PRAM

 BILOXI, Miss., October 23, 2009 - The Mississippi Beach chapter of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM) recently awarded a $750 scholarship to a University of Southern Mississippi student majoring in public relations.Amber Peterson, recipient of the chapter’s Thomas V. Fredian Memorial Scholarship, is a student working toward a bachelor’s degree in public relations with minors in marketing and Spanish. Peterson, a Gulfport resident, has served in public relations internships with the GodwinGroup and The University of Southern Mississippi. She is currently the public relations coordinator and political campaign director for Palazzo & Company, CPAs. She is also the founder of the Gifted Hands Charity Art Auction, a charity art auction that raised more than $5,000 to grant the wish of a Make-A-Wish Foundation child. She currently serves on the Mississippi Coast Chamber of Commerce Tapestry Committee and is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, the Public Relations Student Society of America and the Student Government Association. The PRAM Mississippi Beach chapter has awarded scholarships to Southern Miss students since 2001 and established a second scholarship for students attending Mississippi universities and residing in Hancock or Harrison counties in 2006. The chapter established the USM scholarship in memory of Thomas V. Fredian, a founding member, senior practitioner and chapter president who died in 1999.More than 75 area public relations professionals are members of the Mississippi Beach Chapter of PRAM. The group offers numerous networking and professional development opportunities for employees of the public relations and communications industry. For more information, contact Melissa Bryant,PRAM Mississippi Beach president, at 228-363-7257 or melissabryant@coastepa.com.

BILOXI, Miss., October 23, 2009 – The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) presented Public Relations Association of Mississippi-Mississippi Beach Chapter member Kristie Aylett, APR, with its highest honor—the Professional Achievement Award—at an awards luncheon Oct. 6 in Tunica during the annual SPRF conference.

More than 75 area public relations professionals are members of the Mississippi Beach Chapter of PRAM. The group offers numerous networking and professional development opportunities for employees of the public relations and communications industry. For more information, contact Melissa Bryant, PRAM Mississippi Beach president, at 228-363-7257 or melissabryant@coastepa.com

BILOXI, Miss., October 21, 2009 – The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) recognized Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM)-Mississippi Beach Chapter member Susan Lepoma Perkins, APR, as a Senior Practitioner during its annual conference held Oct. 4-6 in Tunica.

Perkins, a staff officer with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Office of Coastal Management and Planning, coordinates the annual Coastal Development Strategies Conference and manages public relations for the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area. Prior to her current position, Perkins worked eight years in the DMR Public Affairs Bureau. She has held board positions with PRAM-Mississippi Beach Chapter, has won numerous public relations awards and earned her Accreditation in Public Relations in 2007. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public relations from the University of Southern Mississippi.

SPRF members who are designated as Senior Practitioners are recognized as veteran public relations professionals with high ethical standing. Based on criteria set by SPRF, each local chapter nominates and selects senior practitioners. Each nominee must meet three of the following four criteria: 1) the nominee has 15 years of public relations experience; 2) accreditation was received by the Universal Accreditation Board; 3) the nominee served as an officer or board member at the chapter, state or SPRF level; 4) the nominee has received a peer-reviewed, public relations-related award such as a SPRF Lantern award or similar honor.

Founded in 1972, SPRF is a regional network of more than 1,300 public relations professionals from Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and north Florida who share a common interest in the public relations profession. SPRF is the umbrella organization for the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Public Relations Council of Alabama, the Public Relations Association of Louisiana and the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization.

More than 60 area public relations professionals are members of the Mississippi Beach Chapter of PRAM. The group offers numerous networking and professional development opportunities for employees of the public relations and communications industry. For more information, contact Melissa Bryant, PRAM Mississippi Beach president, at 228-363-7257 or melissabryant@coastepa.com.

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BILOXI, Miss., October 21, 2009 – The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) recognized outstanding work in the field of public relations during the Lantern Awards ceremony held Oct. 6 in Tunica. The Lantern Awards competition recognizes public relations projects, programs, and productions across the Gulf South that display outstanding strategy, creativity, and production skills with certificates of merit, awards of excellence and the Lantern Award, the highest award given.

Local award recipients included:

Lantern Award

• Coast Electric Power Association for Investing in Tomorrow, Annual Report
• Coast Electric Power Association for Hotlines, Internal Newsletter
• Coast Electric Power Association for Our Energy, Our Future, Special PR Program Long Term
• Coast Electric Power Association for Co-Op Connections, Special PR Program Long Term

Award of Excellence

• The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast for Discoveries: Southern Miss Performance Series, Promotional Brochure/Folder
• The KARD Group for Bloys Camp meeting and Brite Divinity School, Feature Story

Judges Awards were given to Coast Electric Power Association for their internal newsletter, Hotlines, and for their PR program entry, Our Energy, Our Future.

Founded in 1972, SPRF is a regional network of more than 1,300 public relations professionals from Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and north Florida who share a common interest in the public relations profession. SPRF is the umbrella organization for the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Public Relations Council of Alabama, the Public Relations Association of Louisiana and the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization.

More than 60 area public relations professionals are members of the Mississippi Beach Chapter of PRAM. The group offers numerous networking and professional development opportunities for employees of the public relations and communications industry. For more information, contact Melissa Bryant, PRAM Mississippi Beach president, at 228-363-7257 or melissabryant@coastepa.com.

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BILOXI, Miss., October 22, 2009 – The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) honored the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM)-Mississippi Beach Chapter with six Chapter of Distinction Awards at the annual SPRF conference held Oct. 4-6 in Tunica.

Through the Chapter of Distinction Awards, SPRF promotes continuous improvement in the function, outreach and benefits to members and communities stemming from the activities of its 20 chapter members. Chapters across the region competed in areas of programs (educational value), membership recruitment, retention and participation, promotion of public relations internally and externally, projects, community involvement and other special events, and Accreditation and professional development.

PRAM-Mississippi Beach won the following awards:

• Accreditation – 2nd place
• Education – 2nd place
• Programs – 3rd place
• Communication – 3rd place
• Management – 3rd place
• Community Service – 3rd place

Founded in 1972, SPRF is a regional network of more than 1,300 public relations professionals from Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and north Florida who share a common interest in the public relations profession. SPRF is the umbrella organization for the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Public Relations Council of Alabama, the Public Relations Association of Louisiana and the Emerald Coast Public Relations Organization.

More than 60 area public relations professionals are members of the Mississippi Beach Chapter of PRAM. The group offers numerous networking and professional development opportunities for employees of the public relations and communications industry. For more information, contact Melissa Bryant, PRAM Mississippi Beach president, at 228-363-7257 or melissabryant@coastepa.com.

PHOTO CAPTION:

(L-R: Keith Guillot, Eley Guild Hardy Architects; April Lollar, APR, Coast Electric Power Association; Penny Bishop, RPM Pizza; Kristie Aylett, APR, The KARD Group; Melissa Bryant, Coast Electric Power Association; Sonja Gillis, RPM Pizza; Kathy Kosturock, RPM Pizza; Ron Barnes, APR, Coast Electric Power Association; and Mary Cracchiolo-Spain, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.) The Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) honored the Public Relations Association of Mississippi-Mississippi Beach Chapter with six Chapter of Distinction Awards at the annual SPRF conference held Oct. 4-6 in Tunica.

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