“I Think I Can…I Think I Can…I Think I Can”

Hello FPRA Treasure Coast!

“I Think I Can…I Think I Can…I Think I Can”
I have approached the half-way mark of my presidency and to be honest, sometimes I worry that I am running out of steam! I don’t expect you all to work as hard as I make Bryan Beaty and myself work, so please know that I am very grateful for any little “piece” of the puzzle you can and do contribute. Whether it is coordinating a community service project, studying for your accreditation, chairing a fundraising effort or submitting information for the newsletter or blog….I appreciate all you do to keep this Chapter chugging along! It is with your effort and teamwork that we complete the FPRA Treasure Coast Chapter puzzle. Thank you.

February Monthly Meeting
Be sure to make your reservations for the Tuesday, February 10th monthly business meeting no later than this Friday, February 6th. This month the meeting will be back at the IRSC Schreiber Center in St. Lucie West and the topic is Crisis Communications. Lunch is at 11:30 and the program will begin at noon. Reservations can be made either online at http://www.fpratreasurecoast.com/ or by calling Programs Chairman Cara Perry at (772) 873-3339 or e-mail at ccarlton@fau.edu. The cost for members is $15 and $20 for non-members.

Call for Entries for the FPRA Treasure Coast Chapter 2009 Local Image Awards
The Image Awards Committee has announced the “Call for Entries” for the FPRA Treasure Coast Chapter 2009 Local Image Awards. Please note that there will be “no snail-mailed” “call for entries” this year, this information is only available electronically on our website at http://www.fpratreasurecoast.com/ (and it is attached to the e-mail you just received)! Deadline for entries is March 24, 2009. Don’t forget the 25 Tips for Image Awards are available on this blog (http://www.fpratreasurecoast.blogspot.com/) with the final installation in today’s entry. A special thank you to Image Co-Chairs Robin Delgado and Dorothy Kamm and committee members Adrienne Moore, APR, CPRC and Nancy McCarthy, APR, for their hard work and for their presentation at the January monthly meeting. Thanks and good luck!!

More Image Tips from Moore (Adrienne, that is)
This is the final installation of the Image Tips from Adrienne Moore, APR, CPRC. Thanks to Adrienne for her outstanding work and dedication to FPRA.

23. If you are entering the same project in two different categories, such as Division A for Public Affairs and Division C for website, you cannot use the same two-page summary for both projects. The summary for Division A must look at the objectives and the results for the entire project, while Division C must provide the objectives and results of what needed to be accomplished by the website itself. One of these entries may be disqualified if the judges determine the same summary was used.

24. One of the last steps to be completed and placed in the binder is a series of word documents. Your two-page summary, your 50-word summary and a jpeg photo of your project should be placed on a disk and stapled to the written version of the 50-word summary on the last page of the binder.

25. The final step comes after you win an award. YOU have the joy of writing a media release about the success of your project and its recognition in the Image Awards program. You deserve the recognition, as does your business or client!

Community Service Project Update
I’m so very proud to announce that our long-awaited and highly-anticipated High School Community Service Project, “What Is Public Relations/PR Career Opportunities” for career tech students at Martin County High School, is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 9:15 a.m. Thanks to Debra Banta, APR, and her committee members for organizing the session. As part of a panel discussion, local FPRA professionals, representing the diversity of career opportunities in the public relations industry, will present an overview of the field and give each student a Tool Kit for Success! Over 100 students are scheduled to be in attendance for the session. Way to go Debbie!

Newsletter News
You may have noticed, or not, we skipped the February edition of The PRO. We did this in order to present a special 25th Anniversary edition coming to your e-mailbox by the end of this month. Committee Chairs: please submit your news to Sarah Starr at sstarr@childcareresourcesir.org no later than Friday, Feb. 6th. Thank you for your help!

Speaking of Anniversaries…
If you haven’t circled the date on your calendar yet…get that red pen ready! On Tuesday, March 10th at 4 p.m., we will celebrate our 25th Anniversary of the Treasure Coast Chapter of FPRA. Join your fellow FPRA members and friends at the Sunrise Theatre in historic downtown Fort Pierce for a reception honoring the past 25 years. After the reception, the Sunrise Theatre invites you and a guest to stay for the performance of “Footloose: The Musical.” The cost to attend is $25 per person and includes the reception and the show! Only 60 tickets will be reserved for our Chapter, so make your reservations early and feel free to bring a guest! Please make your reservations by contacting Programs Chairman Cara Perry at (772) 873-3339 or e-mail at ccarlton@fau.edu.

Speaking of calendars…
Be sure and mark your calendar for several upcoming FPRA Treasure Coast Chapter events:

Tuesday, February 10 at 11:30 a.m. – Monthly Business Meeting focusing on Crisis Communications; Schreiber Center, IRSC, St. Lucie West.

Tuesday, February 24 at 9:15 a.m. – “What Is Public Relations? And PR Career Opportunities” presentation to career tech students at Martin County High School, Stuart.

Tuesday, March 3 at 3:30 p.m. – FPRA Treasure Coast Board Meeting; SFWMD Martin/St. Lucie Service Center, Stuart.

Tuesday, March 10 at 4 p.m. – 25th Anniversary Celebration; Sunrise Theatre, downtown Fort Pierce.

Tuesday, March 24 at 5:00 p.m. – Deadline for Image Award entries.

Thursday, April 16 at 9:30 a.m. – Indian River Council’s Professional Development Presentation (in partnership with Indian River State College’s Lifelong Learning Institute and the Indian River Cultural Council): “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall-What is Aging After All? New Understanding About Creativity & Psychological Growth With Aging,” by Gene D. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Center on Aging, Health & Humanities, Professor of Health Care Sciences & Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University; Richardson Center Auditorium of Indian River State College’s Mueller Campus in Vero Beach.

Tuesday, April 21 at 4 p.m. – Image Awards Ceremony; Schreiber Center, IRSC, St. Lucie West.

College student scholarship applications available
Martin County Supervisor of Elections has announced the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections is offering three $1,200 statewide scholarships. Applicants must be registered voters who have lived in Florida at least two years and must be majoring in political science, public administration, business administration, journalism, or mass communications. Eligibility requirements and scholarship applications are available by contacting the office or visiting the website at www.MartinVotes.com. Completed applications must be returned to the Martin County Supervisor of Elections Office by Friday, March 20, 2009. For further information, call 288-5637 or visit the office located at 135 SE Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Stuart.

Member News
Although not officially an FPRA Treasure Coast member, Felonice Margasak is a member of our extended AdFed family and a good friend to our Chapter. Congratulations to her and her husband, Gabe, on the birth of baby Abigail! In a feat of lightning speed, Abigail Rosalind Margasak was born at 3:38 a.m. on Monday, February 2nd after only 2 hours of labor. She weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces. According to Dad, “Mom was a superstar and both are happy and healthy! Our home is all set up for when we return, thanks to all the kind efforts of our friends and family.”

Have a great week,
Linette