Oklahoma City – The Oklahoma City Chapter of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA-Oklahoma City) hosted the 27th Annual Upper Case Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting on Oct. 29 and recognized Oklahoma agencies, organizations and individuals for the year’s most outstanding work in public relations campaigns, publications, events, and electronic and broadcast materials.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION AND THE PROFESSIONAL

Oklahoma City – The Oklahoma City Chapter of Public Relations of America (PRSA-Oklahoma City) honored three area communications professionals with special awards during its Annual Upper Case Awards Banquet and Annual Meeting, Friday, Oct. 29 at the Petroleum Club. The Upper Case Awards honor the best in public relations and communications practices across the state.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION AND THE PROFESSIONAL

Oklahoma City – We live in diverse society and public relations practitioners must serve and service many different cultural, ethnic, racial, religious and political groups. Globalization – essentially, the denationalization of markets, politics and legal systems – has increased the demand for highly-skilled public relations firms and staffs who are able to bridge cultural and communications gaps.

Information brokering skills are needed now, more than ever, as CEOs and Executive Directors recognize how vitally important it is that their companies and organizations build and maintain relationships with all cultural, ethnic, racial, religious and political segments of their communities. Public relations firms and their staff, which communicate effectively with these various audiences, have the competitive advantage.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION AND THE PROFESSIONAL

Oklahoma City – The 27th annual Oklahoma City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Upper Case Awards presentation is making a final call for entries.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION AND THE PROFESSIONAL

Oklahoma City – Learn how proactive media relations, strategic messaging and direct communications can keep your company in a positive light even when faced with adversity when Larry Brumley, Vice President of External Relations for Baylor University, visits the Public Relations Society of America – Oklahoma City Chapter and Oklahoma City Advertising Club in a joint meeting and luncheon at 11:30 a.m., July 9, at the Central Oklahoma Homebuilder’s Association, 625 West I-44.

Brumley leads the 26-member Public Relations Office, which encompasses media relations, publications, creative services, photography and online communications. In his presentation, Brumley will share how his office dealt with the unfolding crisis of the June 2003 disappearance of a Baylor University men’s basketball player, subsequent arrest of his teammate on suspicion of murder, and resignation of the head coach.

Brumley also serves as chairman of the board of Brazos Valley Public Broadcasting Foundation, which operates Baylor’s PBS and NPR stations. He joined the Baylor administration in May 1997 after serving for six years at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., where he was assistant vice president and later associate vice president for university relations. From 1985 to 1991, he was director of public relations at Oklahoma Baptist University. Brumley holds a B.S. degree from Baylor and an M.A. in mass communication from the University of Oklahoma. He is a past District IV board member for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and is a frequent presenter at higher education public relations conferences.

The Central Oklahoma Homebuilder’s Association is located east of North Western on the I-44 service road. Guests are welcome to attend. Lunch cost is $17 at the door.

To reserve a place or find out more about the program, visit the PRSA Web site, www.prsaokc.com or contact PRSA-OKC President-Elect Sam Sims, APR at president.elect@prsaokc.com, or call the OKC Ad Club at (405) 728-3667.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION AND THE PROFESSIONAL

Oklahoma City – The Oklahoma City Chapter of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA-OKC) will go high-tech for its annual Professional Development Seminar, June 16, 2004.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION AND THE PROFESSIONAL

OKLAHOMA CITY - Public relations Zenith Awards were presented to 11 university students and four staff classes on Wednesday, April 21, at the Oklahoma City chapter, Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Career Night banquet, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m, Crabtown in Bricktown, Oklahoma City. Students from five universities participated in the competition with a total of 37 entries.

First place Zenith award winners were Kristen Gray, Traci Green, Toni Howard, Linda Leonard and Meghan Patrizi, University of Central Oklahoma, public relations campaign; Gavin D. Elliott, UCO, public relations writing; the 2003 Advanced Public Relations class, Northwestern State University, public relations publication; Sarah Campbell, UCO, potpourri entry; and the Cowboy Journal staff, Oklahoma State University, electronic media.

Awards of Merit were earned by Stephanie McInturff, UCO, public relations campaign; Caroline Duke, UCO, writing; Jacob Basden, University of Oklahoma, two awards in potpourri. Both fall 2003 and spring 2004 issues of Cowboy Journal, OSU, earned merit awards in publications.

Honorable mentions were earned by the 2004 Advanced Public Relations class, NWOSU for its public relations campaign and by Jacob Basden, OU, for writing.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION AND THE PROFESSIONAL

Oklahoma City – The commercial aviation industry is experiencing change at every level since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma City aviation industry meets these changes head on – while communicating a major airport renovation project.

At the March 17 PRSA–Oklahoma City Chapter meeting, Karen Carney, Marketing Director for Oklahoma City’s Will Rogers World Airport (WRWA), will speak to the strategies and tactics behind the public relations efforts at WRWA concerning media outreach, airport travelers, Oklahoma residents and local and state government officials.

“Everyone has traveled by air at least once,” said Amanda Spencer, President, PRSA – Oklahoma City Chapter. “Updates concerning security measures and renovation progress are essential to satisfying the public’s needs regarding flight.”

Karen Carney joined the staff of the Oklahoma City Department of Airports as marketing coordinator in 1994. Besides marketing the Department’s three airports, she also handles public relations and media relations. Ms. Carney currently serves on the Oklahoma Tourism Promotion Advisory Committee and has served as president of the board of directors for the Travelers Aid Society of Oklahoma. Prior to joining the Department of Airports, Carney worked as a broadcast producer for Ackerman McQueen Advertising in Oklahoma City.

The Wednesday, March 17 monthly luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus, 900 N. Portland. Cost of the luncheon is $15 for PRSA members, $20 for non-members, $13 for PRSSA students and $15 for non-PRSSA students. To reserve a place or find out more about the program, visit the PRSA Web site, www.prsaokc.com or contact President-Elect, Sam Sims, APR at president.elect_at_prsaokc.com.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION AND THE PROFESSIONAL

Oklahoma City – With terror alert levels and national security at the forefront of today’s society, keeping the public abreast of Oklahoma’s role in homeland security has become more important than ever.

At the Feb. 18 PRSA–Oklahoma City Chapter meeting, Melissa McLawhorn Houston, Chief of Staff for the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, will share the strategies and tactics that her team uses to communicate our state’s homeland security message to the public.

“Knowing how homeland security messages and policies are communicated will only help us to better understand how to educate ourselves on this timely topic,” said Amanda Spencer, President, PRSA-Oklahoma City Chapter.

As Chief of Staff for the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, Houston works to develop, recommend and implement homeland security initiatives in the state. She became involved in the issue of homeland security in 1995 when, as part of a group of family members and survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing, Houston advocated for federal anti-terrorism legislation. Houston has also been involved in political and policy development initiatives, has worked on various campaigns and has served as Coalitions Director and Political Director for a statewide issue campaign. She has also served as Deputy Director for the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association. For more information on the Office of Oklahoma Homeland Security, visit www.youroklahoma.com/homelandsecurity.

The Wednesday, Feb. 18 monthly luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus, 900 N. Portland. Cost of the luncheon is $15 for PRSA members, $20 for non-members, $13 for PRSSA students and $15 for non-PRSSA students. To reserve a place or find out more about the program, visit the PRSA Web site, www.prsaokc.com or contact President-Elect, Sam Sims, APR at president.elect_at_prsaokc.com.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION AND THE PROFESSIONAL

NEW YORK - The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), with the approval of its Board of Directors, has signed a 13-year lease agreement to relocate its national headquarters from its current location at 33 Irving Place to 33 Maiden Lane in downtown Manhattan's financial district. The new location and office space will provide a cost-effective opportunity for growth and greater professional development for PRSA's nearly 20,000 members and the profession. The move is scheduled for April 16, 2004.

