Omelets & APRs on St. Patrick’s Day

/in , /by
IMG_0331

APR Appreciation Breakfast in Newton, MA: (l-r) standing: Mark McClennan, PRSA National Board Chair; Mark Elliott; Joe Truncale, PRSA CEO; Shane Perry; and Seth Wheeler. Seated: Liz LaRose, Mary Ellen Hettinger, Robin Schell, and Jane Law

On St. Patrick’s Day, CEO of the Public Relations Society of America Joseph P. Truncale, PhD, CAE spoke about the future of PRSA at a breakfast for Accredited Public Relations professionals (APRs) at the Newton Marriott Hotel.

At a time where there is so much overlap between public relations, communications, marketing and content marketing, how can we set ourselves apart as professionals, Truncale asked? This identity crisis is one of the challenges facing our industry.

In his 30 years as a leader in printing, Truncale took the industry from centuries of tradition into the digital age. Mark McClennan, APR, President of the PRSA board and a Boston PRSA member, also spoke about upcoming changes for the Society.

One major change is a complete overhaul of the national website by InterlinkONE, Inc. of Wilmington, Mass. Truncale emphasized that as the Society moves forward, he’s interested in hearing from members. Watch for an upcoming email survey about the future of PRSA. — Mary Ellen Hettinger, APR

Home Ice: How the Manchester Monarchs Keep Their Edge

/in /by

Enjoying an afternoon and game with the Monarchs

Yankee PRSA at Manchester Monarch

Enjoying an afternoon and game with the Monarchs.

There’s a lot more to managing public relations and marketing for a minor league hockey team than press releases and free tee shirts. That was the takeaway from the Yankee Chapter professional development session hosted March 23 by the Manchester Monarchs at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Putting fans in seats on game nights is just one of the many priorities the two-person PR/Marketing team handles for the Monarchs. Managing the club’s community relations and social media, arranging access for media, daily reporting of player stats and transactions, and guiding a small army of game night volunteers are just a few of the other tasks that keep them busy.

It was particularly interesting to hear how Marketing, Community & Public Relations Manager Mackenzie Fraser and Public Relations Coordinator Matt Johnson managed communications last year following the announcement that the AHL Calder Cup-winning Monarchs would be moving to California, to be replaced by a new team in Manchester playing in the ECHL. The support and attendance the team continues to enjoy in Manchester is a testament to Mackenzie’s and Matt’s skill in managing a potentially difficult transition.

Though the Monarchs lost 4-2, it’s clear that this is an organization with a winning strategy for the team and the community it calls home. — Seth Wheeler, APR

International PRSA Awards Have a Strong Tie to Yankee Chapter

/in /by

By Liz LaRose, APR

President, Yankee Chapter PRSA

stacey smith presents JJW Award

Stacey Smith presented the Jackson Jackson & Wagner Behavioral Science Prize to Ansgar Zerfass at the PRSA International Conference in Atlanta.

Yankee Chapter’s own Stacey Smith, APR, Fellow PRSA, and senior counsel and partner at Jackson Jackson and Wagner (JJ&W) gave out one of two awards at the PRSA International Conference in Atlanta with ties to the late Patrick Jackson, APR, Fellow PRSA. Jackson, who founded the New Hampshire-based behavioral public relations firm JJ&W, was a highly-respected and nationally sought out visionary in the PR field.

Zerfass_710x399

Ansgar Zerfass, Ph.D.

Smith presented the Jackson Jackson & Wagner Behavioral Science Prize  to Ansgar Zerfass, Ph.D., professor and chair of strategic communication at University of Liepzig. The award, established by JJ&W in 1991, recognizes leadership in behavioral science research and its application to public relations practice.

McCormick

Gary D. McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA

The Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service to PRSA was presented to Gary D. McCormick, APR, Fellow PRSA, director of corporate communications, Scripps Networks Interactive. This award recognizes a PRSA member who has significantly contributed to advancing PRSA from the Chapter to National levels, as well as furthered the Society by inspiring fellow practitioners professionally and personally.

