| The monthly newsletter for the Hampton Roads Virginia Chapter of PRSA |
January 2010 |
Save the Date
The Chrysler and GM Bankruptcies Proved
It's Never Too Early To Prepare For the Worst
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
11:00 a.m. - Networking and registration
11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. - Lunch and program
Beach Ford
2717 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach
NOTE: Free parking is available across the street (Foundry Lane) at Foundry United Methodist Church.
Cost:
$35 members and military
$45 guests
$25 students
Registration Deadline: December 30, 5 p.m.
When the Chrysler and GM bankruptcies were announced, 2,500 dealers nationwide -- including many in Hampton Roads -- discovered they were finished. In many instances generations who had successfully sold these brands were terminated. Many had invested millions in new stores in recent years. The cumulative employee count impacted was more than a million people.
The factories had systematically and strategically used the bankruptcy process to reduce the number of franchise holders. The reason was to gain tighter controls and generate fear among those left standing to "go along nicely." These manufacturers employed armies of public relations professionals, who worked in step with legal and legislative teams to generate an environment that left auto dealers hopeless to appeal.
Manufacturers won the entire war without a single shot being fired by the dealers.
What should the dealers have been doing that could have minimized or possibly neutralized the situation? When should they have begun? Who was responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing a public relations campaign on their behalf?
Join the PRSA Hampton Roads chapter on January 6 for an eye-opening look at this challenging situation with Sean Brickell, APR, Fellow PRSA, who has worked with the Hampton Roads Automobile Dealers Association since 1988.
Come early to check out the new 2010 Ford models at Beach Ford, our special meeting venue this month. We'll network in the Beach Ford showroom, then move upstairs to the dealership's training room where owner Bob Barton will greet us.
Sean Brickell, APR, is a veteran public relations practitioner who was a founding member of the PRSA Hampton Roads Chapter and served as chapter president in 1992. Sean has won numerous awards including a Silver Anvil (1995 for the City of Virginia Beach) and a Bronze Anvil (2000 for the City of Virginia Beach). From 2000-2002 he chaired the Americas (North, Central and South America) Region of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the largest network of independent agencies in the world and was inducted into PRSA's College of Fellows in 2002.
|
Meeting Payment Process Simplified
We've made a change in our online registration and payment process for 2010 that should be simpler for members and guests to use, and more cost-effective for the chapter.
We will continue to use the Acteva registration system. If you pay by credit card, nothing has changed. However, if you prefer to pay by check, you will select that option during registration and bring your check - made payable to PRSA-HR - to the meeting.
This means no more sending checks to Acteva and no delays in the chapter receiving funds. We will collect and deposit checks, saving time and money.
The registration process should go smoothly. However, please contact Mindy Hughes or Jessica Kraft if you experience any problems with Acteva.
|
A message from the President By Mindy Hughes, APR
Dear PRSA Colleagues:
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your 2010 chapter president. On behalf of the Board of Directors and our committee chairs, I encourage you to make (and keep!) a New Year's resolution to take an active role in the chapter these year. Several of our committees are already working hard on initiatives to bring even more value to your membership, and they would welcome your ideas, feedback and time. More about that in a moment.
First, let me share just a little about me. I've been a member of PRSA and the Hampton Roads chapter since 1987. During that time, I served in just about every volunteer capacity. No matter where I've worked during the past 20+ years, I've made chapter service one of my priorities - some years more so than others - but it's always been a vital part of my professional life.
Hometown: Kittanning, Pennsylvania - a small town in the western part of the state, where I was born and lived for 23 years before marrying my husband, Paul.
Current neighborhood: Brigadoon in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach
College: Indiana University of Pennsylvania. BA in Journalism, with a minor in Political Science. Loved it. Did two public relations internships. Met my husband there. And for those who enjoy old movies, Indiana is the hometown of actor Jimmy Stewart.
First job: Reporter/photographer for my hometown newspaper, The Daily Leader-Times. Three years of deadlines and contentious school board meetings helped hone my writing and also helped confirm that I DID NOT want to be a reporter the rest of my life.
What I do now: I've been an independent public relations counselor for 10 years, and I love the opportunity to work with some amazing organizations, plus the flexibility it gives me. I prefer helping non-profit clients, and currently, my largest client is Regent University, where I function as public relations manager. Rewarding gig, working with wonderful people.
