Legion College 2009

1. Legion College 2009 Pennsylvania American Legion

2. What is Public Relations? The term implies that we relate to the public in some manner Several “publics” require our attention as PR volunteers They include our members, the media, local and national elected officials and decision-makers, local community members and U.S. citizens in general

3. Your first responsibility is to determine your image in your community • Ask the media representatives how they perceive your organization • Talk to your community leaders and to your post’s neighbors • Talk to your members – not just the ones who are always there to help but the members who seldom show up for meetings or events.

4. Public Relations • Public Relations is primarily about IMAGE • Every member of The American Legion plays a role in communicating our image to the various publics to which we relate • The positive and negative things seen and heard at every level of the organization affect peoples’ perceptions of what The American Legion is and what we stand for • Perception is reality for most people

5. Public Relations • Internal Information • External Communications • Community Relations • Media Relations

6. Internal Information Notify your members through newsletters, flyers, emails and other means of communication to keep them aware of what is going on in your Post.

7. External Communication Coordination with the media outlets in your community

8. Community Relations As good citizens of your community, your Post members should ask to be represented at various civic functions or meetings.

9. Community Relations • Churches • Schools • Public Servants

10. Churches and Schools • Can help get our word out • Are a great source for recruiting as well as administering our programs • Can support our programs and fundraising

11. Public Servants • Include Police Officers, Firefighters, Public Support Agencies, Public Utilities, Para-Medics • Are a GREAT source for a partnerships • Help get the word out

12. Churches • We can speak at fellowship sessions • We can put in an insert or buy an ad in their bulletin • We can ask if we can write an article for their bulletin

13. Schools • We can speak at School Board Meetings • We can speak at the local Parent Teacher Organization meeting • We can write an article for their newspaper or purchase an ad in the paper • We can speak at venues for the Student Union

14. Public Servants • We can Speak at Union meetings or shift changes • We can write an article for their newspaper or buy an ad in their bulletin • Participate in their Community Relations events

15. Goals ForCommunity Relations • Others will sell the Legion for you (Inside sales = membership + program participation) • Ongoing partnerships for mutual support (programs and fundraising) • And the MOST important Being a good neighbor in the Community

16. Make Your Own News Community Events: Blue Star Banner Veterans Service Days Homeland Security Training

17. Media Relations Effective media relations mean that you and the various media in your area have a good working relationship. It’s a mutual relationship based on trust and honesty.

18. Make News In Your Town

19. Post PR Officer • The PR officer should advise post officers of the PR impact on the media, community and the members • The PR officer should let the members and the public know about events and policies through newsletters, booklets, speeches, news media, good citizenship …

20. Post PR Officer • The PR officer should identify, evaluate and communicate the information of the community or world events to the post leaders and the members • The PR officer should promote the variety of programs and activities designed to gain acceptance for the post among members and within the community

21. Continuity Is Critical • Maintain a comprehensive PR manual at your post to provide continuity for each person assuming the responsibilities

22. PR Manual • Contact Names • Deadlines for various media • Submission procedures for articles or PSA • Contact History

23. Planning • Because much of what we do in The American Legion is cyclical, creating an annual calendar should be the first step in the planning process

24. Calendar • Make sure PR is on the agenda for all planning meetings • Each aspect of the event should take into consideration the impact on Public Relations as it applies to all of the areas of our members, the media, elected officials, and our community

25. Documenting • Document anything you think might be useful for planning future events

26. Evaluating • Make sure you provide an honest evaluation of how you thing the event turned out.

27. Conclusion Share your plans and evaluations with others Mentor new members and bring them in to help you

28. Public Relations • PR can be considered the single most important function within your post, district or department • Every member is involved in it, most without even realizing it • PR will have an impact on everything you do at your post and everything you do at your post will somehow impact PR

29. VisibilityAdvocacyFrequency… and they will join

30. Sample Press Releasesare on the PA Legion websitewww.pa-legion.com • Veterans Day • Legion Birthday • Post Annual Report • Oratorical • Memorial Day • Flag Day • Essay Contest • Children and Youth Month • Boys State • Americanism Month • Media Advisory

31. Use Your Resources • “Keystone News” • www.pa-legion.com • The American Legion Public Relations Handbook • Make contact with your local media All media – daily newspapers, radio, television and weekly newspapers

32. John C. “Ace” MannBlue Cap of The Year Award • The objective of the Blue Cap of The Year Award is to recognize a Legionnaire who exemplifies the goals and objectives set forth by The American Legion. • The nominees MUST be a “Blue Cap” • Department Headquarters must receive submissions no later than May 21, 2010 • Further information can be found on www.pa-legion.com

33. Media Awards • Department Media Awards are designed to encourage Posts, Districts and Counties to improve their Public and Media Relations by working with local news media. • Department Media Awards are given to media for outstanding efforts covering local activities of The American Legion on a regular basis. • Media Awards include Daily Newspaper, Weekly Newspaper, Radio Station, Television Station

34. Post Public Relations Award • The American Legion Department of Pennsylvania’s Post Public Relations Award is presented annually to the Post that the committee judges have considered put forth the greatest effort in “getting The American Legion message out to the public.” • Deadline is May 21, 2009 • More information can be found on our website www.pa-legion.com

35. Public Relations Volunteer Recognition Nomination • The National PR Commission conducts a Volunteer Recognition Program to foster active, ongoing, local media relations efforts. This program provides recognition to local American Legion Public Relations volunteers who conduct aggressive and successful media campaigns to meet such an ambitious objective. • Deadline is May 21, 2010 • www.pa-legion.com

36. The Internet and PR Is your Post on the web? Do you have a Post website? Do you Twitter or are you on Facebook?

37. Contact Information Shannon Kyle 2072 Rockfield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15243 412-220-2332 skyle@pa-legion.com

38. Membership is Everyone’s BusinessDepartment Membership Chairman Kerrie Gill will now give his presentation.