Bobcat PRSSA

Bobcat PRSSA received its charter on Feb. 25, 2008. During our first year, membership nearly doubled to our current total of 49 members. As an up-and-coming chapter, we pride ourselves on our exceptional membership involvement and the success of the events we have executed. We participated in a fundraising event called the PRSSA Media Mix, selling used books, CD’s and DVD’s to raise money for our chapter president to attend the national organization’s leadership rally in Scottsdale, AZ in June 2009. In addition to our monthly meetings and annual holiday party and service project, we held our second PR Day on Nov. 4. During this event, four PR professionals from Atlanta spoke with students about their jobs, social media etiquette, and future internship possibilities.

The event our whole chapter looks forward to most is PR Real World, a day-long conference held in Atlanta each February. Last year, 14 members met on campus at 5 a.m. to carpool to the event. That day we all went to various workshops, where we learned how to build PR skills and strengthen professional development. On the way home we all discussed what we had learned and the contacts we had made, and immediately began looking forward to attending again the next year.

This year, thanks to a $500 grant from GA PRSA, we will be able to help our members with the cost of Real World as well as the next PRSSA assembly. In our two short years, Bobcat PRSSA has excelled beyond all expectations. We received national recognition when two teams from our chapter took first and second in the CW campaign and we received state recognition when one of our members won a recent twitter contest and got to have lunch with the PRSA President. Also, at our last meeting our professional adviser brought along two young PR professionals to talk with us about preparing for summer internships. Currently, we getting ready to start spring recruitment as well as plan this semester's fundraising event. I think that the things our chapter has done just reflects the incredible work ethic of our members. I am so proud of the progress our chapter has made and I look forward to seeing it continue to thrive in the upcoming years.

PR In Action: GCSU Phonathon

Each semester at GCSU, a group of about 20 student callers is hired to work on campus Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. to do PR for Georgia College. Student callers contact GCSU parents and alumni to ask about their experiences at the college, update them on campus happenings, and ask for donations to our school's Heritage Fund, which pays for all the things that state aid and tuition don't cover (like scholarships, free tutoring, and campus safety just to name a few). These calls can last anywhere from 1 to 30 minutes and can result in hang-ups, "we're not interested," a thousand dollar donation, or one of the best conversations of your life; you never know.

Talking with the ladies who graduated from Georgia State College for Women is like a history lesson. We hear stories of how students were not allowed to ride in cars, how students and faculty lived in the old governor's mansion, and how the dining hall provided a family style formal dinner every evening (and ladies wore their white gloves of course). We talk about how much times (and tuition costs) have changed, and many are shocked to hear that our enrollment is now over 6,000. All of them, however, still take pride in the fact that no matter how much GCSU has changed (or how many times it has changed its name for that matter) our front campus still looks exactly the same: those four gigantic brick buildings with white columns standing tall in front of the grassy area where students sit to study or socialize between classes.

Talking with freshman parents is at times like a counseling session. We tell parents not to worry about their babies, offer advice from our own experiences, and answer the millions of questions they have about campus safety, dining options, getting involved on campus, registration, and residence halls. While we invite graduates to our Homecoming in February, we also make a point to inform parents about Family Day in October. We want to encourage people to come back and "stay connected."

With all of these calls its about building relationships. We teach our callers to be active listeners and to do 80% listening, and only 20% talking. We take interest in what each person has to say: maybe they are mad about that 1937 yearbook they never received, maybe their daughter gets no sleep in the dorm because her roommate is a night owl. We contact whoever we need to and do whatever we can to get these issues resolved. On the flip side, there are those who tell us that college was the best 7 years of their life and how "GCSU made me from a nobody into a somebody." As I stated before, you never know where one call will get you.

Along with building relationships, we also ask parents and alumni to donate to our Heritage Fund because it helps with so many things at GCSU. Some people give right away; some decline, and that's ok; we expect that. The students who work at Phonathon are no stranger to rejection, but it doesn't stop them. If one person doesn't donate, we maintain a positive attitude and remember that everyone, at one time, was a nondonor.

