by PRSA Kansas | Mar 12, 2020 | Food for thought
During times of uncertainty, it’s no secret that employers turn to its PR and communication professionals to help ease tensions and navigate next steps. Take advantage of the resources and articles below to help in your internal and external communication efforts.
Interim Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Advice and Resources from PR Daily
Tips from PR Week
Sedgwick County Information
CDC Information on Preparing for a Large Event
Recommended practices to implement in your organization:
- Wash your hands properly and often – sing the 20-second chorus to these songs
- Make hand sanitizers available in all heavily trafficked areas
- Disinfect often-touched items: elevator buttons, phones, door handles, etc.
- Create a plan for continuity if workers need to work remote
- Urge employees who aren’t feeling well to stay home and seek medical attention when necessary
The PRSA communities is another great resource for PR pros researching the coronavirus. As a member benefit of PRSA, the online communities allow members to post resources, share ideas and network. There were several threads about the coronavirus in the PRSA forums, one in the crisis communication community and one in the open forum community. You must be a PRSA member to access the links. Members shared plans, posted tips for internal and external communication and other information.
by PRSA Kansas | Feb 6, 2020 | Food for thought, Uncategorized
Written by Rachel Bell
Director of Business Services and Customer Relations
Kansas Turnpike Authority
My daughter just turned 14 which means she’s eligible to take the test for a learner’s permit. To help apply what she’s learning to real life, I’ve been pointing out driving behaviors whenever we are in the car. As I’ve been teaching her, it has occurred to me that driving is like good communication.
- Be clear about your intentions. In driving, we use our turn signals and brake lights to tell other drivers where we are heading. In communication, we must clearly state what we need the audience to know. In this fast-paced society, most audiences do not have time for the prose and no one wants to hear corporate speak fluff.
- Use your tools wisely. Don’t leave your blinker on or honk your horn unless absolutely needed. In good communication, we must choose the tools that are effective to get our message out.
- Anticipate the actions of others. On the roadway, this is called defensive driving. In communication, it helps shape key messages and reflects positively on you and your organization. What do you want your audience to know and, more importantly, what do they need to know?
- Agree upon rules (goals). We have traffic laws that are mutually agreed upon or you won’t receive a driver’s license. Good communication also involves clearly understanding and agreeing upon the rules (goals) within your or your clients’ organizations. What are you trying to accomplish? On the roadway, you want to get to your destination safely and on time. In communication, you want to avoid being blindsided.
In communication and public relations, you’re never done learning. Join PRSA Kansas to accelerate your learning, network and advance the PR profession. Learn more on the PRSA Kansas membership page.
by PRSA Kansas | Jan 29, 2019 | Food for thought
By Susan Dyer, At-Large Director
Thank you to those of you who filled out our fall survey. PRSA’s mission is to “make communications professionals smarter, better prepared and more connected through all stages of their career,” and your survey feedback will help our chapter provide value to PR pros in Kansas. Last year, we told you we’d be more transparent and honest with you, so we’re sharing the survey results here.
This infographic gives an overview. Scroll down to read the full results.
Full Survey Results
How long have you been in the Communications field?
0% Less than 5 years
8% 5-10 years
76% 10+ years
16% 25+ years
Which best describes your organization?
38% Nonprofit/Association
19% Academia
15% Agency
15% Corporate
8% Government
4% Freelance
What industry are you in?
15% Education
15% Agency with serving several industries
15% Social Services
12% Travel/Tourism
12% Financial/Insurance
12% Government
4% Health Care/Hospital
4% Law Enforcement/Safety
4% Manufacturing
7% Other: Retail, Business Association
0% Entertainment/Sports; Food; Energy/Utilities; Mass Media/Publication; Technology
Which topics would you like to learn more about during events/meetings? Percent of respondents who chose topic as first, second or third choice.
73% Emerging trends/technology
58% Measurement/data analytics
54% Content creation
42% Storytelling
42% Brand/reputation management
19% Crisis management
27% Media relations
19% Advancing your career
Other topics not listed: Communication law and ethics–new issues
Which time works best for you to attend events/meetings?
81% Lunch
8% After work
0% Morning
11% Other (weekends, during work hours, lunch or after work)
What is your preferred format for meetings? Choose all that apply.
96% Meal with speaker
31% Networking/social
23% Group webinar
8% Other (conference, speaker or webinar)
How often should we have meetings/events?
62% Monthly
19% Every other month
12% Quarterly
8% Other (monthly supplemented by other activities, monthly but change format)
Which month(s) are you most likely to attend meetings? (In order of most votes).
92% October
85% April
77% February
73% January
73% March
73% August
73% November
69% May
65% September
54% June
46% December
42% July
How much are you willing to pay for a lunch meeting with a program?
