Public Relations Board Report
July 2010

by Melissa Metzler
PR Chair

I am thrilled to be taking over for our past Public Relations chair, Lisa Kirkbride from Knoll, and thank her for all of her contributions to IIDA.  I would also like to welcome our new PR Elect position, Roslyn ZumBrunnen from Smithgroup.  She will make a great addition to our public relations position on the board, and a great partner.  I am very excited to work with her on continuing our efforts to explore and expand public relations opportunities to showcase IIDA. 

Over the last year, we have been busy with many public relations duties.  One of our largest partnerships has become the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal.  We remain partners in the promotion of FAB and Fusion, and will continue to work with them for additional ways to promote IIDA through their publication, and network new opportunities. 

We launched our official IIDA Northland Facebook page in June!  So far we have 70+ total “likes” so far, please join us!  We encourage you all to get on our Facebook page and share ideas, articles, events, and keep the page interesting and relevant!

We have listened to the members of IIDA from our annual survey, and realized that too many emails were inundating your inbox.  Instead of the various “email blasts” you are used to receiving on a weekly basis, we will now be sending news out in a different format.  We call it the “News Update”.  This is a new tool for organizing and creating a better process for getting news out to you.  Please watch for these in the upcoming months to replace most other emails.  We will also be including our quarterly Board Reports and “The Buzz” in the News Updates as well. 

This year we submitted for several Chapter Awards:  Excellence in Program Graphics; Excellence in Overall Graphics; Excellence in Programs: Forums, Minnecon, FAB, Fusion; Excellence in GRA Activities

Here are our winning submissions!  Congratulations to our chapter!

Excellence in Programs: Chapter
Winner: Oregon Chapter
Honorable Mention: Northland Chapter

Excellence in Graphics: Special Events
Winner: Rocky Mountain Chapter
Honorable Mention: Northland Chapter

Thank you for the opportunity of serving on your board, I am looking forward to a year filled with possibilities in promoting, networking and building relationships with and for IIDA.