Quotes, the PR Club at UCF

New Quotes Board

2010-04-09T14:29:00.002-04:00

Hello Members!
If you weren’t able to make it out to the meeting on April 6, here’s recap of what you missed.

Quotes held its elections for the 2010-2011 executive board. The vice president, director of special events, special events assistant, director of public relations, communication assistant, secretary and treasurer positions were all up for grabs. Here’s a quick introduction to you new Quotes board members:

Vice President:
Jessica Brill is working towards a double major in Advertising/Public Relations and Theatre with a Marketing minor. She enjoys public speaking and making others laugh.

Director of Special Events:
Danielle Irigoyen is a senior majoring in Advertising/Public Relations with a minor in Digital Media. She has completed internships with Global Spectrum at the UCF Arena and Massey Communications.

Special Events Assistant:
Lisa Tanner is a sophomore working toward a double degree in Advertising/Public Relations and Communication Sciences and Disorders. She loves seeing projects grow from the idea stage to actually happening. She has experience planning volunteer events and programs for Academic Village Area Council.

Director of Public Relations:
Fiorella Mayorca is a junior double majoring in Public Relations and Creative Writing and minoring in Psychology and Theater. She loves being in the water, reading, dancing and traveling. In a few years, she’d like to move to California or New York City to pursue her career in PR and communication in the entertainment industry. She is currently an intern for 98.9 WMMO.

Communication Assistant:
Matt Heim is a junior in the Advertising/Public Relations program with a minor in Psychology. He stays busy managing work, school and an internship. He’s originally from Oklahoma and enjoys playing tennis in his spare time.

Secretary/Historian:
Jordana Lipkin has been very involved around campus with LEAD Scholars, the SGA Street Team, and CAB since arriving at UCF. She’s also very passionate about the homeless. In addition to volunteering with the homeless, she is an intern at Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.

Treasurer:
Mirella Carneiro is currently a junior majoring in Marketing and minoring in Mass Communications. She is a team player who strives for success in all that she does.

We hope to see you at our next and final meeting of the semester, Tuesday, April 20 at 6 p.m. in COM 209. come celebrate the end of the school year and say goodbye to the graduating seniors!

Quotes Board Elections

2010-03-30T14:39:00.000-04:00

Hello Quotes members

It is that time of year again, Quotes Board Elections! The following positions are open. Please pay close attention to all requirements listed below.
Please submit all intents to run to Quotes via email at ucfquotes@gmail.com no later than Sunday, April 4 at midnight. All candidates must send an email that includes:

•Their name & contact information
•The position(s) they are interested in running for
•A short (5 sentence or less) biography of themselves

Director of Membership (Vice President)

The Director of Membership is expected to maintain and update Quotes’ membership roster. This includes gathering and organizing membership applications, keeping an up to date roster in excel as well as an up to date email list. Director of Membership is responsible for aiding the President in all aspects of the club, which includes, but is not limited to: planning conference, financial trainings, reservations, meeting agendas, etc…The Director of Membership is also responsible for the first member meetings presentation information, he/she must know and understand the clubs constitution in order to effectively explain requirements and etc. of the membership. The Director of membership is required to work closely with not only the President, but the clubs advisor as well. The last job requirement of the Director of Membership is to sit as an Intern Pursuit planning committee co-chair.

Director of Public Relations

The director of public relations is responsible for the initiation of all public relations related activities for Quotes. The director of PR must work closely with the director of advertising and the communications assistant to manage all club publicity. The director of PR is required to accept responsibility for the clubs exposure and image to the University and student body. This includes, but is not limited to, handling the publicity of all Quotes meetings, events and programs by: writing and distributing press releases, aiding in the scheduling and execution of in-class announcements, forming positive relationships with necessary on and off campus publications, planning publicity opportunities for the club and utilizing and maintaining a positive partnership with SGA and OSI. For all public relations initiatives one must always seek approval from the board. This is a 2-4 hour a week time commitment and sophomore, junior or senior standing is preferred. The completion of Introduction to PR as well as Writing for PR is highly desired. Weekly duties include: drafting press releases for each member meeting, inviting other clubs to attend our events, keeping the web site and Facebook copy up-to-date, retaining the club’s nomenclature, regularly updating the Quotes blog and twitter accounts, attending bi-weekly board meetings and member meetings, coordinating with other officers to provide tailored publicity for specific events (i.e. pitch letters, press releases, faculty letters, students announcements, save the dates)

Secretary

This position requires perfect attendance to board and member meetings as well as access to a laptop. As secretary you are required to document the minutes during each meeting and distribute them to the Quotes board and its members. The Secretary must have an ability to type quickly while listening. As Secretary you must work closely with the president to ensure meetings stay focused, on track and that the necessary action items are communicated upon the completion of each meeting. Secretary is also expected to join committees formed within Quotes and aid the Director of Special Events in his/her initiatives.

Director of Special Events

The director of special events is responsible for the organization, planning and execution of all Quotes related events and event participation. As the director of special events you will be responsible for acting as a liaison between Quotes and the Student Government Association, Office of Student Involvement and any other event partners to coordinate all events. You will also be responsible for forming committees, recruiting volunteers and managing the publicity with the Director of PR and the Director of Advertising for each event. The director of special events is a leadership position on the board and requires excellent organization, attendance of all board meetings and a passion for event planning. As the director of special events you will work closely with the special events assistant in all your duties and train them in all facets of your position. This is a 3-5+ hour a week time commitment not including required attendance to all events. Must be available to attend all scheduled board meetings. Junior or senior status is preferred and SGA financial training will be required if elected.

Special Events Assistant

The special events assistant is responsible for assisting Quotes and the director of special events with all planning and execution of Quotes related events and event participation. As the special events assistant you will be responsible for aiding in all event management duties as needed and assigned by the director of special events and the Quotes board. This position provides room for growth within the Quotes board and would be ideal for a dedicated member of freshman, sophomore or junior status. This is a 2-3 hour a week time commitment. Must be available to attend all scheduled board meetings. If elected you will be required to become SGA financially trained.

Communications Assistant

The communications assistant is responsible for assisting Quotes in all publicity efforts for meetings, events and announcements. As the communications assistant you will work closely with the Director of PR and the Director of Advertising to ensure that all Quotes communications are consistent and effective. You will also be responsible for aiding in all publicity duties as needed and assigned by the Quotes board. This position provides room for growth within the Quotes board and would be ideal for a dedicated member of freshman, sophomore or junior status. Must be available to attend all scheduled board meetings. This is a 2-3 hour a week time commitment.

Treasurer

The treasurer is responsible for overseeing the Quotes Budget as well as for creating opportunities to raise funds for the club through sponsorship. This includes, but is not limited to: drafting sponsorship packets, keeping track of all past, present and future potential sponsors and budgeting funds received. As Sponsorship Director you are also required to complete the Activity and Service Fee Business Office’s required financial training course and work in compliance with establish University rules. Also, you must support the Quotes board during special events through planning allocated funds. You must attend all meetings and manage all coordination with the Activity and Service Fee business office accountant and apply for allocations for the following year.

The present Quotes board will be having a board meeting this Tuesday, March 30 at 6 p.m. Members are welcomed to attend to see the board in action and understand the positions they may be running for.

Intern Pursuit is over. Now what?

2010-03-25T15:48:00.002-04:00

Hello members!

Those of you who attended Intern Pursuit on Monday may be wondering what to do after Intern Pursuit in order to land the internship of your dreams. Keep reading for some helpful tips. Also, check out Ryan Sheehy’s blog, http://ryansheehy.blogspot.com/, for additional information and tips.

For any employers that you collected business cards or information sheets on, reach out to them. You can easily impress a professional by simply thanking them for coming and letting them know it was a pleasure meeting them. Even if you’re not particularly interested in interning with them now, you’ll probably leave a lasting impression that could help out in the future.

For those employers you are interested in potentially working with, make sure you follow up with a phone call or email. Offer to send writing samples, references and resend your resume.

If or when you hear back from employers who are interested in interviewing you for a position, make sure you maintain a very professional attitude. Be sure to respond to all requests, even if you want to take another opportunity. You can simply thank them for the offer and tell them you’ve decided to pursue other opportunities.

Once you get the interview, make sure you dress professionally. You can reference Ryan Sheehy’s blog for complete tips on how to dress for professional environments. Prepare for the interview by researching the company and your potential position thoroughly. Also, prepare questions to ask the interviewer. Having thoughtful questions to ask the employer at the end of the interview. It will prove that you’re interested in working with them and leave a very positive impression.

