For What It's Worth http://melissatizon.posterous.com Occasional musings from a health-care communicator posterous.com Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:51:00 -0800 PR Is Fifth Most Stressful Job: Cut Out the Stress Without Losing the Thrill http://melissatizon.posterous.com/pr-is-fifth-most-stressful-job-relieve-the-pr http://melissatizon.posterous.com/pr-is-fifth-most-stressful-job-relieve-the-pr

Is it a stretch to compare managing a PR crisis to landing a plane in a storm? Not necessarily. According to a new ranking of the most stressful jobs in the country, PR professionals are under almost as much pressure as airplane captains.

CareerCast.com ranked PR as No. 5 on the list after commercial airline pilots, firefighters, military generals and enlisted military personnel.

The 10 Most Stressful Jobs of 2013

“Public relations executives are masters of damage control, thus need to be able to think and act quickly under stress. The profession lives in the public eye,” said the editors at CareerCast.

As PR professionals, many of us are in this line of work because we thrive on the adrenaline of fielding media inquiries, pitching story angles, strategizing the right messages and generally being in the middle of the action.

But the human body isn’t meant to handle stress as a continuous way of life. It can wreak havoc on your health, and it’s the underlying cause of 60 percent of all illness and disease.

How Stress Affects the Body - Huffington Post (infographic)

Four Ways to Reduce PR-Induced Stressed
But just because your body can’t take the heat, it doesn’t mean you have to get out of the kitchen and find another profession. There are steps you can take to manage your stress and, in turn, become even more effective at your job.

  1. Start and end each day with at least five minutes of meditation. A daily practice of quieting your mind will help you stay centered and present throughout the day. It will allow you to more effectively handle anything that may come your way. A few minutes of focused deep breathing is all it takes. But if you’re interested in pursuing a more formal path, the 21-Day Meditation Challenge from Deepak Chopra is a great place to start. 
  2. Don’t let your thoughts run away with you. When your mind is going a mile a minute, it becomes harder to tap into the instinct and intuition that helps you make wise decisions on PR strategy or craft messages that ring true. I love this blog post from Lifehack.org that compares constant random thoughts to a computer with too many files running.  Eventually they’ll cause your brain to freeze up. The blog post also offers tips for “downloading” your thoughts to free up your brain for more important work.
  3. Stretch. With so much time spent hunched over laptops, it’s vital to stretch out your muscles everyday. I am a huge advocate for yoga. It has helped me personally deal with massive tension in my shoulders and other stress-related issues. Try home videos from these yoga greats: Baron BaptisteSean Corne and Tara Stiles.
  4. Stay inspired. Managing stress requires daily commitment and vigilance. There are lots of great spiritual writers who can keep you on track, from Marianne Williamson to Pema Chodron. But since we’re talking about PR, one fitting source of inspiration is publicist turned motivational speaker and writer Gabrielle Bernstein. She’s the queen of inspirational social media, and you can get inspired via her weekly vlog  or Facebook page.

As a former stress case myself, take it from me. PR doesn't have to be stressful to be thrilling. I encourage all of you be aware of the pressure you're under and find a release valve.

But if you've had enough and are ready for a change, check out this other ranking: the 10 LEAST stressful jobs of 2013. (Hint: my husband Alex Tizon's job is No. 1 on the list.) 

 

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Sun, 20 Jan 2013 10:58:00 -0800 A Zen Approach to Facing a PR Crisis http://melissatizon.posterous.com/a-zen-approach-to-facing-a-pr-crisis http://melissatizon.posterous.com/a-zen-approach-to-facing-a-pr-crisis

In every corporate communicator’s career, there is that moment when you find your company on the brink of a PR crisis. Maybe there was an accident or misconduct within the company that could embarrass or damage your brand – or worse, cause harm to individuals and/or the public at large.

It’s only a matter of time before you start getting calls from the media demanding answers. And your mind goes to images of your cell phone, email and Twitter blowing up with reporters who won’t let up. You imagine camera crews parked at your doorstep.