35% $18 members/$28 non-members
42% $20 members/$30 non-members
8% $25 members/$35 non-members
15% Other
Which best describes you?
69% I am a current member of PRSA
19% I am a former member of PRSA
12% I have never been a member of PRSA
If former member or never been a member, why not?
27% Too expensive
18% Little value
9% I let my membership lapse
45% Other
Comments:
Member of IABC; little value to a veteran practitioners; Clients didn’t appreciate the need for an APR, which became expensive to maintain.
If current member of PRSA, would you recommend becoming a member of PRSA?
71% Yes
0% No
14% Not sure
14% Other:
Comments: I would absolutely encourage people to join our local chapter, which means, sadly, they have to join national, too. I think there is much more value in the local chapter than national.
What is the most important reason to join or stay in PRSA?
36% Monthly meetings
28% Networking
16% Educational training through PRSA webinars and conferences
12% Career advancement and certification
8% Other
Comments:
I don’t have just one reason …I appreciate the learning opportunities at the monthly meetings and development day, the friendships with others who work in communications and the knowledge they share and it’s also challenging because it provides the chance to get out of my comfort zone and try and learn new things.
Both monthly meetings and networking with other pros.
Contact Susan: [email protected] / LinkedIn
by PRSA Kansas | Sep 20, 2018 | Uncategorized
The Kansas Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America hosts an annual Professional Development Event to educate communication professionals. This year we are excited to welcome Jane Dvorak, 2017 National PRSA President and Silver Anvil award-winner, as our keynote speaker. Jane is a high-energy, Denver-based freelance PR consultant whose knowledge and creativity will inspire us and help us do our jobs more efficiently.
This year’s Professional Development Day is October 23 at Mark Arts, 1307 N. Rock Road, from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
The event will be an exceptional and affordable way to showcase your organization before an audience of 75 public relations professionals. This year we also are extending intentional invitations to college students, knowing they will benefit from the wisdom and expertise in the room.
Sponsorship levels and benefits include:
- $500 – Four event tickets, logo placement on all materials/event recognition, ability to place marketing materials on all tables, opportunity to offer brief remarks. Two people from your business or organization also are invited to join Jane and others from the Kansas PRSA Chapter for dinner on Oct. 22, at your expense.
- $250 – Two event tickets, logo placement on all materials/event recognition, ability to place marketing materials on all tables, opportunity to offer brief remarks.
- $125 – One event ticket, logo placement on all pieces/event recognition.
In addition, we will have breakout sessions that include measurement/analytics and storytelling, as well as a new professional and student-focused career session.
For more details, or to become a sponsor contact Kathy Lefler, at (316) 269-0755 ext. 109, [email protected].
by PRSA Kansas | Jan 15, 2018 | Chapter events
By Heather Welch, PRSA Kansas Past President
It’s a new year, and we’re excited to bring another year of networking, learning and sharpening your PR skills. Our new board recently met and are tasked with developing goals for 2018. Once those are finalized, we’ll post them on this blog – as PR pros, we know the importance of being transparent and honest with our audiences.
In the meantime, let’s take a look back at 2017:
Members: We grew our chapter by more than 10 percent. Thank you to all our PRSA members – without you, our chapter would not exist! To our non-member PR friends, we hope you will consider joining PRSA this year. Please let us know how we can add value and serve you better!
Mentor program: We launched our mentoring program with the PRSSA Wichita State University Student Chapter. We have eight PRSA professional members paired up with a PRSSA student. This is an important way to promote our industry and keep our eye out for new talent. There’s still time to get involved. Contact Eric Wilson if you are interested.
Programming: Our monthly meetings covered everything from innovation, video, diversity, fake news and media relations, and many more topics. We coordinated a successful Professional Development Day with Southwest Airlines PR guru Chris Mainz, who told nearly 100 communicators how Southwest Airlines developed crisis communication strategies and a culture that empowers its employees to proactively handle issues and provide legendary customer service. Thanks to our sponsors Spirit Aerosystems, Elliott School of Communication, Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and Greteman Group.
Chapter website: We revamped our website! Thanks to Nye & Associates – Smarter Marketing, we’ve created a responsive website to better suit your changing needs. Our goal in 2018 is to provide more updates and communication via this blog.
To serve our member PR pros and friends better, we’re making a few changes in 2018. The most significant change is moving to six meetings per year, and adding six meet-ups and smaller get-togethers. As busy professionals, several members mentioned it was challenging to attend a monthly meeting. For those who benefit from networking and learning from your peers, we think the smaller programs on our “off” months will be just what you are looking for. Be watching for a schedule, and let us know your thoughts.
We’ll kick off our first meeting with a “New News Directors Panel” with Tom Shine (KMUW), Rachel Sommerfeld (KSN), and Kim Wilhelm (KWCH) on January 23. Hope to see you there!
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