Don’t chance a debacle in an interview - see what happens to Robert

Its membership renewal time for your professional association and I’d like to encourage you to keep FPRA as a priority in your professional life. Here’s why:

1) No where else can you get such economical professional development!
2) The experience, knowledge and support that you gain from felllow FPRA practitioners is invaluable.
3) Invest in yourself! Being a part of this association costs you just $12.50 a month - the cost of 3 trips to Starbucks or just skipping a couple lunches out - pack your lunch instead and give yourself the benefits of maintaining your membership. Investing in yourself really pays you back in so many ways. Plus, you’ll be able to claim your membership on your taxes next year.
4) Activities, Conference, Accreditation & Certification, and more! FPRA gives you a vast array of options to participate in projects and programs that advance your experience (like our new public service program), to an annual professional development conference, to obtaining professional credentials.

To help you get motivated, the state association has announced an “Invest in Yourself” Campaign with fabulous prizes. So take time to Invest in Yourself soon and win big!

If you have questions, or anything you want to discuss, please call me at 837-1000.

Thanks
Amelia Woodbridge
President

With all the communication materials and publications that our industry prepares, it’s important for all of us to be informed about the latest legislations and socially responsible actions we can take to put our “ECO” foot forward.

This eye-opening and interesting program demonstrates how you can immediately add sustainability programs to your organization without it adding expense…and give you an opportunity to be the one that brings the issue to the table! Speaker Wayne Dennis offers an educational and creative look at an important issue. Fidelity Press in Orlando joins us as a local resource that took the lead in Florida and now is a 0% Hazardous Waste Printer.

Wednesday, November 19
ECO Advantage: Putting the Concerns of the Humanity to Business
Special Guests:
Wayne Dennis, Corporate Director of Sustainability, Mac Paper
Jim Douglas, Fidelity Press

4:30 PM Networking
5:00 – 6:30 Buffet Dinner and Program

FPRA Members: $25.00
FPRA Student Chapter Members: $21.00
Non-members: $28.00
Location: Rockledge Country Club – 1591 Fiske Blvd. South, in Rockledge

This is a joint program with the Ad Fed Space Coast

RSVP to FPRA Exec. V.P. Treasurer Katherine Sonn or call (321) 243-9520.

IMPORTANT: Please include your name (and guest’s name if you’re bringing someone), company and phone number, plus your email address if different from the one from which you send your RSVP.

Payment, Cancellation and “No Show” policy: As we must guarantee the number of attendees for each event, in advance, with our host location and are responsible for payment of that number, cancellations within forty-eight (48) hours of an event and “no shows” will be invoiced for the full amount of the attendance fee. The Space Coast Chapter of FPRA accepts cash, personal and company checks at the door – no credit cards, please.

This year, as part of an initiative to raise awareness for Public Relations initiatives, and the Space Coast Chapter of FPRA, senior members of our local chapter will be providing articles to Space Coast Business Magazine each month.

The articles will focus on public relations topics, trends, issues and management that affect the variety of businesses in the area, as well as provide visibility for our professional organization and its mission. Hopefully this will be the start of a very valuable relationship that can help strengthen public relations as a valuable tool for our business community. Keep an eye out for the articles and provide topic suggestions at our monthly programs.

The Space Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association kicks off its 25th anniversary with a Tribute program. Whether you’ve been a member for one year or twenty-four, if you’re a prospective or former member, now is the time to be with the one organization on the Space Coast dedicated to advancing the Public Relations profession.

Tuesday, October 21
A Tribute To 25 Years of Public Relations Excellence – A Tribute To Our Past Presidents

7:30 AM Check-in and Networking
8:00 AM Breakfast and Program
FPRA Members: $20.00 / FPRA Student Chapter Members: $17.00 / Guests: $25.00
Location: Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center Melbourne-Viera
(formerly Imperial’s Hotel & Conference Center)
8298 N. Wickham Rd., in Viera.