In this moment, especially if you don’t have all the facts yourself, it would be easy to crack under pressure. What you need more than anything is presence of mind and the ability to tune out the panic and completely tune in to your instincts.

But how do you do that when chaos is swirling?

First, identify the people in your organization who know the most about what happened and are in a position to implement a solution and response. Gather them in a room or on a conference call.

Then lead the group through this three-part discussion:

  1. What happened?
  2. What are we doing about it?
  3. How will we make sure it never happens again?

These three simple questions are like a mantra that can help you gain your bearing and get into “the zone” even while your head is still spinning.

As the group discussion unfolds, you’ll gain a better grasp of the situation. Your instincts will kick in, and you’ll soon have greater clarity on the best way to respond.

For me, this approach has been a trusted first step to managing a PR crisis that I learned from Seattle veteran communicators like David Marriott and Sally Wright. It hasn't failed me yet. It’s a sure fire way to mobilize your organization on a response and buy you the time you need to tap in to your inner PR expert. 

 

 

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Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:00:00 -0800 What Corporate Communicators Can Learn from the Writers at Pixar http://melissatizon.posterous.com/what-corporate-communicators-can-learn-from-t-12838 http://melissatizon.posterous.com/what-corporate-communicators-can-learn-from-t-12838

They say meaning is the new money.  Today’s employees are just as interested in working for a company they can believe in as they are in bringing home a paycheck.

That’s why, as corporate communicators, one of our main responsibilities is to help our workforce connect to a larger vision. Think about the janitor at NASA who, in sweeping floors, believes he’s doing his part to put a man on the moon.

At the end of the day, it comes down to telling the company’s story in a way that inspires and motivates. It comes down to storytelling.

As you prepare to write that next speech or memo for your chief executive, watch this Ted Talk, “Clues to a Great Story,” by Pixar’s Andrew Stanton.

“We all want affirmation that our lives have meaning. And nothing has a greater affirmation than when we connect through stories,” Stanton says.

Here’s how we can apply Stanton’s tips to corporate writing.

Know your punch line. While we’re not doing comedy, every piece of communication needs to have a purpose, a call to action or as they say in corporate jargon, a “key take away.” Be clear on what that is. Make a case for it. Create the context. And always tie it back to the mission and vision of the organization.

In Pixar screenwriting speak, “it’s knowing everything you say, from your first sentence to your last, is leading to a singular goal and ideally confirming some truth that deepens our understanding as human beings,” says Stanton.

Make me care.   With emails, instant messages and texts bombarding workers every day, corporate writers have to break through the clutter and get people interested. It starts with an engaging opening line or lead. If you’re writing a monthly message from the CEO, for instance, a compelling lead is like a promise to readers that it’s worth their time. It motivates them to continue reading.

“A well-told promise is like a pebble being pulled back in a sling shot that propels you through the story to the end,” says Stanton.

Invoke wonder. In other words, inspire. Help employees see the bigger picture. Highlight strategies, projects and teams that are examples of how the company is innovating or making a difference. Find those stories and tell them. 

Use what you know. Connecting with your audience is the secret to effective communication. And that starts with how you, as the writer, personally feel about the topic you're communicating about. When you sit down to write, ask yourself: What is it about this subject that’s interesting to me? How does it make me feel? When you’re in tune with your personal feelings about the topic, you can craft the communication in a way that’s more likely to connect with your audience.

Certainly corporate writing will never be the equivalent of a blockbuster screenplay.

But it doesn’t have to be dry and boring. And most of all, it shouldn’t be spin. If it’s genuine and done well, it can create a sense of meaning for employees who work hard and give of themselves every day. And in my mind, helping them understand how their work connects to something larger is a worthwhile endeavor.

Agree? Disagree? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

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Fri, 04 Jan 2013 01:03:00 -0800 What Corporate Communicators Can Learn from the Fiscal Cliff Debate http://melissatizon.posterous.com/what-corporate-communicators-can-learn-from-t http://melissatizon.posterous.com/what-corporate-communicators-can-learn-from-t

While I’m not sure there were any clear winners in the recent fiscal cliff debate, I give the most points for message discipline to Team Obama.

