~ No August Program - Join us in September for Ethics Month ~
Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
And other ethical rules for PR you can begin using NOW.
presented by Jeff South, Associate Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University
Wednesday, September 8, 2004
11:00 am networking and registration / 11:30 am program and lunch
Holiday Inn Executive Center, 5655 Greenwich Road, Virginia Beach
$15 Members · $25 Guests
Register (and pay!) online before Mon, Sept. 6 at www.prsahr.org or e-mail meetings@prsahr.org.
When making reservations, please provide your phone number, and indicate if you are a member,
guest or student. Also, let us know if you would prefer a vegetarian meal selection.
Promissory billings are not accepted. No-shows and cancellations after the registration deadline will be billed.

Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth - and Other Ethical Rules for PR You Can Begin Using Now

The Hampton Roads chapter of PRSA will recognize September as "Ethics Month" with an interactive session exploring real-world dilemmas that PR practitioners face and solutions for resolving them. Presented by Jeff South, Associate Professor, School of Mass Communications, Virginia Commonwealth University, the program will provide guidelines for ethics that you can put into practice immediately in making decisions on the job and in life in general.

South was state editor and database editor at the Austin American-Statesman before heading to academia under the mistaken impression he’d have summers off.

For the past seven years, he has been an associate professor in the School of Mass Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he teaches media ethics, newswriting, communications technology, legislative reporting and other subjects. He also directs the school’s Capital News Service, in which students provide state government coverage for community newspapers throughout Virginia.

A frequent speaker and trainer on computer-assisted reporting, media convergence, media ethics and other journalism issues, South is also writing the lead story for an upcoming issue of Quill (the Society of Professional Journalist's monthly magazine), focusing on how to teach ethics.

South graduated from the University of Texas where he later taught computer-assisted reporting as an adjunct professor. He has worked at newspapers in Lubbock, Austin and Dallas, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; and for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk.

In the mid-’80s, South took a break from his newsroom career to serve two years in the Peace Corps. Last summer, he was a reporter, editor and newsroom trainer at The Charlotte Observer under a program sponsored by the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

From the President
Linc Smith, APR

Over 60 chapter members and their guests attended our July monthly luncheon, during which Senator Ken Stolle and Delegate John Walsh spoke as panelists to our chapter about lessons learned and rallying public support amidst the passing of the 2004 budget by the Virginia General Assembly.

Thanks to Joel Rubin, APR for being our panel moderator and to Dave Rourk for arranging another great program.

On the Chapter Homefront

APR
Committee Chair Harry Kenyon, APR and his committee are hard at work preparing for what promises to be a busy year for our chapter in the newly revised Accreditation in Public Relations process. Harry tells us that we currently have 13 members who are interested in obtaining the APR qualification. To that end, our chapter will be conducting an APR review course for candidates at Norfolk State University starting Sept. 15. Francis McDonald, APR, Assistant Professor, Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, will be teaching the course. We are very thankful to Francis for his teaching of the APR review course this year and look forward to our APR candidates obtaining that all important APR qualification.

Chapter Survey and Membership Feedback
Membership Chair Becky Lawson, APR plans to distribute a survey to the entire chapter membership on August 2. The overall purpose of the survey is for our chapter to be able to determine how we can better serve you. In what areas are our chapter doing well? How can our chapter improve? We look forward to your input and the entire results of the 2004 chapter survey.

We have had recent feedback that our programs this year have been outstanding. We have also have feedback that our recent monthly luncheon service requires improvement. We are listening to this feedback, and are working to address the issue now.

Chapter History
Kelly Anderson has provided the first draft of our revised Chapter History, which we will review at our August Board Meeting. We look forward to posting the Chapter History on our homepage in the not too distant future for all members to view. Well done to Kelly for her ongoing efforts with this challenging project.

Looking Ahead
By tradition, our chapter will not hold a monthly luncheon in August. September will be an exciting month for our chapter. Judy Baker, APR will be hosting Mr. Jeff South at our Ethics Conference on 8 September, and Becky Lawson, APR will host our Fall Mingle "Taste of PRSA" event on 23 September. Our chapter will also be visited by Reed Bolton Byrum, APR, 2003 President and CEO of the Public Relations Society of America. More details to follow.

Enjoy a safe and happy summer season. See you in September!

Accreditation Update
Harry Kenyon, APR, Accreditation Chairperson

It’s time to take the important step toward self-fulfillment and Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).

