Apply today – be part of the YP board in 2010!

Now is your chance to get more involved in YP! If you are interested in serving on PRSA-LA’s Young Professionals 2009 Board of Directors, please download the application from the blue box on the right side of the page.

Serving on the YP/PRSA-LA board is a valuable complement to your professional career in public relations. You will have the opportunity to network with leaders in the PR industry, as well as peers who are also navigating their way through the business. You will also be given the chance to hone your PR skills through writing, speaking, and leadership activities. Taking a position on the YP board means taking an active role in the direction of the organization and your career.

Descriptions of each position are listed below. The current board members are available to share more about what each job entails.

President
Oversees the entire group and fills in as needed. Organizes and coordinates all of the board meetings. Represents the group at PRSA-LA board meetings and works closely with the PRSA-LA liaison. The applicant must have served on the board for at least one year.

Program Co-Chairs (2 Positions Available)
Works jointly to develop meeting topics, identify and recruit speakers, develop and distribute meeting invitations and manage meeting RSVPs. Addresses food and venue details and hosts each meeting. Coordinates thank you gifts for guest speakers.

Communications Co-Chairs (2 Positions Available)
With input from the rest of the board and the membership base, the Communications Co-Chairs are responsible for PRSA-LA YP blog, The Next Generation blog, Facebook group and other communications vehicles. The co-chairs also prepare recaps after each monthly meeting for interested members.

Membership Chair
Welcomes all new and potential members to YP/PRSA- LA, including sending welcome e-mails to new members and renewal reminders. Maintains a current membership list, updates the group’s e-mail lists in Constant Contact and responds to inquiries about YP/PRSA-LA. Initiates plans to grow and retain current membership. Prepares and distributes holiday cards to all those who attended meetings throughout the year, speakers, etc.

Treasurer
Maintains detailed records for YP/PRSA-LA and updates the group at all board meetings. Handles registration and ensures payment from all attendees at monthly meetings. Initiates fundraising ideas.

Collegiate Outreach Chair
Acts as a liaison between PRSSA chapters at local universities through coordination of the mentorship program. Works closely with the PRSA-LA board member designated to work with PRSSA. Collects, formats and distributes Internship Board e-mails to YP membership.

Professional Outreach Chair
Acts as a liaison between YP members and local organizations and recruiters with job openings. Collects, formats and distributes Job Board e-mails to YP membership.

Trevett Award Chair
Coordinates all aspects of the Trevett Award, given out by YP each October to two outstanding Young Professionals. Activities include sponsor solicitation, layout/design of the application, selection of judges and coordination of oral interviews with finalists and presentation of the award at the annual PRSA-LA PRism Awards Banquet.

Board Requirements/Expectations

• Must be a YP/PRSA-LA member when application is submitted and throughout the term on the board
• Must attend a minimum of 6 board meetings and general meetings a year
• Must attempt to recruit a minimum of 2 new members to PRSA-LA and YP
• If you miss three consecutive board meetings, you may be replaced on the board
• All board members should provide one solid idea for a YP general meeting

Sports PR Panel Recap

Date:                      October 21, 2009

Location:             MS&L

Panelists:

• Monica Sears, Public Relations Coordinator, Golden Boy Promotions
• Denise White, CEO, Entertainers & Athletes Group

Recap:

Last week young professionals and students from all over the Los Angeles area met at MS& L for the PRSA-LA YP Sports PR panel.  Denise White, CEO of Entertainers & Athletes Group and Monica Sears, Public Relations Coordinator at Golden Boy Promotions shared their raw insights and advice for breaking into the sports PR arena and succeeding in this stressful, yet rewarding, industry.

Hut One, Hut Two – Getting Started

• Denise started her career in broadcast journalism before making the jump into sports PR.
• Monica started her career at Brener Zwikel & Associates before joining the Golden Boy team.
• Starting off with an internship, specifically in sports PR, is recommended but not required.
• A little more than a decade ago, sports agents were required to have a law degree.  Now that a law degree is no longer a prerequisite, clients are in need of PR representation with a solid law background to pick up where the agent leaves off.