Whatever your politics, I think any professional communicator would agree that -- at least on this issue -- the White House demonstrated the classic fundamentals of message strategy:

1.     Be relevant
2.     Appeal to reason
3.     Keep it simple
4.     Be consistent

They boiled down an otherwise complex tax plan to two simple ideas:

  • No tax hikes for the middle class
  • The wealthiest two percent of Americans would be asked to pay more

The message was relatable and reasonable for many middle class Americans. Case in point: Look how many people jumped on the band wagon of the White House’s social media #My2K Twitter campaign in which middle class Americans were asked what they would do with a $2,000 tax savings.

And in terms of consistency, the president hasn’t wavered from this position since he first hit the campaign trail in 2008.  

Breaking Through the Clutter Requires Discipline

With all the noise that competes for the public’s attention on any given day, it takes tremendous discipline to break through the clutter and deliver messages that are heard let alone resonate. By my scorecard, the Obama Administration did that more effectively than their Republican counterparts.

Those two simple messages weren’t knock out punches by any means. But the precision and consistency left their opponents wobbly.

As communicators, pushing the C-suite to distill an issue down to its simplest form is some times the hardest task and keeping everyone on message even harder.

That’s why seeing message discipline in action, like we did from the White House in recent weeks, can be a helpful lesson for communicators in the trenches.   

Obama Stumbles on Message As Often As He Succeeds

And by the way, Obama doesn’t win every round when it comes to message discipline. Look at the second debate of the presidential election this fall when he was anything but “on message” or the complete lack of message during the health-care reform debates in the summer 2010.

Professional communicators can learn from the president’s messaging missteps just as much as we can from his successes. 

Of course, the fiscal cliff debate isn't over yet. We'll see how he does in the next round over the debt ceiling. 

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Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:08:00 -0800 Spotify, you complete me! Three reasons why. http://melissatizon.posterous.com/spotify-you-complete-me-three-reasons-why http://melissatizon.posterous.com/spotify-you-complete-me-three-reasons-why


I love the whole process of discovering new music. Always have.

Growing up, I could spend hours at a record store flipping through bin after bin of albums. Then, in college, it was all about sitting around a dorm with roommates playing obscure tracks for one another on a CD player.

In more recent years, technology has opened up a whole new way to discover new music.  First, there was satellite radio. Then there were music services, like iTunes, Pandora, even Shazam … and I’ve loved them all.

But I have to say my favorite music service of all time is Spotify. Here are three reasons why:

  1. Practically every song ever recorded is available within literally seconds (Spotify has access to a library of something like 13 million tracks) 
  2. You can share music with friends by creating playlists and making them viewable on Facebook
  3. Likewise, you can discover what your friends are listening to by checking out their playlists

I also like the ability to see what people I don’t even know are listening to. The site www.sharemyplaylists.com gives you access to some awesome playlists created by regular people who appreciate good music.

It’s an amazing new way to get songs whenever you’re in the mood and share music with friends. It sure beats the days of having to drive to a record store and waiting until you get home before you can rip open the album and start listening to it. And even though I’ll always reminisce about dorm life with college friends, sharing music with them via Facebook is not a bad way to keep the nostalgia alive.

Check out these links and tell me what you think:

 

 

 

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Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:43:00 -0700 Social Media Compass: How to Navigate the Legal, Privacy and HR Implications of the Digital Age http://melissatizon.posterous.com/social-media-compass-how-to-navigate-the-lega http://melissatizon.posterous.com/social-media-compass-how-to-navigate-the-lega

PRSA's Connecting for a Cause 
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center
Register Online 

 

Do you work for a nonprofit that embraces social media? Or is your organization more reticent, concerned about a potential risk to reputation and privacy? Regardless of which camp you’re in, a clear social-media policy is a must for every organization. If your nonprofit doesn’t have one yet, be sure to join us Nov. 16 to hear from one of the leading experts in corporate cyber security.

