Words Matter in the Battle for Rights in America

After three generations spanning seven decades, tremendous personal sacrifices and financial investments, the 19th Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution 99 years ago this month.

Wisconsin was one of the first states to ratify the Amendment in 1919 (officially ratified on Aug. 18, 1920) and so the anniversary celebrations to commemorate the historic event have already begun. The spirit of the era was optimism; women were finally guaranteed the right to vote and believed they would have a new voice in Congress.

Public Relations and marketing were major parts of the suffrage movement, with carefully chosen words at its core. We need to remember the implications of word usage because words matter. Even chosen carefully, we must be aware of the unconscious biases, historical context, implied racism, or other inferences associated with the words we choose. Because of the Suffrage Movement, PR and marketing became the norm in political campaigns.

While the words “suffragist” and “suffragette” are often used interchangeably, they really aren’t. One is desirable, and the other is offensive and dismissive, used most often to mock those involved in the suffrage movement.

“Suffragette” was a British term used to reference the women fighting for suffrage. The suffix “ette” is used in reference to something small. Thus, this term marginalized the women and their cause. In the U.S., it was a negative label used only by those that wanted to forever deny women the right to vote.

While the 19th was a positive step forward for women, it wasn’t until other Amendments and Acts were ratified and passed decades later that all women were protected and able to actively participate in the electoral process.

The Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee is committed to advancing equity for women. We do this by creating community conversations, providing scholarships for women age 35 and older who are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree, and making grants to area non-profits that are addressing systemic issues affecting women. We know money and philanthropy have power, and the Women’s Fund leverages the gifts made to it, to move the needle and create an inclusive world-class community where women and girls realize their full potential, and everyone thrives. To learn more, go to https://womensfundmke.org.

Lisa Attonito
Executive Director
Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee

Alone We Won’t Boil the Ocean, But Together, We Can Make Some Waves

Recent news on the economic impact of Wisconsin’s creative industry is eye-opening. Looking most broadly at arts and creativity as a regional resource – including printed goods, architectural works, the arts and, of course, advertising and PR – we’re a force providing more jobs than historic Wisconsin industries like beer and paper.

This presents an opportunity and responsibility to ensure the industry stays strong through developing talent, pushing creativity and supporting diversity. There are many leaders working on such efforts statewide and locally, but it’s hard to argue more isn’t needed especially in D&I.

One program alone isn’t going to boil the ocean when it comes to a prosperous, diverse and inclusive future for our region and its talent, but can we make some more waves from creative services’ waters edge?

Recently, I learned about The BrandLab, founded by the late John Olson of the Minneapolis agency that bears his name. The Brand Lab’s CEO visited Milwaukee to meet with a handful of Milwaukee creatives and share why she thought we could be next for The BrandLab.

Those gathered shared great programs here and talked about the ongoing challenges in building and sustaining a diverse creative industry especially in, and representative of, Milwaukee.

She peeled back what has worked in Minneapolis and is now offering promise in Kansas City – creative towns similar to ours. The BrandLab program formula focuses on providing exposure, access, opportunity and equity.

It was a discussion that piqued interest – could the program succeed here and does Milwaukee have the formula for success? Those “must haves” include:

  • a committed school district;
  • industry leaders willing to give time and talent;
  • financial support from companies, agencies, foundations and others; and
  • creative leadership willing to listen, learn and change.

The group that met with her concluded that this just might be the time. Several leaders have already pledged initial support, and The BrandLab CEO will return to Milwaukee in the fall to meet with others. You are invited to help test the Milwaukee waters. Will you join us? Contact me by email at knaidl@laughlin.com if interested.

Kris Naidl, APR
Member of the PRSA SE WI Diversity & Inclusion Committee
EVP, Managing Director of PR
Laughlin Constable
laughlin.com

Communicating D&I Initiatives Publicly – Risky or Rewarding?