After the interview, be sure to follow up with the person that interviewed you. Hand-written notes are a great way to show you’re appreciation and interest in working with them. E-mailing the employer is fine too. Just be sure to follow up one way or another. Be sure to check out Ryan Sheehy’s blog at http://ryansheehy.blogspot.com/ for more advice.

Quotes will have a board meeting Tuesday, March 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. If you’re interested in running for a position on the Quotes Executive Board, we invite you to attend this meeting. This is a great opportunity to see how the board operates and get a better understanding of each of the positions. Please be prompt as the board will be holding their regular meeting during this time.

Quotes’ next member meeting will be April 6 at 6 p.m. Executive board elections will be held at this meeting so you won’t want to miss it. Check back soon for a complete listing of open positions and their responsibilities.

See you all soon!

Julie Primrose & Masha Murakhovsky

Intern Pursuit - TONIGHT

2010-03-22T08:22:00.001-04:00

Hello Quotes Members,

Intern Pursuit is tonight!

We hope you took the weekend to prep your resumes and perfect your personal pitches.

Remember, Intern Pursuit from 6-8 P.M. at the Orlando Sentinel, located at 633 Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801.

Here is the final employer RSVP list:

AGENCY

Carlman/Booker/Reis PR

CKS Marketing

Curley&Pynn

Dalton Agency

Deatrick PR

Echo Interaction Group

Edelman

Engauge

Fry Hammond Barr

Green House

Massey Communications

Push

Revenue Performance

Ron Sachs Communications

Wellons Communications

WOW! Marketing. PR. Events.

Wragg & Casas PR

Y Partnership

CORPORATE

AAA

Apogee Home Health Care

Appleton Creative, Inc.

Brand Advance LLC

Decision Tree Financial

Florida Hospital

Florida Virtual School

Insight Marketing Group

Moving Interactive, Inc.

Oerther Foods, Inc.

Orlando Ballet

Powerhouse USA

Rawls Group

Savvy Public Relations, LLC

SeaWorld

VS Publishing

NON-PROFIT

Adult Literacy League

Arnold Palmer Hospital

Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center

Gift for Teaching

Hope and Help Center

Orlando Health

Orlando Repertory Theatre

Red Cross

United Way Heart of Florida

GOVERNMENT

City of Orlando

City of Orlando Communications

City of Winter Park

Florida Municipal Power Agency

Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau

MEDIA

CoxRadio Digital Sales

CoxRadio National Promos

CoxRadio Promos

Trisolt Video & Web Productions

UCF News and Information

WHTQ 96.5

WMMO 98.9 FM

Don’t forget that first impressions last, so dress business professional.

For further questions or information, you may contact Denise Galang at dgalang@knights.ucf.edu or the Quotes’ Board at ucfquotes@gmail.com.

See you all later and good luck!

Denise Galang

Director of Special Events, Quotes PR club at UCF

Intern Pursuit Workshop & RSVP List

2010-03-15T22:47:00.002-04:00

Welcome Back Quotes Members!

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe spring break.

Intern Pursuit will be on Monday, March 22, from 6-8 p.m. Only one week away!

Quotes will be hosting an Intern Pursuit Workshop to help students prepare with Ad/P.R. professor Ryan Sheehy. This will be held during the club’s regular meeting time on Tuesday, March 16, from 6-7 p.m.

Here is the latest list of employers who are going to be at attendance at Intern Pursuit:

Deatrick PR

Y Partnership

Fry Hammond Barr

Green House

Florida Virtual School

Revenue Performance

Massey Communications

City of Winter Park

City of Orlando

Oerther Foods, Inc.

SeaWorld

Arnold Palmer Center

Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Powerhouse USA

Gift For Teaching

Appleton Creative, Inc.

Edelman

CKS Marketing

Orlando Repertory Theatre

WOW! Marketing. PR. Events

UCF News and Information

VS Publishing

Orlando Health

AAA

Curley & Pynn

WHTQ 96.5

Cox Events Group

United Way Heart of Florida

Arnold Palmer Hospital

Red Cross

Florida Municipal Power Agency

Orlando Ballet

Cox Radio

Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center

Dalton Agency

Hope and Help Center

Ron Sachs Communications

Adult Literacy League

Be sure to keep checking in for more updates on employer RSVP’s!

See you all soon!

Denise Galang

Director of Special Events, Quotes PR Club

President Elect

2010-03-04T12:00:00.002-05:00

Hello members!

On March 2nd, Darius Lana, junior of the Ad/P.R. program at UCF became the president elect for Quotes. We hope many of you were there to hear him speak about his experiences and how he will benefit the club.

I had a chance to speak with Darius about his position and his vision for Quotes. Darius became a member of Quotes so he could become more involved with PR. His leadership skills that he has made as a PR coordinator for the Student Government, his ability to work in a team and listening well to others will help him take on the challenge of becoming president for Quotes.

Darius is excited about the transformation of PR and the role that Quotes will play in shaping the students that are the members of this club. One of the main aspects that Darius wants to bring to Quotes, are volunteering events, because he feels very strongly about lending a helping hand.

His enthusiasm and experience in Student Government, field related internships and hosting the Knightcast radio show, The Hype, will bring Quotes to a new level of a strong standing club at UCF.

Remember, up to date information is always updated on our Facebook page and Twitter account. Have a fun and safe spring break and we will see you all March 16 for the Intern Pursuit Workshop.

--Masha Murakhovsky

Pres-Elect Election & Social Media Meeting - March 2

2010-02-25T11:33:00.004-05:00

Hello Members!

The next Quotes meeting is an exciting one. We will be voting in a new PRESIDENT ELECT and discussing the Social Revolution with social media guru Caleb Edwards. Meeting is on March 2 at 6 p.m. in COM 209.

Spots are still open for the President-Elect position. He or she will immediately be a part of the Quotes board and new president starting Fall 2010.

If you are interested in running for this position, you must be a Junior who has already been accepted to the Advertising/Public Relations major. We also prefer that you have already taken Writing for Public Relations (PUR 3100).

This is a big commitment but there’s no better way to get involved with Quotes. If you want to become a part of the legacy of a strong standing club at UCF, email a short blurb about yourself and your accomplishments to ucfquotes@gmail.com and prepare a two-minute speech for the 3/2 meeting.

Please do not hesitate to e-mail Quotes if you have questions about anything. See you all next Tuesday!

Recap: Quotes Member Meeting 2/16/10

2010-02-17T23:17:00.001-05:00

Hello Members!

If you weren’t able to make it out to the meeting Tuesday, February 16, here’s a recap of what you missed:

Glenn Gutek of Awake Consulting and Coaching, a firm that teaches leadership principles to small businesses and organizations, presented an interactive workshop to teach Quotes members about their individual leadership styles.

Glenn started out by teaching us the three maxims of leadership:

1. Leadership is more about who you’re becoming than what you have done in the past

2. Being an effective leader is fundamentally more about who you are than what you do

“In the task of leadership, being is far more important than doing,” Glenn said. He explained that leaders have the potential to impact more people based upon who they are and that their actions have greater ramifications because of this.

3. Leaders understand that the process is more important than arriving at the destination. He explained that good leaders understand that the ends do not justify the means.

Glenn then explained the Meyers-Briggs personality assessment test and how it’s important to understand how you best operate in order to effectively lead others. He explained all of the components (energy sources, how we process information, decision-making styles and worldview) and let members determine which of 16 distinct personality types they each are.

Then, Glenn administered a leadership style assessment. Based on a questionnaire that Quotes members filled out, they were able to learn whether they are a Charismatic, Technician, Strategist, Team Builder, Manager or a Directive in their leadership approach.

Glenn finished up his presentation by explaining that the biggest problem isn’t your weaknesses but, rather, when you let one of your strengths run wild or you don’t realize that your strength isn’t particularly helpful in any given situation.

Feel free to contact Glenn with questions at glenn@awakeconsulting.com or visit www.awakeconsulting.com.

Make sure to come out to our next member meeting, Tuesday, March 2. We’ll be holding elections for the President-Elect position so make sure to come out and cast your vote to help shape the future of Quotes!

First Spring Meeting, Re-Cap

2010-02-10T15:03:00.004-05:00

Hello members and welcome back to Quotes for Spring 2010!

We had our first meeting Tuesday, February 2 at 6 p.m. in COM 209. Here’s a recap if you weren’t able to make it out:

Lenora Lockett, co-chair of the Image Awards for the Orlando chapter of FPRA, taught us everything we need to know in order to enter an award entry into this year’s Image Awards.

Students studying public relations are encouraged to enter work from their classes, internships or other clubs and activities in either the student category or any of the three professional-level awards categories. Entries are judged by local accredited PR professionals.

