NEWSLETTER: December 2011

In this issue: WWPR Annual Meeting WWPR Partnerships Upcoming Events WWPR Blog WWPR In the News Member Spotlight Articles of Interest Job Board Sponsor Spotlight WWPR Annual Meeting and Board Induction Lunch Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year! Please join WWPR for our annual business meeting on January 25, where we will vote on and induct the incoming board, announce our new pro bono client, and celebrate over lunch. The meeting will feature a keynote address by Kiki McLean, a former senior Clinton advisor and current global head of public affairs and managing director of Porter Novelli Public Services. When: January 25, 2012, 12-2pm Where: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC Click here for more information and to register. Top WWPR Partnerships and Sponsorships The support of WWPR partners has made this a tremendous year for recognizing and celebrating Washington's communications leaders. In July, WWPR hosted our second annual Emerging Leaders Award reception recognizing rising communications stars at The Darlington House. On November 15, more than 200 PR professionals joined WWPR at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC to honor veteran communicators who have left a positive mark on the industry. Our sponsors have contributed greatly to the success of both events through their support, volunteerism, fantastic raffle items (which raised funds for our pro bono client Thrive DC), and generous event giveaways! Thank you to our partners, sponsors, and supporters for a fantastic year! * ABC7/WJLA * Body Language Institute * Boss Ladies Mean Business * C. Fox Communications * Capitol Communicator * Central Michigan University * Cobert Communications Group * citybizlist * D S Simon Productions * Gibraltar Associates * Hager Sharp * Ladies DC * NAPS * National Restaurant Association * Ogilvy Washington * Porter Novelli * PR Newswire/MultiVu * Sprinkles Cupcakes * Strauss Radio Strategies * The National Press Club * Vocus * Washington Business Journal * West Glen Communications * Widmeyer Communications For more information about 2012 sponsorship opportunities, please email us at sponsorships@wwpr.org. Top Upcoming Events For full information about our exciting events and programs, please visit our Events page. WWPR members receive member rates for PRSA-NCC and AWC events. -  IPRA/PRSA-NCC Kick off your new year with an Indie Brand Check! - January 5, 2012 - PRSA- NCC On Message and On the Money: Crisis Communication Lessons from International Finance - January 10, 2012 - WWPR Annual Meeting at the National Press Club with keynote address by Kiki McLean - January 25, 2012 Top WWPR Blog On the WWPR Blog you will find recaps of the monthly professional development seminars, news about upcoming events, and insights on communications trends and issues. Here's a sneak peek of what you'll find on the blog:

• 2011 Washington PR Woman of the Year, Heathere Evans-Keenan, shares her five guiding principles
• Learn three creative techniques for driving web traffic from WWPR Vice President Tina McCormack Beaty

All members are invited and encouraged to contribute to the WWPR Blog. Please send submissions to debbie@wwpr.org. Top WWPR In the News Capitol Communicator WWPR Holds Holiday Celebration -- Dec 14 We celebrated the holiday season on Dec. 13 at Tuscana West. Attendees supported our pro bono client, Thrive DC, by donating Target, CVS, or Giant gift cards. Great networking was had by all, including 2011 Washington PR Woman of the Year Heathere Evans-Keenan. Attendees had fun taking pictures in the photo booth provided by ShutterBooth. The crazy photos with fun hats may be the blackmail pictures of the future. The night ended with a drawing for tickets to see "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Shakespeare Theatre. Top Member Spotlight Emily Hughes, Woman of the Year Co-chair Always interested in business but wanting to write and be creative, Emily Hughes chose to major in advertising and PR at the University of Central Florida (UCF). After graduation, she pursued an internship with the Orlando Ballet, where she started a fundraiser that is still being used at performances today. Currently, Emily is a government relations associate with National Environmental Strategies, a bipartisan government affairs firm specializing in energy and environment issues. Originally from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Emily was drawn to Washington after college by her interest politics. Since moving, Emily became active in WWPR after attending a speed networking event. She joined the Washington PR Woman of the Year Committee in 2010, working on obtaining raffle items for donation. This year, she became the committee's co-chair (along with Laura Cilmi) and planned the very successful event. Top Articles of Interest

• The top 10 best and worst communicators of 2011 (Ragan's PR Daily)
• The Brand Keys-12 for 12 Brand & Marketing Trends for 2012 (Forbes)
• I Don't Understand What Anyone Is Saying Anymore (Harvard Business Review)
• Infographic: How Content Goes Viral (Digital Buzz)

Top Membership News New Members - Piper Hall, O'Melveny & Myers LLP - Jessica Post, The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) - Jessica Marlatt, Cultural Tourism DC - Tawanna Berry - Sara Neumann, Susan Davis International - Colleen Gibson, Georgetown University - Sarah Gershman, Greenroom Speakers - Lisa Vogt, SOS Children's Villages - Karen Bloomquist, George Mason University - Ashley Chaney, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. - Maria Romero, GWU Renewals - Kathy Jansen, PRNewswire - Heathere Evans-Keenan, Keenan PR, Inc. - Richard Strauss, Strauss Radio Strategies - Debbie Hodges Walyus, CS Committee on Publication - Patricia McNally, Freelance Consultant - Tammy Lemley, North American Network - Robin Evans, EFX Media Interested in joining or renewed your membership? Simply complete the online membership form. To learn more, please contact Leslie Rutledge, Membership Chair, at membership@wwpr.org. Top Job Board: DC Employment & Volunteer Opportunities Our Jobs section offers WWPR members and website visitors a central location to see who's hiring in PR, communications and related disciplines in the DC metropolitan area.  Positions will remain active on the site for 30 days unless removed by the poster, ensuring the list includes only active job openings. Post an open position by visiting www.wwpr.org/jobs. It's easy and free to connect with outstanding communications professionals in our area! Please contact web@wwpr.org with questions or feedback. Top Sponsor Spotlight The National Press Club has been a part of Washington life for over 100 years. Through its doors have come all of the Presidents of the United States since Theodore Roosevelt, as well as kings and queens, prime ministers, premiers, senators, congressmen, cabinet officials, ambassadors, scholars, entertainers, business leaders, and athletes. Its members have included all of the Presidents of the United States since Warren Harding and most have spoken from the Club's podium. Today membership in the club is open to all active journalists, former journalists, government information officers, and to those considered by journalists to be regular news sources. For more information visit www.npc.press.org. Top