Power Jab – Managing “Multiple Personalities”

• As a PR professional, you have to build a close, business relationship with your clients so you can feel comfortable telling them when their behavior is or isn’t acceptable.  It is not uncommon to speak with each client at least one time per day.
• Athletes, celebrities, and almost any person for that matter, can be difficult to please.  One of the most important parts of the job is learning how to deal with the multiple personalities you come across on a daily basis.  Often times these multiple personalities all come from a single person.
• When you work with very young people who have come into a lot of money in a short amount of time, your job is to try to get them through the experience unscathed.
• Get to know everything about your client professionally and personally, and be sure to set your own moral compass aside.

The Underdog – Managing Expectations

• As you would do for any client, it is important to develop a PR plan specific to that client.  Sit down with the client, get their buyoff, and be flexible as situations change.
• With the state of the economy and the changing face of media, big print results are harder to come by.  As the amount of daily print journalists is dwindling, the industry relies a lot more on Websites for coverage rather than beat reporters from publications.

Boxer’s Shuffle – Important Skills

• You must be able to handle the athlete, do publicity and know the sport.
• Having a thick skin is very important in this business.  Things tend to be told in very straightforward ways, and nine out of 10 times, the PR team tends to be the last group recognized for a success.
• Passion for what you are doing will help propel you through all the evening and weekend hours that are sure to come along with the job.
• Consider getting a law degree to help understand and manage legal matters after the athlete’s contract is signed.
• As with all PR jobs, professionals must have excellent writing, speaking, multi-tasking and organizational skills.

Touchdown – Networking and Finding the Job

• www.JobsInSports.com
• Team Web sites
• www.WorkInSports.com
• Women in Sports Wednesdays through EAG – www.EAGSportsManagement.com
• Even if the job posting says, “No phone calls please,” still consider making that call.  Sometimes a little follow-up is all you need to make the short-list.

What’d you do this weekend?

Guest blog post from PRSA-LA YP member Dale Legaspi:

It’s a common question asked on Mondays in offices everywhere.  A few weeks ago, though, my answer was an enthusiastic “work!”  The quotes are certainly apropos, though, as I “worked” at PRSA’s Quality Time with PR Minds event, which was certainly nothing that resembled the weekday norm.  I could not be happier with my decision to participate, and I wasn’t alone.

While I’m not sure of the exact numbers, what I seem to remember hearing is that there were 80+ volunteers and 29 non-profits participating and that the numbers stack up favorably with the most successful Quality Time events the chapter (or any chapter) has ever had.

For my own purposes, I was matched up with Corazón de Vida, City Year: Los Angeles, CLARE Foundation and Theatre 360: Pasadena Junior Theater.  Quite a diverse array, but there was a very clear common thread among the four sessions.

I’ve never lived in an orphanage in Baja, spent an entire year volunteering in a major metropolis, battled through addiction or tried to keep the arts alive in the face of established competition.  These representatives have either helped people through these experiences or led the charge personally.  To experience the unmitigated passion these individuals all had for their organizations was truly humbling.

Yes, it’s early.  Yes, it’s on a Saturday.  But I would strongly recommend this event to anyone who is available to participate the next time it happens.  Aside from the usual contacts you make at PRSA events, this particular one will give you back something invaluable in the PR field—a fresh perspective.

For more information on the event, or to hear more about the charities with which I worked, please feel free to contact me at dale@davidjamesagency.com.

Sports Publicity Event This Wednesday

Arguably recession proof, entertainment venues across Southern California are heating up with the commencement of the 2009 sports season as the economy, and our local temperatures, continue to cool.

Join an esteemed panel of sports publicity and marketing veterans as the Young Professionals of PRSA-LA lift the veil on one of the industry’s most secretive specialties. Representatives will openly discuss several aspects of sports representation including sports clubs, lead talent, events and venues.