"PRSA has established itself as the world's premier public relations organization," PRSA President & CEO Del Galloway, APR said. "These new offices complement our market position and support our promise to advance the profession and the professional."

PRSA headquarters moved to Irving Place in 1987 from 845 Third Avenue in midtown.

PRSA will occupy the 11th floor of the Two Federal Reserve Plaza building, designed by famed architect Philip Johnson. Plans for the 22,000-square-foot office space include an expanded Professional Resource Center and an on-site Professional Development Center for seminars and workshops - something PRSA could not facilitate at its Irving Place location.

Before signing the lease agreement, PRSA, in partnership with two real estate services firms, completed an assessment of 25 cities across the U.S. In considering potential locations, PRSA evaluated various business criteria. After a thorough review, downtown New York City offered the most opportune relocation options.

"PRSA is taking advantage of the generous federal, state and city assistance and incentives that are being offered in order to bring businesses back to the downtown area," PRSA Executive Director & COO Catherine A. Bolton said. "This is an opportunity for PRSA to contribute to the downtown redevelopment effort by moving into a building that reflects a positive image and is also more representative of our Society's position as a leader and voice of the public relations profession."

PRSA's new location includes an area that will eventually be transformed into the Society's Professional Development Center, allowing for expanded on-site seminars and workshops.

"We are looking forward to developing a state-of-the-art training facility that will meet the growing professional development needs of both our membership and the industries we serve," Rob Levy, PRSA's chief professional development officer and assistant executive director, said. "This full service facility will allow our training to range from the traditional classroom style to the most advanced in learning technology - we will be able to accommodate intimate meetings for six and lecture groups of 50."

Plans for the new Professional Development Center include the latest technology, such as video- conferencing broadcast capabilities and broadband Internet access. The new center will be very flexible, accommodating a classroom set-up with desks (40 people), lecture-style (50 people), small group discussions (40 people) and corporate board meetings (up to 30 people). There will also be additional breakout meeting rooms that can accommodate smaller meetings (6-8 people each).

Global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield brokered the lease agreement for PRSA's new office location.

For more information, please visit www.prsa.org

About PRSA
The Public Relations Society of America (www.prsa.org), based in New York City, is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals helping to advance the profession and the professional. Its nearly 20,000 members, organized into 116 Chapters nationwide, 18 Professional Interest Sections along with Affinity Groups, represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.

ADVANCING THE PROFESSION AND THE PROFESSIONAL

Sue A. Hale, The Oklahoman executive editor, was honored Friday night during the Upper Case Awards Banquet held annually by The Oklahoma City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. Hale received the 2003 Clarus Award honoring a working member of the print or broadcast media who demonstrates fairness, clarity, and professionalism in news reporting.

Yvonne Anderson, Oklahoma City PRSA chapter president said, “Sue Hale is one of the state’s most admired and respected media professionals. She was nominated for the 2003 Clarus Award because of her candor in dealing with public relations practitioners, her willingness to provide advice when sought, and her unwavering commitment to reporting stories and events that serve and inform the public.”

Hale is a 37-year veteran of newspaper, radio and online journalism. She is past president of the National Freedom of Information Coalition and was a driving force behind the founding of Freedom of Information Oklahoma, a First Amendment educational organization. She continues to work with FOI Oklahoma where she serves on its Board of Directors. Earlier this year, Hale was inducted into the State Open Government Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn.

In addition to the Clarus Award, the Oklahoma City PRSA chapter bestowed two other special awards Friday night.

Sandra L. Longcrier, APR, SBC Oklahoma Vice President-Regulatory received the 2003 Paul E. Dannelley, Jr. Harmony Award honoring the achievements of an outstanding, longtime member of the public relations profession. Longcrier is the chapter’s ethics officer, a past chapter president and a past member of the Public Relations Society of America National Board of Directors.

Anderson said, “If one word could exemplify this year’s Harmony Award winner it would be ‘ethical.’ She is admired by her peers and trusted by her publics as a consummate professional - a straight shooter whose commitment to ethical conduct in the corporate realm and in the field of communications is a constant to be relied upon.”

Longcrier joined SBC Oklahoma in 1986 in the public relations department. Since then, she has held a variety of positions within the company and has overseen state advocacy advertising, trade show and special event participation, marketing support, news relations, executive support and employee communications for various work units.

As Vice President-Regulatory for SBC Oklahoma, Longcrier advocates for regulatory changes, works with external affairs partners and coordinates with SBC’s Federal Communications Commission regulatory group.

Sam Sims, APR received the chapter’s Outstanding Young Professional Award. This award is given to a relative newcomer to the field of public relations for significant contributions to the profession. The honor is bestowed upon a chapter member in good standing who has demonstrated a desire to succeed in a challenging work environment. The recipient must have five or fewer years of full-time experience in the field and must have demonstrated an aptitude for leadership and involvement with PRSA.

Sims, a marketing coordinator with C.H. Guernsey & Company, is currently the Oklahoma City PRSA chapter treasurer and Web master.

Karen Halvorson, APR, a former chapter president who nominated Sims for Outstanding Young Professional said, “Through Sam’s efforts, our chapter’s web site has become the No. 1 communications job source in the state, and is rapidly becoming the No. 1 job source in the communications field in the southwest region. His web mastery has transformed not only the look and feel of our chapter’s site, but has enhanced the service we provide to all communications professionals.”

Sims holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University in Journalism and Broadcasting – Public Relations and has five years of broad-range marketing, public relations and advertising experience.

Recipients of the Oklahoma City PRSA chapter’s Clarus, Harmony and Outstanding Young Professional awards are nominated by chapter members and are chosen by a vote of the board of directors each fall.

The PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter hosted the 15th annual Upper Case Awards banquet on October 17 and recognized 29 agencies, organizations and individuals for the year’s most outstanding work in public relations campaigns, publications, events, and electronic and broadcast materials. The Alaska PRSA Chapter judged more than 80 entries and selected the best entries in 19 categories.

Yvonne Anderson, Oklahoma City PRSA Chapter President said, "The quality and quantity of entries we receive each year in our Upper Case Awards contest is a testament to the creativity and talent of Oklahoma's communications professionals. The fact that these entries are judged by our peers from across the country and consistently garner high praise further demonstrates that Oklahoma's public relations talent pool is second to none."

The 2003 Upper Case Award recipients:

1. Public Relations Materials - 1-3 color
Upper Case Award
Holiday Card
World Neighbors

Award of Merit
Foundation Report Card
Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation

2. Public Relations Materials - 4 color
Upper Case Award
What’s Your Plan for Life?
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Upper Case Award
Diner Mailers
Third Degree Advertising & Communications

Upper Case Award
Oklahoma Capitol Dome Invitation
Jones Public Relations Group

Award of Merit
Campaign for Engineering brochure
University of Oklahoma College of Engineering

Honorable Mention
Work of Women
World Neighbors

3. Magazines - 4 color
Upper Case Award
Metro Library Magazine
Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County

Award of Merit
ONEOK Quarterly Magazine
ONEOK

Honorable Mention
Access Magazine
Oklahoma Department of Transportation

Honorable Mention
Evolve Magazine
University of Oklahoma College of Engineering

4. Annual Reports - 1-3 color
Upper Case Award
A Firm Foundation 2002 Annual Report
Devon Energy Corporation

Award of Merit
Report 2001 - 2002
Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County

Honorable Mention
Legislative Guide 2003
Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce

5. Annual Reports - 4 color
Upper Case Award
2001 - 2002 Annual Report
University of Oklahoma College of Engineering

Award of Merit
What have you done for me lately?
OGE Energy Corp.