What I do when I'm not working: Cruise the byways of Hampton Roads (and sometimes beyond) on the back of Paul's Yamaha motorcycle. We took up riding late in life (smile) and really enjoy it. Cook and eat (Italian is probably my favorite, but I love many foods). Read mystery and spy novels (Vince Flynn and Lee Child are two of my current favorite authors).
Proudest accomplishment: professionally - making the move to successful freelancing; personally - being a good wife to Paul and mother of two fantastic kids (Greg, 21 and Rachel, 18).
Favorite place: Blue Ridge Mountains. Second favorite: most of the East Coast's barrier islands.
My first car: (since we're meeting at Beach Ford) a green 1976 Ford Pinto - seriously, it was a great car during my last semester of college and my first years of work. We spun out a time or two on Pennsylvania's icy roads, but it was still running strong when I sold it in 1983.
My next vacation destination: Cabin in the Great Smokey Mountains (we hope in late spring as a 27th wedding anniversary celebration).
I have an intense fear of: snakes and heights, and I'm a little claustrophobic.
My biggest pet peeve: Drivers who don't use turn signals.
Best for advice for new (and seasoned) Hampton Roads chapter members: Volunteer for a committee. We have opportunities with professional development, awards, programs and other areas. Trust me, you'll gain more than you invest. Call me at 714-1002 or email hughescom@cox.net and we'll find the right place for you.
Best regards,
Mindy
|
Calling all new members: Receive a FREE one year section membership when you join PRSA national in December 2009!
|
Welcome to the 2010 Officers and Directors
|
Officers |
|
| President |
Mindy Hughes, APR |
| President-Elect |
Sid Bridge, APR |
| Treasurer |
Jessica Kraft |
| Secretary |
Meredith Mobley |
| Past President |
Harry Kenyon, APR |
|
|
| Directors |
Term Expires |
| Teresa Buckley Diaz |
2011 |
| Christine Kelly Dwyer |
2010 |
| Sharon Freeman, APR |
2010 (filling an unexpired term) |
| Chris Green |
2011 (filling an unexpired term) |
| Mary Prier, APR |
2012 |
| Laurie White |
2012 |
|
|
| Assembly Delegates |
Term Expires |
| Kevin Gaydosh, APR |
2010 |
| Becky Lawson, APR |
2011 |
A Special welcome to the first time members of our board.
 Chris GreenLaurie White
Laurie White, Chief Communications Officer at Tidewater Community College, has over 20 years in collegiate communications and was a reporter in Rochester, N.Y., before joining the news office at Rochester Institute of Technology. A firm believer in building media relationships, she has handled "mayhem" throughout her career, produced award-winning publications and landed positive stories in outlets from The New York Times to The Chronicle of Higher Education. 
Sharon Davis Freeman, APR
Sharon Davis Freeman, APR, is a public relations practitioner who has worked over 25 years in the industry. She is an associate partner with Brickell & Partners. Freeman has handled crisis communications counseling for the Ford Motor Company, and media relations for the City of Virginia Beach departments of tourism and economic development, McCormick & Schmick's Restaurants, the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Norfolk State University, the American Music Festival, the Elizabeth River Project and DeVry University. Freeman was named Hampton Roads Public Relations Practitioner of the Year in 1995. She is active in community service. Most recently Freeman has served as chair for the Maury Invitational Soccer Tournament, and was previous chair for the Christ the King Cougar Classic and the Christ the King Annual Auction.  Mary Prier
Mary Prier serves as staff vice president for public relations at Tidewater Builders Association, a not-for-profit trade organization that represents over 800 companies involved in the Hampton Roads housing industry.
Before joining TBA in 2000, she worked as marketing director for Bon Secours Hampton Roads Health System, public information office for the City of Virginia Beach, and public relations coordinator for Chesapeake General Hospital. Her 20-plus years of experience includes a stint as a broadcast journalist in Korea for the U.S. Army and as a general assignment reporter / photographer on a daily newspaper in Greenville, PA. She also did radio and television production for Virginia Cooperative Extension while earning her communications degree at Virginia Tech. A Pennsylvania native and a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, she also holds an associate degree in journalism from Penn State. |
Newspaper Industry to lose 25% of jobs by 2018
A recent report by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows an expected 24.8% drop in newspaper jobs by 2018. Read the full story from Editor & Publisher here. | |
|