Lenora told us about this year’s theme, “PR Evolves,” and how it reflects the changing climate of the field of public relations. She also explained the different levels of awards and showed us examples of past award-winning entries.

The rules and information packet, along with the entry form is available from the FPRA Web site: http://www.fpra-orlando.org/events/2010ImageCallforEntries.pdf.

There is a fee for submitting each award entry. By joining Quotes, you’ll receive a discount on the regular student entry fee of $15. (Student FPRA members, i.e. Quotes members, pay only $10). All entries are due by Friday, March 12 at 5 p.m.

The awards ceremony will take place Thursday, April 22. Quotes is looking for a few select volunteers to help out leading up to and during the event. Email ucfquotes@gmail.com if you’re interested in serving on the Image Awards committee. Volunteering or attending the event is a great way to network with PR professionals throughout the Orlando area.

About the Image Awards, from the FPRA Web site:
“The Image Awards competition is conducted annually by FPRA's Orlando Area Chapter to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Central Florida and to encourage and promote the development of public relations professionalism. The Image Awards have become a standard of public relations excellence. The awards competition includes four divisions of entries: Public Relations Programs, Printed Tools of Public Relations, Audio/Visual Tools of Public Relations and Student Projects in Public Relations. Awards are presented at an evening celebration each April and an Outstanding Public Relations Professional is also honored at the conclusion of the program. The program is modeled after and leads up to the statewide Golden Image Awards competition held on a state level.”

We concluded the meeting with an “Awards-Off” competition. Seven brave Quotes members gave their best try at presenting an award to Lenora, the lucky winner of the mock Image Award. The crowd chose and Kelly will be handing out awards at the Image Awards ceremony on April 22. Congratulations, Kelly!

You won’t want to miss our next meeting, Tuesday, February 16 at 6 p.m. We will hosting a compelling leadership workshop. Check our Facebook page and Twitter for more upcoming information!

--Julie Primrose and Masha Murakhovsky

Quotes First Meeting of Spring '10

2010-01-27T19:35:00.004-05:00

Hello Quotes members and future members!

As I hope many of you have seen our first meeting is this coming up Tuesday, February 2 at 6 p.m. in COM room 209. We are very excited to start the semester off with Lenora Locket, FPRA Image Awards co-chair. She'll be giving students a first look into at the Image Awards, including the theme and how to complete a student entry.

Quotes will be providing FREE snacks and drinks at the first meeting, along with opportunities to mingle with fellow members.

If you are not a member of Quotes you are more than welcomed to attend! Pick up a membership application outside of Ryan Sheehy's office, NSC 249. Application is also available online, just print, fill out and bring to the Quotes meeting or to Ryan Sheehy.

http://communication.cos.ucf.edu/include/file/resources/forms/quotes_application.pdf

New membership is $35

FPRA Image Awards:
The Image Awards competition is conducted annually by FPRA's Orlando Area Chapter to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Central Florida and to encourage and promote the development of public relations professionalism. The Image Awards have become a standard of public relations excellence. The program is modeled after and leads up to the statewide Golden Image Awards competition held on a state level.

Looking forward to Tuesday!

--Masha

Quotes Holiday Party - Dec. 8

2009-12-05T13:37:00.002-05:00

Hello Quotes Members!

We hope everyone has been surviving through the remainder of the semester -- vacation is almost here! Quotes is happy to let you all know that our holiday party is around the corner. The holiday party will be at iKiwi, a local and delicious frozen yogurt spot on Dec. 8, at our regular meeting time, 6 - 7 p.m. Quotes will be paying for your frozen treat, as long as it does not exceed four ounces. Other yummy holiday goodies will be at the party as well.

iKiwi is located at the intersection of Mc Culoch and Alafaya. It is inside the plaza next to Blockbuster and Publix. We hope to see many of you celebrating the end of this wonderful semester with Quotes. Please make sure you have submitted your Quotes member applications by this time, so you are eligible to be an FPRA Student Member.

If you have any questions or concerns please e-mail ucfquotes@gmail.com or check our Facebook page, Quotes the Ad/PR Club for updates.

Re-Cap of the Last Three Member Meetings

2009-11-20T16:49:00.002-05:00

Quotes has had a lot going on these past two months, see below for meeting re-caps!

11/17 Meeting Recap: Joel Glass Talks Magic

On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Joel Glass, the VP of Communications for the Orlando Magic, came to the Quotes meeting to share his PR wisdom with all of us. He discussed how he managed the onslaught of positive publicity when the Orlando Magic made it to the NBA playoffs and finals earlier this year.

Before he spoke about the opportunities that came for the Magic when they made it to the finals, he talked about his communications objectives for the Magic and his overall PR philosophies. Here are some of the points he touched on:

When Glass is giving the players advice on dealing with reporters, he tells them to always remember their ABCs. ACKNOWLEDGE the reporter’s question, BRIDGE to what you want to say, and CLEARLY communicate your message. You don’t have to answer their specific question – develop your messages and clearly communicate them.
On the viral nature of social media: Everyone is a reporter. Traditional media has gone out the window, along with all of its rules. “With great technology comes great responsibility.”
If he had to boil PR down into three main points: (1) deal with crises from a position of strength, (2) minimize the negative and (3) maximize the positive.
Media relations activities are based on a combination of the message, audience, timing and method.
Glass asks each of the players to list three ways they want others to perceive them. He then bases the player’s media relations strategy on these desired perceptions. For example, Dwight Howard wanted to be viewed as hardworking – he now does all of his interviews as he’s walking off of the court.
When you’re using social networking as a part of your communications plan, make sure you know you have a specific strategy with specific objectives. Remember that every word counts. Glass suggests taking a few minutes each day to determine what you’re going to say through your social media channels.

Then Glass discussed how he dealt with the wave of positive media coverage resulting from the NBA finals. He said the key to keeping his sanity during this very busy time was to have a strong plan already in place. The Magic plans to go all the way to the finals every year and has a communications plan in place for when they do. Planning is an essential part of the public relations process, he said, and having plans in place for a number of circumstances is crucial.

Thanks again to Joel Glass for coming and speaking to us! GO MAGIC!

Ad Club Resume Workshop Recap: 11/5

The Ad Club hosted a resume workshop with PR, advertising and marketing professionals from Acropolis, Disney and Work Force Central Florida to give resume tips and advice. With Intern Pursuit right around the corner, we encouraged all members to attend and spruce up those resumes in preparation. Here’s a recap of some of the advice the professionals shared.

Make sure your resume looks professional and is consistent in format and font.
Absolutely NO errors on your resume (All of the professionals on the panel said they will throw your resume at the sight of even one error.)
Prove positive results of your successes (i.e. increased media coverage by 10%, boosted sales 5%, etc.)
Make sure to have internship experience before you graduate!
Use a cover letter and use it to expand on the highlights of your resume and showcase your personality. Include detail as to why you’re a good fit for the company, the position (pull words from the job description) and show you’ve done some research.
DO include an objective on your resume and use it to target each position you’re applying for if you can. DON’T say “to find an internship…” It may come off seeming desperate.
Longevity in positions is important. If it’s not a job targeted to the profession you’re working toward, just put it closer to the bottom.
Bring copies of your resume to the interview. Bring your portfolio with you as well.
Skills the professionals are looking for: strong writers, coordination of projects, ability to multitask, detail-oriented, well organized, etc.
When you put something on your resume, be able to explain your experiences and how they are going to help you in this job.
Definitely include your membership in Quotes and/or Ad Club.
Send a thank you card or email the day of the interview. Follow up within two weeks of your interview but the professionals suggest doing so no more than twice. And make sure there is a position available and it wasn’t just a hopeful resume send-out.

Thank you to Ad Club for putting this very educational workshop together!

Quotes member meeting recap: Halloween Horror Night Trip 10/27

In celebration of Halloween, Quotes made a trip to Universal Studios’ corporate offices to learn about the entertainment side of the development of Halloween Horror Nights and, of course, about the PR opportunities that come along with such a popular event.
First, Patrick Braillard, the Entertainment Show Director, spoke about how he and his team come up with the overall theme each year and the scare tactics to be used in event. He told us about the creative process and how they sit around and watch scary movies and eat junk food to get inspiration on everything from the haunted houses to scare zones and even the entire movie-inspired theme this year.
To cover the public relations aspect of the event Kristen Clark and Meara Lyons, Universal Orlando’s PR coordinator and a PR representative respectively, told us all about their exciting role in making HHN a reality. They showed us the communications plan, told us about coordinating the media when they invite them into the park to preview the event and showed us some pretty spectacular media teasers they’ve sent out to entice them.

