The Dallas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is hosting its annual Communications Summit on October 17, 2008. This year's event entitled, "The Power of One: One Idea, One Connection, One day" is designed to be highly relevant and intellectually stimulating for all professionals regardless of industry or years of experience.
Gary Goldhammer - SVP Edelman Digital and an expert in the changing role of the news media and how journalism trends are affecting public relations, marketing and business - will discuss how to leverage digital media for media relations and marketing initiatives during the Breakfast keynote speech. He provides social media strategy and counsel to clients including eBay, Kaiser Permanente, Clorox and Shell. He will also discuss the latest trends and techniques through company case studies.
The Luncheon keynote will be provided by Sally Falkow, whois ranked among the top 30 bloggers on the web today. She will share her 10-point social media strategy including how to monitor conversations, identify influencers, create and deliver content, and measurement. President & senior web strategist for Expansion Plus, Sally successfully translated her communication, marketing and PR skills to the Internet and is now considered to be an expert in social media: blogs, RSS feeds and content syndication. Sally is the creator of the POWER Branding formula: P = Perception, O = Owning a niche, W = Why Me?, E = Emotional Responses, R = Relationships.
Communications Summit 2008 will feature three tracks to choose from, allowing attendees to focus on sessions more closely aligned with their topics of interest, featuring experts who have direct experience in these areas. These three professional development tracks will feature some of the profession's most influential public relations and marketing executives as well as TV, print and online media representatives.
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-- The NuPros Track is designed to address the needs of communications professionals with up to 6 years experience. It will focus on traditional and new media relations skills and will provide relationship building opportunities. |
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-- Two hours of Media Roundtables geared toward instantly improving pitching skills with face-to-face meetings with media representatives from print, online, TV, radio and wire. Learn what stories to pitch, pitfalls to avoid and pitching tips to get your stories covered faster. |
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-- Pitching in a New Age will focus on new technologies and tools available to disseminate information to the public from a panel of communications and media experts, including Web 2.0 guru Shawn Gurn, Moroch Partners, and David Parry, University of Dallas. |
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-- The Mid-Level Manager Track is designed to help those that are moving from being managed to managing. |
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-- Staying Strategic will help communicators move beyond the tactical phase and become a trusted advisor. Dr. Doug Newsom, APR, Fellow PRSA, Journalism Professor - Texas Christian University, and Blake D. Lewis III, APR, Fellow PRSA, President - Lewis Public Relations, will help attendees solve problems and present ideas to bosses and clients. This panel will focus on the importance of linking all your communications skills with the keen ability to remain strategically focused in order to achieve your maximum potential and consistently deliver winning campaigns. |
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-- Being of counsel: Earning and retaining your seat at the executive table. Becky Powell-Schwartz, President - The Powell Group, and Joe McNamara, Director of corporate communications - Public Strategies, Inc., will share how to counsel clients. Counseling clients remains the cornerstone function of today's public relations professional. But how do you earn and retain your seat at the table? This panel will showcase what it takes to make a lasting impression on your clients and cast an indelible mark on your organization. |
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-- Buzz building: Using today's social media tools to enhance customer relationships and organizational reputation. Chris Perry, Executive Vice President - Weber Shandwick, and Steve Lee, APR, President and CEO - QuickSilver Interactive Group, Inc., will discuss how social media has shifted the communications landscape. Today's Web presents tremendous opportunities beyond blogs, podcasts, viral online videos, RSS feeds and social network Websites to build and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders. This panel will discuss social media platforms that communicate clearly with internal and external audiences and help organizations enhance their reputation and grow revenue. |
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-- The Masters Track - Dr. Dennis Kratz, Dean of Arts and Humanities for UT Dallas, will help senior-level practitioners reignite creativity. "No Place for a Cyclops" will challenge the status quo of the planning process to ensure maximum creativity. The Masters section is one breakout session and the morning keynote. |
Attendees can participate in one of four special sections for those who specialize in the technology and healthcare industries, or are interested in learning more about corporate social responsibility communications or earning the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) from PRSA.
- Technology - Leveraging Mobile Technology as a New Communications Channel. Whether you are a technology practitioner or just interested in learning about new technology to reach stakeholders, TJ Person - President & General Manager, Mango Mobile - will showcase the latest trends and techniques in mobile communications and marketing. The session provides how-to info exemplified through program case studies.
- Healthcare - Join fellow healthcare public relations professionals in a discussion about how hospitals, medical centers and clinics across the Metroplex can work together if a massive disaster were to occur in the area.
- Corporate Social Responsibility - Ginger Porter - Managing Director/SVP GolinHarris Texas, and Glen Orr - SVP, Corporate Communications GolinHarris Texas, will utilize custom research to discuss what it takes for companies to be good corporate citizens. The discussion will cover a strong corporate citizenship strategy, using CSR, community relations, strategic philanthropy, and best practices in sustainability.
- Public Relations Society of America Accreditation (APR) -Individuals interested in obtaining Accredited Public Relations (APR) designation or wanting to know more about it, should attend this session with accredited Public Relations professionals who will walk attendees through the process, discuss the benefits of an APR and answer questions.
The Communications Summit 2008 will take place at the Las Colinas Country Club located at 4400 N. O'Connor Blvd. in Irving. Breakfast registration begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a keynote speaker from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Track sessions last from 9:10 - 12:30 p.m. The luncheon will begin at 12:30 p.m., featuring the keynote address. The afternoon special interest sections will be from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Pricing for this event is as follows:
- Member full day: $95; Walkups: $115
- Member lunch only: $40; Walkups: $50
- Guest prepaid online full day: $105; Walkups: $125
- Guest prepaid lunch only: $50; Walkups: $60Student full day: $55
- Student lunch only: $30
- Masters breakfast & session: $25
- Reserved Table for 10: $500
Space is not guaranteed for walkups.
To register for this program or for more information, go to http://www.prsadallas.org
The deadline for registration is Monday, October 13, by 5 p.m. Cancellations are due three days before the event. For specific information on the cancellation policy or to make a cancellation, please contact Liz Kennedy at LKennedy79@aol.com. All online reservations are closed the day before the event. You are welcome to attend, but payment must be made at the door.
NOTE: Masters attending just the breakfast and roundtable will need to RSVP to marilyn@hopkinspr.com and register/pay at the door.
Communications Summit 2008 Sponsors to date include: PR Newswire/MultiVu, Edelman, Marketwire, Business Wire, and BurrellesLuce. Sponsorship opportunities are still available; please contact Rick Grady at rgrady@tcul.coop or 469-385-6485.
About Dallas PRSA
The Dallas Chapter of PRSA serves more than 400 practitioners of public relations in North Texas. The chapter was founded in 1951, just four years after the 1947 founding of the national society. The chapter provides members with a variety of professional services such as the Communicator's Job Bank, a monthly newsletter, professional development programs, monthly luncheons and college outreach programs. For more information, visit www.prsadallas.org.
About PRSA
The Public Relations Society of America (www.prsa.org), based in New York City, the world's largest organization for public relations professionals, has more than 32,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into more than 100 chapters nationwide and 20 professional interest sections and affinity groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms, academic institutions, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has 290 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States.