best lesson learned in PR Take time to keep up with technology. It’s impacting public relations in strange and delightful ways.
advice to a new PR pro Continually hone your writing skills.
secrets to success in PR So many times in my profession I’ve been faced with ethical choices. Ultimately, success comes from knowing
yourself and your standards. If you fail to live up to those, then you’ve failed — period.
hobbies Believe it or not, I get great enjoyment and total stress relief by digging in
the earth! I love to plant flowers and then nurture them. That and a great
kickboxing class leave me in perfect peace.
I am a part of Greater Fort Worth PRSA because I want to give back to the profession. I really believe that we need to mentor
the next generation of PR practitioners, and being involved is a way that I can
contribute to that.
this much I know You truly grow old when you stop learning.
furthermore I love a wry sense of humor, and my clients enjoy that twinkle in my eye. If you
can’t laugh, why bother?
To be featured in the GFW PRSA Member Spotlight, e-mail your responses and a
photo to lauravanhoosier@msn.com.
NEW MEMBERS
PRSA ... AmyJo Measles, Casa Mañana
IABC ... Sara Reynolds ... Cynthia Cuellar ... Melyssa Prince
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Laura Van Hoosier, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
Hard to believe we’re already writing about our March program and finalizing the April meeting. But
before February slips too far away, thank you, Lauren Burkett, professional development chair, for organizing Geoff Livingston’s presentation. He had the room speechless with his social media lingo and the
vast capabilities we now have in new media. The Masters SIG enjoyed one-on-one
time with Geoff the night he arrived, and a special thanks to Joan Hunter and Donna Darovich for putting that together.
I want to again express appreciation to Dr. Julie O’Neil and the ad/PR division of the TCU Schieffer School of Journalism for partnering
with us on Geoff’s appearance. Thanks, also, to Jahnae Stout for organizing Pro-Am Day.
Still in February, I think I know where Richie and Tom were (see photo, p. 2), and I’m hoping I’ll also see them and you at the Southwest District Conference in Little Rock in
April. Our Arkansas colleagues have crafted an amazing, and very affordable,
program.
Now let’s march on to March. Our March 12 program will offer insights on this hallmark
election from longtime political expert Allan Saxe. Speaking of good guys, I recently heard Star-Telegram columnist Bob Ray Sanders deliver the most thought-provoking, passionate and inspiring speech. He made me
proud to live in a world where we all have the opportunity to make a difference
in people’s lives.
On that note, I hope you’ll consider being a part of our volunteer work through May on behalf of the More
Life Festival. You’ll be glad you did.
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Betsy Deck, IABC Fort Worth
I am pleased to report that three of your board members attended the Leadership
Institute in San Antonio last month. The conference connects IABC leaders from
around the world for 2 1/2 days of best-practice sharing, development and fun.
I gained so many ideas on how we can continually improve IABC Fort Worth and
provide members the best experience possible.
Our regional governing body reports that we are financially sound and that it is
planning programs such as accreditation assistance and Traveling Circus to
assist chapters. I look forward to sharing these programs with the membership.
After a successful Worldwide Membership Month, the IABC Fort Worth roster stands
at 56 actives, including nine members who either joined (Sara Reynolds, Cynthia Cuellar, Melyssa Prince) or renewed (Chrissy Heinke, Heather Short, Laurie Korinek, Kimberly Bird, Liesl Logan, Mike Agnello) in February. The new members are in a drawing for their choice of a free
luncheon or $25 Target gift card.
Some great speed networking will be going on Thursday, March 6, starting at 6:30
p.m., at the Ginger Man in Fort Worth. Thanks to Cheryl Hart and Mike Agnello for coordinating the event. And the Bronze Quill call for entries goes out this
month. Info on p. 2 covers judging sessions we will conduct for other chapters
(which gives us a chance to see what works and what doesn’t for IABCers elsewhere).
Thanks for being a part of IABC!
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OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
Tom Blanton couches a sobering message of government secrecy in a most engaging manner, and
your chance to hear him speak comes around how many times? How about once.
Blanton heads the National Security Archive, which collects and publishes declassified documents obtained through the
Freedom of Information Act. He has tales to tell, and they’ll tumble forth at our 5th annual First Amendment Awards and Scholarship Dinner,
April 11 at Cacharel in Arlington. Proceeds benefit journalism scholarships.
Like you should need an incentive. ...
Magnificent. Best thing we ever did. Tremendous interaction. Yin and yang with a
twang. OK, OK, the Careers in Journalism/Mass Communication Conference, a Feb. 16 production of SPJ
and the TCU Schieffer School of Journalism, was a smash hit. Sixteen
presenters, 70 students, nary a discouraging word. Photos next month. Good
partnership, great results. ...
Quick, name a Tarrant County 501(c)(3) where, when you donate, the development
director calls to say thank you. Is this common? It happened to me recently
after a transaction with the Presbyterian Night Shelter. PRSA member Lyndsay Hoover is a class-act advocate for the homeless. They’re fortunate she’s working for them. Yeah, I’ll give again. She’s one reason why. ...
SPJ’s Region 8 and Region 12 are teaming to offer journalists and j-students in
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas a combined
Spring Conference, March 28-29 in New Orleans at the Maison Saint Charles
(Quality Inns & Suties), 1319 St. Charles Ave. The highlight for students attending will be
presentation of the Mark of Excellence Awards for college journalism.
Registration is $45 students, $75 SPJ members and $95 nonmembers. Rooms are $89
per night based on double occupancy; call 800-831-1783 for reservations.
More here. ...
Each year, SPJ welcomes nominations of journalists or news organizations that
have shown distinguished ethics in their work. SPJ’s National Ethics Committee, which reviews nominations and recommends a winner,
wants to hear from you by March 15. More at SPJ’s ethics web page. ...
People are living longer, working harder and anticipating a higher quality of
life as they age. The Knight Center for Specialized Journalism will look at these issues in a seminar, April 6-11, on trends in aging, the
coming retirement tsunami, health issues and more. Applications are invited
from print, broadcast, online and citizen journalists. Cost: Free. ...
“President Bush has no better friends than the spineless Democratic congressional leadership and the party’s leading presidential candidates when it comes to his failing Iraq policy.
Those Democrats seem to have forgotten that the American people want U.S.
troops out of Iraq, especially since Bush still cannot give a credible reason
for attacking Iraq after nearly five years of war.” And that’s just for starters, from the ageless Helen Thomas, the only real reporter left in D.C.
Closing words: “The theater is an angel with feet tied to bags of gold. You can’t move without money. It’s much better to be a writer. You just need a room.” — poet and essayist May Sarton
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