 

Christopher Burgess is an international security advisor and regular contributor to the Huffington Post. He’ll share common sense tips for mitigating risk on social media through clear company policy and internal education and communication. Even if your nonprofit already has a social-media policy in place, his presentation is one you won’t want to miss. Get a preview by checking out this Huff Post blog.

 

We’ll also have a dozen other speakers presenting throughout the day as part of PRSA’s annual Connecting for a Cause. Hope to see you there.

 

 

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Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:18:30 -0700 New Roles in Communication: The Advent of the Social Media Community Manager http://melissatizon.posterous.com/new-roles-in-communication-the-advent-of-the http://melissatizon.posterous.com/new-roles-in-communication-the-advent-of-the

PRSA's Connecting for a Cause 
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center
Register Online 

These are exciting times to be in the field of PR and communications. Technology has made us completely re-think the way we communicate and interact with the public. It's a two-way street now, no longer a one-way conversation. We can get feedback real-time and have an actual dialogue with our customers thanks to social media.

The sea change has resulted in new roles, responsibilities and job descriptions in the PR field, one of the most interesting being the advent of "social-media community managers." These are the folks behind the branded Twitter or Facebook page, the people who monitor the dialogue on social media on behalf of a company. They listen to the chatter, chime in, make new friends and start new conversations. They make sure the higher ups in the company know what's being said so they can respond as needed, and when customer-service issues surface on social media channels, they help facilitate a solution on behalf of the customer.

It's a fascinating new role. But how do you do it well? To get the answer to that question, we asked Madeline Moy, the person behind social media at the Seattle Art Museum to tell us how she does it. She'll be presenting Nov. 16 at PRSA's 20th annual Connecting for a Cause and will share tips and insight on how she's put a human face to the museum and harnessed social media to create a sense of community and excitement around new things the museum is doing. The Seattle Art Museum is a local leader in the use of social media in the arts, and we're very excited to learn from them.

Madeline is one of about a dozen speakers who will be sharing their insights and expertise on various techniques and new trends in PR and marketing communications. If you work in the nonprofit or public sector, we hope you'll join us for this event. We have a great line up in store.

Related Posts:
http://melissatizon.posterous.com/connecting-for-a-cause-announcing-this-years

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Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:07:00 -0700 Connecting for a Cause: Announcing This Year's Line Up http://melissatizon.posterous.com/connecting-for-a-cause-announcing-this-years http://melissatizon.posterous.com/connecting-for-a-cause-announcing-this-years

Hard to believe that Connecting for a Cause is now in it's 20th year! One of my mentors, PR veteran Marilyn Hawkins, was one of the original founders of the event and I remember her once telling me that she started the seminar because she believed nonprofits needed resources and support to help them learn effective ways to get the word out about their causes. Today, Connecting for a Cause is a hallmark event for the Puget Sound chapter of PRSA and is held up as a model nationally for how PRSA chapters can serve their community. 

Over the years, we've tried to keep the event forward thinking so that nonprofits can learn about the latest, most promising trends in the field, and we've certainly done that again this year.  We've tried to keep the content timely and relevant with sessions, such as:

  • How to Gain Support from Corporate Sponsors -- Even in a Down Economy
  • Social Media Compass: How to Navigate the Legal, Privacy and HR Implications of the Digital Age
  • New Roles in Communications: The Social Media Community Manager
  • The New Influentials: The Power of Hyperlocal Blogs and Ethnic Media 

I'm super excited about the content. I think this year's program will make Marilyn Hawkins proud.

Wednesday, Nov. 16
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center
Register Online 

SCHEDULE 

8:30-9 a.m. 
Breakfast and Welcome

9-9:50 a.m. 
How to Tell Your Nonprofit Story and Motivate People to Action
Brian Calvert, Virtual Vino Live, briancalvertonline.com  

10-10:45 a.m.
Breakout Session (Select One)

Media Pitching: Tips to Help You Hit a Home Run
Jackie Coe, Bellevue School District
Norm Mah, KOMO TV

Social Media Compass: How to Navigate the Legal, Privacy and HR Implications of the Digital Age
Chris Burgess, Atigeo  

11-11:45 a.m.
Breakout Session (Select One)

Shooting Video for the Web: Secrets from a Pro
Jai Suh, Creative Media Alliance

The New Influentials: The Power of Hyperlocal Blogs and Ethnic Media
Chris Bennett, Seattle Medium 

Noon-1 p.m.
Lunch and Media Panel
Kyle Moore, Seattle Fire Department

1:15-2 p.m.

