This year’s conference has had a focus on being green. From the notepads to the reusable shopping bags attendees received at registration, everything is sustainable or green in some way. Our Green Marketing and Communications speakers from Earthsense, LLC Wendy Cobrda, President and Founder and Amy Hebard, Ph. D., Chief Research Officer and Founder, keep the green conversation going.

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Last night’s scholarship fundraiser grossed nearly $8,000 for the Florida Public Relations Education Foundation.

The Foundation awards scholarships to deserving college students, who through academic achievement, extracurricular activities and involvement in FPRA, demonstrate their commitment to professional development. Likewise, the Foundation offers its professional members annual conference scholarships and other professional development opportunities including helping to underwrite a portion of the costs for those members seeking accreditation.

Congratulations to the Treasure Coast Chapter for planning and hosting this year’s fundraiser.

We couldn’t resist posting this photo of Rick Oppenheim, APR, CPRC, of the Capital Chapter. Rumors are that Rick is able to run his entire Tallahassee-based agency from the conference using his Bluetooth headset and iPhone. We’re impressed, Rick!

Did you know that in Algeria, nomadic camel shepherds protect their baby camels in SUVs? The speaker for this session, Lettie Solaun found this out from her experience as an international public relations specialist for CH2MHill.  Her client was about to proceed on a project that would produce occasional sonic booms in the area. The challenge arose when they were trying to communicate this message to one local group, the nomadic camel shepherds.  Focusing on the background of the area and the practices of the shepherds in particular, Lettie learned that the shepherds would use SUVs to keep them safe.  So what was the best way to communicate with them…at the local Petrol station of course!

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In an always changing and competitive environment, public relations professionals are required to communicate their value to employers and clients more now than ever. In this session, Dennis Gayle of First Bank and Trust of Indiantown provided FPRA members with the tools (and definitions) they need to communicate to CEOs and organizational leaders about the impact of public relations to the bottom line.

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We can develop the very best PR plan, but without dedicated support and involvement of executive management, we can’t be totally successful. In many organizations when the management team huddles in the planning boardroom, PR professionals are still sitting in our offices unaware of the situation. This session, led by Joe Curley, APR, CPRC, outlined how we get our top executives to understand the importance of public relations counsel during the decision making process. It explores 10 proven strategies for earning a place in the boardroom huddle and making public relations an involved and indispensable part of our organization’s business planning. read more »

Kelly Donovan is one of this week’s volunteer conference bloggers. She wrote the earlier post on our Dillin Keynote Address featuring Disney’s Eugene Campbell. Kelly is a communication specialist at the Florida Museum of Natural History and recently graduated with a Master’s in mass communication from the University of Florida. This is her second year serving as a blogger.

This morning begins with the Dillin Keynote Address. This year’s speaker was Eugene Campbell, vice president of Community Relations and Minority Business Development at Walt Disney World Resort. Campbell develops Disney’s charitable giving programs and strengthens Disney’ relationships with minority business suppliers.

No Disney experience would be complete without music and magic, and these days, no business would be complete without a corporate responsibility, or corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. The Walt Disney Company strives to combine both. As with its theme parks, hotels, and cruise ships, Disney works to make its CR programs a seamless experience.

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Listed below is the schedule for Day 2 – Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009, of FPRA’s 71st Annual Conference:

7 am - 4 pm: Registration Desk Open
7:30 – 8:10 am: Exhibitor Continental Breakfast
8:15 – 8:20 am: Announcements
8:20 – 9:30 am: Dillin Keynote Address
9:30 – 9:45 am: Break with exhibitors at the Cyber Café
9:45 – 10:45 am:

• Breakout 3A – PR is Not Always Loved by Management: Here’s How to Get the Romance Started, Ten Strategies to Earn a Position on the Management Team
• Breakout 3B – Finance 101: What You Need to Know about Financial Statements and Budgets so You Can Communicate with Your CEO
• Breakout 3C – One Size Does NOT Fit All: Cultural Influences in CSR Decision-Making
• Counselors’ Network Breakout 2 – A private, informal and interactive discussion with Dillin Keynote speaker Eugene Campbell.

11 am – 12:05 pm: General Session C – Green Marketing and Communications
12:15 – 1:15 pm: Counselors’ Network Roundtable Luncheon
1:15 – 1:30 pm: Break with exhibitors at the Cyber Café
1:30 – 2:30 pm:

• Breakout 4A – CPRC, Your Future, Your Career, Your Leadership Opportunity
• Breakout 4B -The Truth Behind Cherries, Chocolate, and Paper…
• Breakout 4C – The Basics of SEO, Plus Some Affordable Ways To Market Your Business Online
• Counselors’ Network Breakout 3 – A private, informal and interactive discussion with Wendy Cobrda and Amy Hebard, Ph.D.

2:45 – 3:35 pm: PR Under Fire Panel Discussion and Breakout Sessions
3:40 – 4:30 pm:

• Breakout 5A – The AMMMO Approach to Strategic Communications
• Breakout 5B – How The Media Works During a Time of REAL “Breaking News” DISASTERS – Who Gets to Play and Why
• Breakout 5C – Today’s Public Relations Agency: Partner not Predator

6 – 7 pm: Reception of the Presidents
7 – 10 pm: Golden Image Awards
10 – 11 pm: Golden Image Entry Notebook Pickup

Although our scheduled speaker, Maria Pierson, was unable to attend today’s student track, the viral campaign Pierson-Grant conducted for Joffrey’s Coffee 2.0 is a fun study of the power of social media. A short summary of the campaign follows:

Joffrey’s Tea & Coffee was founded in 1984. Based in Tampa, Fla., the company sells coffee and tea in grocery stores and retail outlets across the southeast. In 2007, they began a campaign to reach a new market and take advantage of the viral nature of online content: the Java Beta Test, aimed at bloggers who love a good cup of joe. Aided by Ft. Lauderdale-based PR firm Pierson-Grant, Joffrey’s emailed a link to a survey about coffee-drinking habits to bloggers around the country. read more »