Date: October 21, 2009
Time: Networking: 6:30pm, Panel: 7:00pm
Location: MS&L Los Angeles
RSVP: Be sure to visit our Facebook page to RSVP
PRSA – LA YP on Facebook

Several New Internships

Looking for a fall internship?  You’ve come to the right place!  We are continually updating our internship guide to bring the best, most recent internships to our members, and we’ve listed six new internships in the past week!  Listings include:

• Rogers and Cowan
• Kaiser Permanente
• Bragman Nyman Cafarelli
• McCue Marketing Communications
• Red Light Public Relations
• City of Torrance

You can see full, complete internship listings here.

Opportunity: Learn about MBA Programs from Around the World

Interested in Business School? Attend the QS World MBA Tour in Los Angeles for free

The QS World MBA Tour, the world’s largest and MBA fair organizer, and we will be visiting Los Angeles on October 3.  If you are a member of PRSA-LA YP, admission fee will be waved for this event!

This will be a brilliant chance for you to meet face-to-face with the admissions officers, and network with alumni from business schools all over America and across the world. Some of the schools coming are listed below:

• Boston University
• IE Business School
• London Business School
• Cornell University
• Tufts University Fletcher School
• Duke University
• Vanderbilt
• Boston College
• Brandeis
• Northeastern

Event Time: 1 pm – 5 pm

Venue Name: Wilshire Grand, 930 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 9001

Additional information and registration can be found at http://bit.ly/2lDLb2.

Apply now for the Trevett Award!

Deadline Extension - Apply Now! New Deadline 9/21

The PRSA-LA Young Professionals group continues to seek talented young PR professionals to apply for the Trevett Award! Aside from coveted recognition of colleagues, the winner receives a trophy and monetary prize awarded at the PRSA-LA PRism awards banquet.

About the Trevett Award

The award was established to honor the memory of Tom Trevett, APR, a tireless worker for the advancement of the profession. A co-founder of the Los Angeles Chapter’s Young Professionals Section – the first in the nation – Tom also served on PRSA’s National Young Professionals Task Force, advising PRSA on national programs to reach out to young professionals. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Chapter and chaired numerous committees during the course of his career. A graduate of Pepperdine University, Tom was accredited by the Society in 1988 at the age of 26, and was a firm believer in the value of the accreditation process. Tom was one of the many thousands of brilliant young individuals felled at an early age by the AIDS epidemic. Before his death in 1991 at the age of 29, he asked that the cause of his death not be withheld in the hope that even after his passing he could contribute to our understanding of the impact of this disease on society.

Eligibility

All young professionals in the greater Los Angeles area who are employed full-time in public relations, have no more than three years of full-time experience and are in good standing with PRSA-LA are eligible to apply for the award.

Entry form

Click here for the application. The new deadline to apply is September 21, 2009. Don’t delay!

Contact

Please contact Kerry Slaughter with any questions about the award, application process, or sponsorship opportunities.

Kerry Slaughter | Trevett Award Chair
Phone: (310) 309-1031 | E-mail:  kslaughter@ccapr.com

Additional details can be found at http://www.prsala.org/Trevett-Award.

Volunteer: Quality Time with PR Minds

Volunteer your PR skills with PRSA-LA’s Quality Time with PR Minds 2009 event, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and RAND Corporation, which will be held October 10, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at RAND in Santa Monica.  Volunteer today via the links below!

What is Quality Time with PR Minds?

Quality Time with PR Minds is a complementary effort to PRSA-LA’s annual Don Perkins Grant. Founded in 2004 by PRSA-LA members Dawn Wilcox, APR, and Victoria Lelash, APR, Quality Time was created in response to the increasing number of applications the chapter receives for the annual Perkins Grant as well as the ongoing requests for pro bono assistance.