Breakout Session (Select One)
25 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Nonprofit Web Site
Tim Lorang, Image Media

Developing and living your nonprofit brand
Dave Miller, Stoke Strategy 

2-2:50 p.m.
Breakout Session (Select One)
New Roles in Communications: The Social Media Communication Manager
Madeline Moy, Seattle Art Museum

How to Gain Support from Corporate Sponsors – Even in a Down Economy
Jane Kuechle, Kuechle Consulting

3-3:45 p.m.

What Separates the Successful Nonprofit from Everyone Else: Observations from an Industry Expert
Clay Holtzman, Nonprofit Kingdom and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

3:45-4 p.m.
WRAP UP

 

 

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Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:13:00 -0700 Our social media program featured in Ragan's Health Care Communications News http://melissatizon.posterous.com/our-social-media-program-featured-in-ragans-h http://melissatizon.posterous.com/our-social-media-program-featured-in-ragans-h

I recently had a chance to recap some of our latest social media efforts during this interview with Russell Working of Ragan Communications. For me, it was a chance to take stock of just how much we've done this year, including trying some new things like a blog for our union contract negotiations. It also reminded me of how lucky I am to 1.) work for an organization that embraces transparency and is open to new forms of communications and 2.) work with a team of people who bring energy, passion and creativity to exploring the role of social media in health-care communications in real, practical ways. Read the full article

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Sun, 17 Apr 2011 17:30:00 -0700 Observations: How We're Using Social Media at Swedish http://melissatizon.posterous.com/observations-how-were-using-social-media-at-s http://melissatizon.posterous.com/observations-how-were-using-social-media-at-s

Earlier this year, marketing consulting Eric Brody invited me to participate in his Healthy Conversations blog. He asked me to share my thoughts on the role of social media in health care. Being passionate about this topic, I was more than happy to oblige. Read the complete blog post here. Thank you, Eric, for the opportunity to opine. 

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Sat, 30 Oct 2010 10:13:00 -0700 Everyone needs a social media role model. One of mine is speaking Nov. 10. http://melissatizon.posterous.com/everyone-needs-a-social-media-role-model-mine http://melissatizon.posterous.com/everyone-needs-a-social-media-role-model-mine
PRSA's Connecting for a Cause
Wednesday, Nov. 10
8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Seattle Center, Northwest Room

View the line-up and schedule

For the last year and a half, I've been feeling my way around social media, trying to figure out how my nonprofit organization, Swedish, can be involved in it, what my role as a corporate voice for Swedish should be, and how to interact and engage with the community. It's a brave new world, and there's advice galore out there. But when it comes right down to it, every organization needs to find their own way, find their own unique voice. And like any journey in life, it always helps to have role models.

One of my social media role models is Evonne Benedict (aka @gabbycat) of KING 5 News. (Evonne, if you're reading this, you're probably having a good laugh right now. But it's true.) Just by watching her on Twitter and Facebook, I've had a chance to see how she "works the crowd" on social media. Like a good hostess at a party, she draws people out, introduces them to one another and creates relationships both for herself and the station.

On Twitter, I've seen her toggle back and forth with ease between her official KING 5 account and her personal account. Somehow she always seems to know which conversation is most appropriate for which account, a skill I have still not figured out. Likewise, she always seems to know when it's time to take a conversation off line. It's fun to see her break stories on Twitter or sleuth out sources, ideas and info through her social media networks. She has a knack for selecting just the right things for KING5 to retweet, which are always interesting and often support others in the community. (I always feel pretty good about my skills as a tweeter whenever KING5 retweets something from Swedish.)

