Life After 40!

Hello and Happy Monday!

Well, I guess there is life at “40” (I celebrated the big day yesterday!) and I am very excited to let you know that our monthly meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, over 40 people are planning to attend! That is almost double our normal attendance! A timely topic, fantastic presenters, exceptional promotion and excellent coordination all helped build the number of attendees and I want to thank all who have helped promote and organize this meeting. See you tomorrow!

**BREAKING NEWS** The Board of Directors understands that this is tough economic times for everyone ~ whether private, non-profit or government ~ everyone is feeling the financial pinch. In an effort to make that financial burden less, the Board voted to lower the price of monthly business meetings ~ without lowering the quality of speakers or lunches! Beginning in November, the price for the monthly program is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. The Board is researching other cost-cutting measures for the membership this year, all the while, raising the level of service and professionalism offered. How exciting is that?!?

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the November 18th monthly program focusing on Government Relations ~ “How Did Public Relations Play a Role in the Elections?” With the elections behind us at that point, the program will examine how our profession played a key role in shaping perceptions and opinions for local, state and federal elections and voter turnout. This event will be held at the South Florida Water Management District’s Martin/St. Lucie Service Center located at 780 SE Indian Street in Stuart. You can make your reservations online now at http://www.fpratreasurecoast.com/ or by calling Programs Chairman Cara Perry at (772) 873-3339 or e-mail at ccarlton@fau.edu.

It’s hard to believe the Holidays are upon us…but be sure and mark your calendars for the ultimate holiday mixer on Tuesday, December 9th from 4:30-7 p.m. when FPRA, AdFed and the Association of Fundraising Professionals join forces to mix and mingle holiday style at the newly opened Port St. Lucie City Center. Watch this blog and newsletter for additional information and details. Thanks to Bryan Beaty, President-Elect, for coordinating this event.

It’s never too early to start planning for the 2009 FPRA Annual Conference and the Annual Conference Committee is already hard at work preparing for the event. Karen Smittle, APR, Annual Conference Chair, has sent the following information that I’d like to share with you regarding the 2009 FPRA Annual Conference.

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

The hotel set up a web site for our conference (2009 FPRA Annual Conference Reservations), so you can begin registering now! Room prices are tiered, starting as low as $145/night. By the way, if you make your reservations now, one night will be charged on this year’s budget if you'd like to spread the cost out over 2008 and 2009. Just an idea to pass along to your employers.

We’ve already secured our first speaker, Peter Shankman, creator of HARO (Help A Reporter Out). Peter provides PR professionals with a list of stories that reporters are researching so the PR people can pitch to the reporters. His current readership is 33,000 PR professionals! Check him out at www.shankman.com.

Also, from our Immediate Past President, Adrienne Moore, APR, CPRC:
The Treasure Coast Chapter will be coordinating the annual Florida Public Relations (FPR) Education Foundation fundraiser at annual conference this year. The fundraiser is on Monday, August 10, 2009 at the Boca Resort in Boca Raton. The 2008 conference raised $15,500, with $10,000 coming from the fundraiser and $5,500 being donated throughout the year by individual FPRA chapters.

The job for our chapter is to find auction items, especially unique ones. At this point, we need a few chapter members to serve on the committee, to be chaired by Adrienne Moore, APR, CPRC. The annual conference committee is using the theme “PR on FIRE” and hopefully, we can come up with something related to that theme. Please notify Adrienne if you’d like to help out at (772) 341-3845 or adrienne.moore7@gmail.com.

Have a great week!
Linette