Honorable Mention
2002 Scientific Report
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

6. Newsletters - 1-3 color
Upper Case Award
Health Talk
Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality

Award of Merit
News on 8
Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency

Honorable Mention
Commerce Folio
Oklahoma Dept. of Commerce

7. Newsletters - 4 color
Upper Case Award
DIRECT
Oklahoma Natural Gas Company

Award of Merit
Devon Explorer
Devon Energy Corporation

Award of Merit
Neighbors
World Neighbors

Honorable Mention
Inside OKDHS
Oklahoma Dept. of Human Services

8. Straight News
Upper Case Award
Columbia Experiment Releases
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

Award of Merit
Oklahoma Capitol Dome News Supplement
Jones Public Relations Group

Honorable Mention
OHFA Releases Statewide Housing Needs Study
Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency

9. Feature Stories
Upper Case Award
A day in the life of Howard H. Hendrick
Oklahoma Dept. of Human Services

Award of Merit
Fighting Fires with Interns: Building a Program That Keeps on Track
Jill Mohler Kelsey, APR

Honorable Mention
Turner Turns 50!
Spring Issue - Access Magazine
Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation

10. Visual
Upper Case Award
Full Circle: David Lee
Oklahoma Dept. of Human Services

Award of Merit
Don’t Leave Kids Alone in Hot Car
Oklahoma Dept. of Human Services

Honorable Mention
Child Support Enforcement
Oklahoma Dept. of Human Services

11. Web Page Design
Upper Case Award
Delta Dental Web Site
Delta Dental

Award of Merit
Student Center Redesign
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Honorable Mention
Diner Web Site
Third Degree Advertising & Communication

12. Electronic Media
Upper Case Award
Digital Manager
Delta Dental

Award of Merit
AdLib Online Newsletter
Brick Communications

Honorable Mention
Our House
Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency

13. Marketing/Public Relations Campaigns
Upper Case Award
Oklahoma Capitol Dome PR Campaign
Jones Public Relations Group

Upper Case Award
City of Oklahoma City Solid Waste Campaign
Visual Image Advertising

Award of Merit
Titanic
Omniplex

Honorable Mention
Sail the U.S.S. Canterbury
Canterbury Choral Society

14. Special Events
Upper Case Award
Governor’s 4th Safe School
Public Strategies

Award of Merit
Tulsa TV Icons
Tulsa Press Club

Honorable Mention
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit Captain’s Gala
Omniplex

15. Media Relations
Upper Case Award
Titanic - Media Relations
Omniplex

Award of Merit
Hot Stuff Press Kit
Oklahoma Natural Gas Company

Award of Merit
Oklahoma Capitol Dome Media Relations
Jones Public Relations Group

Honorable Mention
Work Zone Safety Awareness
Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation

16. Internal Communications
Upper Case Award
Reduction in Force Plan
City of Oklahoma City

Award of Merit
Get Out the Vote 2002
OGE Energy Corp.

Honorable Mention
Inside OKDHS TV Magazine
Oklahoma Dept. of Human Services

17. Community Relations
Upper Case Award
Bells of Remembrance
Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality

Award of Merit
EMC Health Zone and Mallwalker Program
Edmond Medical Center

Honorable Mention
Starmaker
Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame

18. Radio and TV Script Writing
Award of Merit
Homework Center
Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County

19. Audio
Honorable Mention
Don’t Leave Kids Alone in Hot Car
Oklahoma Dept. of Human Services

The Chapter also honored three public relations professionals with special awards.

Sue A. Hale, executive editor, The Oklahoman received the Clarus Award for fairness, clearness, and professionalism in reporting.

Samuel James Morrey Sims, marketing coordinator, C.H. Guernsey & Company received the Outstanding Young Professional Award which recognizes a chapter member who is new to the field of public relations, and whose involvement, contributions, and proven leadership ability exemplify today’s public relations professional.

Sandra L. Longcrier, APR, SBC Oklahoma vice president-Regulatory, received the Paul E. Dannelley Harmony Award for her achievements as an outstanding, longtime member of the public relations profession.

Wolf Mailing and Marketing Service, OG&E, Third Degree Advertising and C.H. Guernsey & Company sponsored the 2003 Upper Case Awards and Banquet.

The PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter will host the annual Upper Case Awards Banquet on Friday October 17 at the Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City. The highly sought prestigious Upper Case Awards will be presented to public relations professionals and agencies for the best public relations campaigns, publications, events, electronic and broadcast materials produced in the past year.

The Alaska PRSA Chapter judged and selected the winning entries.

Yvonne Anderson, PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter President said, “The quality of entries we receive each year in our Upper Case Awards contest is a testament to the creativity and talent of Oklahoma’s communications professionals. The fact that these entries are judged by our peers from across the country and consistently garner high praise further demonstrates that Oklahoma’s public relations talent pool is second to none.”

Three special awards will be presented to public relations professionals who were nominated by Chapter members and chosen by the board of directors.

The Clarus Award honors a member of the print or broadcast media who demonstrates fairness, clearness, and professionalism in reporting.

The Outstanding Young Professional Award recognizes a chapter member who is new to the field of public relations, and whose involvement, significant contributions, and proven leadership ability exemplify today’s public relations professional.

The Paul E. Dannelley Harmony Award honors the achievements of an outstanding, longtime member of the public relations profession.

Wolf Mailing and Marketing Service, OG&E, and Third Degree Advertising sponsor the 2003 Upper Case Awards and Banquet.

Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased until Monday October 13. For ticket or program information, contact H. R. Holman at (405) 425-4361 or go to our web site at www.prsaokc.com.

Dr. Joseph V. Trahan, III, international media relations trainer and president of Trahan & Associates, will present two media relations workshops at the PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter annual half-day professional development seminar on Thursday, September 25, 2003.

The first workshop, "When the Gumbo Hits the Pot" focuses on crisis communications. It’s not just relaying important information to the public through the media, but also being credible and in control. Dr. Trahan will help participants prepare for the media onslaught during a crisis and stay cool when the chaos begins.

Preparing managers to speak to the media will be covered in "How to Counsel the Top Dog." Dr. Trahan will use the Seven C’s of Communication to show how to turn top executives into media-savvy spokespersons.

“We are fortunate to get Dr. Trahan to conduct this seminar,” said Yvonne Anderson, president of the Oklahoma City PRSA chapter. “Being able to work with the media is a priority for public relations practitioners and Dr. Trahan is one of the best media relations trainers in the nation,” she said.

Dr. Joseph V. Trahan, III, APR is a public relations strategist with more than twenty years of public relations experience in governmental, association, educational and non-profit public relations.

Cox Communications, Omniplex, and Third Degree Advertising are sponsors of this year’s annual Professional Development Day seminar. Conference registration and continental breakfast starts at 8 a.m. at the Omniplex. Seminar begins at 9 a.m.

Registration including lunch is $50 for PRSA members and $60 for non-PRSA members, $35 for PRSSA students and $40 for other students. To register or for more information contact Danielle Walker at (405) 330.3050 or visit our Web site, www.prsaokc.com. Registration deadline is Friday September 19.

Media Note: Dr. Joseph V. Trahan, III’s full biography is available on the PRSA Web site under Professional Development.

Public relations practitioners play a key role in the long-term success of the organizations and clients they serve by helping them develop comprehensive, ongoing strategies to establish, maintain, change or improve their organization’s reputation. Susan Hardy Brooks APR of Hardy Brooks Public Relations will discuss strategic planning and why it is so critical to successful public relations professionals at the PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter monthly meeting Wednesday June 18, 2003. In addition to discussing the processes for building a plan, she will share lessons learned.