So now that I've embarrassed her enough, I am super excited that Evonne is speaking at PRSA's daylong seminar for nonprofits on Nov. 10. This is her first-ever speaking appearance on the topic of social media. She is speaking on a panel discussion called "Media Relations in the Digital Age." My friend and colleague Aaron Blank graciously agreed to organize and moderate this panel. He’s also recruited Linda Thomas of KIRO Radio who is another phenomenal voice on social media paving the way for others, and Paul Balcerak, a Web producer for KIRO TV and an active blogger whose exploring the boundaries of new media and journalism.

 

The nonprofit community is in for a real treat with this panel. It'll be a great opportunity to see how the news business has changed as a result of social media and how to work with reporters, editors and producers to raise awareness about your cause. This panel is one of many great sessions planned for Nov. 10. We have a terrific line up so if you work for a nonprofit and haven't signed up yet, please be sure to register this week. You won't want to miss it. Register online today.

 

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Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:01:00 -0700 Rallying Young People Around Your Cause: What Nonprofits Can Learn from WA Global Health Alliance & PATH http://melissatizon.posterous.com/rallying-young-people-around-your-cause-what http://melissatizon.posterous.com/rallying-young-people-around-your-cause-what

PRSA's Connecting for a Cause 

Wednesday, Nov. 10 

Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center

8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

View the line-up and schedule

 

 

Of all the community events that took place this year, one that caught my attention was fundraiser for PATH called Party with a Purpose. This event stood out to me because it specifically targeted 20- and 30-somethings, a demographic that doesn't tend to have a lot of money, but does have a lot of energy, passion and idealism for changing the world (Think 2008 presidential elections. This is the same age group that got Barack Obama elected.) I was fortunate enough to attend the event in June and was blown away by the more than sold-out crowd, the dollars raised and the media attention around it. It got me thinking: how did the Washington Global Health Alliance pull off such a phenomenal event, and more important, how did they get this age group engaged?

 

In lining up speakers for PRSA's Connecting for a Cause, an annual seminar for nonprofits, I asked Kristen Eddings of the Washington Global Health Alliance to come talk about how they did it. I think all of us in the nonprofit world can learn from their experience. I'm really looking forward to hearing what she has to say. The younger generation may not be big donors right now, but what they lack in financial resources they can certainly make up for in terms of volunteering their time and energy and helping to raise awareness about important causes. And someday, they may very well become major donors ...

 

The Washington Global Health Alliance is just one of many organizations coming out to share their expertise with the nonprofit community on Nov. 10. They are part of a fantastic line-up that also includes Shauna Causey of Ant's Eye View, Evonne Benedict of KING TV, Chris Pirillo of Gnomedex, Linda Thomas of KIRO Radio and many, many more. If you work for a nonprofit, don't miss the event. It's a chance to get tips, ideas and inspiration for promoting your nonprofit mission.

 

Register today .

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Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:18:00 -0700 Why I Volunteer for PRSA's Annual Nonprofit Event; This Year's Event is Nov. 10 http://melissatizon.posterous.com/why-i-volunteer-for-prsas-annual-nonprofit-ev http://melissatizon.posterous.com/why-i-volunteer-for-prsas-annual-nonprofit-ev

PRSA's Connecting for a Cause
Wednesday, Nov. 10
Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center
8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
View the line-up and schedule

PRSA Puget Sound's Connecting for a Cause is now in its 19th year. The event serves as a resource for local nonprofits, helping them stay abreast of new ways to raise awareness about their causes and  missions. For many nonprofits, which typically have limited budget and resources, this is often their only opportunity during the year for career development and PR/marketing education.

I attended my first Connecting for a Cause when I started at Swedish, a nonprofit health system, in 1998 and began volunteering on the planning committee five years ago. Coordinating an all-day seminar like this one is not an insignicant task, but it's something I've found extremely rewarding and well worth my time. Every year, I personally come away from the event, having learned something new. And in this day and age, when the media landscape is changing so rapidly, it's ever more important to stay on top of the newest thinking, techniques and tools.