Intern Pursuit Employees as of 11/16/09

2009-11-16T11:14:00.002-05:00

AGENCY
Acropolis
Curley and Pynn
Deatrick Public Relations
Edelman Public Relations
Fry Hammond Barr

Go Convergence
Massey Communications
Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc
PowerHouse
PUSH

The Rawls Group

Ron Sachs Communications

Tcreative

TJM Communications Inc.

True Marketing

Vantage Communications

VSM Advertising and Public Relations

VS Publishing Company
Ypartnership

CORPORATE
98.9 WMMO

AAA National Office
Art Calendar Magazine
Cox Events Group

Cox Radio Inc. (Interactive Department)

Florida Hospital

Florida Nurses Association

Goldner Associates
Oerther Foods, Inc.-McDonald's

Orlando Ballet
Orlando Business Report
Produce For Kids

ProductionHUB

Thoughts.com

Turnstile Publishing

NON-PROFIT
American Cancer Society
American Lung Association
American Red Cross
Arnold Palmer Hospital
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Downtown Arts District, Inc.
Florida United Way
Nemours

GOVERNMENT
City of Orlando
City of Winter Park
East Orlando Chamber of Commerce

Orlando Health
Orlando Science Center
UCF News and Information

Intern Pursuit Employers as of 11/6/2009

2009-11-06T11:38:00.003-05:00

AGENCY
Acropolis
Curley and Pynn
Deatrick Public Relations
Edelman Public Relations
Fry Hammond Barr
Massey Communications
Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc
PowerHouse
PUSH
Vantage Communications
VS Publishing Company
Ypartnership

CORPORATE
98.9 WMMO
Art Calendar Magazine
Cox Events Group
Oerther Foods, Inc.-McDonald's
Orlando Business Report
Produce For Kids

NON-PROFIT
American Cancer Society
American Lung Association
American Red Cross
Arnold Palmer Hospital
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Florida United Way
Nemours

GOVERNMENT
City of Orlando
City of Winter Park
East Orlando Chamber of Commerce
Orlando Science Center
UCF News and Information

INTERN PURSUIT Flyer - Nov. 18 6-8pm

2009-11-04T20:09:00.002-05:00

Quotes presents this semester's Intern Pursuit

2009-10-29T15:15:00.002-04:00

Hello fellow communication students!

On Wednesday Nov. 18, 2009, 6-8 p.m. Quotes is hosting its biannual Intern Pursuit where communication students are offered the opportunity to meet with Orlando professionals in the advertising, public relations and marketing industries. Intern Pursuit will take place at the Orlando Sentinel, 633 Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801. During Intern Pursuit students will have the opportunity to submit their resumes with companies seeking interns for the upcoming Spring and Summer semesters.

Professionals from around Central Florida attend Intern Pursuit in the hopes of hiring communication students with a desire to be a part of their organization and cause. Employers represent a number of industries such as non-profit organizations, government agencies, corporations and communication firms. Employers are currently sending in their RVSPs and a full list will be available as the event nears.

Students are not required to RSVP for Intern Pursuit, but are encouraged to dress in professional attire. Light refreshments will be served throughout the evening.

This year, Quotes members will have the opportunity to prepare their resumes for Intern Pursuit during the Ad Club's Resume Workshop on Nov. 5, 6:00 p.m. in the Student Union, Pegasus Ballroom. Quotes encourages students to attend and spice up their resumes.

We'll see you soon!

Halloween Horror Nights Behind the Scenes Look: 10/27 Meeting Information

2009-10-22T12:50:00.003-04:00

Greetings Quotes Members!

Our next member meeting on Oct. 27 will be Quotes' semester field trip. We have been invited to take a behind the scenes look at Halloween Horror Nights! Running in its 18th year, Halloween Horror Nights has become the most anticipated horror event in Orlando and Universal Theme Parks.

The presentation will be at the Universal Studios corporate offices where members will be given the full story of HHN from a public relations and marketing stand point. Members will also learn about how the Entertainment team decides on the theme and executes the event.

CARPOOL

Since this meeting is off campus two options are available to members -- carpool and individual driving. Carpool will be available on campus, which will be provided by our board members, Dana Bakich (941-504-9990) and Julie Primrose (239-895-2677). Dana and Julie have four spots each in their cars, so if transportation is a problem they are the ladies to go to! You can meet them in front of VAB at 4:45 p.m. on Oct. 27, carpool will be leaving at 5 p.m. A carpool location will also be in Downtown Orlando, provided by Michelle Khouri (786-200-0221). Meet her on the courtyard of the Plaza building at the corner of Church Street and Orange Avenue. Downtown Carpool will be leaving at 5:15 p.m.

Members are encouraged to carpool with one another as well.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

20 Slots available for paying members ONLY
MUST RSVP by e-mail to ucfquotes@gmail.com by Sunday Oct. 25 at 9:00 p.m.
Presentation is from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Address to Universal Corporate Office:
1000 Universal Studios Plaza
Orlando, Florida 32819

Driving Directions to Universal Corporate Office:

From campus:

Take 408 Toll W ramp to Orlando/Ocoee
Take exit 10A to merge onto I-4 W to Tampa
Take exit 74B Universal
Merge onto Adventure Way
Turn left at Hollywood Way
Turn right at Co Road 439/Turkey Lake Rd
Turn right onto Universal Studios Plaza

Look out for updates on fliers, Twitter.com/Quotes_UCF and the Facebook Page and group. Hope to see many of you at the behind the scenes look at Halloween Horror Nights!

xoxo,

Quotes, the PR club
ucfquotes@gmail.com
786-200-0221

Second Meeting Recap: Board Elections & Laura Guitar

2009-10-01T18:23:00.005-04:00

Hello Members --

In case you were unable to make the Quotes meeting this week, here’s a recap of all the fun that took place!

We began the meeting with elections for our two vacant board positions, president-elect and director of advertising.

Dana Bakich won as president-elect, and that’s no surprise! Dana presented in a way no one has ever done before at Quotes – she brought in different objects that represented her personality. She showed a football for her love of sports, concert tickets for her love of music, and a FPRA Conference pamphlet because of her passion for Quotes. Dana is currently the external director of Knight-Thon, the largest fundraising club at UCF. She is also interning with UCF Athletics, and aspires to intern for the Orlando Magic in the community relations department. Dana will be shadowing Michelle Khouri, Quotes president, throughout the coming year and will then transition as president of Quotes next year.

We had two candidates for the director of advertising position, Hillery Brooks and Charlene Ruhge. Charlene was unable to be at the meeting this week, but sent in a biography including all of her qualifications. Both candidates were very well suited for the position. Ultimately, though, Hillery won the election and is now officially your new director of advertising! She has a focus in graphic design and has been working with Photoshop and Illustrator for several years. Hillery just completed a year-long internship at a PR firm. Hillery will be the mastermind behind the flyers and other promotional collateral for Quotes you’ll see around UCF.

Congratulations again and welcome to the board, Dana and Hillery!

After announcing our board members, we switched gears and welcomed Laura Guitar, senior vice president of Edelman Orlando. Laura started off by explaining how she worked her way up in PR and how she eventually, with her colleague Lori Kifer, opened the Orlando office of the global PR agency, Edelman.

She gave insight into the fast-paced world of agency PR and the culture of the Edelman network. Here are some of the points she touched on:

The biggest change happening right now in PR is a shift toward focusing on public engagement. We must talk with consumers, not at them.
We are all aware of the growing popularity of social media as a PR tool, but we need to realize that it is a channel, not a strategy in itself. We must use it to our advantage – not use it as a crutch.
PR used to be focused on output (writing news releases, accumulating media hits, etc.); now, it’s becoming more geared toward behavior change. PR practitioners have to be more accountable for producing real results.

Laura then spent time during her presentation answering questions we had about Edelman, agency PR and the field in general. Here are a few highlights from the Q & A:

When hiring new employees and interns, Laura looks for prospects that have a deep intellectual curiosity about a variety of things, not just PR.
You must bring fresh ideas to the table and be passionate about whatever you’re working on.
You’ll be more successful if you gain an entrepreneurial vantage point – get to know the finance and legal team and really understand how the business works.
There’s no particular type of PR person. You just have to figure out what niche of PR you’re best suited for.
Critical thinking and offering fresh ideas are a must to make it in agency PR!

Laura finished off her presentation with an invitation to send in your resume to intern at Edelman. See previous blog post for more details.

Be sure to come out to our next meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 13. Grant Heston, assistant vice president of UCF News and Information will be there to discuss how UCF introduced the new tailgating policies and managed the issues surrounding their introduction. The meeting is all about UCF pride, being the Tuesday before the big game against the University of Miami, so be sure to wear your black and gold!

See you at the next meeting!

Masha Murakhovsky & Julie Primrose

Global Agency Looking for an Intern!

