Public_Relations
2011-2012
Public Relations
September Bulletin
How excited you must be for the opportunity to represent
your Unit or County as Public Relation Chairman. "Cultivate a New Attitude,
Dream-Believe-Succeed" As the new PR Chairman you have the ability and
chance to promote the American Legion Auxiliary in a big way. Get the word
out to members on how and when to get information to contacts in radio,
television and the newspapers.
With the President and Secretary, the PR Chairman should
be knowledgeable about the Unit activities and operation. The chairman
should be included in the planning of all programs and kept advised of
everything the Unit is involved in that might be newsworthy.
PR Chairman,
first thing you will want to do is to
research and become familiar with media outlets in your communities. Make a
list of daily, weekly and monthly newspapers, surrounding area
Legion/Auxiliary newsletters, television, radio, and local access channels.
After you made a list now you want to identify the appropriate contact for
each one, add pertinent information address, phone number, email, deadline
dates. Be prepared to give a brief explanations of the programs of the
American Legion Auxiliary. Community bulletin boards, store fronts, public
display areas are very effective ways to promote the ALA.
Post and Auxiliary newsletters often offer much more
flexibility. They only set guidelines such as restriction on space
limitations, pictures. With these few restrictions the newsletter provides a
perfect opportunity to promote upcoming events, meetings and activities.
With newsletters it gives us a chance to build up excitement and encourage
the participation of the members. Newsletters are also a great place to be
able to use first names, nick-names and much more personal references that
are known only by members not the public. Use clip art to draw attention or
large print to create eye-catching appeal. Newsletters are a great way to
recognize members for services going above and beyond.
Promote, Promote, Promote the ALA
Our organization's image determines how receptive the community is to its
message. People will respond favorably to what you have to say if you have a
good image. It is essential that the American Legion Auxiliary has a good
image to accomplish its programs and objectives. That is why we need good
public relations. Every time you mention the American Legion Auxiliary, who
you are, what you are doing or what you are planning to do you are
participating in PR.
Have you created a web site or a electronic newsletter for your
unit or county? What a wonderful way to keep your
out-of-state members up to date with the latest activities and news of
friends at the post. Remember "old news, is no news".
The Department of New York has created a Facebook page. To
find and join the group, you have to be a member of Facebook. It's free to
sign up, and easy to use. Once logged into your account on
www.Facebook.com in the
search box, type in "American Legion Auxiliary Department of New York".
Feel free to join and upload pictures and share your unit's ideas on the
group's wall.
When planning a newsletter, media contact or posting on the internet
never trust your memory. Write everything down, check the spelling and make
sure dates and times are definite. It is not enough to believe or suppose.
It has to be right!
Public Relations- Resources:
1) Auxiliary information:
www.legion-aux.org
2) Media contacts in local areas:
https://capwiz.com/legion/dbg/media
3) The American Legion: www.legion.org
4) PR Handbook :http://
www.legion-aux.org/files/PRHandbook.pdf
5) ALA sample new release template for Units available on-line or by
contacting National Headquarters
alaq@legion-aux.org
6) Writing Tips, available by contacting National Headquarters at
alaq@legion-aux.org
7) Getting Started in Unit Public Relations, included in the toolkit,
on-line or by contacting National Headquarters
alaq@legion-aux.org
8) American Legion Auxiliary National Website- Click on Press Room, then on
ALA Media Advertising Kit.
BRING A POSTER TO MID-WINTER CONFERENCE
Once again there will be a Public Relations Poster Contest at Mid-Winter
Conference. Pick ONE FUNCTION that your unit has sponsored (since May 2011).
The function should have invited the community to participate and it should
have focused positive attention on the American Legion Auxiliary. The poster
should clearly describe (in photos, graphics, words) the purpose of the
event. Use pictures, graphics, etc. to decorate your poster and make it
attention getting.
The Poster must be on a standard poster board no larger than 22” X 28” and
no smaller than 8 ½ X 11. On the back of the poster place your unit’s name,
number, county and district. Include the name of the chairman of that
particular function. Posters must be dropped off for judging (site to
be announced) by Friday night, 7 pm. Winners will be announced at the luncheon
on Saturday. Each member who attends the Mid-Winter Conference will receive
a boot in their registration packet and the poster with the most ballots
will be declared the winner. Department President Ann will provide the prize
for the winner.
SUGGESTED NEW RELEASE FOR DEPARTMENT
PRESIDENT'S VISITATION TO YOUR COUNTY OR DISTRICT
(Click
here for sample of Press Release. It should be typed, Ideally
doubled space, on County or District letterhead.
Include the correct information for your County or District.)
More information may be obtained at
Department President's Project on the American Legion Auxiliary Department
of New York website: www.deptny.org
(link on left side of home page)
National Purpose:
To work collaboratively with all levels of the organization to create,
implement and support a proactive communications network that advances the
objectives and programs of the American Legion Auxiliary and positively
projects our image and programs to the general public..