Sadly, this is my final year working at the GCSU Phonathon. Since freshman year, I have had many great conversations with parents and graduates, and I feel confident that among the over $30,000 and 300 pledges I received, I made some lasting impressions that will continue to positively affect my soon to be alma mater long after my graduation. In closing, I plan to leave my mark this year as Phonathon manager by making this the most successful Phonathon GCSU has ever had. This semester we raised over $115,000, which is already a record in itself (especially considering the current economic situation), and I am confident that once added to next semester's totals, we will well outshine any and all previous years. I am also proud to say that somewhere included in that $115,000 is my small gift of $20.10 (in honor of my graduation year). As we tell all of our callers, "every gift counts; its the amount of donors not dollars that matters." May my $20.10 help some other student have the same great experience GCSU has given me, and, more importantly, may it be the first of many larger ones to come.

A Reflection on the Relay For Life Kickoff

My PR class planned and executed the Relay For Life of Baldwin County Kickoff event on the Evening of November 19 at Northside Baptist Church. In the beginning, we all competed in teams of three to pitch ideas for the event, and it was decided that our theme would be "Celebrate a Memory." a birthday party extravaganza complete with a banner, balloon arch, hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, cole slaw, chips, cookies, cupcakes, and a candy bar.

Our class did a great job of working together to pull the event together. As a member of the media team, I wrote the press release about the event (which made front page of both of our local newspapers!) but once we got down to the "nitty gritty" so to speak I helped out the food and decorating teams as well. One thing that I have learned in my various jobs and as a student learning about PR is that versatility is the key. If you are assigned one task, be prepared to help out your teammates with others as needed. Although I wrote the press release, I also wrapped and tied ribbon around silverware, stirred a giant tub of baked beans, and grilled out with my best friend Nick who I recruited to help me man the grill. :) This brings up another important key to success: everyone should have a friend they could call on for help. Nick answered his phone one hour before we needed to start grilling and said he would be there, and he also helped out last year when our class did "paint the hill green" a PR event for GCSU Baseball. It nice to have friends that you can call on to be there no matter the task.

Another thing that we all learned during the event is that not everything will go as planned. Another PR class was responsible for bringing us 100 cupcakes, and only 2 people from that class remembered to bring them. Disaster was avoided thanks to Dr. Carter who went to a local grocery store and purchased them, but this event just shows that you should be prepared for anything. Things will fall through no matter what, and you have to be prepared to cope. Even with the grill sitation, Nick and I were cooking 100 hot dogs and 100 hamburgers on two small grills, one of which was falling apart. The burgers also were not exactly hand made patties, so some of them just fell right apart on the grill, nonetheless, as with any event, you just have to do the best you can with what you've got and remain positive.

In the end, the event was attended by over 100 guests, who watched a powerpoint presentation of local cancer survivors, enjoyed a delicious meal, and vowed to support the Relay For Life with their fight against cancer. I was honored to help make a difference with such a worthwhile organization and I am so proud of the work my classmates and I did. Way to go team PR Fantasy Football!

Binge Drinking Awareness Ad

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Advisory Council, Binge Drinking is defined as drinking four drinks during two hours for females, and five drinks in two hours for males. Binge drinking results in a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher and is one of the most serious problems on college campuses, with 48 percent of college students admitting that they “drink to get drunk”(http://www.cspinet.org).

While many college students think that binge drinking is a fun way to blow off steam, few realize all of the negative consequences they could face. Students who binge drink are 21 times more likely than nondrinkers to miss class, engage in unplanned sexual activity, and get in trouble with the police. Binge drinking not only affects the individual who is participating in the drinking; it can affect those around them by disrupting their sleep and sometimes even damaging their property.

