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CRPRA April 2010 Newsletter - Reflections - Cedar Rapids Public Relations Associates


In this issue:

  • A preview of our April meeting with guest speaker Scott Sanborn, formerly of KCRG-TV9 & MidAmerican Career Associates, now News Director and Development Director at local Christian radio station The Spirit.

  • A recap of our March meeting with Dr. Lynn Manternach of Mindfire Communications.

  • A list of the most recent additions to our roster.

  • Remembering a cherished CRPRA friend and community leader.


 

Scott Sanborn

“News from the Job Front”

Guest Speaker: Scott Sanborn, The Spirit 89.1 FM

Thursday, April 8, 2010 - 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Clarion Hotel & Convention Center
(Map)
Cost: $15.00

The meeting will conclude at approximately 1 p.m.

Reservations are required and are due by
5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 2.  

 

 

About the April 2010 Program & Guest Speaker:

Longtime eastern Iowa news anchor Scott Sanborn is back on the morning airwaves with The Spirit! A familiar name among early risers, Scott served as the main anchor and managing editor of the KCRG TV-9 Morning News from 1992 to 2008, and he is excited to return to his radio roots as The Spirit’s News and Development Director. During his time away from the news desk, Scott served as the Chief Client Development Officer at MidAmerican Career Associates where he worked one-on-one with job-seeking executives during the worst economic downturn in recent history. Scott will share with us some of his insights from that experience.

“The Spirit” is eastern Iowa’s home for Positive Hit Music, KXGM, Extreme Grace Media, Inc. Six radio stations, one message: 89.1 in Cedar Rapids, 100.1 in Iowa City, 91.3 in Waterloo, 106.3 in Mt. Vernon, 93.3 in Anamosa, and 106.3 in Dyersville. “Loving God and Loving People.”

 Submit your reservation for the April meeting


CRPRA meets the 2nd Thursday of each month, September through May.

Mark your calendars!


 
        by Sher Jasperse

March 2010 - “Building a Hot Brand”

Lynn Manternach, founder and Brand Arsonist at MindFire Communications, addressed the topic of “Building a Hot Brand” at our March meeting. She started by helping us understand the somewhat elusive concept of “brand,” which is not your product, service or logo, but rather the impression that people get from interacting with your company or organization. It’s your reputation, or, in other words, not what you think about your organization but what they think about it.

Manternach said building a brand starts with establishing a brand promise — the one thing that your brand intends to own in the customer’s mind. Your promise should have three qualities:

- It’s extremely important to your target customer.
- You are uniquely suited to deliver it.
- Your competitors are not addressing it.

Your brand should have a “personality” that is communicated across all touch points with your customers, with the idea that Brand + Experience = Relationship. Your brand is really like an iceberg, with the above-water components being your name, logo, products and services, advertising and environment. Below-water elements — which are equally important — include your company values, management structure, customer relations, and staff motivation and training.

Manternach suggested that creating an effective brand always begins with research. Formal research with your customers (current, previous and potential), vendors, employers, referrers and board members will determine internal and external perceptions of your organization and where they differ. This should be complemented by informal research that includes listening, asking and monitoring on the Internet and with key stakeholders.

Finally, identify aspects of your brand that are strategic and differentiate you, develop a brand position and promise, give employees a clearly stated focus, increase the consistency of your internal and external communications efforts, and build a customer experience that ensures that your brand creates an emotional connection with your customers.



We welcome these new attendees!

Barb Gordon, Gordon Photography

Vicki Henry, Director of Marketing & Sales,
Longbranch Hotel & Convention Center

Jill Wenger, Owner, iDesign

 



Remembering Dave Etzel

Dave Etzel

CRPRA lost a long-time attendee and friend when Dave Etzel passed away on March 11, 2010. Dave held a variety of positions in broadcasting, communications and marketing during his long career, and he was a very active community leader and volunteer.

You can read Dave’s full obituary via the Murdoch Funeral Home web site.
(Please note that we're not able to guarantee how long this link will be active).






“Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.”

- Jim Rohn, Business Philosopher

 



We Want to
Hear From You!

Are you...

...changing jobs?

...adding a new certification
to your resume?

...the recipient of an award?

Please email Member
News to Eric Wylie at:

eric@wyliecc.com


We'll include your news
in future newsletters!
 


Want some free PR? Donate a door prize!

Oh, how we love our door prizes! Thank you to all who have contributed in the past! It makes our meetings that much more enjoyable and your business or organization gets great exposure when you stand up to briefly explain your prize donation.

Door prizes can be any items such as coffee mugs, notebooks, candles and the ever-popular food items (especially chocolate!), etc.

We’ll draw names each month and hand out the door prizes and spotlight the businesses and individuals who donated. It’s a win-win situation for everyone! To donate an item, please contact any CRPRA steering committee member when you arrive for the meeting.

Thank you for helping to make each CRPRA meeting a fun event!



If you have a suggestion for a guest speaker or topic you would like to see offered at a future meeting, or have any questions about CRPRA, please contact any of the Steering Committee members listed below.

Warren Byerly - Visual Images Productions, 360-7567

Connie Fullmer Dunkin
- Dunkin One, 396-0185

Sher Jasperse
- Writer/Editor, 364-2535

Carol Myers
- J&A Printing Inc., 393-1781 ext. 249

Amber O’Connor
- Erb’s, 364-5159 ext. 126

Wilma Shadle
- Retired Communications Professional, 363-6254

Eric Wylie -
Wylie Creative Communications, 832-2916
 

 

 

Are you looking for a great way to meet other area Marketing, Communications and Public Relations professionals and learn about exciting programs and people in Eastern Iowa? Then CRPRA is for you! Please join us!

Cedar Rapids Public Relations Associates is an informal organization of professionals dedicated
to sharing information on effective practices and future trends affecting the public relations field.

Find more information online at www.crpra.com

Copyright 2007-2010 - Cedar Rapids Public Relations Associates

Reflections is distributed monthly via email from September through May.

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