birmingham meets the first Wednesday of each month, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Energen Building, downtown. For more information, visit the chapter website.

Meeting Costs (includes lunch)
Members – $20.00
Non-Members – $25.00
Students – $10.00

Chapter of Distinction Entries Due July 30

2011 Chapter of Distinction Awards

WHO – All 20 Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) local chapters
o PRCA – Birmingham, East Alabama, Mobile, Montgomery, North Alabama and West Alabama
o PRAM – Central, Golden Triangle, Gulf Coast, Mississippi Beach, Meridian, Northeast, Oxford/Ole Miss, Pine Belt, River City, Starkville/Mississippi State
o PRAL – Alexandria, Baton Rouge and Acadiana
o ECPRO

WHAT – Annual Chapter of Distinction Awards; Work completed between January 1 and December 31, 2010 is eligible.

WHEN –Deadline to participate is Saturday, July 30. Website will open to receive entries beginning Wednesday, June 1.

WHERE – Register online at www.sprf.org. Awards will be presented at the SPRF Annual Conference Oct. 2-4 in Point Clear, Ala.

WHY – To promote continuous improvement in our chapters’ function, outreach, and benefits to members and communities, SPRF honors the chapter that excels in several specific professional categories by awarding the Jamie Palmer Chapter of Distinction Award. In addition, the SPRF will recognize excellence in leadership needed to obtain that award by recognizing the chapter’s leader as President of the Year. This competition allows chapters to use best practices in public relations planning by setting objectives in each area, developing a clear strategy and underlying tactics to achieve those objectives, and measuring success by objective.

HOW – SPRF’s Chapter of Distinction competition will allow chapters to compete in and win awards in eight achievement categories. Each chapter may choose to compete in any or all of the following.
o Public relations education
o Communication (promoting public relations externally and internally)
o Projects
o Chapter management
o Membership
o Programs
o Accreditation
o Public service

Judging criteria is based on the four-step formal PR process : Situation analysis, Goals/Objectives, Execution (strategies, tactics, methods), and Evaluation(measurement)] as well as supporting material (collateral). First-, second- and third-place winners in each category will receive an award and be awarded based on place. SPRF will then recognize the most outstanding chapter for overall initiatives aimed at furthering the profession of public relations. This award will be determined by total category points awarded. Therefore, the more categories a chapter enters, the more opportunities that chapter will have to score points toward winning Chapter of Distinction. The President of the Chapter of Distinction during the contest period will be awarded the President of the Year award.