It’s reunion of members past and present! Join us as we kick off our 25th anniversary year and recognize the past presidents who have led our Chapter, from the days of fax machines and DOS computers to today’s generation of Blackberry’s and Web 2.0. A distinguished panel of past presidents will share their insights and perspectives on the changes in our profession, seen through the eyes of their respective business sectors. They’ll also answer questions about leadership and what being a part of FPRA has meant to them.

Past Presidents panel includes (to date): Monica Russo, APR, CPRC – PRoCom (1997); Natalie Sellers, APR – Parrish Medical Center (1999); and Suzanne Sparling, APR – United Way of Brevard (2003).

RSVP: FPRA Exec. V.P./Treasurer Katherine Sonn via e-mail at SonnCenturyOaks@cfl.rr.com or call (321) 243-9520.

At today’s President’s Luncheon at the 70th Annual FPRA state conference, the Space Coast Chapter was honored with 2 awards:

The President’s Award for Communications (a tie with the Central West Coast Chapter) for our Blog development, and the President’s Award for Senior Member Development for our Senior Forum programs this past year.

It was a nice surprise for our chapter and a great way to celebrate all that we did to enhance programs this past year. Be sure to check out the FPRA Blog for all the events happening at conference.

The Space Coast FPRA Board of Directors has named Natalie Sellers, APR, the 2008 PR Professional of the Year. A long-time member of FPRA and a 20-year veteran of public relations, Natalie is the Director of Communications & Service Excellence at Parrish Medical Center. She will be toasted during our Annual Roast and Toast event to be held on Sept. 12, 2008 at the Courtyard by Marriott.

Natalie has positioned her employer as a major healthcare player and provider in North Brevard County, and nationally. Under the direction of the PMC Board and President/CEO, George Mikitarian, Natalie’s communications, public relations and service excellence strategies have successfully positioned the medical center as America’s #1 Healing Hospital (2007 and 2008!) and as a global health care model.

She has been a featured speaker on both the local and national levels, and has earned a number of professional honors, including being named a “4 Under 40 Award” recipient from LEAD Brevard (2007); Florida Tech’s “Outstanding Graduate Student Award” (2001); FPRA’s “Glisch Award of Excellence” (2003); as well as earning numerous Image and Grand Image Awards from FPRA, Addy Awards from Space Coast AdFed, Healthcare Marketing Strategist awards, and many others.

Natalie is also civically involved: Chairman, Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Brevard Council of Chambers; Brevard Insight Committee (LEAD Brevard program); American Diabetes Association; American Heart Association; United Way of Brevard Board, the Florida Hospital Association; and the Florida Public Relations Association. Most recently Natalie was named – alongside her CEO – as one of the “100 Most Influential Business Leaders in Brevard County” in the April edition of Spacecoast Business.

The new Space Coast Chapter Board of Directors for next year is:

Amelia Woodbridge, President
McBride Woodbridge Marketing

Geo Ropert, President‐Elect
Ropert Communications Group

Mathew Haggar, VP of Membership
Parrish Medical Center

Katherine Sonn, Treasurer / Executive Vice President
Century Oaks

Alecia McCoy, Secretary
United Way of Brevard

Linda Herridge, Immediate Past President
In Dyne Inc

Andrea Farmer, Vice President‐Accreditation
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Doug Parker, Vice President ‐ Communications
Crosswinds Youth Services

Barry Eager, Vice President‐Resource Development
Phantom Productions

Ann Colchin, Vice President‐Community Relations
Independent Consultant

Jerry Stansfield, Historian
City of Cocoa Beach

Carey Beam, Member‐at‐Large
Craig Technologies

Anyone interested in the VP Awards & Recognition, please call Amelia Woodbridge at 837-1000.

Update your FPRA calendar, make plans for state conference or to attend the scholarship fundraiser, save the date for Brevard’s Best Dressed event which benefits deserving students in communications, and see what members have been up to!

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