FPRA Meeting Recap – Sept. 1st
1) Welcome, Introduction of Executive Board & Attendance
2) Announcements
a) Check out our parent chapters: http://www.fpra-capital.org and http://www.fpra.org.
b) Career Center and Seminole Future Ambassador Program – Nancy
- Looking for volunteers for their upcoming career fair
-Great networking opportunity! E-mail Nancy at: nfriedman@admin.fsu.edu
c) Forms and Dues
- Submit your membership form with your dues check
- Resume suggested, but NOT required
- Check “Student” on bottom right of first page
- Checks made out to “FPRA” or “Florida Public Relations Association”
***DUE SEPTEMBER 29 (3rd Meeting)***
- If not paid by September 29, you will be removed from the e-mail list and ineligible to participate in semester trips
- If there are special circumstances, please see an Executive Board member
d) What’s included in dues?
- Capital chapter: monthly luncheons, committee involvement opportunities, networking
- Student chapter: internship/job opportunities, student mentor program, PR Week subscription, committee involvement opportunities, socials, professional development trips, bi-weekly speakers on trending industry news, networking, in-town agency visits, access to networking database
e) Dues Scholarship
- FPRA Executive Board will vote on ONE member to receive a $45 dues scholarship for the fall semester.
- **Write a one-page press release about tonight’s meeting (9/1)**
***E-mail to fprastudent@gmail.com by WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8***
- Title e-mail “FPRA Dues Scholarship”
f) Capital Chapter Luncheons
- Next meeting: September 16, FSU Alumni Center
g) Logo Contest
- Our chapter is open to ALL Tallahassee students and professionals, not just FSU
- Design a new logo for FPRA Student Capital Chapter.
- E-mail to fprastudent@gmail.com by SEPTEMBER 28
- Chapter will vote on new logo
- Winner receives: $75 trip allowance, free t-shirt, design featured on all FPRA materials
h) Social Committee
- Responsibilities: plan end-of-semester parties, 2-3 social events throughout semester
- E-mail fprastudent@gmail.com by SEPTEMBER 8 with reasons you are interested and some ideas you have–be creative! Committee will be announced at the next meeting (9/15).
i) Visit our blog (http://fprastudent.wordpress.com), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/FPRAStudent), Twitter (http://twitter.com/FPRAstudent) and Foursquare (http://foursquare.com/venue/8432762).
j) Featured member of the week: Kati Hyer (http://fprafeaturedmember.wordpress.com)
- Nominate your friends or yourself to be featured by e-mailing fprablog@gmail.com.
k) Fall Meeting Dates: 9/15, 9/29, 10/3, 10/27, 11/10, 12/1, 12/8 (Social), 11/17-19 (Trip dates)
Guest Speaker
a) Ivette Marques – “Career Path & Media Relations”
b) Communications Director, Kidd Group
c) FPRA Capital Chapter President
- Ivette said she enjoys agency work because it allows you to work on numerous different activities (planning events, new business clients, etc.).
- Her favorite PR experience so far: Working for the “Adoption Florida” campaign, producing a 30-minute TV special. She won an EMMY!
- Ivette defended PR from the reality show “Spin Doctors.” She stressed the importance of abiding by the FPRA Code of Ethics and the extensive ethics training you endure when you become accredited in PR (APR).
Tips for finding an internship:
- NETWORKING! Meet as many professionals as you can; contacts will come in handy when searching for an internship or job.
- Attend Capital Chapter monthly meetings! At 11:30, networking begins. Don’t be shy! Branch out, and introduce yourself.
- Make business cards: put your contact information on them!
Ivette’s opinion on the best way to communicate with the media:
- E-mail is usually preferred.
- Make sure your pitch is very tailored to their type of reporting.
- DO YOUR RESEARCH!
- Be proactive, yet not “stalkerish.”
- Have tough skin. Sometimes reporters can be rude!
Manage client expectations:
- Never overpromise! You might not be able to deliver.
How to market yourself if you don’t have much experience:
- Find internships on campus.
- Volunteer for up-and-coming small businesses.
- Build your resume.
- Be self-motivated.
Having a balance between social media personally/professionally:
- If you wouldn’t post it on a billboard, you shouldn’t post it on Facebook.
- As someone who represents businesses, ultimately anything you post personally is a reflection of the business.
Most important skill in PR: WRITING!!!
-It’s not just press release, it’s op-eds, proposals, RFP (requests for proposals)
Last tip from Ivette: Stay ahead of all trends!
- Keep up-to-date with the latest tools in PR.
See you at our next meeting!
Wednesday, September 15 at 7 p.m. in HCB 215!