Susan Hardy Brooks has counseled leaders in organizations on a range of marketing communications issues and strategies for more than 23 years. Since starting her company in 1998, Ms. Brooks has provided strategic marketing counsel to more than 50 clients in the private, public and non-profit sectors. She is currently working with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce on an industry-specific business recruitment-marketing plan.

Ms. Brooks is a contributing writer for Business Xpansion Journal, a national economic development magazine, and conducts communications audits in school districts nationwide for the National School Public Relations Association. Her strategies have been featured in PR Reporter, the National School Public Relations Association’s NETWORK newsletter, Techniques magazine and several other national journals.

The Wednesday June 18 monthly luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus, 900 N. Portland. Cost of the luncheon is $15 for PRSA members, $20 for non-members, $10 for PRSSA students and $13 for non-PRSSA students. To reserve a place or find out more about the program, visit the PRSA Web site, www.prsaokc.com or contact president-elect Amanda Spencer at amanda@thirddegreeadv.com.

Heidi Cohn, Cohn Collaborations; Scott Munz, assistant general manager of marketing and public relations for the Oklahoma State Fair and Brenda Jones, APR, of Jones Public Relations Group will discuss proven strategies for successful event planning and promotions at the PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter monthly meeting Wednesday May 21, 2003.

Heidi Cohn, Cohn Collaborations, focuses on special events, public relations and fundraising. Serving as raced director for the Redbud Classic, Cohn has also organized events for Citadel Communications (KidsFest), the Oklahoma Health Center (Treasures for Tomorrow), The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce (New Century Trolley Tour) and Devon Energy.

Scott Munz, assistant general manager of marketing and public relations for the Oklahoma State Fair, has 25 years of experience and has promoted several different entities including Cheyenne Entertainment, The National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling and Murphy Enterprises.

Brenda Jones, APR, Jones Public Relations Group, coordinated public relations campaigns for the Oklahoma State Capitol Dome Dedication, Civic Center Music Hall Grand Reopening, Broadway musical “Rent,” Stewart Meyers for Nichols Hills City Council and Citizens for the Gold Dome.

The Wednesday May 21 monthly luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus, 900 N. Portland. Cost of the luncheon is $15 for PRSA members, $20 for non-members, $10 for PRSSA students and $13 for non-PRSSA students. To reserve a place or find out more about the program, visit the PRSA Web site, www.prsaokc.com or contact Becky Endicott at 602-3754 or bkrause@omniplex.org.

Corporate scandals and deceptions have eroded public trust and impacted the nation’s economic stability. Stakeholders are upset, company stock prices are down and credibility is in doubt. Public relations practitioners must work more diligently to strengthen public trust in the profession and the institutions they represent with ethical and candid communications. The PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter monthly meeting Wednesday March 19, 2003 will feature a panel discussion on ethics and public relations.

Gay Conner Jenson, director of community outreach, OU Medical Center; Ross Breshears, area manager-regulatory, SBC and a local journalist will discuss ethics in the workplace, the profession, and the media. Chapter Ethics Officer Sandra Longcrier APR, vice president regulatory division, SBC will moderate the panel discussion.

Gay Conner Jenson has 20 years of public relations, community relations and marketing experience in health care and corporate communications. She directs OU Medical Center community outreach programs, serves as the center’s representative on nonprofit boards and community health centers and is the medical center’s official media spokesperson.

Ross Breshears has been with SBC for 25 years. He has served on boards of local Chambers of Commerce, economic development groups, public school foundations and civic clubs. Breshears also teaches workplace ethics at high school and university business classes.

The Wednesday March 19 monthly luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus, 900 N. Portland. Cost of the luncheon is $15 for PRSA members, $20 for non-members, $13 for PRSSA students and $15 for non-PRSSA students. To reserve a place or find out more about the program, visit the PRSA Web site, www.prsaokc.com or contact president-elect Amanda Spencer at amanda@thirddegreeadv.com.

Tough economic times not only impact local and national businesses but a city’s economic development as well. What do you do when you are responsible for promoting a city during a recession? Use innovative and creative strategies. Cynthia Reid, director of marketing, economic development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, will be the featured speaker at the PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter monthly meeting Wednesday February 19, 2003.

Reid will share successful strategies and tactics used to promote Oklahoma City. In 1996, as the Chamber’s manager of economic development marketing, she launched the “Oklahoma City, a Better Living, a Better Life” campaign.

She is currently responsible for economic development marketing programs and general image development for Oklahoma City. Reid first joined the Chamber staff in 1989 as the publication manager in the Communications Division and later moved to the Economic Development Division. She left the Chamber in 1996 to become the director of communications for the Oklahoma City Public Schools, a position she held until July 2000 when she rejoined the Chamber.

Reid is a graduate of Oklahoma City University, with a BA in Mass Communications. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Oklahoma Arts Institute, Oklahoma City University Alumni Board, Sunbeam Family Services, the Center for Nonprofit Management, and the Administrative Board-Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. She is also a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City, class 17. She is married to John Reid, and they have one daughter, Chloe, age 7.

The Wednesday February 19 monthly luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hilton on Northwest Expressway. Cost of the luncheon is $15 for PRSA members, $20 for non-members, $13 for PRSSA students and $15 for non-PRSSA students. To reserve a place or find out more about the program, visit the PRSA Web site, www.prsaokc.com or contact president-elect Amanda Spencer at amanda@thirddegreeadv.com.

Your Web site. Marketing requested it. Consultants designed it. Management approved it. The company launched it. But who knows if it really works for the Web site visitor? Maybe it's time to find out. Dan Lee, co-owner of EyeQ Research -- a consulting and research firm that specializes in Web site content planning and user testing -- will be the featured speaker at the PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter monthly meeting Wednesday January 15, 2003.

Mr. Lee will show how proper content planning and user testing can help insure that your Web site delivers what users want and expect. His firm, EyeQ, uses specific research techniques to bring the voice of the user into the design and testing of Web sites and helps companies bridge the gap between the programming BEHIND a Web site, and the user IN FRONT OF the Web site.

Dan Lee, a 1979 graduate of the University of Oklahoma, has extensive business consulting and research experience. Prior to starting his own firm, Lee served four years as the Research Director and a Senior Consultant for the consulting firm of Innovative Partners in Oklahoma City. He served as the Sales Manager and later as the General Manager for The Buyer’s Guide, a direct mail publication. Lee has also served as an account executive for three local advertising agencies, Adsociates Inc., Strong/Hill Advertising Agency, and Lowe Runkle Company.

Lee operates two other market research firms, The NorthStar Group and FocusAnywhere.

The Wednesday January 15 monthly luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hilton on Northwest Expressway. Cost of the luncheon is $15 for PRSA members, $20 for non-members, $13 for PRSSA students and $15 for non-PRSSA students. To reserve a place or find out more about the program, visit the PRSA Web site, www.prsaokc.com or contact President-Elect Amanda Spencer at amanda@thirddegreeadv.com.

The Oklahoma City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is pleased to announce a new slate of officers for 2003. PRSA members elected the new officers at the annual Upper Case Awards banquet.

The new 2003 officers are President Yvonne Anderson, Clean Cities program manager, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments; President Elect Amanda Spencer, public relations director, Third Degree Advertising and Communications; Secretary Danielle Ezell APR, principal, The Bluestocking Group, LLC; Treasurer Samuel Morrey Sims, marketing coordinator, C.H. Guernsey & Company; PRSA National Assembly Delegate J. Andrew Oden APR, director of foundation relations, Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation; and Ethics Officer Sandra Longcrier APR, vice president regulatory division, SBC.

