Presidents’ Letter
Pro Bono Update
PR in Focus
Member Spotlight
Articles of Interest
Upcoming Events
Jobs
Membership News
Sponsor Spotlight
Thanks to everyone who joined us for January’s Annual Meeting featuring the keynote from Geoff Livingston. His comments on next-gen wearable communication technology were quite fascinating and something to look into further as more information becomes available, specifically on how it will impact our industry. We followed that up with the February’s professional development engaging presentation from industry expert Jenn Martin, the social media manager for AARP, on the top three keys to success. The event booked up quickly for members — so check out a recap video! Stay tuned as we release the details about our upcoming March Professional Development event on evaluation and measurement — another important industry topic.
The Financial Literacy Organization for Women and Girls (FLOW) will hold its First Annual Mother 2 Daughter Financial Summit on Saturday, March 9 at the National 4H Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md.
This all-day event tailored just for teen and pre-teen girls and their moms will help these young women gain more confidence and smarts about the world of money and money matters, as well as arm them with tools and strategies to help them make better money decisions, achieve higher goals and realize their full potential.
First Annual Mother 2 Daughter Financial Summit
“Empowering Girls to be Money-Wise”
Saturday, March 9, 2013
8:30 am-3:00 pm
National 4H Conference Center
7100 Connecticut Avenue
Chevy Chase, Maryland
For more information and registration visit: http://sitting-pretty.org
Meet WWPR’s New Pro Bono Client FLOW
WWPR’s new pro bono client for 2012 and 2013 is the Financial Literacy Organization for Women and Girls (FLOW). Founded by finance attorney Vernai Dantzler-Smith in 2007, FLOW’s mission is to provide the information necessary for women and girls to make thoughtful and responsible decisions about spending, saving, borrowing, investing, and building assets. In this Q&A with Vernai, we learn more about FLOW.
Q: Why did you start FLOW?
A: I started FLOW because I recognized the need for more young people, especially young women and girls (ages 10-18) to be knowledgeable about matters concerning money, finance and global markets. Seven out of 10 women (and girls who grow up to become women) can expect to be old and alone. 80% of us will be divorced, unmarried, widowed. 70% of us will suffer from a chronic physical or cognitive disability, and many will be broke. Middle-class women are the fastest growing demographic of bankruptcy filers in the U.S. today, and now out-pace men in their race to the courthouse for financial relief. Our goal is to provide all women and girls with the education, tools and strategies necessary to be independent and self-reliant in the face of these odds. (Sources: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Aging, U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control, and American Bankruptcy Institute)
Q: What impact does FLOW have on young women today?
A: We make sure that our efforts are designed to make a difference through
life-changing programs centered on three core competencies: 1) economic literacy, 2) asset building and 3) entrepreneurship. We also offer a wide-range of programs, conferences, and workshops aimed at self-reliance and financial independence. Coaching and mentoring opportunities are also an important part of our agenda.
Q: Why is financial independence and economic security important for young girls to learn at an early age?
A: Poor economic situations force millions of women and girls into harm’s way, where they are often the subjects of crime, violence and abuse, with adolescent girls being especially vulnerable. Girls who live in financial distress are at a high risk for engaging in smoking, drinking, drugs, violence and sexual activity which not only have negative implications on their general well-being, but on their life prospects as well. At FLOW, we are striving to change that.
Q: What are some of FLOW’s major activities this year?
A: FLOW will be partnering with the financial markets to host our First Annual Mother 2 Daughter Financial Summit on March 9 in the Washington, DC area. The theme is “Empowering Girls to be Money-Wise.” Moms and their daughters are invited to attend for a day of powerful curriculum about money, finance and global markets tailored just for teen and pre-teen girls and their moms. Girls will not only emerge from the Summit with more confidence and smarts about the world of money and money matters, but will be armed with tools and strategies to help them make better money decisions, achieve higher goals and realize their full economic potential. Registration is open now at http://sitting-pretty.org.
PR in Focus is a monthly column written by WWPR member Jessica Williams exploring a wide range of topics and current events from a public relations perspective.
PR & the Presidency
Public relations can be broadly defined as the “flow of information between an individual or an organization and the public” and the “professional maintenance of a favorable public image by an organization or a famous person.” With the pomp and circumstance of President Barack Obama’s second inauguration now over and as the next term gets underway, the country’s first African American commander-in-chief faces many unenviable challenges over the next four years — one of which is maintaining his high approval rating and public image while moving forward on an ambitious policy agenda.
For a president who ran on the principles of racial inclusion, opportunity and success for all, the bar has been set high. The Obama administration will be challenged to counter the perception that he may be falling back on his pledge to “faithfully execute” and ensure equality for all. He will need to put together a faithful coterie of advisories that is not exclusively made up of white men lest he be accused of “…suffer[ing] from Groucho Marx syndrome: He favors those in the club he doesn’t belong to.” Image is paramount, especially for a president.