Why is Accreditation important?
• APR sets a standard for professionalism
• APR demonstrates support for a profession – not a job
• APR provides high-level learning opportunities

The designation "Accredited in Public Relations" (APR) indicates to both clients and colleagues that an individual has a high level of experience and competence, as well as a serious commitment to the profession. More and more employers are seeking accredited candidates for senior and management-level positions.

Here is what the Hampton Roads Chapter is doing to get its members Accredited.

We have appointed an Accreditation Chair:
Harry C. Kenyon, APR
Public Works Information Specialist
City of Chesapeake
(757) 382-6983

An Accreditation Committee has been created.

The chair has reviewed the new readiness review and testing procedures:
• The new process consists of applying for APR through the Universal Accreditation Board.
• Preparation (the Chapter will offer a five-week course) and order course material from PRSA National.
• Be recommended by the Readiness Review Panel to take the examination.
• Take the exam at the Prometric Testing Center in Newport News.

A timeline has been developed:
• Contact Harry Kenyon at Hkenyon@mail.city.chesapeake.va.us by September 1.
• Accreditation classes to be held Wednesdays, Sept. 15 – Oct. 13, 6-8 p.m., at Norfolk State University.
• Readiness Review Panels are planned for Saturday, Oct 30.
• A group examination is planned in early November.

The Hampton Roads Chapter of PRSA promotes and encourages members to become accredited. It’s good for you, it’s good for PRSA, and it’s good for the profession.

Hampton Roads Chapter proposes ‘A Toast to PRSA’

Raise your glasses, and say cheers! The Hampton Roads Chapter of PRSA will hold its annual social event, “A Toast to PRSA,” on Thursday, Sept. 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Taylor-Whittle House in Norfolk, office headquarters of the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Inc. The event will feature a wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants and an opportunity to sample delicacies from the Junior League’s newest cookbook, “Toast of Tidewater: Celebrating Virginia’s Finest Food and Beverages.” Cookbooks will be available for sale at a special rate. In addition, attendees can tour and learn the history of Freemason Street’s Taylor-Whittle House.

The event is $15 for members, $25 for a member and a guest and $10 for PRSSA members. Online registration is required via www.prsahr.org by Sept. 13.

Don’t miss this chance to “Toast” your peers in PR!

New Members

Correction: The phone number extension for Lt. Susan Henson was incorrectly listed last month. The correct extension is 3128.

Tim Bullis
Communications Specialist
Williamsburg-James City County Schools

Mawuse A. Dogbe
Communications Specialist
Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce

Kari Lomanno
PR Manager
The Ludlow Group

Christine A. Mahoney
Staff Journalist/Public Affairs Specialist
NATO (Allied Command Transformation)

Timothy Morse
Assistant Manager - E-Business
Coastal Training Technologies Corp.

New Member Minute

Kari Lomanno is the public relations manager for The Ludlow Group, an advertising firm in Virginia Beach. After more than a decade as an award-winning journalist, she decided to hang up her reporter's hat and enter the world of public relations. Lomanno has a master's degree in English from Old Dominion University.

Member Milestones

The Norfolk Foundation recently won the top award for a community relations campaigns in the 57th Annual Virginia Public Relations Awards program, sponsored by the Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. The Foundation won for its ArtsMatch campaign that encouraged Hampton Roads residents to help eight arts groups raise funds to overcome state cutbacks. Sally Hartman, APR, headed up the ArtsMatch awareness campaign.

Gail B. Kent, ABC, Director or College Communications, Virginia Wesleyan College received four first, one second and one third place award from the Virginia Press Women Communications Contest. The awards were for an advertisement, educational catalog, direct mail postcard, press release feature, annual report and four-color brochure.

Treasurer's Report
Erin K. Gregg, APR, Treasurer

AP Style - Good/Well

Good is an adjective that means something is as it should be or is better than average. When used as an adjective, well means suitable, proper, healthy.

Good should not be used as an adverb. It does not lose its status as an adjective in a sentence such as I feel good. Such a statement is the idiomatic equivalent of I am in good health. An alternative, I feel well, could be interpreted as meaning that your sense of touch was good.

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Joel Rubin, APR, Senator Ken Stolle, Chapter President Linc Smith, APR
and Delegate John Welch at the July luncheon.

Joel Rubin, APR, served as moderator for the July luncheon.
Seated are Senator Ken Stolle and Delegate John Welch.