Jody Britt, public relations director; Visual Image Advertising and Edward Howell, vice president of communications, the State Chamber – Oklahoma’s Association of Business and Industry were elected as Board Members at Large. Pamela Vann, public relations manager, Cox Communications is the Past President.

“We are looking forward to another successful year continuing to provide the type of programs that help our members enhance their skills, expand their networks and advance our profession, said Yvonne Anderson, 2003 president. "The membership has selected a talented accomplished group of professionals to lead our chapter”.

The Public Relations Society of America is the world's largest professional organization for public relations practitioners. The Oklahoma City chapter holds monthly luncheon meetings with featured speakers who provide information on industry trends and topics. The chapter also sponsors programs for public relations students. For more information about the Oklahoma City PRSA Chapter and its programs visit our web site, www.prsaokc.com or contact president-elect Amanda Spencer at amanda@thirddegreeadv.com.

The PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter will host its annual Shadow Day for university students who are interested in a public relations career on Wednesday, November 13, 2002. Students will be teamed with public relations professionals who practice in their specific areas of interests.

Students from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, University of Central Oklahoma, and Oklahoma Christian University will accompany professionals during a day of work to gain a better idea of what public relations professional do on a daily basis.

The event will also feature an interactive lunch program including discussions and role-plays. Information about career placement, internships and other subjects that will better prepare the students for the profession will be available.

“This is an excellent opportunity for students interested in a career in public relations to receive hands-on knowledge, said Amanda Spencer, Chairman of Shadow Day. Shadow Day allows them to learn more about the skills and tools public relations professionals use.” Spencer went on to say.

PRSA professionals from non-profit organizations, public relations agencies, local, state and federal government agencies, as well as private sector businesses will participate in the annual event.

The Shadow Day luncheon will be held Wednesday November 13, 2002 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus, 900 N. Portland. Cost of the luncheon is $13 for PRSA members, $15 for non-members, $10 for PRSSA students, $13 for non-PRSSA students. For more information about the program or PRSA contact President-Elect Yvonne Anderson at yanderson@acogok.org or visit our web site at www.prsaokc.com

The PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter hosted the 14th annual Upper Case Awards banquet on October 25 and recognized 24 businesses and organizations for the year’s most outstanding work in public relations campaigns, publications, events, and electronic and broadcast materials. The Blue Ridge, Virginia PRSA Chapter judged more than 100 entries and selected the best entries in 18 categories.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services received the most awards; three Upper Case Awards, two Awards of Merit and two Honorable Mentions. Jordan Associates and Visual Image each took home five awards.

The 2002 Upper Case Award recipients:

Third Degree Advertising and Communications
Upper Case Award - Visuals
Honorable Mention - Marketing/Public Relations Campaign and Web Page Design
Award of Merit - Marketing/Public Relations Campaign

Anglin Public Relations
Honorable Mention - Audio

Association of Central Oklahoma Governments
Honorable Mention - Audio

The Bluestocking Group
Upper Case Award - Special Events Materials
Honorable Mention - Public Relations Materials

Cox Communications
Upper Case Award - Community Relations
Honorable Mention - Straight News Writing

DCA Services
Honorable Mention - Special Events Materials

Devon Energy Corporation
Award of Merit - Newsletters
Honorable Mention - Annual Reports

Express Services
Award of Merit - Public Relations Materials
Honorable Mention - Community Relations

Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce
Award of Merit - Newsletters and Special Events Materials.

Jones PR Group
Award of Merit - Straight News Writing and Internal Communications

Jordan Associates
Upper Case Award - Annual Reports and Public Relations Materials
Award of Merit - Visuals and Community Relations
Honorable Mention - Marketing/Public Relations Campaigns

Katherine Leidy, ABC, APR
Award of Merit - Feature Story Writing

Metropolitan Library System
Upper Case Award - Magazines
Award of Merit - Public Relations Materials

Oklahoma Gas & Electric
Award of Merit - Public Relations Materials, Magazines and Visuals
Honorable Mention - Feature Stories Writing

Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Upper Case Award - Media Relations

Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Upper Case Award - Feature Story Writing
Award of Merit - Newsletters

Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Upper Case Award - Audio, Electronic Media, Magazines
Award of Merit - Audio, Internal Communication
Honorable Mention - Public Relations Materials, Visuals

Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency
Upper Case Award - Public Relations Materials and Newsletters
Award of Merit - Web Page Design
Honorable Mention - Internal Communication

Jeannie Oliver, APR
Upper Case Award - Public Relations Materials

Phase 2 Development
Award of Merit - Electronic Media

Public Relations LAB
Honorable Mention - Magazines and Media Relations

Tinker Federal Credit Union
Upper Case Award - Newsletters
Award of Merit - Annual Reports

University of Oklahoma College of Engineering
Upper Case Award - Magazines
Honorable Mention - Newsletters

Visual Image
Upper Case Award - Straight News Writing, Web Page Design, Marketing/Public Relations Campaign, Internal Communication
Honorable Mention - Special Events Materials

Daily Oklahoman Business Editor Chip Minty received The Clarus Award for demonstrating fairness, clearness, and professionalism in news reporting.

Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation Communications Coordinator Kim Holding received The Outstanding Young Professional Award for her involvement, significant contributions and proven leadership abilities as a public relations professional.

University of Central Oklahoma Journalism Instructor Jill Kelsey, APR, received The Paul E. Dannelley Harmony Award for her achievements as an outstanding, longtime member of the public relations profession.

The 2002 Upper Case Awards and Banquet were sponsored by Wolf Mailing and Marketing, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, BrainWorks Advertising, OG&E, Cowan Printing, Sooner Printing and Garman Productions.

The PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter will host the annual Upper Case Awards Banquet on Friday October 25 at the Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City. The highly sought prestigious Upper Case Awards will be presented to public relations professionals and agencies for the best public relations campaigns, publications, events, electronic and broadcast materials produced in the past year.

The Blue Ridge, Virginia PRSA Chapter judged and selected the winning entries.

“We were pleased with the number of entries we received and the quality and creativity of the products. It just shows how talented public relations professionals are in Oklahoma City,” said Pamela Vann, PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter President. “I am sure the Blue Ridge Chapter had a difficult time selecting the best entries,” she added.

Three special awards will be presented to public relations professionals who were nominated by Chapter members and chosen by the board of directors.

The Clarus Award honors a member of the print or broadcast media who demonstrates fairness, clearness, and professionalism in reporting.

utstanding Young Professional Award recognizes a chapter member who is new to the field of public relations, and whose involvement, significant contributions, and proven leadership ability exemplify today’s public relations professional.

The Paul E. Dannelley Harmony Award honors the achievements of an outstanding, longtime member of the public relations profession.

The 2002 Upper Case Awards and Banquet are sponsored by Wolf Mailing and Marketing, OSU-OKC, BrainWorks Advertising, OG&E, Cowan Printing, Sooner Printing and Garman Productions.

The evening starts with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and the banquet dinner at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased until Wednesday October 16. For ticket or program information, contact Jaylene Watkins at (405) 752-9700 or JWatkins@wn.org

The PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter will host a half-day professional development seminar on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 at the Omniplex in Oklahoma City. The seminar will feature three workshops: Public Relations on a Shoestring Budget, How to Build a Smart Online Newsletter and Writing for the Media.

Sue Hofer, Communications Manager at America’s Second Harvest, will present Public Relations on a Shoestring Budget. She will share proven techniques and free media resources for putting together a successful national media relations campaign on a limited budget.