In the weeks leading up to the inauguration, as several first term Cabinet members announced their departures, hope for a diverse slate of nominees was soon followed by dismay as a worrisome trend emerged that the second term Cabinet would be far less diverse than the first. With the “big three” posts going to white men in Treasury (Jack Lew), Defense (Chuck Hagel) and State (John Kerry), I know I joined many others in wondering “why”?
Even though Susan Rice removed herself from consideration for Secretary of State after considerable controversy over the American consulate attack in Benghazi, Libya, if confirmed she would have been a female African American nominee and the third consecutive woman to lead the State Department. Still, one had to wonder why there couldn’t be more Cabinet nominees who represent the diversity that is today’s America-one which Obama repeatedly referred to in his inaugural speech and on the campaign trail.
By Beth Stewart
This month’s member spotlight features WWPR member and board member Avelyn Austin of Ketchum Public Relations.
Coming from a digital background, Avelyn Austin’s advice for those itching to break into the communications industry is one should start by garnering a basic knowledge of online/digital communications.
“The way things are moving with communications and people being on, what we say, four screens, (i.e. TV screen, tablets, computer, mobile), it’s important to learn as much as possible with the online communications piece,” said Austin.
Austin stays ahead of the curve serving as account supervisor for strategic insights and new media development for Ketchum Public Relations. In this role, she is responsible for executing strategic online marketing campaigns. Outside of work, Austin not only runs the Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Meetup but she also serves as co-chair to WWPR’s Woman of the Year committee. She says this year the goal is to meet and exceed what the previous co-chairs accomplished.
“We want to build off of what Amy and Susie (previous co-chairs) did last year with great speakers, great engagement and a great turnout,” said Austin.
- The most popular brand-inspired hashtags during the Super Bowl (Ragan’s PR Daily)
- 5 ways smartphones can boost your efficiency and productivity (Ragan’s PR Daily)
- Oreo’s real-time Super Bowl ad (PRSA’s Public Relations Tactics)
- Apple Tries (A Little) Harder to Get Its Message Out (Wall Street Journal)
- 2/25/2013 — All Day Conference: xPotomac is where the digital media future meets businesses
- 3/20/2013 — 12:00pm-2:00pm: Evaluation and Measurement – PR uses numbers that are meant to dazzle but only tell a part of the story. How do we get past counting and begin to actually measure social change?
- Broadcast Media Relations Senior Account Executive — Z Communications
- Senior Accountant — Talent Bridge
- Campaign Manager — Sabin Vaccine Institute
- Account Supervisor — Racepoint Group
January New Members
– Jessica Williams: The Pew Charitable Trusts
– Amy Repke: Freelance Writer/Communications Specialist
– Avelyn Austin: Ketchum
– Stephanie DuBois: Office of Congressman Charles F. Bass
– Rachel Deitch: Nahigian Strategies
– Alison Omens: AFL-CIO
– Barbara Leary: Florida Power & Light Company
– Laura Alito: Hill + Knowlton Strategies
– Brittany Roh: Regnery Publishing
– Eugenia Gardner: Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
– Amanda Szabo: Autism Society
– Kathy Stershic: Dialog Research & Communications
– Samantha McCoy: MissionKey Communications, LLC
– Shana Glickfield: Beekeeper Group
– Anya Alexander: Hager Sharp
– Nathalie Rahnama: MediaForce PR
– Sharon Lewis: Brown Capital Management
– Sherrie Bakshi: Matrix Group International
– E. Yewande Adegboyega-Panox: FDA
– Anne Redmiles: Westland Enterprises, Inc.
– Anne Marie Borrego: American Red Cross
– Yulia Dianova: Entrepreneur
January Renewals
– Margaret McClain: Hill+Knowlton Strategies
– Carols Stevens: American Bar Association
– Debbie Friez: BurrellesLuce
– Hillarie Turner: Environics Communications
– Amy Malerba Hemingway: Edelman
– Melanie Jordan: PRofessional Solutions, LLC
– Kate Perrin: PRofessional Solutions, LLC
– Rachel Henderson: Ogilvy Washington
– Nyree Wright: MSL Washington
– Susie Tappouni: ASCO
– Beth Stewart: Vorsight
– Colleen Fogarty: American Diabetes Association
– Heather Curry: American College of Radiology
Sponsor Spotlight
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Three core values stand behind the PN brand around the world:
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Team – We value collaboration. Everything from our methods of client work to our financial structures is built on the belief that we are at our best as a united, global Porter Novelli.
And we anchor these three core values in the foundation of RESPONSIBILITY. We treat each other and our business partners with respect. We recognize the awesome power of our craft and, therefore, the obligation to wield it with integrity in today’s complex global marketplace. It is deep within our heritage to achieve high business performance, not only to sustain ourselves, but also to allow us to deploy our unique skills to give back to the communities in which we live. Learn more at www.porternovelli.com.