Also, it never ceases to amaze me how local PR professionals are so willing to give of their time to speak at this event and share their expertise with the nonprofit community. In my five years of recruiting speakers, I have only had two or three people decline the invitation to speak and that was because of immovable conflicts. To me, it's a reflection of how much support there is for the nonprofit community of Greater Seattle.

This year, we have an outstanding line-up of speakers, including some well known local voices in social media, such as Chris Pirillo and Shauna Causey, as well as members of the mainstream media,  including Linda Thomas of KIRO Radio, Evonne Benedict of KING TV and Chuck Taylor of the Everett Herald. If you work for a nonprofit, I hope you'll take advantage of this great day-long resource that PRSA makes available to all of us. Register today. Hope to see you there.

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Sat, 23 Oct 2010 10:16:00 -0700 Don't Miss PRSA's Annual Nonprofit Seminar Nov. 10 http://melissatizon.posterous.com/dont-miss-prsas-annual-nonprofit-seminar-nov http://melissatizon.posterous.com/dont-miss-prsas-annual-nonprofit-seminar-nov
Don’t miss the 19th annual “Connecting for a Cause” on Nov. 10 at the Seattle Center. There’s a great line-up in store! Learn how to make social media work for your nonprofit. Get up to speed on media relations in the digital age. Hear from a local e-metrics expert about how to measure your success online. Find out how other nonprofits are getting maximum PR exposure despite limited resources. Plus much more.

This year’s presenters include Chris Pirillo of Lockergnome, Shauna Causey of Ant’s Eye View, Kristen Eddings of PATH and the Washington Global Health Alliance, Melody Biringer of Crave Seattle, Chuck Taylor of the Everett Herald, Evonne Benedict of KING TV, Linda Thomas of KIRO Radio, Laura Kimball of Jolkona, Aaron Blank of The Fearey Group, Melissa Tizon and Dana Lewis of Swedish and many more.

Wednesday, Nov. 10

8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

Northwest Rooms, Seattle Center

 

Register here: http://asi-seattle.com/prsa1/register.php

 

SCHEDULE

 

8:30-9 a.m.

Breakfast and Welcome

 

9-9:50 a.m.

Make Social Media Work for Your Nonprofit: Tips from a Geek

Chris Pirillo, Lockergnome

 

10-10:45 a.m.

Breakout Session (Select One)

 

How to Write for an Online Audience

  • Chuck Taylor, The Everett Herald

E-metrics: Measure Your Success Online

  • Anil Batra, POP Multimedia

11-11:45 a.m.

Breakout Session (Select One)

 

How to Manage Volunteers and Interns for Your PR Efforts

  • Melody Biringer, CRAVE
  • Laura Kimball, Jolkona 
  • Moderator: Nikki Balcerak , Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce

Engaging 20- and 30-Somethings: Rallying Young People Around Your Cause

  • Kristen Eddings, PATH and the Washington Global Health Alliance

Noon to 1 p.m.

Lunch and Media Panel

 

Media Relations in the Digital Age

  • Linda Thomas, KIRO Radio
  • Paul Balcerak, KIRO TV
  • Evonne Benedict, KING TV
  • Aaron Blank, The Fearey Group

1:15-2 p.m.

Breakout Session (Select One)

 

Creating Online Community

  • Melissa Tizon and Dana Lewis, Swedish

Nonprofit Makeover: Fresh Ideas from Fundraising to the Web

  • Bridget Perez, Tray Creative

2:15-3 p.m.

45 Ideas in 45 Minutes

  • Shauna Causey, Ant’s Eye View

3-3:15 p.m.

Wrap Up

 

Register here: http://asi-seattle.com/prsa1/register.php

Visit PRSA Puget Sound's calendar listings: http://www.prsapugetsound.org/Page.aspx?nid=35&date=11%2F10%2F2010

 

Cost: $85 PRSA members; $95 PRSA non-members; includes continental breakfast and lunch

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