2009-09-25T09:38:00.006-04:00

Edelman's Orlando office is looking for another intern to work on M/W/F. This is an unpaid internship, but a priceless opportunity to work for a global PR firm in their smallest office. You'll get real responsibility and learn how to work in a fast-paced agency environment. I work full time for Edelman, and absolutely love it!

Laura Guitar, the senior vice president of Edelman Orlando, will be presenting at the Quotes meeting on Tues, 9/29 from 6-7 p.m. at HEC 110, so if you want to get a vibe for the environment, talk to her at the meeting. Post resumes online at www.edelman.com. And I can promise you, we do read every resume that gets posted online.

DETAILS:

Edelman's Orlando office is seeking students who can thrive in an entrepreneurial and high-energy environment. Your range of skills will grow with your interests and ability.
The Trainee is responsible for assisting with implementing and monitoring projects within a specific set of accounts under the direction of the supervisor. The Trainee works closely with and supports the needs of the account teams.

A Trainee must be able to work effectively with a variety of account service staff within a specific set of accounts. S/he must have good organizational skills and the ability to adapt to new conditions, assignments and deadlines. S/he must have solid knowledge of MS Office Suite and superior verbal and written communication skills. The Trainee is generally someone in school working towards a bachelor's degree and is looking for entry-level experience in public relations. S/he must demonstrate the ability to become a strong writer. Familiarity with the public relations discipline through past coursework or other internships is desirable.

To tell you a little about our internship/trainee program:

we have 1 trainee at any given time
the duration of the internship is a minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 6 months
due to the fact that college credit is given, these internships are unpaid
some of our interns work a full-time schedule (Mon. - Fri., 8:30 - 5:30)
our entry-level positions are typically filled by our current or former intern pool; therefore, an internship at Edelman is a great way to get your foot in the door!

Requirements
The Trainee is generally someone who is currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program and is looking for entry-level experience in public relations. Although prior public relations work and academic training is not required, experience in a related field - marketing, communications, journalism, politics - is strongly desired. Successful candidates will display a passionate desire to learn, a fine attention to detail, the ability to work well under pressure and tight deadlines, and must live the Edelman values (quality, integrity, respect, entrepreneurial spirit, mutual benefit).

About Edelman
Edelman is the world’s leading independent public relations firm, with more than 3,100 employees in 51 offices worldwide. Edelman was named PRWeek’s “2008 Large Agency of the Year,” Holmes Report’s “2007 Global Agency of the Year,” and was listed as a top-10 firm in Advertising Age’s “2007 Agency A-List,” the first and only PR firm to receive this recognition. In 2007, CEO Richard Edelman was honored as “Agency Executive of the Year” by Advertising Age and “Most Powerful PR Executive” by PRWeek. For more information, visit www.edelman.com.

How to Apply:
Apply online at www.edelman.com.

First Meeting Recap - Fall 2009

2009-09-17T07:47:00.007-04:00

What a great first meeting! We missed those of you who couldn't make it, so this blog entry is for you :)

We started right at 6 p.m., and I opened up with the shortest PowerPoint presentation that has ever graced UCF's projector screens. First, we introduced the new board members:

Michelle Khouri, President
Lauri Gagnon, Vice President
Masha Murakhovsky, Director of Public Relations
Julie Primrose, Communication Assistant
Roxanna Malidelis, Co-Director of Special Events
Denise Galang, Co-Director of Special Events
Nichole Millikan, Special Events Assistant
Armando Diaz, Treasurer
Tracy Culbreath, Secretary

After introducing the board members, we thought it was important to speak to the benefits of being a Quotes member:

FPRA membership is included in the cost of membership for Quotes
Whether you go to member meetings or volunteer at Quotes or FPRA events, you will have the opportunity to network with some of the top PR professionals in Florida.
At Quotes meetings, our main goal is to practice PR, not just to learn about it.
You will get a chance to meet fellow students with like interests. Most of my own friends I met in Quotes!
Quotes has partnerships with the Nicholson School of Communication (NSOC) and Ad Club. This enables us to have joint events and support school-wide. For instance, Ad Club is having a resume workshop on Nov. 5 (corrected from Nov. 4), which we are encouraging members to go to.
Develop your career and leadership skills at Quotes by joining the board or by networking with professionals at events.
Internship opportunities are one of the biggest benefits of being a Quotes member. Chances are, more than one person you know has gotten an internship or two through Quotes. I have gotten all three of my internships (and therefore, my full-time job) because of Quotes.
Member meetings teach you about PR and what it means to be a PR professional. Whether it be a panel of professionals, a behind-the-scenes pass, or a holiday party, Quotes meetings keep it interesting and informative!

When the presentation was over, it was time for Star Paper! Star Paper is a Quotes tradition, and involves a piece of plain white paper and a group's creativity. Groups are given ten minutes to figure out what they want their sheet of paper to be...it can be absolutely ANYTHING. Then, they have to make a commercial and pitch it to the audience. Congratulations to team four, who won for their commercial for the Invisible Canoe!

That's just about everything from our first meeting. Some FAQs are below:

When are board elections and how can I run for the board?
Board elections for Fall 2009 are taking place at the next Quotes meeting, on Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 6-7 p.m. at HEC 110. We will be looking for the next President-Elect and Director of Advertising.

To run for a position on the board, submit a brief paragraph about yourself to ucfquotes@gmail.com before 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28. You will be given two minutes to speak during the front end of the meeting -- we recommend preparing something, so that you cover all of the points you want to make.

How much is membership, and when do I have to pay it?
Membership is $35 if you are a new member. If you were a member last year, renewal is $25. Membership renewal takes place every Fall, no matter when you paid for membership, so we suggest becoming a member in the Fall in order to take advantage of the full year of membership.

When are member meetings?
Every other Tuesday. The next three meetings are: 9/29, 10/13, and 10/27.

We hope to see you at our next meeting!

xoxo,
Michelle

Dillin Keynote Address: Disney’s Approach to Corporate Responsibility

2009-08-12T13:12:00.001-04:00

By Armando Diaz, Quotes treasurer

Walt Disney World has become a staple in not only the American culture, but internationally as well. The Disney name and brand is perhaps one of the most recognized names and logos world-wide. With world-class adventure theme parks, first class hotels/resorts, and thousands of employees, remaining an important role in the local community and effectively running all aspects of Disney become major tasks of its corporate leaders.

Eugene Campbell, vice president of community relations and minority business for thee Walt Disney World Resort, discussed the many intricate ways in which Disney strives for high employee relations and community involvement. Effectively managing 60,000 employees can bring many challenges. In order to deal with these challenges, Disney requires that all newly hired employees attend Disney University. Disney University ensures that all employees learn the core values that Walt Disney himself developed in the early stages of development. While corporate leaders work hard to instill the initial work ethics Walt Disney established, they also strive to meet all of the needs of their employees by offering free programs and incentives. Campbell and the Disney Corporation try to set the golden standard in employee affairs and relations.

Campbell also spoke about the major role Disney plays in the Central Florida community and all throughout the State of Florida. Corporate officials become responsible for staying involved in all community relations. Within the Central Florida community, this can be seen by numerous scholarship funds given to local foundations, such as the Boys & Girls Club of Orlando. Statewide, Disney Resorts play a large role in turtle conservation. Many of their coastline resorts near the Vero Beach area have programs set up in order to facilitate the turtle population. The corporate offices designed rides and informational sessions in order to discuss the dangers turtles face. Whether on an international level or even in their own back yard, Walt Disney World Resorts strives to remain a world-class brand by promoting extensive employee relations and community involvement. Corporate responsibility and involvement heightens with the continued growth and success of Walt Disney World Corporations.

Breakout 2C: Nuts and Bolts of Social Media

2009-08-12T12:57:00.001-04:00

By Lauri Gagnon, Quotes vice president

As the associate PR director of Kidd Public Relations in Tallahassee, Fla., Kelly Robertson, APR, delivered a very informative presentation on the basics of social media. These online tools were a reoccurring theme throughout the conference and Robertson was very knowledgeable and experienced on the topic. Reviewing the basics such as Facebook, Twitter and blogging, may seem simple and obvious for college students but it is clearly making huge waves in the PR community. These days anyone can become a reporter with a microblogging or Facebook update by endorsing a product, service or company. Having knowledge of these sites can greatly improve a possible job candidate's edge, so Robertson encouraged everyone to become familiar with these tools.

As an emerging technology, PR professionals are still trying to figure out the nuts and bolts of analyzing its impact. Tools such as Google Analytics and Insight for Facebook aid in unraveling the mystery of finding its place in the field. Despite the rising popularity of sites such as Twitter and Facebook, it is important to remember that they may die out in the future. The ideas behind social media will continue to evolve, so I wouldn't marry my Twitter account yet.