The Center for Disease Control has done numerous studies to find out who binge drinks and how they are affected. Their studies found that 75 percent of the alcohol consumed in the United States is in the form of binge drinking and that binge drinking is highest in the 18-to-20 year old group. Underage drinkers are extremely likely to binge drink, which was made evident in a recent national survey that found that 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the U.S. is in the form of binge drinks (http://www.cdc.gov/alchohol). This survey also found that men are two times more likely to binge drink than females.

After researching the topic of binge drinking I began to toss around ideas of how I could create an ad discouraging college students from binge drinking. First, I went for the statistics. I chose a male model since men are twice as likely to participate in binge drinking, and I chose a college age person since binge drinking is most common in the late teens and early twenties. At first, I was thinking of including some shocking statistics or trying to scare people away from drinking, but then I realized that just trying to scare people may not do the trick since most college students are going to drink no matter how many facts and figures you throw at them. I decided to take a different approach and just be real with the target audience. My ad says “It’s easy to make fun of the guy passed out in his own puke. But what if that guy was YOU?”

I acknowledged the fact that people at parties always laugh at drunken people, but at the bottom of my ad I also said “When they show you the pictures the next day, don’t misinterpret. They’re laughing at you, not with you.” Basically, I want to let people know that one or two drinks are fine, but no one wants to be the guy passed out at 8 p.m. before his friends even go out to the bars.

Also, I decided to cover my model’s face with a circle that says “YOUR face here” because I want people to look at it and think: this could be anyone, even me. Another way I got this point across was to highlight the word “YOU” in red each time it was used and make it slightly bigger. I like the way the red contrasts with the mostly black and white toned ad, and also I think the font is very appropriate and appealing for a college age person. Overall, I wanted to keep it simple and get my point across, and I believe this ad does just that.

Local Cancer Survivor's Story

Sue Carr, 81, is not just a two-year survivor of breast cancer; she is a beloved mother of three and grandmother of seven, a school teacher of 41 years, and part owner of The Attic, an antique store in downtown Milledgeville.

“When I was diagnosed,” said Carr, “I was not frightened one bit.”

After diagnosing her cancer in 2007, her doctors remained calm and assured her that the cancer would not be fatal. Carr considers herself very lucky to have been diagnosed early, and she finished with daily radiation treatment in 32 days.

Her daughter, Patricia Smith, who was diagnosed in 2001, was not so lucky. Her entire breast was removed because of a six-centimeter tumor that had gone unnoticed for five to six years prior to proper diagnosis. Smith faced radiation treatment, numerous reconstructive surgeries, and chemotherapy.

“She was a fighter,” said Carr of her daughter. “She would go in for chemo on Fridays, sleep all of Saturday and Sunday, and be back to work on Monday. I don’t know how she did it.”

Today, both Sue and her daughter are cancer-free, enjoying each new day they are blessed with. Carr is a proud survivor, who has advice for others fighting the battle against cancer.

“Have a belief that the Lord is going to be with you, stay positive, and be happy,” said Carr. “Determination has a lot to do with it.”

These strong women have boldly faced and conquered the number one cause of death in the U.S., but unfortunately there are thousands of others who lose their battles. More than 1,500 U.S. citizens die each day from cancer, but organizations like The American Cancer Society and Relay For Life are fighting to lower this number each day, encouraging people to create awareness and join the millions who are working to help develop a cure.

Relay For Life Team Captains Wanted

For each day that is “just another day” for most, there are thousands who cherish that day as a gift, a chance to live life to the fullest while battling cancer.

Relay For Life of Baldwin County gives community members the chance to show their support and give strength to these people who are fighting bravely for their lives. This year’s Relay Kickoff will be held at Northside Baptist Church Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. and is open to all team captains and anyone who would like to become involved in the 2010 Relay For Life of Baldwin County.

In the U.S. alone, cancer claims more than 1,500 lives each day and is responsible for one in every four deaths.

The American Cancer Society is working to change these statistics with Relay For Life. It is a source of healing and comfort for those who have battled cancer or lost loved ones to the terrible disease, offering everyone the chance to work together to save lives, create awareness, and work towards finding a cure.

