Kent State Bateman team launches “Count Kent in a Flash” campaign

It’s an exciting week for the Kent State PRSSA Bateman team as we launch the Count Kent in a Flash campaign on behalf of the U.S. Census.

The national PRSSA Bateman competition encourages groups of public relations students to create and implement a public relations plan for a real-world client.  This year’s client is the U.S. Census Bureau.  Our Kent team has five members: Aubrey Haskins, Stephanie Mathias, Erin Orsini, Rachel Polchek and Katie Young.

The goal of this campaign is to inform Kent State and the Kent communities about the importance of the U.S. Census and to motivate Kent State students, faculty and staff, as well as Kent residents, to complete 2010 U.S. Census forms.

We’ll launch our campaign Wednesday, Feb. 10. The national U.S. Census Portrait of America Road Tour will stop at Kent State University from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the lobby of the Kent Student Center. You can check out the tour here. The tour is exhibiting at more than 800 events including the Super Bowl, Daytona 500 and the NCAA Final Four.

At the Kent State stop, attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about the census and how it benefits the university and Kent communities through census-themed activities, information tables and opportunities for giveaways and prizes. Census Bureau employees will be available to assist students in applying for testing for temporary 2010 Census jobs, which pay from $8.25 to $19.25 per hour.

Stop by to learn about the census– it’s important, easy and safe. Learn how you can help with Count Kent in a Flash campaign. It’s a chance to get real-life experience and build your resume. For more info, contact team member Rachel Polchek at rpolchek@kent.edu.

PRSSA Membership Dues

PRSSA Dues Want to become a PRSSA member? Spring semester membership fees are due Wednesday, Feb. 10. Please submit $50 in cash or check (made out to PRSSA Kent) to VP of Membership Brittany Wasko or any PRSSA officer. Dues can be turned in before the due date, but they must be submitted by the end of the general meeting on Feb. 10. If you paid dues last semester, you do not have to pay until Fall 2010. If you have any questions, contact bwasko@kent.edu for more information.

Help out the Kent State PRSSA Bateman Team

The Bateman team is launching its campaign this week, and they need one minute of your time today. Please answer five brief questions about the U.S. Census by midnight tonight. Just answer to your best ability.

Also, the team is recruiting volunteers to help with the campaign this month. If you are interested, contact one of the team members. It’s a chance to gain great PR experience!

Kent State PRSSA Bateman Team

Katie Young: kyoung15@kent.edu
Rachel Polchek: rpolchek@kent.edu
Erin Orsini: eorsini1@kent.edu
Aubrey Haskins: ahaskin1@kent.edu
Stephanie Mathias: smathias@kent.edu

Impact of Effective Communication in Business Meeting

This Wednesday, stop by room 213 in Franklin Hall at 7:30 p.m. for PRSSA Kent’s Impact of Effective Communication in Business Meeting!

The meeting will be a great way to learn more about how you can succeed in business by improving your communication skills. IABC Cleveland members Kavita Sherman and Jamie Jackson will discuss this topic at the Feb. 10 PRSSA meeting.

Stop by room 213 at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Franklin Hall to learn more about PR and blogger relations!

Kent State PRSSA Bateman Team

The Kent State PRSSA Bateman team is competing in a national competition to educate audiences about the U.S. Census.

We need your help. On Monday, the team will be conducting intercept surveys to obtain a benchmark awareness measurement prior to the campaign (launching on Wed.). This involves conducting 2 -3 minute interviews on campus and in Kent. This is a resume-builder opportunity. Prospective employers for internships and jobs value measurement and campaign experience.

There also will be other opportunities to gain experience with the Bateman campaign this month. Email one of the following team members. On Monday, if you have even one available hour from early morning to evening, we can use you. Get involved.

Kent State PRSSA Bateman Team

Katie Young: kyoung15@kent.edu
Rachel Polchek: rpolchek@kent.edu
Erin Orsini: eorsini1@kent.edu
Aubrey Haskins: ahaskin1@kent.edu
Stephanie Mathias: smathias@kent.edu

Recap of First General Meeting for Spring Semester

Marcus Thomas LLC’s Allison Peltz spoke at PRSSA’s first general meeting for this semester on Wednesday, Jan. 27. As one of her major responsibilities at Marcus Thomas, Peltz shared with meeting attendees the importance of blogger relations. She noted how her job is to research nitch bloggers and pitch them with product samples from her clients, in exchange for an honest review of the products on their blogs. Some bloggers love the idea of sampling products and writing reviews, and others do not. While they are able to keep all the products, bloggers must agree to be truthful in writing their reviews.

Attend our next meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and listen to representatives from International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) speak about the impact of effective communication in business.  Also, note that dues for this semester are due by the end of the meeting. Dues are $50 for a year-long PRSSA membership. Contact VP of Membership, Brittany Wasko, for more information.

PRSSA Kent blog post written by Brittany Wasko, VP of Membership.

Thoughts on the meeting from PRSSA Kent member, Stephanie Neumann.