Breakout 1A: Social Media and Press Releases

2009-08-12T12:53:00.002-04:00

By Dana Bakich and Jennifer Garvin, Quotes members

Our first morning breakout session began by entering a room filled with PR professionals. Laura Sturaitis, Senior Vice President of Media Services and Product Strategy from Business Wire spoke on social media and press releases. She focused her presentation on communicating effectively and how to tighten up your message to the public. Laura stressed the “3 E’s” which are

Enhancing the release with formatting links and clever tag lines.
Expanding your posting, delivery and reach through a push and pull format.
Evaluate and measure your results- always look for ways to improve!

She also touched upon creating authority with Google. To ensure efficiency, index your captions and reinforce keywords related to your topic. Next, Laura moved onto search engine optimization. (You can use this to your advantage guys!) Blog it! Tweet it! Interestingly enough, the average “Googler” uses more than three words for their search. With that in mind, it is vital to identify keywords, link appropriately, podcast as much as possible and use social networks as a communication tool. Visuals and multimedia are the new key to successful releases and retaining the publics attention.

General Session A: It’s Not Web 2.0. It’s Not Web 3.0. It’s Simply Life.

2009-08-12T12:46:00.003-04:00

By Michelle Khouri, Quotes President

Peter Shankman, founder of Help a Reporter Out (HARO), presented the first session titled, “It’s Not Web 2.0. It’s Not Web 3.0. It’s Simply Life.” Shankman is a lively, passionate man whose life centers around social technologies. His presentation offered three main pieces of advice:

Transparency. As students, we come across the issue of transparency on a daily basis. From something as simple as “Why did I get this grade?” to a more weighted issue like “How will budget cuts affect my education?” we all just want to know what’s going on. Shankman jokes (more like a half-truth) that social media lets you screw up with a larger audience in a shorter amount of time. When you make a mistake, as a student, professional, or just on a personal basis, be transparent. Let people know. As Shankman puts it, “If people see you learning from your mistakes, they’re much more likely to forgive you.”

Relevance. “The media is NOT dying. It’s fracturing,” says Shankman. “The Grand Canyon was created by rocks fracturing. And some people say it’s kind of cool to see.” Making your news relevant is key in a time when “news outlets” can be anything from The Wall Street Journal to www.wsj.com to Twitter.com/WSJ. The big question is, “How do I make my news relevant?” It’s all about listening, says Shankman. In a “me, me, me” society, PR professionals need to take a “you, you, you” approach. “The second you start doing it for someone else is the second you get remembered, not recalled.”

Brevity. “LEARN TO WRITE. Social media requires us to write well. When you have less time to do it, you have to do it better.” Shankman emphasizes that in a time when media outlets are strapped for journalists, your audience has an average 3.7-second attention span and people only have a tolerance for 140 characters, being lengthy just isn’t a luxury. Being a good writer is more than just writing a good press release. It’s the ability to convey the message concisely -- in 3.7 second if you have to.

Breakout 5A: The AMMMO Approach to Strategic Communications

2009-08-12T12:30:00.006-04:00

By Alexia Penna, Quotes member

In this session, Jack Levine focuses on the AMMMO approach. Through knowing your audiences, messages, how to utilize the right messengers, and methods, you will reach your desired outcomes. You are the voice behind your company, products, and ideas. In order to get those “decision makers” to buy into your products and ideas you need to “build a bridge” between the two.

It all starts with your audience. You can’t afford to reach the general public. You will be way more effective if you target your audience. When it comes to donating money, you are better off targeting those over the age of 50 who have the means and are more willing to donate. In other words, college students should not be your target audience to try and get donations for your company.

Another important step to getting your desired outcome is your message. You have to make your message relatable to your audience as well as impactful. Different generations can watch the same commercial and if you are not the targeted audience, you will not understand what the message is saying

When it comes to getting your message across, you are more than likely to be heard if it is coming from the right messenger. If you’re a non-profit company, trying to get people to donate, you can't speak to the subject you are representing. It‘s just not that effective. Taking classes on a particular subject and receiving a degree in that subject doesn’t necessarily make you an expert. You should utilize those who are actually experiencing the situation. For example, you should let a foster child tell his or her story if you want credibility. Let them share the hard times as well as those who have positively impacted them. If the social worker speaks on his or her behalf, they will lack credibility.

The way you express your message should depend on the situation. Of course, face to face interaction is better than a phone call. Utilize all the media that you have available as well as the social networks to distribute your messages effectively.

Your outcome should be positively related to how well you execute each of the letters in AMMMO. Non-profit is all about doing the right thing towards the community. But if you are doing the right thing and not communicating it to the public, you are not maximizing your full potential as an organization.

Breakout 3C: One Size Does NOT Fit All: Cultural Influences in CSR Decision-Making

2009-08-12T12:07:00.004-04:00

By Michelle Khouri, Quotes president

In her presentation, Leticia Solaun, CH2M HILL international PR liaison, touched upon the cultural aspect of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). According to Archie B. Carroll ("the father of CSR," according to Solaun), CSR is "the social responsibility of business that encompasses the economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary expectations that society has of organizations at a given point in time." Solaun's presentation makes the point that CSR is not a blanket strategy that should be to all clients, countries, and people. For instance, Solaun gave the example of the Hispanic culture. Solaun is Cuban and has focused her doctoral thesis on Hispanic culture with regards to CSR. "It's the Cuban paranoia," she says. Hispanics will almost never donate actual money to organizations, but will rather spend time and energy to donate physical items to help advance the given cause.

I bare witness to this on a personal level. My mother, a native of Colombia, has never donated money (to my knowledge) to a charity. However, she spent many years collecting old clothes and toys from our neighbors, family, and friends and would ship them (instead of her own luggage) to Colombia. We would personally distribute the items to orphanages around Bogota. In my mother's case, she grew up in a time when the Colombian government was struggling and corrupt. She is not trusting of large entities, and, like most Hispanics, wants to see where exactly her help is going and how it is being used.

The most important part of "glocalizing" a CSR program is making sure you understand the client's perspective of themselves, their culture, their business, their beliefs. Culture is a huge part of each society and it, many times, dictates how business within that society operate, what their customs are, and how they perceive community service and giving.

General Session C: Green Marketing Communications

2009-08-12T11:50:00.007-04:00

By Jennifer Garvin, Quotes member

Wendy Cobrda and Amy Hebard, co-founders of EarthSense, LLC, illustrate the environmental, behavioral, social and public attitudes of the GREEN phenomena. They start off with the Eras of Green which are:

Do no harm (environmentally)
Doing well by doing green
Using green as a strategy

Essentially, most consumers believe manufacturers are not taking enough responsibility for their harmful effects on the environment. According to data research by EarthSense, consumers choose not to participate in the green movement because they find it to be inconvenient and not accessible enough for their lives and daily occurrences. With that said, the goal is to fill the gap between consumer skepticism and confusion while enhancing a positive attitude and motivating actual behavior.

Wendy and Amy touched upon the 7 Sins of Greenwashing

Hidden trade offs (94%)
No proof (43%)
Vagueness (57%)Worshipping false labels (39%)
Irrelevance (11%)
Lesser of 2 evils (4%)Fibbing (0%)

These are the 7 sins and the percentage of products committing each sin. Scary.

Earthsense conducted a "biz indicator" which analyzed the "the corporate reality of consumer perceptions." The top ranked companies were:

Amazon
Apple
Benjamin Moore
Burt's Bees
Discovery

Influencing these decisions are current trends, celebrities, social media, and general "buzz."

But more importantly, what does "Green" really mean? These factors determine a product's true green-ness:

What the product is made of (Compostable)
How the product is made (Production)
How the product is packaged (Packaging)
Where the product comes from (Distribution)
The environmental impact on the product (Consumption)
How the product is disposed (Disposal)

Being aware of these factors can greatly influence our understanding of the green movement and can hopefully make Americans wise consumers for many years to come. To learn more about EarthSense and the research they conduct, visit www.earthsense.com.

General Session D: Re-branding the Tampa Bay Rays: New Name, New Logo, and New Attitude

2009-08-12T11:20:00.012-04:00

"Batter up!" In this session, Tampa Bay Ray's VP of Marketing and Community Relations Tom Hoof began his lecture reflecting on the nostalgic experience of recreating the Rays' image and turning a broken brand into a championship team and company.