National-level Objectives:
To promote a positive image of the American Legion Auxiliary, its mission
and goals, through a variety of materials and resources available to
Departments and Units on-line.
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Provide training to department/units on utilization of on-line resources.
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Develop talking points that members can use to create speeches/new
releases for the following: Memorial Day, Poppy, Four Chaplains Sunday,
D-Day, American Legion Day, Pearl Harbor Day, and other veteran-related days
as appropriate.
-
Be familiar with brochures and other National Headquarters' publications
that represent the Auxiliary programs and purpose and educate department and
units on what is available an how to obtain them.
-
Involve Junior members in promoting social networking sites such as
FaceBook, Twitter, My Space, and You Tube through bulletins that identify the
process to participate.
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Work collaboratively with National Headquarters to provide content for
the ALA website to include best practices from Units and Departments.
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Promote the free ALA e-News and emphasize increased member subscriptions.
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Promote the identity of the American Legion Auxiliary, it's mission and
goals, by expanding the distribution of ALA materials, including gift
subscriptions of the magazine, pamphlets, and application with the community
at local libraries, job fairs, medical facilities and supermarkets.
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Work collaboratively with all National Chairmen to identify public
relations needs for their programs.
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Work with Department Chairmen to compile a list of media contacts for
Units to use with each department.
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Promote American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary collaboration
through linkages with information included on The American Legion website
National Public Relations Awards:
1) Unit Award: Program Emphasis-Best Three Media Releases
Award: Chairman's choice
Presented to: one Unit Chairman in each Division
Materials and guidelines:
-
Include three different media publications, highlighting different ALA
programs, published in three different months (September 1, 2011-May
1,2012).
-
Acceptable media publication, must support the Auxiliary mission and
goals.
-
Deadline June 1, 2012
Submit entries to the Department Chairman
by May 15, 2012 who will send to National PR Vice Chairman Teri Miller, Deadline June 1, 2012
2) Unit Award: Innovative Public Relations Activities
Award: citation
Presented to: all Units submitting an on-line PR campaign (e.g., updating
Facebook, posting
Unit website updates, e-mail blasts, and on-line newsletters)
Materials and guidelines:
-
Unit documents the PR campaign activity and submits a copy to the
Divisional Chairman.
-
Documentation must be from a media source between April 30, 2011, and May
1,2012
-
deadline: June, 2012
Submit entries to the Department Chairman
by May 15, 2012 who will send to Divisional Chairman, Deadline June 1, 2012
3) Unit Award: Website-New Website Launch
Award: citation
Presented to : all Units developing a website during 2011-2012
Materials and guidelines:
a. Website URL, webmaster name and contact info
b. Website must have been created since September 1, 2011
c. deadline: June 1, 2012
Submit entries to the Department Chairman
by May 15, 2012 who will send to PR Committee Member, DeeDee Buckley by June
1, 2012
4) Junior Public Relations Award- Best Media Coverage of Activity or Project
Award: Chairman's choice
Presented to: one Junior group (Department, District or Unit)
Materials and guidelines:
a. articles, newsletters, pictures of displays promoting the event
b. deadline: June 1, 2012
Submit entries to the Department Chairman
by May 15, 2012 who will send to PR Committee Member, Gloria J Shaw Johnston
Department Awards
The Laura Stegman Plaque
Award to the County with the best publicity book submitted.
Must contain County Publicity only
Deadline to be received by Department Public Relations chairman no later
than May 10, 2012
DEPARTMENT AWARD- To the Unit with less than 200 members for press book
containing the best publicity on all American Legion Auxiliary Programs.
DEPARTMENT AWARD- To the Unit with more than 200 members for a press book
containing the best publicity on all American Legion Auxiliary Programs.
RULES: No special size or type book is required
1. It must include the name of the County, District, the Public Relations
Chairman and an annual report.
a. Newspaper clippings and published newspaper photos are acceptable.
b. Cover sheets must list the Unit name, number and the name of the Public
Relations Chairman submitting the book.
2. Unit books are to judged on the COUNTY
level and the winner is to be forwarded to the Department Chairman to be received May
10, 2012
Deborah Kryczkowski
Dept. Public Relations Chairman
e-mail: debk1794@yahoo.com
REPORTING PROCEDURE:
Note,
there are only two reporting dates this year.
Reporting-How-When-Why
UNIT CHAIRMEN:
Please send
Unit Report
Form to reach your County Chairman
by the following dates: November 1, 2011, March 1, 2012,
COUNTY CHAIRMEN: Please send
County
Report Form
to reach the Department
Chairman by the following dates: November 11,
2011, March 10, 2012,
Send a copy to your County
President.
