Are you in need of some quality professional development? Would you like to attend FPRA state conference but just are not financially able?

Because we value quality professional development, the board of directors for the Space Coast Chapter voted to provide one conference scholarship to an active, deserving member of our chapter with a professional level membership (i.e. this is not for associate members whose primary job is not public relations).

To apply for consideration to receive a conference scholarship, all you have to do is send a letter that outlines the following:

1) A short paragraph about you and your job — what your role involves and what your public relations duties are in your work.

2) A paragraph about your past experience with regard to conference: have you been before? what did you find most beneficial? How does attendance help you in your job? If you haven’t attended, why is the main reason you want to go?

3) The conditions surrounding your financial need.

Send your eligibility letter to:
Amelia Woodbridge
McBride Woodbridge Marketing
150 Coconut Drive, Indialantic, FL 32903

Deadline: June 15, 2009
Recipient will be notified by July 1, 2009

Questions: call Amelia Woodbridge at 837-1000.

Make plans now to include “PR on F.I.R.E.” in your summer schedule: Foundation, Innovation, Reputation, Education.

The Tuesday lineup is full of professional development and networking opportunities, beginning with corporate social responsibility (CSR) and wrapping up with a “PR Under Fire” panel discussion, featuring public relations professionals from various industries. 2009 Dillin Keynote Speaker, Eugene Campbell, Vice President of Community Relations and Minority Business Development for Walt Disney World Resort will start the day. This presentation will focus on the Foundation and Reputation components of F.I.R.E. as Eugene talks about Disney’s comprehensive, integrated approach to corporate responsibility. He’ll also talk about how the company addresses crucial issues related to the environment, community, workplaces, product development, and other factors that shape stakeholder perceptions.

Interested in International CSR? Join Leticia Solaun, International Public Relations Liaison for CH2M HILL, for her presentation One Size Does NOT Fit All: Cultural Influences in CSR Decision Making.

Or join Joe Curley, APR, CPRC, and learn the ten strategies you need to earn a position on the management team at his presentation, “PR is Not Always Loved by Management: Here’s How to Get the Romance Started.”

Wendy Cobrda and Amy Hebard, founding partners of Earthsense, LLC will Educate us on Green Public Relations and Marketing. Following their presentation, you’ll have the opportunity to hear about Green Printing and Paper from Wayne Dennis, Corporate Director of Sustainability for Mac Papers, and Kathy Paiva of FidelityPress.

And back by popular demand are the Counselors’ Network Roundtable lunch discussions. Our seasoned professionals will facilitate discussion about hot public relations topics.

We’ll wrap up Tuesday’s professional development with a panel session you won’t want to miss: “PR Under Fire.” What do you do when your employer, or you personally, are suddenly the focus of the community’s and the media’s attention? Here from public relations professionals as they talk candidly about their experiences in addressing challenges they’ve faced in their respective industries, how they have responded to those challenges, and how they continue to demonstrate the value of public relations and the bottom line return to their employers. Moderated by Suzanne Sparling, APR, FPRA Past President, panel members are Jack Levine, 4Generations Institute (non-profit); Lauri-Ellen Smith, APR, PIO for Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department (government); and Deirdre Breakenridge, President, PFS Marketwyse (agency).

Register now! The deadline for early registration is July 19, 2009, and the deadline for hotel reservations at the FPRA discounted price is July 9, 2009.

PR on F.I.R.E.
Foundation, Innovation, Reputation, Education

The State Annual Conference Committee continues to seek out speakers who will help you grow as a public relations practitioner. Here is a sneak peek into another great speaker who is bound to hit a “home run” with conference attendees!

Tom Hoof, Marketing and Communications Director for the Tampa Bay Rays, will share his experience about rebranding a professional baseball team. In November 2007, the majority owner of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball team decided to make drastic changes and renamed his team the “Tampa Bay Rays.” As a result of his decision, the team went through a rebranding campaign that re-energized fans and made everyone in the Tampa Bay area feel like they had ownership of the Rays. Join us at the 2009 FPRA Annual Conference to hear about the campaign and the astounding success the team experienced in 2008.

SAVE THE DATE
Location: Boca Raton Resort and Club, Boca Raton, FL
Date: August 9 – 12, 2009
Registration Fee: $595/person

Remember, you can register now and make your hotel reservations. Room prices are tiered, starting as low as $145/night. We look forward to seeing you at the conference in August 2009!

Visit the state website to download a registration form

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.

Mark your calendar for a fun event at state conference Monday night, August 4, at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee. The Florida Public Relations Association Education Foundation Annual Scholarship Fundraiser helps provides scholarships to deserving students (and is always a fun time!).

Florida Public Relations Association
70th Annual Conference
August 3 – August 6, 2008
Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center

The Annual Conference is the Florida Public Relations Association’s premier professional development event. Each year members of FPRA, as well as other PR Professionals around the region, join together for 3 days of professional development. The annual conference is one of the most anticipated events of the year and brings together professionals with a common goal — to enhance their career through professional development seminars, vendor presentations, and networking opportunities. By offering experts on a variety of industry-related topics, FPRA’s goal for the conference is to present concepts and tactics that our members can immediately apply to their own jobs.

Find out how to reach more than 200 of the state’s top public relations professionals through Annual Conference Sponsorship.

Each year members from our chapter attend the event and not only get some valuable professional development, but have fun spending time with each other. Join us this year! Get prices and information and download the registration form here>

The conference will be held at the fabulous Gaylord Palms Hotel – Orlando
Visit their site here>