MU Digital Summit Series Set for April 12

The annual Digital Summit, part of Marquette’s Insight Summit Series, is for set Thursday, April 12, 2018, at the Alumni Memorial Union at Marquette University.

Attendees from all communications disciplines and experience levels will learn from digital thought leaders from brands, agencies and organizations. Creative ideas and inspiration span well beyond what we may refer to as the “creative department.” Often times we lose sight of this core quality in all marketers. Whether it be a perfectly art directed spot, a well-crafted email, an innovative media strategy, beautiful data visualization – it’s inherent in us all.

The 2018 Digital Summit will show creativity in all aspects of marketing to show how to leverage some of the newest technology to enhance, inspire and change what creativity means.  With more than 500+ attendees at the event, the Summit presents a great networking opportunity too!  To purchase your ticket, go to http://www.insightsummitseries.com/digital/. PRSA members can use code “PRSAWIS” for a $25 discount.

Notice of 2017 Annual Meeting

All members are hereby notified that the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America will be:

Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 6:00 pm  at:

Bader Rutter, 1433 N. Water St., Ste 100, Milwaukee, WI 53202

The following item of business will be brought before the members:

Election of 2018 Officers and Directors

The following persons have been nominated by the Chapter’s Nominating Committee:

President – Patrick McSweeney, APR, Fellow PRSA

President-Elect –Karren Jeske, APR

Treasurer – Jeff Dardis

Secretary – Ryan Amundson

Membership Officer – Katharine Foley

Director at Large – Katy Glodosky

Previously elected and also serving will be:

Immediate Past-President – Sara Rude

Director at Large – Steph Graham

Director at Large – Holly Hasleyl, APR

Ethics Officer/Midwest District  Liason–  Christine Dunbeck

In addition, the following Bylaw changes are being proposed:

ARTICLE V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Composition. The governing body of the Chapter shall be a Board of Directors consisting of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership Officer, the Immediate Past President, and at least three Directors-at-Large. In addition, two Assembly Delegates with credentials that follow PRSA National Assembly requirements shall be selected from these board members.

Section 2. Assembly Delegates. The Assembly Delegate(s) shall serve as the Chapter’s representative(s) at the meetings of the PRSA Assembly and shall be elected by the Chapter membership at the annual meeting.

Section 3. Directors-at-Large. Directors-at-Large shall be elected each year by the Chapter membership at its Annual Meeting to serve a term beginning January 1st next ensuing and until his/her successor is elected or installed.

Section 4. Ethics Officer. One director shall be appointed to serve a term of three years as the Chapter’s Ethics Officer to promote and inspire the highest levels of ethical behavior and performance among PRSA members. This role will also serve as the Midwest District Liaison to the Chapter.

Sponsors Needed for PR Palooza 2017

PR Palooza is the premier annual networking and fundraising event for PR and communications professionals in SE Wisconsin. We’re very excited about this year’s event, “Celebrating the ‘Mad Men’ Era-A Night of Music & Mingling.”

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017
Time: 5:30-9:00 p.m.
Location:
Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, Brookfield

The goal of the event is to provide a fun evening for PR and communication professionals throughout SE Wisconsin to connect with their peers, and for non-PRSA members to learn more about the Chapter. The event also serves as the Chapter’s annual member meeting.

This year we are also excited to add an entertainment component — the Wisconsin Philharmonic Symphony — one of the area’s oldest and most successful professional orchestras, will perform “Music of the 1960’s Mad Men Era.”

We will start the evening with heavy appetizers and cocktails, followed by a special concert featuring Mad Men-era music at 7:30 pm. In  addition, this event will serve as a fundraiser for PRSA of SE Wisconsin — with proceeds supporting the Chapter’s programming in 2018.

A stellar location, attendance by some of the best-known PR and communication professionals in the market, engaging conversation, appetizers and cocktails make PR Palooza the “must-attend” event of the year!

We have two sponsorship levels.

 PR Palooza Presenting Sponsor: $1,000
Sponsor Benefits:

  • Logo included in PR Palooza ads in The Milwaukee Business Journal (up to 2 ads to promote this event will run in November)
  • Sponsorship mention on blog & social media sites (Facebook and Twitter) and on Chapter website with logo
  • Link from PRSA Chapter website program page to sponsor’s site
  • Logo in all PR Palooza e-blasts (minimum of 5)
  • Four (4) admission tickets to the event. Could be a perfect event for a client outing!
  • Signage recognition at the event
  • Verbal recognition at the event
  • Ability to have sponsor brochure/information available at event

PR Palooza Supporting Sponsor: $500
Sponsor Benefits:

  • Sponsorship mention on blog & social media sites (Facebook and Twitter) and on Chapter website with logo
  • Link from PRSA Chapter website program page to sponsor’s site
  • Logo in all PR Palooza e-blasts (minimum of 5)
  • Two (2) admission tickets to the event
  • Verbal recognition at the event
  • Ability to have sponsor brochure/information available at event

For more information or to secure a sponsorship, please contact Steph Graham at 740-517-6190 or shgraham124@gmail.com prior to September 25, 2017.

Department of Transportation’s Zoo Interchange Communications Strategy

On March 15, members of the Department of Transportation’s Communication Team spoke to PRSA members about the challenges of communicating the massive Zoo Interchange Project. They provided an overview of the project and some strategies and tactics they use for communicating to the many target audiences they have. Here is a link to their informative presentation. PRSA would like to thank member Brian DeNeve for making this event happen.