David Compton, owner of Compton Communications, will lead the second workshop, How to Build a Smart Online Newsletter. What looks good in print doesn’t always work for the Web. Compton will show how to create the right recipe for an online newsletter that is not only interesting but most importantly reaches the targeted audiences.

Marty Richter of Fleishman-Hillard/St. Louis, keynote speaker of the day, will present Writing for the Media. Richter will tell how to effectively pitch ideas to key media, get them to listen and make sure your message is conveyed accurately.

“This seminar provides solid tools for public relations professionals,” said Pamela Vann, president of the Oklahoma City PRSA chapter. “ Our chapter is committed to providing its members relevant professional development opportunities at an affordable cost, and this seminar is no exception,” she said.

Cox Communications, CH Guernsey & Company, Oklahoma State University- Oklahoma City, Omniplex, Wolf Mailing and Marketing Services, and BMI Resources are sponsors of this year’s annual Professional Development Day seminar.

Registration for the three-workshop seminar including lunch is $55 for PRSA members and $60 for non-PRSA members. To register or for more information contact Danielle Walker at (405) 604-7111 or visit our web site, www.prsaokc.com. Registration deadline is Friday September 13.

Elizabeth Gaines-Gray, publisher and founder of The Native American Times and Cathy Wilkins, Executive Director of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma will be the featured speakers at the PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter monthly meeting Wednesday August 21. They will discuss multicultural communications with emphasis on the rising number of Native American businesses.

Elizabeth Gaines-Gray and her husband Jim own and publish The Native American Times, the only independent newspaper serving Oklahoma's federally recognized Indian Nations. Formerly known as the Oklahoma Indian Times, the newspaper now has a proven national readership of more than 36,000. Circulation and advertising revenue has increased from 35 percent to 75 percent annually since its beginning seven years ago. Its web site is the number one Native American resource on the Internet.

Cathy Wilkins, owner of Tulsa’s Wilkins Graphics, was hired earlier this year as the first Executive Director of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma. She is the first person people encounter when they call, write or e-mail the Chamber. She handles all press activity, writes and distributes the monthly newsletter and oversees the web site. She works closely with various committee members and the Board of Directors to heighten awareness of the Chamber's activities in Oklahoma, nationally and internationally.

The monthly luncheon will be held Wednesday August 21, 2002 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus, 900 N. Portland. Cost of the luncheon is $13 for PRSA members, $15 for non-members, $10 for PRSSA students, $13 for non-PRSSA students. Call 770-PRSA to make reservations. For more information about the program or PRSA contact President-Elect Yvonne Anderson at yanderson@acogok.org or visit our website at www.prsaokc.com

Edward G. Barth, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Tulsa-based Great Plains Airline will be the featured speaker at the PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter monthly meeting Wednesday July 17. Great Plains Airline’s story from concept to creation to survival in the post 9/11 market is unique. Mr. Barth will discuss how public relations has been an integral part of that story and the role it played in gaining acceptance for Great Plains regional jet service.

Even before Sept. 11, America’s airline industry was struggling with falling revenues. Great Plains was a new five-month old regional carrier at the time of the tragedy. In the aftermath, the beleaguered airline industry was faced with shaken customer confidence in the safety of air travel, a sharp decline in ticket sales and increased labor costs. Mr. Barth will tell how public relations has helped Great Plains to not only survive but expand its flight operations. He will also talk about their successful public relations and marketing strategy of fresh Krispy Kreme donuts and Subway sandwiches.

Edward Barth began his 40-year airline career parking airplanes for American Airlines. He retired 33 years later as Managing Director of the International Division, responsible for all sales and marketing outside of North America. Following his retirement, Mr. Barth served as President of BDM Global Marketing Group, an international consulting group; Managing Director of Air 21, Inc., a start-up airline; President of Castle Aerospace, Inc.; and immediately before joining Great Plains, served as Executive Director for the Society of Travel & Hospitality Executives.

The monthly luncheon will be held Wednesday July 17, 2002 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus, 900 N. Portland. Cost of the luncheon is $13 for PRSA members, $15 for non-members, $10 for PRSSA students, $13 for non-PRSSA students. Call 770-PRSA to make reservations. For more information about the program or PRSA contact President-Elect Yvonne Anderson at yanderson@acogok.org or visit our website at www.prsaokc.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Dr. Ray Begovich, author of the new book, "Writing for Results: Keys to Success for the Public Relations Writer" will be the featured speaker at the PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter monthly meeting Wednesday June 19. Dr. Begovich has a distinguished background in public relations and journalism and will talk about why public relations writers are considered the writing elite.

He is currently an Assistant Professor of Journalism at the Pulliam School of Journalism at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana and a freelance magazine journalist. Dr. Begovich was a vice president at Hetrick Communications, the second largest public relations agency in Indianapolis. His professional experiences have taken him from reporting for newspapers in Indiana, Michigan and Tahiti; to practicing public relations for Ball State University and Indianapolis' Methodist Hospital, the nation's fifth-largest health care facility; to managing media relations for the nonprofit Indianapolis Project, promoting economic development and tourism in Indianapolis.

The monthly luncheon will be held Wednesday June 19 from 11:30 am to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus. Cost of the luncheon is $13 for PRSA members, $15 for non-members, $10 for PRSSA students, $13 for non-PRSSA students. Call 770-PRSA to make reservations. For more information about the program or PRSA contact Yvonne Anderson at yanderson@acogok.org or visit our website at www.prsaokc.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Your personal information - how they get it, who sees it and what they do with it. Dr. Joey Senat, Assistant Professor, OSU School of Journalism and Broadcasting, will address these and other issues about technology's affect on privacy at the PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter monthly meeting Wednesday May 22.

Dr. Senat is an expert analyst on how courts balance privacy and public access to government records. He will discuss federal attempts to regulate the collection of personal information on the World Wide Web and the relative strength of privacy when competing against the need for a free flow of information.

A former newspaper reporter for The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tennessee, and the Tulsa World, Dr. Senat teaches mass communication law and new-editorial courses at OSU's School of Journalism and Broadcasting in Stillwater. He is also the author of the book "Mass Communication Law in Oklahoma".

The monthly luncheon will be held Wednesday May 22 from 11:30 am to 1 p.m. in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus. Cost of the luncheon is $13 for PRSA members, $15 for non-members, $10 for PRSSA students, $13 for non-PRSSA students. Call 770-PRSA to make reservations. For more information about the program or PRSA contact Karen Halvorson at khalvorson@dcaweb.net or visit our website at www.prsaokc.com

OKLAHOMA CITY - Public relations Zenith Awards were presented to 23 university students Thursday, April 18, by the Oklahoma City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in Oklahoma City. More than 80 students took part in the 38 entries from six state universities.

First place Zenith winners for the work in public relations were Karla R. Bradshaw and Carissa P. Swafford, University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), Edmond, public relations campaign; Erin Case, University of Oklahoma (OU), Norman, public relations publication; and Ellen Lee Powell, OU, public relations writing. Powell also took first place for her potpourri entry and honorable mention for a second writing entry.

Awards of Merit were earned by Stacy Brasher, Mun Sok Chae, Geoff Holder, Lyndsay Schaub, and Shelly Murphey, UCO, public relations campaign; Ben Newby, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, public relations publication; Julie Fraga, OU, public relations writing; and Kenna Boston, Corin Komoroski, Allison Marr, Teresa Myers, and Dan Nowell, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, potpourri.

Honorable mentions were awarded to Kara R. Droke, UCO, public relations campaign; Kily Sander, OU, public relations publication; and Tay Gavin, Lyndsey Holman and Summer Pratt, UCO, potpourri.