Acknowledging that we can all do better with our Diversity & Inclusion efforts is of paramount importance for every business. This sentiment has been shared over and over across our client roster and within our own agency walls. In fact, according to Deloitte Insights, more than two-thirds (69 percent) of executives rate diversity and inclusion a critical issue. The intentions are well-meaning and true. The efforts and programs toward more diverse and inclusive workplaces are all created to move the needle in the right direction.

The question we need to ask ourselves is, “is what we are doing for our D&I initiative something worth sharing publicly?” I was recently in a social media workshop with a client, brainstorming topics for content. One well-meaning participant suggested, “we should really talk about our D&I work.” My response was, “what makes your work different and groundbreaking from other companies? Do you have real results you can share?” The answers were, “not really anything, and not yet.”

Sometimes it’s difficult to take hard look inward at the realities, not the aspirations, of diversity within our businesses. In fact, a report by Bloomberg found that although a majority of organizations (71 percent) aspire, within three years, to have an “inclusive” culture, only 11 percent report that they currently have one. There is a very careful balance we must contemplate as communications professionals when considering whether to promote our D&I initiatives. We run the risk of coming off as disingenuous or simply “checking off the D&I box on our ‘to do’ list.”

Just as we carefully communicate our corporate social responsibility and philanthropic efforts, we need to also consider how we can genuinely position ourselves within the D&I space. And, maybe most importantly, not give ourselves undeserved credit in this important, and sensitive, area.

That’s not to say that we all shouldn’t work hard to accomplish more diverse and welcoming workplaces and businesses – it is to say that we all need to be careful about how much public praise we give ourselves, and share with others, about those efforts.

To learn about PR and Diversity, please visit prsa.org/diversity.

Sara Hood
Vice President, PR/Social Director
Cramer-Krasselt
c-k.com

 

D&I: Creating a World That Embraces All Abilities

The term “diversity” is not some nebulous concept to me. Diversity has always been a big part of my life, and I’m proud to be part of a group that encourages awareness of this important issue in all aspects of life – from gender, to race, to abilities, and many more.

My blog will take more of a personal approach. As honored as I am to be involved in the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for PRSA Southeastern Wisconsin, my hope is that D&I Committees are eventually not needed – that diversity is just a part of the daily fabric of life in businesses, organizations, social groups, schools, etc.

We have a long way to go.

For this post, I’d like to focus on the differently-abled population. For as long as I can remember, I never understood why it was such a big deal when I would meet a person with special needs. We’re all just people right? We all have special needs and abilities. The first step to inclusion is removing that label of being different, or “challenged.”

Don’t get me wrong. I know that medically, having special needs can be a very big deal, and many people need extra care in order to survive & thrive. Families have to find a new normal to take care of their loved ones with special abilities. But when you REALLY get down to it, we’re all just people. Some of us are funny, some more serious, some athletic, artistic – each of us contributes to the rich tapestry of life.

Ever since college, I have volunteered with organizations that serve the special needs population, and I have learned more from these experiences than from any college course.

One of those lessons – don’t sweat the small stuff. We get so consumed by our daily problems, and wanting more. Sometimes we forget to just BE. This is a lesson I’ve learned from the special needs population. Sure, it’s human nature to vent and complain because life is hard at times. But if we lead lives that are based in patience, kindness, and acceptance, life’s challenges just might seem a little less daunting.

Those qualities of kindness and acceptance carry over to the workplace & professional organizations. It’s not a bold, new idea to say we need more people with special needs in the workplace. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports in 2017, 18.7% of persons with a disability were employed. In contrast, the employment-population ratio for those without a disability was 65.7%.

The disparity between those numbers is staggering.

In some cases, a person physically can’t work. But in many other cases, these gifted, differently-abled citizens don’t get a chance to be hired and share their diverse talents with the rest of the workforce. Many can’t afford or access transportation, and if they do find jobs, they are minimum wage positions, in subpar working environments.

I encourage anyone who has even a little bit ot free time to check out local organizations that promote inclusion – Best Buddies, Easter Seals, Special Olympics, The Eisenhower Center. They are always looking for volunteers to help with events and programming. I think you’ll fine you’ll get more out of it than the people you’re assisting.

