PRAM

March 2010 ImPRessions

Andrea Thompson — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:23:52 +0000

March 2010 ImPRessions

PRism Award 2009 Deadline for Submission is February 25th

Andrea Thompson — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:39:06 +0000

It’s that time again to show us your PR smarts, styles, and skills!

What are the PRism Awards? The PRism Awards began in 2003 as a way to honor and recognize exemplary work in the field of public relations specifically for professionals within the state of Mississippi. Public relations professionals outside of the Southern Public Relations Federation region (Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana) judge the PRism entries. The highest award honor goes to the PRism Award winners followed by Awards of Excellence and Certificates of Achievement. A Best of Show is awarded as well as a Judge’s Choice Award. Students may also enter the awards program. PRism AwardPRism Award is the highest award in each category.

Award of ExcellenceAwards of Excellence represent excellent use of research, planning, implementation, and evaluation incorporating the creative principles of public relations.

Certificates of AchievementCertificates of Achievement are given to entries the judges felt deserved respectable recognition.

Best of ShowThe Best of Show is the highest honor. The Best of Show is selected from the PRism Award winners. Only one Best of Show is honored each year.

Judge’s Choice AwardThis award honors work the judges deemed outstanding. No more than two Judges’ Awards may be given per year.

Best of Student EntriesThis award is the best of show among student entries.

What are the qualifications to enter the PRism Awards Program? You must be an active member of PRAM to qualify for the PRism Awards Program. Be sure your membership is up to date with your local chapter. Your entries must have appeared (published, printed, presented, etc.) between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009.

Entry fees are $45 for each entry and $40 each for three or more. Student entry fees are $20 for each entry. Make checks payable to PRAM PRism Awards. Entry fees will not be billed or refunded. All entries received without accompanying fees will be ineligible for judging.

What is the deadline to submit my entry? Entries MUST be physically received by Meagan Coughlin by February 25 by 5 p.m. See the hand out on “Steps for Entering” for shipping and mailing location.

How do I get started? To get started, visit http://www.pramprisms.org.

Who do I contact for questions? Please contact Meagan Coughlin at pramprisms@gmail.com or 662.327.0807.

The awards will be given at the PRAM State Conference taking place on April 8 & 9 at the Natchez Eola Hotel in Natchez, Miss. Please see attached for steps for entering and tips from the judges.

February 2010 ImPRessions

Andrea Thompson — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:31:45 +0000

February 2010 ImPRessions

Become a member today!

AGJ Systems — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:02:03 +0000

The best public relations practitioners in Mississippi are in the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM).

PRAM-Mississippi Beach Announces Scholarship Winner

Keith Guillot — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:50:28 +0000

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.

SPRF Honors Aylett with Professional Achievement Award

Keith Guillot — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:52:20 +0000

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.

Each member state of SPRF is invited to nominate one outstanding public relations professional for the Professional Achievement Award. The selection is based on professional activities, community service, career achievement and examples of the nominee’s work. Aylett was nominated by the Public Relations Association of Mississippi.

Aylett is an accredited public relations and marketing consultant with nearly 20 years of experience. Through her Ocean Springs-based firm, The KARD Group, she provides strategic communications counsel and public relations services to a diverse client base across the United States. She also teaches public relations courses at the Biloxi campus of Tulane University. She served as president of the Mississippi Beach chapter of PRAM in 2008 and currently serves on the boards of state PRAM and SPRF.

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 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

PRAM Member Recognized as Senior Practitioner

Keith Guillot — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:50:01 +0000

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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PRAM Members Win Public Relations Awards

Keith Guillot — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:46:09 +0000

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.

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PRAM Wins Chapter of Distinction Awards

Keith Guillot — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:32:03 +0000

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

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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“De-Spookify Social Media” seminar materials

Keith Guillot — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:06:01 +0000

Spooked by social media? Worried that there’s a trick to having your organization participate on social networking sites? Then, the Mississippi Beach chapter of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi has a treat for you.

PRAM-Mississippi Beach will hold an afternoon seminar Thursday, Oct. 29, in Biloxi to help you “De-Spookify Social Media.” Workshop leader Kellye Crane, APR, will discuss why marketing efforts should incorporate social media and how to apply this information into everyday business models. She will also share ideas on how to boost business with various social media tools.

Based in Atlanta, Crane is an accomplished, award-winning communicator with 15 years of experience in strategic public relations and marketing communications. She specializes in high tech clients and has also worked with some of the world’s leading consumer product companies. Her expertise includes strategic planning, writing services, media relations strategy and marketing communications. Since forming Crane Communications in 1995, she has helped manage award-winning public relations and marketing programs for ADP, BellSouth, The Coca-Cola Company, IBM, Intel and the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF).

Seating is limited at this event so please register today. Simply download the registration form and mail it in to reserve your seat.

Social Media Workshop - Oct. 29