The Best of the Mountains Awards Breakfast

Do you plan to enter a top performing project for a "Best of the Mountains 2010" award?

Gain a competitive edge on your competition by joining past and current top award winners in a breakfast round table discussion at Buncombe County Government Television offices on Thursday, August 12, from 7:30-9 a.m.

But get your RSVP in early to finance@prawnc.org. The training room reserved is currently limited to 24 seats offered on a first come, first served basis. And this year's submission guidelines are scheduled to be released August 10, just prior to this member event.

Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina members will share the experiences and best practices capturing top recognitions in our area's most prestigious communications awards competition. Sharing the perspectives and lessons they've learned are Jill Yarnall with UNC-Asheville; Judy Rhew Davidson and Kathy Hughes with Buncombe County Government; Rick Prudhomme with Pardee Hospital, and Brenda Murphree with Clear Point Marketing.

By special arrangement, Jennifer Perez with Park Ridge Hospital, will speak regarding the finer points of the PRAWNC rules and judging standards. All shareholders in the roundtable discussion will enjoy a loose structure, with a small number of guided questions for the round-table participants. Then, the floor will be opened to member questions and information sharing.

At the breakfast networking event, PRAWNC members and colleagues and newcomers will enjoy City Bakery's fresh-baked bagels with cream cheese, jam, and butter and pastries. Featured are the Biltmore Avenue establishment's famous cheddar scallion biscuits with butter and jam, followed by assorted fresh fruit, juice and coffee.

The Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina hosts "The Best of the Mountains Awards Breakfast" at Buncombe County Government Television in the training room at 199 College Street, downtown Asheville. The cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members, and includes City Bakery baked goods, fruit, and beverage. Metered parking is available on the street, or attendees may park in the County Parking Garage located between Carolina First Bank and Bank of America for $1 per hour.

For more information or to RSVP, visit prawnc.org, or email finance@prawnc.org.

PRAWNC hosts “A Toast to Spring” at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Raise a glass in “A Toast to Spring” with Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina as at its after-hours event at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar on Thursday, April 22, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

PRAWNC members and their guests will enjoy the opportunity to browse the exceptional collection of books, participate in semi-structured networking activities, and enjoy a white, red, and sparkling
wine plus a selection of meats and cheeses as they mark the welcome arrival of spring.

This year, PRAWNC members have much to celebrate. “Our members are excited, and the enthusiasm continues to grow,” says Sherri L. McLendon, president. “We are metaphorically planting the seeds for a healthy, sustainable Western North Carolina communications sector. We’ve got fertile ground for leading the industry in innovation and creativity in the profession. Just watch us grow!”

“The incredible buzz and upward trend-setting image of PRAWNC this year has been precedent setting,” says Rachel Miller, PRAWNC vice president. “This is our moment to do our part to enhance Western North Carolina’s economic growth and positioning by advancing and celebrating its communications professionals.”

Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina hosts “A Toast to Spring” at from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar on Thursday, April 22. The cost is $15 for members and guests and includes drinks and hors d’oevres. Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar is located at 1 Battle Square, Asheville. For more information or to RSVP, visit http://www.prawnc.org/, or email finance@prawnc.org.

Career Coffee enhances self-promotion for WNC communications professionals

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Communications professionals are invited to grow their careers through networking as the Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina initiates a Career Coffee on Tuesday, April 13, at 5:30 p.m. at Starbuck’s Coffee on Hendersonville Road. The free event repeats second Tuesdays monthly – though members may choose to indulge in a latte while honing their self-promotions strategies in the company of their peers.

“As base salaries and bonuses for public relations and media communications jobs in Western North Carolina decreased in 2009, and layoffs continue in the corporate sector, it becomes increasingly important to offer support for professionals who seek positions or who wish to grow their careers,” says Brian Jennings, the PRAWNC board member who spearheaded the informal event.

The Career Coffee is an informal opportunity for members of PRAWNC to meet to share information and job leads, test new self-promotions strategies, and find support for the challenges of the emerging economy in the face of rapid, wide-spread changes in the communications industry, says Sherri L. McLendon, PRAWNC president. “It’s a new era, and we need to ‘wake up and smell the coffee’.”

“Our organization offers a level of knowledge and expertise necessary to grow sustainable economy. As a storehouse of some of the nation’s best talent, we consider it a valuable benefit to members to have a network of this caliber in place. It’s not enough to simply attract top talent. We want to keep that talent happy, supported, and employed in Western North Carolina,” says McLendon.

