PRSA MD

Social Media Series
PRSA-MD is offering a look at social media in a two-part series. Members save when they register for both – see details below.

Part I: April 23 –Twitter and PR
Heard about Twitter but think it sounds like a colossal waste of time? It can be if you’re reading what others ate for lunch, but it can be so much more for savvy public relations professionals who understand how to use what is fast becoming an essential, mainstream communications tool. Jeffrey A. Davis, APR, partner with Sawmill Marketing Public Relations a Baltimore-based PR firm specializing in media relations, media training, crisis communications and social media, will lead this practical, hands-on session for those new to Twitter. Davis co-authors a blog on public relations trends, entitled PR Buzzsaw, and uses @contactjeff as his Twitter handle. He’ll teach us:

• What Twitter is and how to get started – without the buzzwords and tech speak
• Ways to develop relationships with media – including a weekly Twitter conversation with journalists
• Which members of the Baltimore area media are using Twitter
• How Twitter can become a powerful resource for sharing PR knowledge
• Ways Twitter can help you uncover stories in development – regionally and nationally
• Who some of the “must-follow” PR and social media people are on Twitter
• Useful tools and techniques, including how to use Twitter to monitor what others are saying about your company

If you want to sign up for a free Twitter account during the session, bring your laptop and you’ll be guided through a step-by-step process that will have you up and running in no time. The program runs 9am-10:30am on Thursday, April 23 at JHU Downtown Center. Cost: PRSA Members-$20 paid by 4/17/09, $35 thereafter; Non-Members-$35 paid by 4/17/09, $50 thereafter; and PRSSA Member-$10, Student Non-PRSSA Members-$20. Click here for more details and registration.

Part II: May 14 – Putting Social Media into your PR Strategy

How do you mount a successful social media campaign? What are the necessary ingredients? Shawn Draper, VP/Partner of IMRE, will lead a panel in answering these questions and others. Joining Draper are Terry Rakosky, vice president of marketing for Black and Decker, and IMRE WOM Director Crystalyn Stuart. They will take you through real cases and point out challenges, opportunities and lessons learned. The program runs 9am-10:30am on Thursday, May 14 at University of Baltimore, School of Communications Design. Cost: PRSA Members-$20 paid by 5/8/09, $35 thereafter; Non-Members-$35 paid by 5/8/09, $50 thereafter; and PRSSA Member-$10, Student non-PRSSA Members-$20 Non-PRSSA Member. Click here for more details and registration.

PRSA Members Save on the Series!

Sign up for BOTH Part 1 and Part II and save! To get this savings, you must be a PRSA Member and pay for both at the same time.

PRSA Members: $60 paid by 4/17/09; $70 after 4/17/09 – SAVE $10

PRSSA Students: $15 – SAVE $5

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Ensure You’re a Part of PRSA-MD’s Premier Event

This year PRSA-MD is combining the Best in Maryland Awards and the Chesapeake Conference into one jam-packed event. To be held in October, the Chesapeake Conference will feature informative sessions and dialogues in the morning and afternoon with the Best In Maryland Awards presentation during the luncheon. Look for more details in future WebNotes issues, as well as on our Web site and Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Mark these important dates in your calendar:

Award deadlines for Best In Maryland:

Early Bird - June 30

Final Deadline - July 17

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April is Accreditation Month!

Here are a few ideas on how you can earn maintenance points toward your accreditation?:

• Attend a monthly PRSA-MD program (0.5 credit)

• Volunteer to judge award entries in April (1.0 credit)

• Attend the Best In Maryland/Chesapeake Conference (1.0 credit)

You may also earn points by getting involved in planning the BIM/Chesapeake Conference or by joining a committee. For more information, contact Erika Murray at erika.murray@medstar.net or 410.772.6670. Download a PRSA maintenance application.

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PRSA-MD Members Going for the Silver!

Congratulations to the PRSA-MD members who are finalists for this year’s Silver Anvil Awards:

• AAA Mid-Atlantic
• Sandy Hillman Communications
• Maryland State Highway Administration with Maryland Public Television and Integrated Designs
• MGH

Kudos to Jeffrey A. Davis, APR, who represented PRSA-MD as a silver anvil judge. Good luck to all!

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Are You Linked-In Yet? Do you Tweet?