More than 100 public relations students, faculty and professionals attended the career night banquet at Crabtown. Featured speakers were Karla Bradshaw, marketing coordinator, Civic Center Music Hall; Jean Devlin, assistant public relations director, Metropolitan Library Association; and Leslie Spears, communications manager, Oklahoma City Museum of Art.

PRSA President Pamela Vann, public relations manager, Cox Communications, and Academic Chairperson Amanda Spencer, public relations account executive, Third Degree Advertising, emceed the event and UCO PRSSA officers Julie Claggett, president, and Amber Heyland, senator, presented awards.

Judges were members of the Oklahoma City Chapter of PRSA: Debbie Anglin, APR, Public Relations LAB; Craig Davis, Dobson Cellular Systems; Dow Dozier; Harold R. Holman, Oklahoma City-County Health Department; Sherry Kast, APR, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency; Kristi Leonard and Sam Sims, APR, both with C.H. Guernsey & Company

The statewide Zenith Award competition began in 1998 to recognize outstanding work by public relations students.

The PRSA Oklahoma City Chapter will host a Career Night for public relations students Thursday, April 18, 5:30 p.m. at Crabtown in Bricktown. This annual event gives students an opportunity to explore public relations careers and get advice from professionals. A panel discussion on downtown Oklahoma City's newest attractions and the Zenith Awards presentations are part of the evening's activities.

Communications tactics and strategies used during the grand openings of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art in the Donald W. Reynolds Visual Arts Center and the Civic Center Music Hall are the focus of the panel discussion. Leslie Spears, Communications Manager, Oklahoma City Museum of Art and Karla Bradshaw, Marketing Coordinator, Civic Center Music Hall, will talk about launching multi-million dollar attractions. Opening plans for the new downtown Metropolitan Library/Learning Center, scheduled to open in 2003, will also be discussed.

Zenith Awards will be presented to public relations students from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). The UCO PRSA student chapter coordinated the annual award competition that recognizes public relations campaigns, publications, and materials developed by students. Oklahoma City PRSA members judged the entries.

Dinner starts at 6:00. Call 770-PRSA, by April 15, to make reservations. The cost of the evening including dinner is $14 for PRSA members, $15 for non-PRSA members, $8 for PRSSA students and $10 for non-PRSSA students. Contact PRSA President-elect Yvonne Anderson at yanderson@acogok.org, for more information.

Teresa Green, award-winning reporter and former television news anchor, will show how to effectively use video news releases (VNRs) and public service announcements (PSAs) as public relations tools at the March 20 Oklahoma City PRSA Chapter meeting.

From her unique perspective in front of and behind the news camera, Green will discuss the challenge of creating a news hook or angle to draw media interest to a story that would not typically be covered. She will also share ways to approach the media with VNRs and PSAs and how to leverage added value from modest media budgets.

Teresa Green, owner of Evergreen Productions, Inc. an Oklahoma City-based video production service, currently works as a public relations specialist for several local companies, foundations, and non-profit organizations including the University Hospitals Trust. She also serves as public relations chairperson for Calm Waters, a support center for children whose lives have been changed by death or divorce. Green has worked as a television news anchor in the Oklahoma City, Detroit, Seattle and Columbus, Ohio markets.

The March 20, 2002 PRSA meeting will be held in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Student Center on the OSU-OKC campus, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cost of the luncheon will be $13 for PRSA members, $15 for non-PRSA members, $10 for PRSSA students and $13 for non-PRSSA students. Call 770-PRSA to make reservations or contact PRSA President-elect Yvonne Anderson at yanderson@acogok.org, for more information.

Make plans now to attend the PRSA Upper Case Awards banquet on Friday, Oct. 19. As public relations professionals, we work on numerous campaigns, publications and events throughout the year. This is an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments and recognize our peers.

The banquet is at the Renaissance Oklahoma City Hotel, 10 North Broadway. It will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., with dinner served at 7 p.m. The room is located in the Myriad Convention Center. Cost of the banquet is $35 per person. Attire is after-five or business.

Please call Awards Chair Kim Holding at 405-602-3754, for more information or to make reservations for the event.

Glenn Downs, vice president of Cowan Printing & Litho, Inc., will share tips on how to maximize the effectiveness of your publications during the upcoming monthly meeting of the Oklahoma City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

"To get the most out of a printed piece, you must first consider the audience and what you want your piece to accomplish," Downs said. "Using color and design efficiently can also help you get the most bang for your buck."

Downs has worked in the printing industry for over 20 years. During that time he has been involved in every aspect of printing including press operations, bindery and graphic design. His current duties include production management, graphic design, sales and customer service. Prior to his current position at Cowan Printing & Litho, Inc., he was production manager and head of European Operations at SSI Custom Data Cards.

The monthly luncheon will be held Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the campus of OSU-Oklahoma City, 900 N. Portland. The meeting room is on the third floor of the Student Center. Cost of the luncheon will be $13 for PRSA members, $15 for non-PRSA members, $10 for PRSSA students and $13 for non-PRSSA students. Call 770-PRSA to make reservations by noon Friday, Feb. 16. For more information about the program or PRSA, please contact PRSA OKC President-Elect Pamela Vann at (405) 600-6313, or visit our website at http://www.prsaokc.com.

(New York, NY) February 1, 2001 - Catherine A. Bolton has been named president and chief operating officer of the Public Relations Society of America by the PRSA Board, according to PRSA Chair and CEO Kathleen L. Lewton, APR, Fellow PRSA and senior vice president, Fleishman-Hillard.

Bolton succeeds Ray Gaulke who, in December, opened a consulting practice and is now a consultant to PRSA, the PRSA Foundation and the Kids in a Drug-Free Society program.

"When Catherine came on board as chief public relations officer in September, we realized that we had found a professional with the ideal career profile: senior-level experience as a PR executive, and a wealth of association management expertise," said Lewton.

"In late October, when we began the transition toward Ray's eventual departure, Catherine assumed increasing responsibilities for day-to-day management of the Society, including development of financial plans and the 2001 budget," Lewton noted. "She has moved with speed and sensitivity to address many needed changes since she was appointed acting president/COO in December. She is reorganizing the staff to more closely align with key Society needs and priorities and to develop functional budgets with a strong budget/spending control system."

Bolton said that the opportunity serve as the chief staff officer for PRSA was "an incredible opportunity."

"To have the chance to head the professional society in your own field is something that rarely comes along," she said. "I am proud of the public relations profession, and I am committed to helping PRSA become as strong and effective as possible in order to truly represent the best interests of public relations practitioners, the organizations and the audiences that we serve."

Bolton said she has reorganized the PRSA staff into seven areas, including:

• Professional development, which includes professional development programming, accreditation, ethics, professional interest sections and the Professional Resource Center, headed by Judy Voss;
• Communications and creative services, which includes Public Relations Tactics, The Strategist, other PRSA publications, the PRSA Web site, member communications and the creative services functions, headed by John Elsasser and Lenore Oliveri;
• Leadership support, which includes chapter services and staff support for the Board, PRSA Foundation, districts, the College of Fellows and the Assembly, headed by Dorothy McGuinness;
• Special events and programs, including the international conference, Silver Anvils and other awards programs, headed by Karla Voth.
• The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), headed by Jeneen Garcia.

Two additional management staff members are currently being recruited: a senior level position responsible for administration and finance; and another for marketing (membership recruitment, sponsorships, advertising and other sales and promotion activities). A Web site manager is also being added to the staff, along with a new financial officer to replace Joe Cussick, who left PRSA last summer.

Bolton will manage support for PRSA's global initiatives and the Society's public relations efforts. A new position, director of media relations, is also being created.

"This new staff structure allows us to concentrate our staffing where there is the greatest need, provide a new emphasis on professional development-our core business-and on communications and service to our chapters, districts, sections and other sectors of the Society."