Many seeking positions or growth may choose to re-specialize in a health care, consumer, or high tech/social media fields, which continued to hire in 2009, according to The Official PR Salary and Bonus Report (2010). The report, which was synopsized last week by Public Relations Society of America in a press release on March 26, found that average base salaries for corporate communications jobs decreased 11.3% in 2009, while PR agency base salaries decreased 10.6%. Both sub-sectors enjoyed an increase of 2.7% and 2.9% respectively in 2008. Additionally, health care costs rose for most employees.

PRAWNC debuts new member benefits, luncheon location

Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina closes the first quarter of 2010 with an annual membership drive ending March 31, highlighting improved member benefits and an anticipated change to its luncheon location.

"This year emerges as an exciting, energetic moment in the chronology of public relations and our organization," says Sherri L. McLendon, president. "Popular, scintillating topics, unprecedented networking strategies, social media integration, and the need for adaptive expertise have driven the PRAWNC board of directors to increase member benefits with an eye to best practice and a competitive edge."

New benefits for membership card holders include full access to PRAWNC's 2010 membership in the Asheville Chamber of Commerce. "We felt strongly our national quality talent pool deserves recognition in Asheville and throughout this region," says McLendon. For this reason, the board of directors made the decision to move quarterly luncheons to the chamber location, where PRAWNC will host speakers and conduct its regular business.

Improved member benefits include a range of "after-five" and evening events at a range of innovative venues, first in December 2009, at the Wine Studios of Asheville, and in February at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. "The response from our members to the semi-structured networking opportunity we provide remains exciting; we've seen a 35% increase in attendance at events since December," says McLendon.

Continued and extended benefits include reduced fees for luncheons and events (including the prestigious Best of the Mountains awards entries and ceremony), unsurpassed networking opportunities, free job and internship listings on the PRAWNC web site and on Linked In, access to the Linked In private member network and discussion group, and support for students and job seekers.

Currently, membership is $50 for practicing members, and $25 for student members. To become a member, one fills out a membership form (emailed as a link to current and prospective members) and chooses a preferred payment option. Thanks to electronic data submission, membership is almost instant. For more information or to join, industry professionals are encouraged to visit www.prawnc.org.

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Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina, or PRAWNC, is the region's premier professional organization for public relations, marketing, advertising and communications professionals since 1983. Learn more about PRAWNC at www.prawnc.org/.

PRAWNC is a 501C3 not-for-profit corporation providing practitioners with opportunities for education, collaboration, networking and professional excellence.

PRAWNC announces holiday gift memberships for communications professionals

Asheville, N.C. – Professional development, networking, and collaboration are assets each public
relations, advertising, and marketing professional offers employers in Western North Carolina. Now, thanks to the Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina, or PRAWNC, employers have an opportunity to return the favor.

Communications professionals will be delighted to find a special gift membership to PRAWNC under the office Christmas tree or holiday display, says Sherri McLendon, membership committee member.

As one-time special incentive, $50 memberships given as gifts to incoming public relations “stars” begin in January 2010, for a 25% increase in membership value. Currently, annual membership begins in March. University student memberships are also available at $25.

“To place creative communicators in like company only adds value to the entire corporation, the entire community,” says McLendon. “This gift is truly one which lends support to key public relations and marketing professionals now, and creates connections that may last a lifetime.”

Due to the promise of economic turnaround in 2010, PRAWNC also plans to extend the special offer to members whose dues are in arrears, bringing their membership current and welcoming them back into the organization.

“We’re all in this together,” says Betancourt. “We want each practitioner in Western North Carolina to be able to build a strong network ensuring individual as well as collective success. PRAWNC is committed to making exciting, meaningful connections possible for each of its members.”

New members receive a holiday card with notice of the gift and the giver. A personal letter of welcome from the president and a Certificate of Membership suitable for framing will arrive in January 2010. The limited offer becomes void after January 31, 2010.

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Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina, or PRAWNC, is the region’s premier professional organization for public relations, marketing, advertising and communications professionals since 1983. Learn more about PRAWNC at http://www.prawnc.org/.

PRAWNC is a 501C3 not-for-profit corporation providing practitioners with opportunities for education, collaboration, networking and professional excellence.

Social Media Hurting Writing And Thinking Skills for PR Professionals?

Musician John Mayer recently twittered "Suffering cerebral atrophy. Since I've been communicating in short pulses, I've been writing lyrics the same way." & "The single-serve idea is killing my writing. Laying off a little in the coming weeks. Need books, thoughts, a sequence of ideas that build."

Question--do you think that apps like Twitter, Facebook, Blogspot, etc. have taken a toll on your ability to write well?

Next Question--do you think that these apps have taken a toll on your ability to focus?

Let us know what you think?