And next time you see someone with a disability, I challenge you to see them for what they CAN do… I bet you’ll be surprised!

Steph Graham
PR & Content Manager
Steinhafels
Contact: shgraham124@gmail.com

 

 

2019 Offers Diverse New Opportunities and Challenges for Strategic Communicators

We’re already entering the third month of 2019, and it’s clear that communications professionals can play an active role in helping employers and clients benefit from greater cultural diversity in the workplace and the greater community. Those benefits are both reputational and contribute to an organization’s bottom line. In 2019, communicators can be strategic partners to leaders in their roles as culture builders.

Several recent articles I’ve read, and conversations with D&I leaders and communications colleagues, have reaffirmed the business importance of developing more diverse leadership. Companies like Netflix, M&T Bank, and Uber have deliberately increased the diversity of their organization’s leadership, and their businesses are thriving because of it. Research confirms the real benefits of diversity and inclusion in the workplace can lead to improved organizational performance and success. Organizations whose executive teams reflect the diverse culture that is the American melting pot are growing and succeeding.

As communicators, we can leverage our professional platforms both internally and externally to enhance appreciation for D&I programs. Furthermore, we can help with the ongoing challenges of recruitment and retention – a problem for many organizations, especially in the advertising/marketing/public relations sector – by connecting our employers and clients with organized community efforts, attracting desirable executives in a systematic way.

Recent studies by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and 247wallst.com rank Milwaukee among the top five worst cities for African Americans holding corporate leadership positions. To address this problem, 80 business and community leaders from various sectors in Milwaukee have come together to develop and support a growing pool of diverse and talented African American leaders. The goal of the African American Leadership Alliance (AALM) is for Milwaukee to rank as the best city in the U.S. for African American executives by 2025!

In short, helping to increase D&I awareness, facilitating participation in community improvement initiatives, and partnering with organizations such as AALM present unique opportunities for PRSA members and our strategic communications colleagues to demonstrate a new level of value for our organizations.

We must seize these opportunities to lead as only we can, helping to form diverse multigenerational works teams that bolster creativity and innovation, and producing communications deliverables that help our organizations achieve revenue, reputation, corporate social responsibility, and D&I goals.

Besides, bringing diverse viewpoints and cultures to the table is a proven deterrent to organizational missteps, which often require communicators to shift into “crisis mode” at a moment’s notice.

The choice is ours – be proactive or reactive.

Debra A. Miller, Ed.D., APR, Fellow PRSA
President and Senior Counsel
Global Communication Strategists, LLC
Chapter Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair
damillergcs@gmail.com

Notice of 2018 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 12, 2018 at 12:00 pm  at:

Italian Community Center, 631 E Chicago St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 (free parking in back)

The following item of business will be brought before the members: The slate of officers, board members and committee chairs to lead the PRSA chapter in 2019:

President – Ryan Amundson

President-elect – Jeff Dardis

Immediate Past President – Patrick McSweeney

Treasurer – Christine Dunbeck

Secretary – Stephanie Graham

Membership Chair – Katharine Foley

Ethics Officer/Midwest District Liaison – Carolyn Schamberger

Director, Marketing – Nicole Koremenos

Director, Community Service – Katrina Schwarz

Director, PR Palooza – Allison Kucek

 

Committees

Diveristy & Inclusion – Debi Miller

Accreditation – Annie Gentil

Mentorship – Emily Bultman

Education/PRSSA – Heidi Fendos

 

Judges Needed

PRSA is currently recruiting judges for the Sierra Nevada Chapter awards. Sierra Nevada graciously volunteered their time earlier this year to judge our Paragon Awards, and now it is time to return the favor. Judging is a great way to see the great work that another chapter is doing, and also give back a bit to your PRSA chapter. Judging will be from September 18th (entries sent to judges) – October 2nd (entries due back to the chapter). Each volunteer judge will judge between two and four entries (depending on final number of entries and judges). Please sign-up for judging no later than September 1st.

If you are interested or have questions, please email Immediate Past President, Sara Rude at srude@c-k.com.

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.