 

Organizations with Multiple PRSA Members Take Advantage of Group Membership Option

With PRSA’s current group membership promotion, organizations that sign up a team of five or more members for the first time receive free Professional Interest Section membership and waived initiation fee.Mentor program kickoff 2014

Several organizations with members in the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of PRSA take advantage of the Group Membership benefit offered through PRSA. Organizations with at least five members are eligible. Group membership benefits include single invoicing, ease of adding new members, transferability of membership and best pricing on PRSA events.

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Notice of 2016 Annual Meeting

All members are hereby notified that the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America will be:

Tuesday, December 7, 2016 at 6:00 pm  at:

Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, 2220 N. Terrace Ave., Milwaukee

The following item of business will be brought before the members:

 

Election of 2016 Officers and Directors

The following persons have been nominated by the Chapter’s Nominating Committee:

President – Sara Rude

President-Elect – Patrick McSweeney, APR, Fellow PRSA

Treasurer – Jeff Dardis

Director at Large – Emily Bultman

Assembly Delegate – Holly Haseley

Assembly Delegate – Michael Pflughoeft, APR, Fellow PRSA

Previously elected and also serving will be:

Immediate Past-President – Heidi Fendos

Secretary – Phill Trewyn

Director at Large – Kelly Savage, APR

Director at Large – Meg Hemmelgarn

Director at Large – Don Klein

Assembly Delegate – Audra Jacobs

Ethics Officer – Karren Jeske, APR

Membership Officer – Tim Olsen, APR

 

Sponsor our PR Palooza event

PRSA is seeking sponsors for its PR Palooza holiday party on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 5-8 p.m. at Villa Terrace. Plan now to be a part of this great industry event and fun night of networking. Sponsorship opportunities are as follows:

PR Palooza 2016 Presenting Sponsor: $1,000

Sponsor benefits:

  • Logo included in PR Palooza ads in The Milwaukee Business Journal (up to 2 ads to promote this event will run in November)
  • Sponsorship mention on blog & social media sites (Facebook and Twitter) and on Chapter Web site with logo
  • Link from PRSA Chapter Web site program page to sponsor’s site
  • Logo in all PR Palooza e-blasts
  • Five (5) admission tickets to the event
  • Signage recognition at the event
  • Verbal recognition at the event
  • Ability to have sponsor brochure/information available at event
  • Second “sponsorship” support recognition at one PRSA monthly meeting in 2015

PR Palooza 2016 Supporting Sponsor: $ 500

Sponsor benefits:

  • Sponsorship mention on blog & social media sites (Facebook and Twitter) and on Chapter Web site with logo
  • Link from PRSA Chapter Web site program page to sponsor’s site
  • Logo in all PR Palooza e-blasts
  • Two (2) admission tickets to the event
  • Verbal recognition at the event
  • Ability to have sponsor brochure / information available at event

To secure your sponsorship, please email Kelly Savage at kelly.savage.lvv0@statefarm.com.

PRSA service opportunity: Sept. 29 at Repairers of the Breach

The weather may be fine now, but in a few short months it will be icy cold – and the homeless will be looking for a safe, welcoming place to stay. For many years, Repairers of the Breach, Milwaukee’s only daytime refuge and resource center for homeless adults, has met a vital need in our community. You’re invited to support this worthwhile organization though an upcoming afternoon of service through PRSA of Southeastern Wisconsin.

This opportunity is an extension of the ongoing PR, marketing and social media strategy offered to Repairers of the Breach by PRSA’s Community Outreach Committee. Volunteers will be asked to clean and organize the center.

Details:

3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29

Repairers of the Breach, 1335 W. Vliet St.

Note: If you can only help part of the time, that’s okay!

 RSVP to Don Klein by Thursday, Sept. 22, at donklein99@wi.rr.com.

 

Luncheon recap: Perfecting the art of an essential, yet often ignored skill: Speaking effectively

By Lauren Gonn

CindyLaatschWe often don’t realize that the way we communicate every day, both verbally and through our body language, can make a big difference in any situation. The tone of our voice and even certain hand gestures can completely alter a conversation for better or worse. Cindy Laatsch, DTM, program quality director at District 35 Toastmasters, discussed how to master speaking effectively with these techniques at our April luncheon.

When speaking, it’s important to come across as sincere. If you don’t act like you believe what you are saying, your audience won’t either. Some key tips to help get your listeners more attentive to what you are saying include: the use of visual aids, hand gestures, making direct eye contact and speaking louder yet with a calm tone. At the same time, you don’t want to freak out the audience by overdoing any one of these techniques.

Evaluating your message before presenting is crucial when giving a good speech. Thoughts you should go over include:

  • Who is your audience?
  • What does your audience want to know?
  • What may your audience object to?
  • Will your audience be prepared for your objective after you speak to them?

Some issues people come across when speaking are using too many “filler words,” overusing some speech techniques and having an actual fear of speaking. Filler word examples include the use of: like, um, oh, right, basically, etc. The words “like” and “um” are some of the most commonly used filler words. We often use these words as a way to fill in the dead silence and think about what we are going to say next. Taking the time to practice what you are going to say can help avoid the use of these words.

Sometimes people can practice all they want and still feel uncomfortable speaking. The term “glossophobia” is literally the fear of speaking. Of course, practice makes perfect, but someone who has this fear needs to really face the fear head on in order to move forward. Cindy gave a great example of this. She referred to the cows vs. bison example. During a storm, cows tend to go run and hide because they’re afraid of the thunder. If bison are around a storm, they tend to run after the noise of the thunder and face their fear head on. Don’t be a cow; learn to overcome the bad tendencies of speaking.

If you’re someone looking to practice on your speech techniques, there is a program called the Toastmasters International (www.toastmasters.org). This program is an amazing opportunity to polish your speaking skills and receive feedback from your peers.