Tips, tactics and protocol to earn a communications Passport.

January 8, 2009
Doubletree Hotel Cocoa Beach
Networking: 11:30 am - Noon Program

Special Guest: Joseph Curley, APR, CPRC

With our business world growing globally smaller everyday and the internet allowing instant exchange of information worldwide, our PR profession actually crosses international borders daily. Its distant geography and languages can be scary barriers, but good planning can help make international PR project outcomes go as smoothly as if they were domestic.

Joe Curley is directing the international PR/marketing efforts for Universal Studios Parks & Resorts and is currently traveling to and managing new theme park locations in Singapore, Dubai and Seoul Korea. Joe will share with us, lessons learned, the barriers to overcome and other need-to-know information for crossing the International PR Border. Even if you’re not dealing overseas, it promises to be interesting and full of tactics you can apply to your job.

Cost: $20 members, $25 non-members, $18 students
Food options:
Grilled Oriental Chicken Salad
Pasta Primavera
Grilled Fish Sandwich

Attend this program and you can come to the event on January 22 for Free!
RSVP: Katherine Sonn 722-4440 or sonncenturyoaks@cfl.rr.com

Joseph J. Curley, APR, CPRC Stingray Solutions, Inc.
Joe has practiced public relations in Florida for more than 35 years. He is the retired co-founder and president of one of Florida’s largest PR firms, Curley & Pynn Public Relations Management in Orlando. Currently a public relations and marketing consultant at his own firm Stingray Solutions, Inc., Joe is retained by Universal Studios Parks & Resorts as Senior Corporate Communications Counsel, international marketing & PR. He is a past national president of the PRSA Foundation and a past state president of FPRA. In 1993, and again in 2005 he was honored with FPRA’s highest statewide award for outstanding professional leadership. Joe currently serves on the University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communication, Public Relations Advisory Board and is a requested speaker throughout the country for speeches on public relations issues. He is a graduate of the Executive Management Program at Rollins College Graduate School of Business.

Sponsored in part by Parrish Medical Center

January 22, 2009
11:30 Networking, Noon Program
Location: Tuscany Grill, Suntree

Special Guest: Susan Howard, APR
Director, Corporate Communications, DUDA

Susan will share the variety of communication tools and activities that she has used with The Viera Company’s efforts to promote two-way communication with the communty in its plans for West Viera, from gathering input into the community’s design to inviting comments and questions.

Cost: FREE! if you attended January 8
If not $20 members, $25 non-members, $18 students

Menu options:

RSVP: Katherine Sonn 722-4440 or sonncenturyoaks@cfl.rr.com

Susan Howard’s experience in public relations spans over 25 years. During that time, she has worked in corporate, non-profit and agency settings. She joined DUDA in 1993 and in 1997 was named Director of Corporate Communications. Susan is responsible for planning and directing the management of internal and external communications programs for DUDA, a family-owned, diversified land company engaged in a variety of agriculture and real estate operations in Florida and five additional states.

Her department is responsible for employee communication, media relations, shareholder communication, issues management and community relations for the parent corporation and its four subsidiaries. Between 1995 and 1997 Susan served as Director of Community Relations for The Viera Company, DUDA’s real estate development subsidiary and the master developer of the community of Viera.

Susan joined the Orlando Area Chapter of FPRA in 1990 and served as Chapter President in 1996. She is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and the Orlando Chapter of Florida Executive Women. Susan is a graduate of the University of Arizona where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism, and has earned professional accreditation in public relations (APR).

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.

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.

Our annual FPRA Community Leaders for Literacy Corporate Challenge Spelling Bee is almost here.

Wed., August 20, 2008
Florida Tech - Gleason Auditorium
5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Spectator Admission: $5
Food and refreshments
Proceeds will benefit the Rolling Readers organization

Each year our chapter holds this fun event to raise funds for a very worthwhile organization in our community - Rolling Readers. The money buys books and materials for their educational programs that help those in need of reading instruction.

Form a team and have some fun! (don’t worry, its group spelling). Or come and cheer on your favorite organization. For more information call Ann Colchin at 321-452-9242. Download an entry form here>

Join us in June for a for a mid-morning hour with the Florida Director of Public and Community Relations from Nemours Children’s Hospital.

Karen Breakell, APR, will join us for a group discussion on a specialized case study about Nemours entry into the competitive central Florida medical community.

June 10
10:30 am - 11:30/noon Brunch
Doubletree Hotel - Cocoa Beach
$15 members, $18 non-members, $12 students
rsvp: Amelia Woodbridge 837-1000

Karen joined Nemours in March 2006 as the director of Nemours community relations. In April 2007 she was promoted to lead public and community relations for Nemours Florida. Karen directs strategy guiding Nemours community engagement, advocacy and sponsorship initiatives and media relations for the State of Florida. A primary goal is integration of public and community relations initiatives throughout Florida to build more favorable brand preference and advocacy for Nemours. Karen also leads the Central Florida Communications Campaign in support of the Nemours Children’s Hospital and developing an engagement strategy to guide Nemours Drive to Excellence in all of our markets.

She is a nationally accredited communications professional with more than twenty years experience. She previously served as Florida communications manager for Progress Energy, and as director of constituent relations in the president’s office at the University of Central Florida. She held a similar position at Walt Disney World Company, developing community programs to build advocacy and support with key leaders.

A graduate of Florida State University and the University of Central Florida, Karen has earned recognition from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for her leadership at the national, regional and local level. She is a member of the League of Women Voters and serves on the Executive Board for BusinessForce.