Relay is a life-changing event that allows thousands of people in over 20 countries to join together to celebrate, remember, and fight back against cancer, is not just about fund-raising; it’s about one person making a difference. It is a way for schools, churches, businesses, and civil organizations to join together and work toward a common goal: ending cancer within this lifetime.

“Our theme for Relay this year is ‘Celebrate a Memory’,” said Jan Nutt, Event Chair, Relay For Life of Baldwin County. “Memories of past Relays will be celebrated at as we create new memories and remember that the present is a wonderful gift.”

Despite current economic hardships, last year the Relay For Life of Baldwin County raised $174,860. This year, the organization intends to build on that success utilizing new volunteers from all over Baldwin.

“It would be fantastic if local churches, businesses and civic organizations who have not participated in Relay in the past would send representatives to the kickoff and find out what Relay is all about,” said Nutt. “I would like to see an even larger segment of Baldwin County join others around the globe to make a world with less cancer and more birthdays a reality.”

The Tipping Point

Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point provides historical examples of how the smallest of changes can shatter an epidemic's equilibrium. The book proves that there is more than one way to "tip" an epidemic by discussing three laws and three types of people in society. The Law of the Few says that one rare and exceptional person can find out about a trend and spread the word through energetic and enthusiastic social connections. Within this Law of the Few, there are three types of people: connectors, mavens, and salesmen. The Stickiness Factor says that there are specific ways to make a message memorable, and that simple changes in presentation and information structure can make a big difference. The Power of Context simply states that people are a lot more sensitive to their environment than they may seem.

So how does this relate to my PR Journey? In the field of public relations, knowing how little things can make a big difference is vital. If you are promoting a new product or planning an event, knowing how to "tip" your campaign can change the outcome from ordinary to extraordinary. One little thing may make the difference in the amount of products you sell, the number of people who attend your event, or the number of people who choose your company over the competition. In reading this book, a PR professional can apply the three rules mentioned above as well as find their "type," learning to play off their strengths and weakness, and even team up with others of different types.

In reading The Tipping Point, I realized that I am Connector, an intensely social person who knows not only a LOT of people, but lots of DIFFERENT people. I, as the book says, occupy many different worlds, meaning I have a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Growing up in the hospitality industry, I learned early that I had an interest in people...young, old, rich, poor, red, yellow, black, white...anyone and everyone. I wanted to meet people and learn things; I was and still am fascinated by new cultures and ideas. My grandparents used to joke that I never met a stranger, and in the rare event that I did, they didn't stay a stranger for long. The key to being a Connector in my opinion, is having the ability to bond with anyone. In my job with the GCSU Phonathon, I call complete strangers and talk with them on the phone. We talk about college, the weather, their grandkids, life in 1957, chicken biscuits, whatever, and by the end of the conversation these people feel as though we have known each other all our lives. The ability to connect is really as simple as finding common ground and building a relationship. Also, in today's world, things like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogging have made it so easy to get connected and stay connected. Its easy to check up on old friends by glancing at status updates or checking their latest blog entry. And who knows where maintaining these connections will take you. In my life, I have made connections with people everywhere I have traveled; I believe the more people you know, the better off you are. The world is as small as you make it, and you should never underestimate the power of "knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone." The hands you shake today may no doubt be the ones opening doors for you down the road.

My last thought when reading The Tipping Point was: How can I use what I learned to help "tip" our Relay for Life Kickoff. My answer to this comes from both the Law of the Few and the Stickiness Factor. As part of the media team, my job is to write a press release to promote the kickoff. With the Law of the Few, its as simple as just getting the word out...letting people know about the event: the simple who, what, when, where, why's. Getting the word out to local radio stations, newspapers, and community leaders will help spread the word, and by simple word-of-mouth publicity, help make the event a success. With the Stickiness Factor, its all about making the message memorable. This will be done through creative and enticing writing in the press release: a lead that will grab the reader's attention, and a well written story that will stick in readers minds long after they have finished their morning paper and put down their cup of joe.