Congratulations to both recipients!

And look for an announcement later this year on how to nominate individuals for the Yankee Chapter’s own Patrick Jackson Award. Our award recognizes a professional who is not in the public relations field, but successfully uses PR principals to benefit others.

PR & Presidential Politics and Annual Meeting

/in /by

IMG_1341At our annual meeting November 5th, we had a dynamic panel discussion about NH’s powerful role in presidential politics, featuring Neil Levesque, NH Institute of Politics, Andy Smith, UNH Survey Center, Scott Tranchemontagne, Montagne Communications, and moderated by Amy Coveno, WMUR reporter.

In 2016, it will be 100 years since New Hampshire held its first presidential primary. Our panelists talked about this year’s primary candidates, and how historically the primary outcomes have reflected on the results of the national general election. A networking opportunity afterwards rounded out the event.

Erin_Liz

At the YPRSA annual meeting held before the discussion, members elected officers for the coming year, thanked outgoing chapter president Erin Holt (left), and welcomed incoming  president Liz LaRose (right).

See all the 2016 officers.

The board wishes to extend special thanks to our long-time annual meeting sponsor, Northeast Delta Dental.

Your YPRSA board wishes all its members a very happy and healthy holiday season and new year!

PRSA — Advancing the Profession and the Professional

/in , /by

The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is the nation’s largest community of public relations and communications professionals. We provide training, set standards of excellence and uphold principles of ethics for the global public relations profession. As a leading voice in the PR industry, we also advocate for greater understanding and adoption of public relations services.

PRSA’s 21,000 members represent nearly every practice area and professional and academic setting in the public relations field. In addition, more than 10,000 college students are members of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).

If you want to make contacts, be recognized for your work, enhance your professional skills, stay on top of emerging trends and otherwise accelerate your PR career, PRSA is the organization for you.

2016 Chapter Leadership

/in /by

The following slate of officers was elected to leader the Yankee Chapter of PRSA at the chapter’s annual meeting on November 5.

2016 Yankee PRSA Officers

President – Liz LaRose, APR, Crotched Mountain Foundation
President-elect – Tom Bebbington , Diocese of Manchester
Past President – Erin Holt, CCA For Social Good
Secretary – Stefanie Phillips, Louis Karno & Company
Treasurer – Andrew Morse, Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association
Assistant Treasurer – Seth Wheeler, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative
Director – Mark Elliott, APR, Sprint, (term expires 12/31/16)
Director – AnnMarie French, New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (term expires 12/31/16)
Director – Jon Boroshok, Southern New Hampshire University (term expires 12/31/17)
Director – Grace Lessner, New Hampshire Public Television (term expires 12/31/17)
Director – Mary Ellen Hettinger,Breathe New Hampshire (term expires 12/31/17)
Director – Amanda Flitter, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (term expires 12/31/17)
Director – Heather Atwell, APR, Antioch University New England (term expires 12/31/17)

Seeking Nominations/Applications for Yankee Chapter Summit Award

/in /by

Summit Award: “Excellence in Community Engagement”

Application Information

About the Award

The Yankee Chapter PRSA Summit Award recognizes excellence in a specific area of focus, which varies year-to-year, based on trends, behaviors, and new technologies in the public relations field. Prior awards have included:

“Special Event Excellence”                                        2013 – Families in Transition, Manchester, NH

“Employees as Ambassadors”                                  2012 – Dyn – Manchester, NH

“PR Miracles – PR in Times of Challenge”             2011 – The NHHEAF Network Organizations, Concord, NH

“Excellence in Social Media”                                      2010 – Kelliher Samets Volk, Burlington, VT

2016 Summit Award Focus: Community Engagement

The 2016 Summit Award recognizes excellence in achieving strategic public relations objectives through a community engagement strategy. The results of an organization’s community engagement strategy may have informed policy decisions, improved the targeting of services, built community ownership, or involved those who might not normally be included, resulting in increased community spirit and empowerment of individuals. The award winner (individual, team, or business) will be recognized for effectively planning and executing a community engagement strategy to support specific public relations goals.

