Strategy Needed - Report from Networking Event

It was generally agreed that the October 28 Networking Event was a misnomer for our gathering, but it certainly generated material for discussion and a mandate to move forward.

Below is a summary of what unfolded.

PRSJ Networking Event

October 28, 2009

JTI

The event was called to order at about 5:50 and ended at about 8:20


ATTENDANCE - 29 Practitioners

Deep concern was raised about the scheduling of a membership event by the IABC and the PRSJ at the same time. It was agreed that this should never happen again as it creates division among practitioners and does not add to the growth of the profession in Jamaica.

PRSJ member and Author, Joan Andrea Hutchinson did the very first reading from her upcoming book "Kin Teet Kibba Heart Bun" - celebrating the creativity of Jamaican poor people. Pre-order in time for Christmas, write to: kinteetkibbaheartbun@yahoo.com and bumpyhead@cwjamaica.com.

Publisher and Marketing Executive Glynis Salmon who delivered the keynote address told practitioners that Jamaicans do not fulfull the promise of talent on a global stage as so many of us are unprepared. She urged practitioners to devote more time to reading and absorbing relevant material.

The panel discussion about the future of the society that was moderated by Past President Alison Christie Binger, with panellists President Mark Thomas, member Gillian Haughton and Glynis Salmon revealed the following topics that people care about.

• Opportunities for training, personal development, professional development
• Better co-ordination with the IABC
• More opportunities for interactions and connections with peers
• Opportunities to share best practicesNeed to build respect and value for the Society
• Need for Succession planning
• Need to revise the definition for PR/Communiation
• Need to maintain relevance and importance to practitioners and to society
• Society must play a role in the communications activities (media, marketing, journalism etc)Society needs to align itself with compatable social causes

The next steps are to engage practitioners into the life of the society by forming working groups to:
Develop a strategy that will ensure the long term success of the Society
Develop a public relations plan for the society

Click here for slideshow of the event
To volunteer email "I Will Work" to prsj2009@gmail.com

PR Professionals Urged to Expand Reading In Order To Be Effective Partners for Social Change

Public Relations Practitioners Urged To Expand Reading In Order To Be Effective Partners for Social Change

Communications Specialist and book publisher, Glynis Salmon urged public relations practitioners to read more relevant material if they intended to contribute to society in a more meaningful way. She was speaking at a Public Relations Society of Jamaica (PRSJ) networking event in Kingston on October 28.

"People will always say and make the criticism of Jamaica, why is it that when you meet someone on an individual level or you meet them in varous groups or various sectors they seem to be so full of possibilities for greatness yet they fall strategically short because, again unfortunately, we do not go the distance for excellence and that is very often because of underdeveloped literacy. I am challenging you individually. If you are to be proud upstanding members of the public relations society, you must first make yourself a model for the behaviour that you want to change."

Ms Salmon noted the Society's goal to play a collaborative role for positive change in areas such as the promotion of literacy, practitioners needed to understand the policies that inform government.

"You want to create some kind of partnership and collaboration with civil society and government, but how can you do so properly and effectively when you remain outside of government? Have you read the 2030 vision? Do you know of it? Have you read it thoroughly? Have you read the UN Charter of Rights which informs the 20/30 vision? The global community have identified certain elements that must be cascaded throughout the countries of the world. So much of what informs government policies and decision-making have come from other sources. Are you familiar with them? How can you become an effective partner when you are only being superficial? So you have to deepen your reading, widen your connections so that when you sit at the table with Government as a meaningful partner, sit from a mutually informed position."

Ms Salmon said that a part of personal literacy development is anticipating global trends and preparing to meet them. She urged practitioners to learn other languages, particularly Chinese, as success in the international community demanded a knowledge of norms and languages of other cultures.

A cross section of private and public sector practitioners attended the event which later featured a panel discussion on how to make the Society of PR professionals in Jamaica more relevant to the needs of the profession.

-end-

Listen to audio clips 1 and 2 in Public Relations toolbox

GUEST SPEAKER PRSJ NETWORKING EVENT

Glynis Salmon, Publisher -
Owner of the Award –Winning publishing imprint, BalaPress, publisher of Easton Lee’s latest book, “Run Big ‘Fraid: A Collection of Short Stories”, which won the Award for Best Adult Fiction in the 2008 Book Industry Association of Jamaica’s National Awards. She is a member of the Board of Directors of several organizations, including the Book Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ). She has given over 18 years of distinguished service to the Book Industry.

READING FROM UPCOMING BOOK BY

WRITER, STORYTELLER AND ACTRESS

Joan Andrea Hutchinson has been writing poems and stories in the Jamaican language for more than ten years. She has published a book of poems, Meck Mi Tell Yuh, audiocassettes "Dat Bumpy Head Gal", "Jamaica Kin Teet" and "Everyting Jamaican". She will read from her upcoming book "Kin teet Kibba Heart Bun"

Agenda - Networking activity

Dear Colleagues,

The agenda for our networking activity is below. To RSVP, email: prsj2009@gmail.com.

PRSJ Networking Activity
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 (5:30 - 7:30)
Jamaica Trade and Invest 18 Trafalgar Road, Kingston 10

Master of Ceremonies – Former PRSJ President, Christine Bell,
PR Consultant, Innovative Ideas

Registration starts/ refreshments available

Welcome - PRSJ President, Mark Thomas
Communications Director, Jamaica Trade and Invest

Introduction of Guest Speaker – Tyrell Morgan,
PR Officer, UDC

Reading/Performance from her new book - Joan Andrea Hutchinson
Actress, author, innovator

"Solving Illiteracy through marketing education - Saving the unread"

Keynote Speaker – Glynis Salmon
Director of Business Development and Communication, MIND

************

Panel Discussion – The Way Forward Now

Moderator:

Former PRSJ President, Alison Christie Binger, PR Counsellor, Illuminart

Panellists:

Sydian Brissett PR Officer, The British Council
Former PRSJ President, Janneth Mornan Green – Consultant, Media Central
Gillian Haughton, PR Director, Ministry of National Security

Registration of volunteers for Working Groups:
AGM Planning Committee
Training and Professional Development
Lights out

RSVP prsj2009@gmail.com