Be sure to check us out on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Access our social media sites to connect with members, read the latest news, and view past issues of WebNotes. Or better yet, start a discussion yourself! Posted on LinkedIn right now are several relevant articles including the Top Ten Newspaper Likely to Fold Next and Five Digital Trends.

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Looking for a Few (well maybe a couple more) PR Pros!

Opportunities abound with PRSA-MD and we would love to talk to you! Another way to make yourself invaluable in this economy is to enhance your career, build up your resume, get CEU’s toward your APR maintenance or create relationships with fellow PR pros in the area. Check out the fabulous opportunities below for doing all of the above! Right now we have four opportunities in particular. Contact Erika Murray with questions: erika.murray@medstar.net or 410.772.6670.

• Craft the Chesapeake Conference – Work on PRSA-MD’s top event for the year by helping select session topics and recruit speakers. You'll work on a team to build the program and get lots of input and help from the PRSA MD board. This task will take about 10 hours including up to 3 conference calls and one group meeting and additional time to review ideas and potentially contact speakers.
  
• Design & implement the Chesapeake Conference marketing program - we need help in crafting the plan, writing copy, reviewing design of promotional materials, preparing press releases, deciding fun collateral pieces and more! Being on the team will take about 15 hours and include 2-5 conference calls and one group meeting and additional time to review ideas and handle tasks. Can't join the team but like to write? That’s fine too! We will take all the expertise we can get.
  
• Help coordinate the Best In Maryland Awards. We need a couple of folks to review the awards plan and help strategize promotional materials (about 5-10 hours mostly by phone & email), write a press release (about 2-4 hours), help check in awards (fun pizza party!) and help set up the event (2 hours).
  
• Calling all judges! From April 6 – April 17, we will be judging the PRSA Rochester New York Chapter awards. Judging can take place at your place of business with fellow colleagues or join a judging party; plan for about 3 - 4 hours. What makes this very valuable is it's a great way to see what type of work is being done in another region, the different types of tactics being used and their results, and how other publications, media relations and internal/external campaigns measure up. Each year we partner with another chapter on awards judging - they judge ours, we judge theirs. As a bonus - you earn 1 CEU towards APR maintenance for being a judge!

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PRSA

Changing Jobs? Don’t Forget to Update Your Contact Information
Don’t miss out on a minute of PRSA news, information, networking events or professional development opportunities. If you change jobs or move, please be sure to log in to Member Net on www.prsa.org and update your profile information. It only takes a minute!

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Coming Soon! April Membership Promotion for Associate Members
New to the PR field? PRSA is extending a special offer to Associate Members in the month of April. Associate Members are those with two years of experience or less, previous members of PRSSA, or full time graduate students. Stay tuned for more details!

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Upcoming PRSA National Teleseminars
Below are some of the upcoming teleseminars sponsored by PRSA. To see a comprehensive list or to register, visit http://www.prsa.org/PD/events.html.

• The Right Way to Respond: Learn to create a real-world plan for crisis communications in today's corporate environment
  Wednesday, April 15: 1–2:30 p.m.
  
• The Authentic Enterprise: Learn About the Drivers and Implications of a Rapidly Changing Context for 21st Century Business
  Tuesday, March 31: 3–4 p.m.

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INDUSTRY

MGH Selected for Aquarium Creative Work

The National Aquarium in Baltimore has announced its selection of MGH, currently its media buyer, to handle all of its creative work. MGH will help the Aquarium target its spending during the economic downturn. Upcoming media advertising and word-of-mouth promotions will include a new dolphin show next month, and a jellyfish exhibit that is expected to open around Memorial Day.

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Maroon PR to Work with Orioles’ Star Nick Markakis

Maroon PR has been selected by Baltimore Orioles' star outfielder Nick Markakis to help Markakis and his wife, Christina, form a non-profit organization that will improve the lives of children throughout Maryland. In addition, Maroon PR will work to broaden Markakis' national brand as a Major League Baseball player through media outreach and the formation of strategic partnerships.

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Warschawski Expands Creative Design Division

Warschawski recently announced two new projects for its Creative Design Division. The Capital Funding Group has asked the firm to handle all of its advertising initiatives and create a tradeshow display system. In addition, Towson-based accounting firm Weil, Akman, Baylin & Coleman, P.A. has asked Warschawski to design a new Web site.  

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PRSA MD
c/o Mariner Management * PO Box 1046 * Laurel, MD 20725-1046
Phone/Fax: 866.868.PRSA (7772)