In 2006, the Rays went through an "Under Construction" campaign. They researched their previous name, " Tampa Bay Devil Rays" and realized a strong negative assocation between their name, "Devil Rays" and how fans spoke of them. When the fans spoke highly of the team they would exclaim, "Go Rays!" or "The Rays were great when... ." This led to the name change, "Tampa Bay Rays" and the new sunburst logo (a ray of light). To properly announce and educate the public on this new change they held a concert with Kevin Costner and his band; which inspired the "Summer Concert Series." They flooded the crowd and media with the new logo and name. To help the public engage the new brand a "Street Team" of college students was created, who were able to interact with children, as well as talk ball with season ticket holders.

The Rays campaign also featured (and currently features) promotion through different mediums, including:

TV, print, and radio
Outdoor
New media
Social networking
Experiential marketing

In addition to being active within the community, the players themselves dedicate time to the community on a personal level. Upon signing with the Rays, each player must agree to a contract requiring them to donate a part of their salary back to the community. They are also given the opportunity to use their donations towards their own pet project. Overall, the campaign Hoof and his team designed was very successful. (The winning season helped!) Ticket sales increased 40 percent from their media campaign and the morale of the fans grew tremendously in the past few years.

As students with a passion in the sports marketing and community relations industry we greatly enjoyed this session. For more information on the Tampa Bay Rays visit www.raysbaseball.com.

Closing Session: Coming from a Position of Strength

2009-08-12T11:03:00.004-04:00

By Michelle Khouri, Quotes president

In the last session of the day, presented by Carolyn Shaffer and titled “Coming from a Position of Strength,” we learned valuable lessons on how to grow by working on our natural talents. Shaffer started her presentation with a story about a rabbit that goes to school. The rabbit is enrolled in swim class, climbing class, and running class. Naturally, the rabbit excels with running, but fails at climbing and swimming, even after repeatedly trying. The moral of the story: the rabbit was made to run and was naturally good at it. Shaffer teaches about the strength movement, where the saying “You can be anything you want to be if you try hard enough,” shifts to the more realistic saying, “You can’t be anything you want to be, but you can be more of who you are.”

First, Shaffer offered definitions to the following terminology:

Knowledge: what we know (transferrable)
Skill: what you can do (transferrable)
Talent: natural way of thinking and behaving
Strength: the ability to consistently provide near perfect performance
Weakness: anything that gets in the way of excellent performance

The most important part of the strength movement is knowing exactly what is a strength and what is not. Something is most likely not your strength if:

It doesn’t come naturally
It is consistently difficult, sometimes even seemingly impossible
It is energy draining
It is confidence-reducing
Repeated experience shows little improvement

Some tips she offers us for how to work from a position of strength is to spend some time observing ourselves and others to figure out what makes us or them tick; link strengths to performance goals, and leverage them accordingly; reevaluate so-called weaknesses in order to see how to best manage them; and finally, keep the focus!

“How would you like to spend your day? Playing with your strengths or wrestling with your weaknesses,” asks Shaffer, “It’s a rhetorical question.”

Breakout 2B: Meeting the Challenge: Employee to Employer!

2009-08-11T17:44:00.004-04:00

By Armando Diaz, Quotes treasurer and Denise Galang, Quotes director of special events

Every day many people wake up to the same routine working a 9-to-5 job while they secretly wish they had the courage to plunge into their dreams of owning and running their own business. The session we just attended addressed the questionable risks involved in taking this big leap while also calming the nerves of those professionals ready to take their career to the next level and into their own hands.

Joe Curley, APR, CPRC, senior corporate communications council, Universal Parks and Resorts International and Jackie Kelvington, president of Kelvington consulting group, gave an insider's point of view on opening your dream public relations business. They mentioned the many reasons why current public relations practitioners decide to leave the comfort of their offices for the freedom of a self-owned business. For Kelvington, spending more quality time with her family and friends had the largest impact on becoming a self-employed public relations practitioner. Kelvington mentioned a her top three reasons for opening a self-operating public relations consulting group:

You set your own work schedule/hours

The possibility for more money

You chose your own clients

However, Curley also mentioned the downsides one may face when taking this risk. Some of the more important risks current public relations entrepreneurs must keep in mind are:

You lose the daily “office” environment

Paying for your own health care/memberships

You may have to rely on sales in order to meet and work new clients

A large individual workload may hamper your overall success and income

This panel discussion filled the voids of curiosity for the many professionals who are ready to invest in a challenge as well as those whose never considered of becoming their own boss. Whichever category you belong in, the session was definitely beneficial to all public relations professionals. As students, we learned about both being in a company and being the company -- good knowledge to have for the future!

Breakout 3A: PR is Not Always Loved by Management: Ten Ways to Earn a Position on the Management Team

2009-08-11T17:27:00.008-04:00

By Lauri Gagnon, Quotes vice president, and Amber Bloom, Quotes member

Joe Curley, APR, CPRC, a 35-year PR veteran, past state FPRA president and winner of the 2009 Past President's Award, delivered an applicable and enlightening presentation on how to create a "romance" between PR and Management in his session. Noting that "true PR is about satisfying the annoyed without annoying the satisfied," Curley emphasized PR as personal relationships.

His ten strategies to elevate PR to a valuable contributor to the management team included:

Don't wait to be asked
Know what keeps the CEO up at night
Analyze the big picture, not just the snapshot
Get involved in the company's policy making process
Lead the function of environmental scanning
Serve as the conscience of the organization
Develop and present action-oriented "decision making" information
Know everything you can about your company's operations
Monitor the direct competition and the marketplace
Focus all of your PR activities

Curley closed his session with a personal case study. One of his clients, Universal Studios, was on the verge of opening their new attraction, Twister, when disaster struck Central Florida. Forty-one people were killed when tornadoes tore through a local town. Curley and his client were forced to face a difficult decision: should they go ahead with the opening of the natural disaster-themed ride or postpone it? He discussed the ethical dilemmas he faced in making his recommendation to postpone the opening. Even though the company would lose the movie stars for the opening, they decided to suspend it temporarily. The story was picked up by news outlets around the country and Universal Studios secured more publicity than they had anticipated. The end result was a positive image for the company, which saved more than $1 million on the opening of the ride and were left with a clean conscience.

Breakout 5C: Today's Public Relations Agency: Partner not Predator

2009-08-11T17:23:00.007-04:00

by Amber Bloom, Quotes member

Deirdre Breakenridge is youthful and well-known in the industry; an accurate representative for what she's presenting, social media. The president of PFS Marketwyse agency and author of numerous books, Breakenridge speaks about putting the public back in public relations. The vastness of the Internet and constantly-growing plethora of networks only allows for a brief introduction into this subject. She offers solutions through changing professionals' attitudes, education and technology. The more PR professionals can adapt, the more valuable they become to their clients and their company; this helps in the constant struggle to prove PR's worth to top management.

The new hybrid of PR roles include: social media professional, market analyzer, web marketer, customer service representative, relationship marketer, viral marketer, conversationalist and listener. There is more emphasis on sociology than technology to customize consumers' outlets. For more information about Breakenridge's information, click on the "Partner Not Predator" link under FPRA Conference Resources in the right column of this blog.

Breakout 2A: APR -- Your Future, Your Career, Your Opportunity

2009-08-11T16:54:00.007-04:00

By Michelle Khouri, Quotes president

In this session, presented by Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC, vice president of accrediation and certification for the FPRA executive board, I got to learn about the intricacies of becoming Accredited in Public Relations. Nall opened up the session with a short game of "Who Wants to be an APR?" a fun PR-oriented take on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? The information session taught us about the process of studying for and obtaining the APR.

To obtain an APR, PR professionals must refer to the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), which is responsible for granting accreditations. APR is currently the only accrediation available for PR professionals. You'll be happy to know that the APR title is a lifelong designation with minimal maintenance quizzes every three years.

As students, we may consider anything past undergrad or even graduate school as a distant future. The truth is, the PR field is becoming more competitive by the year. As stated in an earlier post, this past year has proven to have the most accredited and certified members of FPRA in history. The following benefits of becoming an APR might persuade you to consider it as an eventual step upward:

The APR designation shows knowledge, skills and abilities in key PR areas.

Employers prefer you have the designation, as it shows professionalism and expertise.

Let's face it, the APR designation is an incredible personal accomplishment, and can add to a long list of personal achievements you are already compiling.

An important note is the suggested time at which we should pursue this title. About two years ago the UAB required that applicants have five years of professional experience. You might be happy to know that this requirement is no more, although it is suggested that you have three-five years of experience.

So what is involved with pursuing your APR?

Application: $25 application fee, $385 one-time payment, or two installments of $205

Preparation: study, study, study

Portfolio: this is one campaign or project that shows the depth of your experience

Readiness review: you will present your state of "readiness" to a panel of three APRs about a month before your exam. They will dissect which areas need more attention, and which are ready to go!