Quality Time is a one day event where teams of PR volunteers provide free assistance to local nonprofit organizations that may not have the funds or resources to retain professional PR counsel. Through one-on-one brainstorm sessions, PR teams and the organizations they are matched with identify opportunities and tackle challenges to build stronger communication between the nonprofits and their publics.

Quality Time is about giving our greatest assets – our time and knowledge – to the organizations that are supporting and improving the communities in which we live and work. We aim to inspire, encourage and empower nonprofit professionals to create and sustain successful communication efforts. In the process, Quality Time also provides PR volunteers the opportunity to grow as professionals through brainstorming, networking and mentoring. For many Quality Time volunteers, the event offers the chance to take their strategic and creative thinking to a new level.

Since 2004, Quality Time has become a movement within PRSA. Chapters across the country continue to adopt the event as part of their community service programs. In total, 12 events have been held and more than 1,400 hours of counseling time have been donated (equivalent to nearly $300,000 in professional fees) to hundreds of nonprofits.

How does it work?

Quality Time is a day-long event consisting of a morning brainstorm session, luncheon and afternoon brainstorm session. Nonprofits participate in either the morning or afternoon sessions and, during that time, meet with two PR teams for 75-minutes each. All nonprofits and volunteers enjoy the free networking luncheon.

PR professionals can choose to volunteer for one session or participate the entire day. PR teams are designed to ensure balance in levels of experience and to expose volunteers to new people (in other words, we try to avoid teaming people from the same organization or firm). The teams are then matched to nonprofits randomly, with the utmost confidence that experienced PR professionals can handle any brainstorm challenge.

I’m a PR pro, I want to volunteer!

Quality Time is open to all PR professionals from any sector with at least two years of experience in a communications role. This is an amazing opportunity to give back to many nonprofits, all in one day! The success of Quality Time is directly related to the number of volunteers who register. The more teams we have, the more nonprofits we can include in Quality Time. Volunteers can choose to participate in just one session or stay for the entire day. Please CLICK HERE to become a Quality Time volunteer.

Additional details can be found online at http://www.prsala.org/Quality-Time-with-PR-Minds.

Fall Internship with Roddan Paolucci Roddan

Looking for an internship in the LA area? PRSA-LA’s Young Professionals Group is the resource to check out! Just added today: Part-time Fall internship with Roddan Paolucci Roddan. Head over to the Internships page for more info.

Young Professional Profile #8

Meet Diane Padilla

Diane is a Client Service Coordinator at PainePR and works on the social marketing and diversity teams.  If you’ve attended a PRSA-LA Young Professionals meeting this year, you’ve probably met Diane bugging you about paying your dues since she currently serves on the board as treasurer.

Diane was born and raised in L.A. and when it came time for college she decided to stay close to home and attend California State University, Fullerton.  Diane discovered her passion for public relations when she joined student government and was appointed director of special events.  In this position, she was responsible for planning daily events and booked bands to perform on campus, such as Weezer, Taking Back Sunday and Gym Class Heroes.  Her most memorable event was when she brought a white Christmas to campus when she contracted a vendor to bring more than 18 tons of snow to the quad, a snowman and two slides to sled down – this is still a withstanding tradition at Cal State Fullerton.

After graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in Human Services, Diane interned at Volvo Cars of North America as the Public Relations Intern.  During her internship she assisted with the launch of the newly released Volvo C30 and supported the public relations team with their day-to-day tasks.

Diane joined PainePR in March 2007 and plays an integral role working on media relations, community outreach and event planning for state programs such as CaliforniaVolunteers and Network for a Healthy California.  In addition to her general market consumer work, Diane supports multiple Hispanic initiatives such as General Motors and Pampers.

When Diane’s not working or in a yoga studio, you can find her at Disneyland taking advantage of her annual pass, at home watching TV or hanging out at the beach.  She has a passion for traveling the world and she hopes to live abroad and get her Masters in International Studies.