Tonight’s PRSSA meeting really focused on social media, blogger relations in particular. Allison Peltz from Marcus Thomas LLC talked about different ways that she has utilized blogs and twitter. This is a topic I found myself to be really interested in lately, as I’ve become a more active twitter user and a blogger in the past year. I’ve realized that social media can be used in multiple ways: to keep in touch with friends, to share ideas, to share music or photos, to creatively express oneself and much more. Of course, promoting business and creating brand awareness is a huge part of social media today. I can’t go a day without being invited to “become a fan” of some brand on Facebook!

Something that I’ve realized over the past year (and this was briefly mentioned by Allison) is that most businesses don’t need to be on every social media site. I think it’s really important that companies figure out what their target audience uses and then focus on that. Those Twitter accounts and Facebook profiles that were last updated in January 2008 are not exactly helping inform customers.

Shaquille O’Neal is someone who uses his Twitter account effectively, and I encourage everyone to follow him!  He often tweets his location and offers free tickets to basketball games to the first person to talk to him. This makes it personal, too. I know I like to check where he is just in case we’re in the same area and it keeps me updated on whatever is going on with Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s like he tweets special insider information.

Blogger Relations Meeting

This Wednesday, stop by room 213 in Franklin Hall at 7:30 p.m. for PRSSA Kent’s Blogger Relations Meeting!

The meeting will be a great way to learn more about how you can create a good relationship with bloggers. Allison Peltz, senior account executive at Marcus Thomas LLC, will discuss this topic.

Some good tips about blogger relations:

Create Relationships: To create relationships with bloggers, you should have relevant content to send to them.

Personalize your pitch: Take the time to research the blog, make comments and get involved in the conversation on the blog.

Comment and show interest in their blog: Comment on the blog frequently. But, make sure your comments are relevant.

Use your blog: Your blog can be used to continue the conversation.

Join their social networks: This will help you become part of the conversation.

Stop by room 213 at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Franklin Hall to learn more about PR and blogger relations!

PRSSA Gary Yoshimura Scholarship

Check out this scholarship sponsored by PRSSA.

Deadline: Friday, January 29, 2010

Award: $2,400 for continued study in public relations

This scholarship is open to all PRSSA members who demonstrate a financial need for the pursuit of higher education in the public relations field. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. This scholarship has been developed in memory of Gary Yoshimura who was a dedicated leader in public relations. Gary Yoshimura was a consummate professional. His focus on his work, his fierce determination to do his best regardless of the situation or obstacles in his path, and his team spirit will live on in this scholarship.

Gary spent his career trying to further, in his own way, the public relations profession by setting an example for us all. After graduating with a Master’s Degree in Public Relations from the University of Southern California, Gary worked at a number of international public relations agencies including Hill and Knowlton; Manning, Selvage & Lee; Burson-Marsteller, and Stoorza, Zieghaus and Metzger, before moving into the corporate public relations ranks at Philips Electronics. Gary passed away at the age of 42, but his memory will live on through the PRSSA Gary Yoshimura Scholarship.

Applications will be reviewed by those who knew Gary best. There will be one annual award of $2,400 given to the winner of this scholarship. The check will be payable to the winner’s university for use on the winner’s behalf, and can only be used to fund the winner’s educational pursuits. Applicants will be notified in early April.

Requirements

• Must be a PRSSA member
• Minimum 3.0 GPA required
• Must submit an Official Transcript
• Letter of Recommendation from an internship supervisor/employer or faculty advisor
• In a 1,000-word essay describe a challenge you have faced, either personally or professionally, and how you have overcome it. Must not exceed two typed pages
• Complete Statement of Intent and financial need section

No applications will be accepted after January 29, 2010.

Check out the PRSSA Web site for the application.

Officer Bio: Stephanie Mathias

Name: Stephanie Mathias

Officer Title: PRSA/PRSSA Liaison

Class Standing: Junior

Hometown: New Philadelphia, Ohio

Expected Graduation Date: May 2011

Are you involved in any student organizations? Phi Sigma Pi

What do you like do in your spare time? I love to read, watch bad reality shows, hang out with my friends and listen to music.

What is your favorite movie? Forrest Gump and Wall-e

Where would you like to travel? Ireland

If you were an ice cream flavor, which one would you be and why? Cake batter, because I’m so sweet

What was your favorite childhood toy? A soccer ball.

What are your goals for PRSSA this year? I hope to successfully take over the PRSA/PRSSA Liaison position.

What type of job do you hope to have as a PR practitioner? I hope to work in a corporate or healthcare setting.

Public Relations Campaigns

After four years of classes, students in one class must put everything they learned to the test. Senior public relations students in a class called Public Relations Campaigns will present their campaigns Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. for their client: Cleveland Plus. The students were split into groups and then worked all semester on their campaigns. After the presentation, the judges will ask the group questions about their campaigns. So come and cheer on your fellow PR students as they give their campaigns presentations. It is also a great opportunity for students to learn what the class is really like.

The presentations will be given at The Tannery, which is located at 138 E Main St., Suite 203, in downtown Kent. The building is across from the Kent Stage, next to Acorn Alley. Hope to see you all there!