Bolton came to PRSA from the International Copper Association, Ltd. where, as vice president of communication, she was responsible for the development and implementation of the marketing association's global communications programs.

Previously, she was the director of communication for a former business unit of Akzo Nobel, a Netherlands-based world provider of healthcare products, coatings, chemicals and fibers. At Akzo Nobel, she managed the strategic communication for the unit and was actively involved in press, employee, government and community relations.

Prior to working at Akzo Nobel, Bolton was the director of special projects and, later, director of corporate development for WNET-TV in New York. Additionally, she has held the position of director of administration for the Princess Grace foundation, managed public relations for Six Flags Corporation in New York, and worked in executive sales for Dow Jones Corporation. Bolton graduated with honors from New Jersey City University.

The Public Relations Society of America, headquartered in New York City, is the world's largest professional organization for public relations professionals, with nearly 20,000 members organized into 116 chapters nationwide who represent business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.

Dianna Bonfiglio, sales and marketing director of the Oklahoma Redhawks, will share successful strategies on how to reach each of your organization’s different audiences during the upcoming monthly meeting of Oklahoma City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

"I have a different marketing plan for each audience," Bonfiglio said. "The reasons that a sports advocate come to watch the Oklahoma Redhawks are not necessarily the same reasons that a family would choose to attend a game."

Bonfiglio has been with the Oklahoma Redhawks for two and a half years. She is the past-chair of the West Area Council and a YMCA Central District Board Member. She has also sat on the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Board of Directors.

The monthly luncheon will be held Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the campus of OSU-OKC, 900 N. Portland. The meeting room is on the third floor of the Student Center. Cost of the luncheon will be $13 for PRSA members, $15 for non-PRSA members, $10 for PRSSA students and $13 for non-PRSSA students. Call 770-PRSA to make reservations by noon Friday, Jan. 12. For more information about the program or PRSA, please contact PRSA OKC President-Elect Pamela Vann at (405) 516-8667, or (405) 650-5525.

New York, N.Y. (December 21, 2000)-- Ray Gaulke, president and chief operating officer for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) announced today that he has decided to advance the timetable for his transition from day-to-day operational responsibilities as COO, originally planned for summer, 2001, so that he can devote more time to his role with the PRSA Foundation and Kids In a Drug-free Society, Inc., (K.I.D.S) in a consulting role as a fund-raiser. He will also seek to develop his own consulting business. That move will now be effective January 1, 2001, he said.

PRSA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Pisinski had announced at the PRSA Assembly in October that Gaulke's tenure as president/COO would continue until mid-2001 while a search for a replacement was conducted.

"I had originally promised the Board that I would combine the two positions -- my new role in fund development, plus the day-to-day operations of the Society," Gaulke said. "But after we returned from the International Conference and began the annual cycle of budget planning, program development and other routine activities, I realized that not only would this be a challenge, in terms of really getting the fund-raising work up to speed, but also I would be spending less of my time on what I enjoy most, and more of my time on the day-to-day operations."

Pisinski said that the Board has asked Catherine A. Bolton, chief public relations officer, to serve as acting president/COO.

"When I brought Catherine on Board," Gaulke said," I knew she brought a strong skill set in association management. Now I know that The Society is in capable hands, leaving me time to pursue two important projects which need full time attention."

Pisinski said "Ray has long been deeply committed to the needs of the KIDS program. His work launching K.I.D.S and the new career academy high school initiative of the PRSA Foundation are high on his interest list. We thank him for his contributions to PRSA and wish him great success in his endeavors."

The Public Relations Society of America is the world's largest organization for public relations professionals. Its nearly 20,000 members represent business and industry, counseling firms, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and non-profit organizations.

The San Francisco Chapter of PRSA will co-sponsor the 2001 event. This is the first time the conference will visit the West Coast. Previous conferences have taken place in Washington, DC, and Boston.

The event will offer 16 topics presented in tracks of four targeted to public relations professionals at all levels, and for both agency and company-side practitioners. Topics will range from a panel of venture capitalists discussing public relations and how to develop relationships with the analyst community, to the nuts and bolts of a successful technology PR program.

The conference committee is recruiting panelists for all tracks. A high-profile keynote speaker who promises to be both profound and insightful is close to being named.

Parts of the conference are open to commercial sponsorship, and vendors to the PR profession will exhibit their wares. For more information, contact Jeneen Garcia at PRSA Headquarters, at 212-460-1482 phone, 212-995-0757 fax, or jeneen.garcia@prsa.org.

The 2001 program will consist of panels and individual speakers covering topics pertinent to PR professionals at a variety of levels. Included will be topics covering HR issues in a highly competitive environment, prognostications on the future of PR, working with venture capitalists, and crisis communication. Speakers will run the gamut, from heads of PR agencies, to headhunters, to heads of in-house departments.

It also will include a presentation of the Technology Section's Awards for Excellence in Technology Journalism.

Members of PRSA's Technology Section provide counsel to technology companies and develop and implement their marketing communications programs and activities, and/or use emerging communications technologies to conduct business.

With more than 19,600 members, PRSA is the nation's largest association for public relations professionals. Visit the PRSA Web site: www.prsa.org. For media information, please contact, Catherine Bolton, Chief Public Relations Officer, PRSA, 212/460-1406.

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“If you are a job seeker, PRWeekjobs.com should be your first stop – the place to look for the most– and the best – jobs in public relations,” she continued. “If you are an employer, PRWeekjobs.com will provide wider and more targeted access to talent than you can get anywhere else.

“PRWeekjobs.com is an essential resource for employers facing the unprecedented manpower squeeze resulting from the boom in PR.”

PRWeek’s Agency 2000 rankings of the top PR firms showed 1999 PR agency
growth to be 28%, far exceeding that of advertising agencies. Public relations salaries were up nearly 8% in 1999 – more than four times the national average – according to PRWeek’s March 2000 Salary Survey.

PRWeekjobs.com is searchable by Keyword, Job Title, Type of Vacancy, Location, Company, Industry Sector and PR discipline. Job seekers will receive jobs by email when positions come on the site fitting their specifications.

Last year PRWeek magazine ran nearly 100 pages of recruitment ads and job
listings from more than 450 PR firms and corporations. They included Walt
Disney, GM, Apple, Sony, Virgin Atlantic, as well as top PR agencies including Edelman Worldwide, Fleishman Hillard and others. The magazine is read by close to 40,000 public relations executives nationwide.

Listing on PRWeekjobs.com is a free service to advertisers in PRWeek.
For more information, contact Chris Plunkett at 212-251-2384 or email him at
chris.plunkett@prweekus.com.

PRWeek is the first and only weekly newsmagazine about public relations, with a staff of over 35 and correspondents in Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago and other cities. Based in New York City, PRWeek launched in November of 1998 and is the American sister of the highly successful PRWeek U.K.

PRWeek is published by The Haymarket Group, Britain's largest privately held
magazine publisher. Based in London, Haymarket publishes close to 75
publications including Revolution, the magazine about business and marketing
in the digital economy, which debuted in the U.S. in March. Other Haymarket
publications include Management Today, and the advertising industry
publications Campaign and Marketing.

Noted PR practitioners appearing in the pages of PRWeek have included
George Stephanopoulos, Howard Rubenstein, Pat Kingsley, Harold Burson,
Richard Edelman, James Carville, Mike McCurry, Dan Klores, Michael Deaver,
Lizzie Grubman, Joe Lockhart, Pam Alexander, Pam Edstrom, Melissa Waggener,
Don Middleberg, John Scanlon, Peggy Siegal, Marcy Granata, Michael Sitrick
and others.

Hillary Singer
PRWeek