Within the application, please demonstrate how your community engagement strategy:

  • Involved and engaged a broad range of people and sectors,
  • Created movement and/or change related to specific public relations goals; and
  • Focused on collaboration and inclusion.

Award Criteria

Entries will be judged on the following factors:

  • Situation analysis (context and key stakeholders)
  • Strategic organizational objectives
  • Goals and benchmarks for success
  • Execution
  • Results

Eligibility

  • PRSA Yankee Chapter members; or
  • Public relations businesses, organizations or individuals with a primary address within the Yankee Chapter PRSA region (Maine, New Hampshire or Vermont)
  • The winner (individual, team, or in the case of an organization, its CEO, or functional organizational head) must agree to be present at the award presentation

Application Fee

  • New! For 2016, Yankee PRSA is waiving the application fee.

How to Submit Entries

Entries may be submitted in a variety of ways, as long as the entry includes the award criteria previously described. Electronic presentations, videos, documents, binders etc., are all welcome. Choose the format that best displays and explains your work. Entries can include links to existing work, content or articles that support your entry. The award will be presented at the Yankee Chapter PRSA Spring Awards event in late Spring 2016. Updates will be provided on the Yankee PRSA website at www.yankeeprsa.org.

Submit entry electronically to: info@yankeeprsa.org or mail it to:

Yankee PRSA Summit Award, 53 Regional Dr., Suite 1, Concord, NH 03301

All entries must include

  • Name & Title
  • Organization Name & Mailing Address
  • Phone & Email

Submissions must be postmarked by January 8, 2016

Questions? Email: info@yankeeprsa.org

Join PRSA this and get a free Yankee Chapter Membership

/in /by

Receive a Free PRSA Chapter Membership

Get the best of both for one price.  New members receive a free one-year local Chapter membership when they join PRSA National before October 5 and use promotion code CHAPT15. PRSA National will cover the cost of your first-year Chapter dues! Be a part of a community you can count on at any level of your career.

Go to PRSA membership page.

Bradley Scholarship Awarded to Kathryn Schmeltzer

/in , /by

Kathryn Schmelzer, a senior at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and a resident of Concord, N.H., has been awarded the fifth-annual James H. Bradley Memorial Scholarship by the Yankee Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

“The James H. Bradley Memorial Scholarship was established to honor James (Jim) Bradley, a founding member of the Yankee Chapter who passed away in 2010,” said Yankee Chapter President Erin Hathaway. “The Chapter is proud to recognize Jim’s contributions to the profession of public relations by helping future professionals achieve their goals.”

At SNHU, Schmelzer is pursuing a major in communication and a minor in public relations. Prior to attending SNHU, Schmelzer was a graduate of NHTI, where she was the 2013 commencement speaker and received an award for outstanding professionalism. At SNHU, Schmelzer was one of a team of students to volunteer for environmental nonprofit Blue Ocean Society, creating the organization’s first social media marketing plan. Schmelzer is working as the social media and marketing intern at United Way of Greater Nashua this summer. Schmelzer was recently inducted into Alpha Chi, a national honor society recognizing the top 10 percent of her institution’s students, and she is a member of the SNHU Women’s Advocacy Group. Schmelzer has been recognized by university faculty for her strong work ethic and focus on academics. She is the daughter of Raymond Schmelzer Sr. and Barbara Schmelzer of Concord.

Northeast District Conference Call for Volunteers

/in /by

The 2016 Northeast District Conference will be held in Boston and we’re looking for Yankee Chapter members interested in lending their time and expertise to make this an exceptional event. Opportunities include generating sponsorships, programming, communications and publicity, or even just volunteering for the conference itself to help with registration, staffing break-out rooms, and more.

If you’d like to volunteer or learn more, contact Jane Law.