Exam: self-explanatory

For more information about APR, go to http://www.praccreditation.org/ or http://fpra.org/Professional_Development/APR.aspx.

Breakout 1B: Setting Up Online Press Rooms as Part of Your Company's Web Site

2009-08-11T16:42:00.009-04:00

By Lauri Gagnon, Quotes vice president

Online press rooms are often a company's first line of defense for communicating with the media. Ninety-eight percent of surveyed reporters attested to the importance of a press room. Their job is to find the facts for their story and, just like us, seek speed in obtaining it. How many times a day do we go on Google and expect to get lucky on our first search? For the media, checking a company's web site is easier than picking up the phone; therefore, we must ensure the information there is both accessible and clear when they don't come to us directly. A well composed site can become respected by journalists and, more importantly, viewed as a valuable resource or expert source for the subject.

Caron Sjoberg, president of Ideaworks, a marketing consulting group, imparted her advice on the subject during her session titled, "Setting Up Online Press Roomsas Part of Your Company's Web Site." She noted that online press rooms can often be a journalist's best resource because they are available around the clock, can target specific industries, provide story ideas and facts, include archives and can be their first resource to find an expert in a crisis. Ten of the essentials to include on either the home page or within one click (to avoid excessive navigation) are:

Contact information

Search archives

Background information

Product information

Photos

Crisis communications

Events/calendar

Executive bios

The site should be easy to find and avoid any sign-in access to the news room. The most insightful suggestion I saw was to provide an expert finder window to build credibility for clients. The overall concepts that everyone can come away with are keeping any content current, succint and to the point.

Welcome to the 71st Annual FPRA Conference, PR on F.I.R.E.!

2009-08-10T12:54:00.001-04:00

By Michelle Khouri, Quotes President

Karen Smittle, Accredited Public Relations (APR), vice president of conference planning, made a grand entrance with the 2009 FPRA conference committee. Holding a fake torch with the letters “PR” on it, Smittle jogged into the ballroom to the sound of pulsing music, her committee following her. They all lined up on the stage, and so was marked the beginning (although not officially) of the 71^st FPRA Annual Conference.

After introducing her committee, Smittle welcomed FPRA State President Lanette Hart onto the stage. Hart conducted the business of a usual meeting, including officially commencing the conference, giving highlights of the past year (fun fact: this past year held a record-breaking number of newly accredited and certified members), disclosing financial information (FPRA is going strong!), and inviting Executive Directors Cheray Keyes-Shima and Christopher Carroll, both APR and CPRC, to the stage for a quick report about the state of the board. Finally, the incoming board was sworn in and the conference was ready to roll!

Intern Pursuit - Spring 2009

2009-04-11T19:55:00.003-04:00

On Wed., April 8, Quotes members headed down to the Orlando Sentinel for Intern Pursuit. With approximately 200 students in attendance as well as about 70 employers, Quotes members and communication students alike gained valuable experience in networking while looking for their next internship. The best and brightest of UCF gathered to make this biannual event another huge success.

On behalf of the Quotes board, we'd like to thank everyone that came out to this event - employers and students. We wish you both the best of luck in finding a great match for the upcoming internship semesters.

The Quotes board seniors with our wonderful advisor, Ryan Sheehy.

Students and employers networking during the event.

Intern Pursuit--TOMORROW

2009-04-07T14:36:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow, employers from around Metro Orlando will gather at the Orlando Sentinel for Intern Pursuit on Wed., April. 8 from 6:30-8 p.m. The biannual event is organized for employers looking to actively recruit advertising, public relations and marketing interns for the summer and fall semesters.

More than 75 employers will be in attendance as well as approximately 200 UCF marketing and communication students. Industries such as government agencies, non-profit organizations, corporations, as well as communication firms will be present at this event, seeking their next intern.

Students are NOT required to RSVP, but are encouraged to dress in professional attire and bring plenty of resumes.

Need some last minute preparation? Don’t miss the Mock Intern Pursuit on Tues., April 7 at 4:30 p.m. in ENG 2 room 203

Here are some more helpful tips from Ryan Sheehy and the Quotes Board:

DO YOUR RESEARCH ABOUT THE COMPANIES BEFOREHAND

- Pick up a copy of the RSVP list of confirmed attendees and start to research them on the Web - Bring enough resumes – about 50 copies- Be prepared to be interviewed on the spot- Keep an open mind- You may not be particularly interested in the company at first, but do your best to stay professional, act interested and take their information (even if it’s not the position for you)- You may discover an opportunity that is the perfect fit for you and the employer

***The Intern Pursuit RSVP list will be available outside Ryan Sheehy’s office (COM 249) in her mailbox. Pick up a copy today!

Dress for success and what NOT to wear!

DO: - Dress conservatively - Carefully select your attire- Wear dark closed-toe shoes – avoid stilettos - Stick with basic colors – black, navy, gray, brown- Keep it basic with your jewelry selection - Ladies keep skirts at or below knee length - Wear pantyhose with skirts – depending on company- Wear a tie- Iron your shirt - Wear a sports coat - Make sure your colors coordinate - Shave or at least trim your facial hair - Remove piercings – from places other than your ears- Groom your hair - Carry a pen, your planner and portfolio with resumes

DON’T:- Soak yourself in cologne and perfume- Dress as if you’re going to a nightclub - Wear revealing clothes or excessively tight clothes - No spaghetti strap tank tops - limit cleavage - No short skirts – keep at the knee or just above- Smack on gum, candy or other foods

Good luck! See you tomorrow.

Quotes Celebrates St. Patty's Day!

2009-03-30T22:02:00.003-04:00

This year, Quotes celebrated St. Patty's Day by introducing members to a new mentor program. Ushering in a new, internal program wherein older students in the Ad/PR program assisted the newer students, Quotes hopes that with the luck o' the Irish, this mentor program will take flight!

Mentors and mentees met on Tues. March 17, clad in green, for a special meet n' greet mixer. Sharing internship and class experiences, members bonded over ice breakers and snacks.

For more information on becoming a mentor or mentee email ucfquotes@gmail.com.

Quotes members get to know each other a little better with a fun ice breaker.

Members share internship experiences and advice over M&Ms.

Quotes Defines 2009

2009-02-12T20:12:00.000-05:00

Throughout the past year, Quotes, the UCF Ad/PR Club, has undeniably undergone a makeover. Welcoming our new faculty advisor, Ryan Sheehy, and a new director of the Nicholson School of Communications, Dr. Chandler, the club seeks to continually develop with our burgeoning members.

Thus far in the Spring 2009 semester, Quotes has presented its members with two different but impactful meetings. Our first meeting of 2009, occurring on Tues., Jan. 20, brought several Quotes Board Members including Michelle Khouri, Aley Vaughan, and Nathan Christopher, into the limelight for an interactive internship panel discussion. Moderated by Ryan Sheehy, Michelle, Aley, and Nathan, shared with their peers the impact of the club on their professional development through local and national internships. Their experiences with prominent government entities and Fortune 500 companies helped inspire current members to continuously reach for their career dreams. Offering important advice such as intertwining a unique voice and story into cover letters gave Quotes members insight into making themselves stand out among a stack of resumes.

The second meeting of 2009, scheduled on Feb. 3, brought UCF’s own Keith Jensen to the stage. A successful creative director for a local Orlando ad agency and a current speech professor at UCF, Jensen shared with Quotes members a glimpse into agency life. Sharing not only his own professional portfolio, Jensen also gave members a perspective from a potential employer. He advised students to take a second look through their resume, cover letter, and portfolio and make sure that these documents are completely consistent, grammatically and visually. Jensen also advised students on the importance of keeping their personal social networking pages clean and private, stating that employers are looking for reliable and dependable representatives for their company. More information on Jensen can be found at his site www.kjcreative.com, also visit his favorite advertising site, www.adsoftheworld.com for more inspiration.

The next Quotes meeting will be held Tues., Feb. 17, at 4:30 p.m. in ENG 2 room 203. Quotes, the Ad/PR Club will share with its members a unique glance into global PR, opening students' eyes to communication across cultures. Discussing the world of international public relations, Ryan Sheehy will engage students with insight from her adventures across the world showing how communication extends beyond language and cultural barriers. She will be accompanied by student, and Quotes board member, Lauri Gagnon. The two will give members a glimpse into the similarities and differences between us and our professional counterparts over seas. There will also be a short description of the second annual Ireland Study Abroad opportunity.

To learn more about the club, join the Facebook group: “Quotes Ad/PR Club” or contact the Quotes advisor, Ryan Sheehy, or Quotes President Aley Vaughan.